LaJoia Broughton

Founder and Principal

LaJoia Broughton is a South Carolina government relations and public affairs strategist based in Columbia.

She brings more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, public policy, and government affairs. Her work focuses on legislative strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs support for organizations navigating complex policy and funding environments.

LaJoia advises clients on how to engage lawmakers, state agencies, and institutional stakeholders with clarity, credibility, and strategic discipline.

She leads client engagements involving the South Carolina General Assembly, executive agencies, and regulatory processes. Her work includes legislative strategy development, budget advocacy, coalition coordination, and strategic communications in support of public policy objectives.

LaJoia Broughton is the Founder and Principal of Alpha Strategies, a government relations and public affairs consulting firm based in Columbia, South Carolina. She leads integrated legislative and public affairs programs that help organizations engage policymakers, strengthen their reputation, and achieve measurable policy and funding outcomes. Her expertise in policy, stakeholder engagement, and communications positions her as a trusted advisor in high-stakes environments.

LaJoia’s career includes senior leadership roles such as State Government Affairs Manager for JUUL Labs, Director of External Communications for the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission, and Executive Director of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. These roles sharpened her ability to craft persuasive messages, build effective coalitions, and advance advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels.

In addition to her consulting work, LaJoia serves as a Commissioner at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. In this role, she provides strategic oversight on initiatives focused on enhancing the customer experience and addressing community interests.

She is a committed advocate for equitable opportunities, representation, and community advancement. In recognition of her leadership, she was named a 2023 Women of Influence honoree by the Columbia Regional Business Report.

LaJoia holds a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Furman University.

Areas of Focus

Legislative strategy and engagement
Budget advocacy and appropriations
Policy monitoring and analysis
Coalition building and stakeholder engagement
Strategic communications in support of advocacy
Executive positioning and issue management

Media and Speaking

LaJoia regularly participates in public discussions related to South Carolina public policy, advocacy strategy, and stakeholder engagement through panels, briefings, and industry