Our Team
Ron Hein - President
EMAIL RON
Ronald R. Hein has been President of Hein Law Firm, Chartered since 1988. Hein Law Firm, Chartered represents numerous clients, and the firm practices exclusively in the area of lobbying and governmental affairs. Ron has been lobbying since 1984.
He served in the Kansas State Senate from 1977-1984, serving on: Elections (Chairman); Governmental Organization (Vice-Chairman); Ways and Means; Transportation and Utilities; Judiciary; Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations (Chairman and Vice-Chairman); Special Claims Against the State (Chairman and Vice-Chairman); and Federal and State Affairs.
He also served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1975-1977, in the following capacities: Judiciary; Public Health and Welfare; and Transportation.
While a legislator, Ron served on the National Conference of State Legislatures Committee on the Arts and the States.
In 1978, Ron unsuccessfully ran for U. S. Congress in the 2nd District in Kansas.
Ron received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Washburn University in 1971, summa cum laude, with departmental honors; and his Juris Doctorate from Washburn Law School, 1974, with honors, including course work sponsored by Washburn University at Brunel University, Uxbridge, England in the summer, 1974.
He has received the following awards and recognitions: Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society; Tau Delta Pi Honorary Society; Sagamore Senior Men’s Honorary Society; Outstanding Sophomore Award, Washburn University; Outstanding Young Men of America Award; Topeka Jaycees Distinguished Service Award; Kansas Association of Public Employees Distinguished Service Award; selected “Major Earthmover” numerous times by Hawver’s Capitol Report.
He serves as Kansas Private Sector Co-Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council in Kansas. While in the legislature, he served on the Capitol Area Plaza Authority. He is a member of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Topeka Chamber of Commerce; Kansas Bar Association; Topeka Bar Association; Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity; Phi Delta Theta Alumni Association; and life member of the Washburn Law School Alumni Association. He is a former member of the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas/Western Missouri Board of Directors; the Washburn University Alumni Association Board of Directors; American Diabetes Association-Kansas Affiliate Board of Directors; and the Kansas State Nurses Foundation Board of Trustees.
Ron and his wife, Julie, who lobbies with him, have two grown children, Derek and Jennifer, and one Grandson, Jackson Hein.
Julie Hein - Lobbyist
EMAIL JULIE
Julie J. Hein grew up in Iowa, went to school at the University of Northern Iowa, then moved to Colorado. Colorado was her home for ten years where she worked as an Employment Agent in an Executive Recruiting Service, Computer Sales/Store Management for Tandy Corporation, and marketing computer solutions to state government of Colorado on behalf of Unisys Corporation.
Marriage brought her from Denver, Colorado to Topeka, Kansas where she joined her husband in his lobbying practice at Hein Law Firm, Chartered. She has successfully worked as a lobbyist for the 25-30 lobbying clients represented by Hein Law Firm, Chartered since 1989. She has also served as American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Private Sector Co-Chair for Kansas for numerous years during that period.
Julie has been involved in Charitable causes over the years. She was involved in the organization of a Walk for Juvenile Diabetes and a Walk for the American Diabetes Association; she co-chaired a charity golf tournament for five years for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF/Cadillac event); and she is active in many events tied to Organ Donation Awareness.
Julie and husband Ron, have two grown children, Derek and Jennifer, and one Grandson, Jackson Hein.
Derek Hein - Lobbyist
EMAIL DEREK
Derek R. Hein joined Hein Law Firm full-time in the Fall of 2010, but has been doing contract work for the firm since 2006. Derek spent 2003-2006 as a touring musician after attending both Washburn University and the University of Kansas, but in 2006 he was offered a temporary job doing Committee monitoring during the Legislative Session, and has been hooked on Kansas politics ever since.
His life outside of work is spent engaged in a large variety of service endeavors in association with Valley Hope Treatment Center in Atchison, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence Community Shelter, and Douglas County Community Corrections. He has also acted in local independent films, is a songwriter, and is responsible for design and development of a number of websites (including this one).
Derek resides in Lawrence with his wife Stephanie, his son Jackson (Jack), a cat named Ebby, and three dogs: Maggie, Bella, and Django.
Paje Routhier -
Lobbyist
EMAIL PAJE
Paje J. Routhier joined Hein Law Firm in August of 2011. Previously, she had worked as a Committee monitor during the 2011 Legislative Session, followed by an internship with Governor Sam Brownback in the Inaugural Summer Intern Program.
Paje will be graduating from Washburn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Political Communication in May of 2012.
During her time at Washburn, she has served as the State Chairwoman for the Kansas Federation of College Republicans (KSFCR), and also represented Kansas on the national board of the College Republican National Committee. Additionally, Paje represented the KSFCR on the Executive Committee of the Kansas Republican Party. She has also been active in the Washburn Student Government Association, serving as Speaker Pro Tempore, as well as the Chair for the Internal Affairs and Communication Committees.
In her free time, Paje likes to play golf and basketball, and also enjoys cooking.
Paje’s parents, Patty Sanders and Gilbert Routhier, reside in Wichita with her younger sister, Maddie, a sophomore at Andover High School.
Deb Boss -
Office Manager/Lobbying Assistant
EMAIL DEB
Debra J. Boss joined the firm in January, 1992, and serves as Lobbying Assistant to the lobbying group. She coordinates the computerized bill tracking system and numerous other computerized databases utilized in lobbying; serves as a contact for our clients, especially during the legislative session when the lobbyists are at the Capitol; and processes daily and weekly reports to our clients. Deb provides additional services for association management clients; serves as office manager, and handles all financial/accounting services for the firm including other services such as compliance with the Lobbyist Control Act including lobbyist expenditure reporting, and, for clients with PACs, compliance with the Campaign Finance Act.
Deb enjoys volunteering with organizations that provide services to persons with developmental disabilities; is active in her church; and enjoys day trips and antiquing to add to her large Wizard of Oz memorabilia collection.
Deb has two grown sons, Travis and Brice (Tisha) and two grandsons, Adam and Brody.
