National Director of Strategic Initiatives Group, Apple

Scott Hughes leads the Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG) at Apple, serving as Director of a national specialist team focused on issue advocacy and state government affairs.  In this role, he builds bi-partisan coalitions in support of Apple priorities focused on K-20 education policy, coding, career pathways and workforce development.  

His team at Apple has been responsible for championing hundreds of innovative legislative and policy initiatives with Governors, Mayors, and state legislators across the nation, leveraging technology as an innovation driver to secure better outcomes.

Prior to joining Apple, Scott’s background included working as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill in the U.S. Senate; senior positions at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC; and directing intergovernmental relations and public affairs communications for the New York State Legislature.   

He also served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the American Legislative Exchange Council, a membership forum for state legislators to share best practices, model legislation, and promote innovative public-private partnerships.  

Scott’s private sector background includes work at a communications firm in Washington, DC, providing strategic counsel to Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and state/federal candidates for office.   

As a former elected official, Scott authored a tax rebate that returned millions of dollars to residents, the first by a town in New York state history. He was also the driving force behind ethics reform legislation that was cited by the New York State Bar Association as a model for other municipalities.  

In his pre-Apple life, he has appeared on C-SPAN as a guest panelist to discuss national voting trends and conflicting policy agendas of Congress and the White House.

Scott earned an honors degree in Political Science from the State University of New York and has taken post-graduate coursework towards a Master of Public Administration Degree.

While he cannot claim the revered Colorado Native status, he is an enthusiastic convert from the East Coast and proud resident of the Centennial State along with his wife and daughter.

If you could live in a different era, which one would it be and why?   
As a student of history, I would choose the Colonial America / Revolutionary War time period.  It would be absolutely thrilling to meet the Founding Fathers, witness events like the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and attend secret gatherings of the Sons of Liberty.

What is your favorite piece of advice?  
You did not wake up today to be mediocre.  Pursue excellence.  

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?   
Golf, Reading, Travel

Describe your profession in one word.   
In one word:  Innovation In two words:  Think Different

What was your first job and one thing you learned from it?   
U.S. Senate staffer — the power of advocacy  

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