Holly Thompson Rehder

Holly Thompson Rehder joins AxAdvocacy after decades of experience working in government affairs, mergers and acquisitions, public policy, and political campaigns. Her experience includes directing corporate government affairs operations across multiple states in the telecommunications industry, co-founding a telecommunications contracting company of her own, and running Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson's re-election campaign prior to successfully running for office herself.

As a former legislator first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2012, Holly spent 8 years in the Missouri House and 4 years in the Missouri Senate. Senator Thompson Rehder worked tenaciously to affect change in policies that would help victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, policies to help in the fight against drug abuse and help families struggling in addiction, policies to help children in the state’s foster care, and to ensure funding for the state’s mental health needs. Throughout her legislative tenure, Holly focused on the policies that could bring generational changes to the lives of others.

Coming from very humble beginnings herself, Holly is a published author and sought–after public speaker who speaks across the country on subjects that too often are hidden in the shadows: addiction, sexual abuse, domestic violence, mental illness, and poverty. As a rare former lawmaker who speaks candidly from raw personal experience, Holly rises above the worn-out political arguments to provide an unvarnished look inside the worst of American poverty––challenging those of us with the ability to affect change to do so, while simultaneously reaching out to those struggling.



Ms. Rehder is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications with her emphasis in Public Relations, and double minors in Political Science and Communications for Legal Professionals (Debate). She resides in Southeast Missouri, has three children, Raychel Jarrett, Johnny Griswell, Jr., and Christian Rehder, and three beautiful grandbabies, Kayden Talley, Karlei Jarrett, and Liam Griswell.