A legacy of expertise.
Our Lobbyists
Our founder, Bruce Cutshall, believed that an individual could make the biggest impact when they led with the values of hard work, good relationships, and integrity. These were the values upon which Bruce established his highly respected lobbying firm, Cutshall & Associates, and they are the same values that every partner of the firm has possessed throughout our decades-long tenure.
In 1997, Bruce went into partnership with Trent Nowka, and the firm became known as Cutshall & Nowka; the name later changed to Nowka & Edwards after Jon Edwards joined the firm as partner and Bruce went into retirement. Now, with Trent’s retirement, the firm is entering into a new generation of Nebraska lobbying.
While retirements and new partners have caused our name to change over the years, EWM has always continued to serve organizations throughout the entire state of Nebraska – from the western Panhandle to the eastern metro area – and maintained a reputation for our ethical and fair dealings with others.
As one of Nebraska’s oldest firms, EWM brings a wealth of experience to the table. Jon, Russell, and Scott each have decorated careers in business, law, consulting, and government affairs that seamlessly come together to offer EWM’s clients an unparalleled experience in Nebraska lobbying.
Meet our current lobbyists that have helped to build EWM’s legacy of expertise.
Jon A. Edwards, J.D.
Jon A. Edwards, J.D.
Jon Edwards was born and raised in Fremont, Nebraska. He was introduced to politics at a young age, watching and learning from his father’s years of political experience and service to his community. However, Jon’s biggest pull towards politics heavily stemmed from his interest in the importance of good policy and how elected officials do their work. Combined with his father’s political career, Jon feels that policymaking has always been his natural calling.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Jon graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2002. He went on to work in the Nebraska Legislature, serving as a staffer to a state senator. Having the opportunity to experience first-hand the task of crafting and debating legislation, Jon gained a thorough understanding of the Nebraska legislative process while in the position. This role started Jon on his professional journey that has now lasted for over 20 years.
After working inside the legislature, Jon served as legal counsel and lobbyist for the Nebraska Association of County Officials. This position allowed Jon to expand upon his experience in the legislature, fully engaging in lobbying many different critical areas of interest and need for all 93 Nebraska counties. In 2011, Jon was invited to join the private lobbying firm Cutshall & Nowka, now known as Edwards Westerhold Moore. Jon, along with his partner Trent Nowka, continued to grow Cutshall & Nowka; in November of 2014, Jon was named partner and the firm became known as Nowka & Edwards.
Through his many years of experience, Jon has grown to possess a deep understanding of the entire legislative process, including policy development, legal research, bill drafting, legislative affairs, and management. His impressive skill and experience in Nebraska lobbying and government relations make him a valuable asset to Edwards Westerhold Moore and their clients.
Jon is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring new destinations. In his spare time during the summer, he enjoys water skiing and spending time on his boat. In the colder months, when he isn’t working for his clients in the Capitol, you can find Jon skiing on the slopes in Colorado.
Russell A. Westerhold, J.D.
Russell A. Westerhold, J.D.
Russell Westerhold grew up on a fifth-generation farm outside Pender, Nebraska. Having held a lifelong fascination for politics, he graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1999 with a double major in English and Political Science before going on to graduate with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2002.
After graduating, Russell actively practiced law for 15 years at the Omaha law firm Fraser Stryker. While there, his practice focused on the areas of energy and natural resources, construction, and telecommunications. Additionally, he was a member of the firm’s litigation team and tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal courts. Russell is a recipient of the Great Plains Super Lawyer Rising Star Award in Energy and Natural Resources (2013-2016). He has been admitted to practice before Nebraska’s state and federal courts, the United States Courts of Appeal for the First and Eighth Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. He has been a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association since 2002.
Russell joined Edwards Westerhold Moore on August 1, 2017.
At Edwards Westerhold Moore, Russell finds himself regularly working with rural-based clients as a result of his background. His professional experience also drives him to be involved with the energy and education sectors.
Russell lives in Ashland with his wife, Caroline, and their children Cooper and Harper. The Westerholds are a community-driven family, and Russell has served on the Board of Directors for the Ashland Youth Baseball Association and other community-based organizations. He has also served on the Ashland-Greenwood School District Board of Education since 2019. In his free time, Russell enjoys golf, Nebraska athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
Scott Moore
Scott Moore
A native Nebraskan, Scott Moore grew up on a farm in rural York County. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a time in which he also served as a page for the Nebraska Legislature.
During and after his time at UNL, Moore worked as a legislative aide and, in 1986, filed to run for the Legislature’s 24th District seat. After a successful campaign, Moore was sworn into office in January 1987 and took a seat on the Appropriations Committee. After reelection in 1990, he was elected to Chair the Appropriations Committee, a position he held for four years. He left the Legislature in 1994 and ran a successful statewide campaign to become Nebraska’s Secretary of State. He was reelected in 1998.
After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in the spring of 2000, Moore exited state government when he was named Director of Government Affairs for Union Pacific in Omaha, NE. He went on to hold a variety of positions at Union Pacific, including Assistant Vice President-Public Partnerships; Vice President-Public Affairs for Union Pacific’s nine-state Western Region based in Roseville, CA; and Senior Vice President-Corporate Relations and Chief Administrative Officer. In addition to serving as President of the Union Pacific Foundation, Moore oversaw all state and local government affairs activities for the railroad’s 23-state system and served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until his retirement from Union Pacific in 2023.
Moore has been on many community boards over the decades, including serving as Chair of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industry and as President of the Nebraskaland Foundation. He continues to serve on such boards as National Park Foundation’s National Council, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation.
Moore and his wife, Danene J. Tushar, divide their time between Colorado and Nebraska. They enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities in the mountains while enjoying friends, family, and the Cornhuskers in Nebraska.