A lot of new faces have arrived on Capitol Hill over the past few months. We now have a Democrat-controlled Senate, a GOP-controlled House and a presidential election season just around the corner. Whether you work with a small local business or a multinational conglomerate, what happens in Washington is likely to have an impact on your employer/clients.

What laws, regulations and policy changes might we see in the next two years? Will the two sides play nice and seek compromise? Will the next two years be punctuated by gridlock and electioneering? What can strategic communicators do to make sure officials in Washington hear and understand our employers'/clients' perspectives on relevant issues?

For many of us, it seems the only thing we know for sure is that Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien and Stephen Colbert will all have steady gigs for at least a couple more years.

Fortunately, Greater Kansas City PRSA knows people who are plugged in to all the Beltway banter, and can provide analysis and advice to guide our public relations and public affairs strategy. Neil Dhillon, director of the Public Affairs Practice at MSLGroup in Washington, D.C., will join us to discuss what companies should expect in the next two years.

Prior to joining MSLGroup, Dhillon served as national director of public affairs for several other major public relations firms; served as deputy assistant secretary of government affairs for President Clinton; and was chief of staff to Congressman Bob Matsui, where he managed his tax, trade, and health care agenda in the powerful House Ways & Means Committee.

Dhillon comes to GKC PRSA courtesy of Morningstar Communications, the Kansas City affiliate of MSLGroup.