Malika Butler

Director of Public Affairs Indianapolis

Summary

As director of public affairs, Malika represents clients in a wide range of policy matters before state legislative and executive agencies. She is regularly called upon to advocate the interest of clients on government contracts, grant and incentive programs, and legislative and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Taft, Malika served as assistant vice president of governmental affairs with the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA). In this role, she served on the leadership team of the IMA and assisted in association management, government relations, and political engagement. During her tenure at the IMA, Malika focused on issues relating to talent development, workforce training and education, economic development, and environmental regulation to advance the interests of the industrials sector.

Further, she served as the manager of political affairs for the Indy Chamber, where she led its political action committee’s fundraising efforts and lobbied on issues impacting central Indiana’s business community before the Indiana General Assembly and the Indianapolis City-County Council. Malika’s past experience also includes service as a legislative assistant in the Republican caucus of the Indiana House of Representatives, where she provided policy assistance to three state representatives.

Malika earned her bachelor’s degree in political science at Indiana University Bloomington and she is pursuing her Master of Business Administration at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University.

Malika’s community involvement includes service on the board of directors for the Purdue Manufacturing Education Partnership (MEP), Indiana Correctional Industries, and Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana (GASI). Malika was selected for the Indiana Leadership Forum (Class of 2018) and the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series.

Malika is not licensed to practice law in any state and does not provide legal services. 

Awards

  • Participant, Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Services Series (Class of 2020-2021)

  • Participant, Indiana Leadership Forum (Class of 2018)

All Service Areas

Education

  • Indiana University (2015)

Speeches and Publications

  • Author, “Re-Thinking Workforce Training With Automation’s Rise,” Building Indiana Business, February 2021
  • Presenter, “Effective Teamwork in Manufacturing,” Conexus Interns, May 2020
  • Presenter, “Workforce Insights,” Enlist, Enroll, Employ through STEM with Indiana National Guard, February 2020
  • Presenter, “Workforce Policy and K-12 Alignment,” State of Manufacturing Tours
    • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, September 2019
    • Ford Meter Box, July 2019
    • Subaru of Indiana Automotive, August 2018

Professional Affiliations

  • Purdue Manufacturing Education Partnership

    Board of Directors

  • Indiana Correctional Industries

    Board of Directors

  • Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana

    Board of Directors

  • The Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series

    Class of 2021

  • Indiana Leadership Forum

    Class of 2018

  • Young Professionals of Central Indiana (YPCI)

    Past Board Member

Community Involvement

  • Indiana Republican State Convention

    Past Delegate

  • Lawrence Township Republicans

    Past Board Member

  • Indiana University Alumni Association

    Member

  • Gamma Phi Beta

    Member, Beta Phi Chapter Alumni Association