Mitch Bainwol, Recording Industry Association of America. Bainwol fights for the music industry’s intellectual property protection and parity in the digital age.

Richard Baker, Managed Funds Association. The hedge fund lobby scored big when it lured this Louisiana Republican away from Congress.

Dan Berger, National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Berger and his colleague Brad Thaler have their fingerprints all over things related to financial services.

Marion Blakey, Aerospace Industries Association. The former FAA administrator took the helm of the powerful association last year and is already making an impression.

Tom Buis, National Farmers Union. A former agriculture policy adviser to then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Buis and his group continue to play a major role in shaping farm policy.

John Castellani, Business Roundtable. When the chief executives of America speak with one voice, that voice is Castellani’s.

Red Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute. It’s tough being an oil lobbyist when gas prices are high, but Cavaney has helped steer the industry clear of the most punitive measures introduced in Congress.

Richard Deem, American Medical Association. Deem is a major healthcare player in Washington for a group that routinely spends millions per year on lobbying.

Scott DeFife, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Wall Street’s main trade group snapped up this well-liked former policy adviser to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) after Democrats seized control of Congress.

Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association. An assortment of interests opposed a new mandate that would boost renewable fuels production fivefold, but Dinneen and the RFA got it through.

Tom Donohue and Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Expect Donohue and his pro-business group to be a powerful force during this year’s elections while Josten manages the lobbying ground game.

Cal Dooley, Grocery Manufacturers Association. Tainted spinach and finishing off a merger with another association don’t necessarily make for a good year, but the food industry must be glad it tapped ex-Rep. Dooley (D-Calif.) in 2006.

Kim Dorgan, American Council of Life Insurers. Dorgan is working round the clock to pass legislation to grant an optional federal charter for insurers.

Charles Drevna, National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. Drevna couldn’t stop a broad new mandate for renewable fuels production from passing Congress but gets kudos on Capitol Hill for being a straightforward representative for his industry.

Martin Edwards, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. Edwards is among a small handful of Democratic lobbyists in an industry often more comfortable with Republicans.

John Engler, National Association of Manufacturers. The former GOP governor still wields significant power in Washington.

Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Co-op utilities date to New Deal-era efforts to electrify rural America. NRECA’s modern-day lobbying power comes from English’s political skill, an active grassroots network, and a political action committee (PAC) that donates more than $1 million each cycle.

Frank Fahrenkopf, American Gaming Association. A longtime chairman of the Republican National Committee, Fahrenkopf has headed the AGA for more than 10 years.

Camden Fine, Independent Community Bankers of America. ICBA represents more than 5,000 banks, whose assets range from $2 million to $7 billion. Fine makes sure they all have a voice on Capitol Hill.

John Gay, National Restaurant Association. Gay’s group has broad grassroots reach and a sizable PAC and is a major player in immigration reform debates.

Jack Gerard, American Chemistry Council. Gerard and ACC have blocked attempts to require the use of more environmentally friendly products that chemical companies argue would cripple their businesses.

Jerry Giovaniello, National Association of Realtors. The Realtors’ PAC is the top contributor to federal candidates election after election.

Dan Glickman, Motion Picture Association of America. Glickman represents the movie business, but he hasn’t “gone Hollywood.” His self-deprecating, down-to-earth style scores points on Capitol Hill.

Mark Gorman, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. The former tax legislative aide for ex-Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.) represents his industry’s fight against tax increases and protects spirits-makers’ rights to advertise.

Richard Green, National Guard Association of the United States. Green and his team of talented lobbyists, fronted by Chris DeBatt, are keeping the Hill engaged on National Guard issues.

Jim Greenwood, Biotechnology Industry Organization. Greenwood, a centrist Republican ex-House member from Pennsylvania, adroitly maneuvers the group past the minefields of Democratic legislation that his members fear.

Edward Hamberger, Association of American Railroads. Hamberger’s lobbying skills keep the rail industry on track. AAR will be a major player in the debate over surface transportation that kicks off next year.

Ralph Hellmann, Information Technology Industry Council. Hellmann, a former GOP leadership aide and quintessential Washington player, directs the lobbying efforts at ITI, which often takes the lead for the industry’s advocacy efforts in Congress and the administration.

Karen Ignagni, America’s Health Insurance Plans. The tenacious Ignagni, with help from the White House and Senate Republicans, stood firm against Democratic attempts to cut into her members’ Medicare revenue last year.

Chip Kahn, Federation of American Hospitals. The Democratic takeover of Congress didn’t slow down this Republican veteran of the healthcare battleground.

Tom Kuhn, Edison Electric Institute. The investor-owned utilities that EEI represents produce the bulk of the electricity in this country, which will make Kuhn a key player in the climate change debate.

Steve Largent, CTIA-The Wireless Association. The former Oklahoma House Republican is at the helm of the cell phone trade group.

Linda Lipsen, American Association for Justice. No more playing defense for the trial bar as Lipsen and her team are right at home in the Democratic Congress.

Tim Lynch, American Trucking Associations. Lynch runs the federal affairs office of this politically active group.

John Maguire, National Cotton Council. Maguire, as head of government relations for the council, has lobbied hard on the farm bill.

Mark Maslyn, Mary Kay Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation. Masyln and Thatcher oversee public policy efforts for the nation’s largest general farm organization.

James May, Air Transport Association of America. The longtime Washington insider is lobbying for airlines that want the costs of running the air traffic control system to be shifted to business jets.

Walter McCormick, U.S. Telecom Association. McCormick will be working overtime this year to spur the expansion of broadband.

Dave McCurdy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. McCurdy, former Democratic congressman from Oklahoma, helped repair the reputation of automakers on Capitol Hill by working to find a compromise on higher fuel efficiency standards.

Ben McKay, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. McKay is respected for his grasp of both politics and the nitty-gritty of insurance policy.

Mark Merritt, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Though known as a Republican stalwart, Merritt made inroads in the Democratic Senate last year by offering offset-hungry lawmakers targets for spending cuts ó as long as they excluded his industry.

Dan Mica, Credit Union National Association. Mica is busy lobbying his former House colleagues for legislation that would allow credit unions to encroach on banks’ turf.

Steve O’Connor, Mortgage Bankers Association. O’Connor and his top lobbyist, Erick Gustafson, will have their hands full managing the fallout from the housing bust this year.

Steve Pfister, National Retail Federation. As the top lobbyist for the world’s largest retail organization, Pfister was instrumental at year’s start in pressing the White House and Congress to craft an economic stimulus package.

Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association. The hospital industry, with Pollack on the front lines, had a very good 2007 on Capitol Hill.

Marc Racicot, American Insurance Association. The former Montana governor and his top lobbyist, Leigh Ann Pusey, helped to secure a lengthy renewal of federal terrorism risk insurance last year.

David Rehr, National Association of Broadcasters. Rehr’s group is a long-established Washington power and has been active in fights over the Internet and digital television.

Bob Rusbuldt, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Rusbuldt represents the “Big I,” a major player on insurance issues on Capitol Hill.

Norb Ryan Jr., Military Officers Association of America. The retired vice admiral, together with retired Col. Steve Strobridge, pack a punch on Capitol Hill representing the largest professional association of military officers.

Gary Shapiro, Consumer Electronics Association. Shapiro has been a leader on the planned transition to digital television while his group’s Las Vegas trade show continues to be a Capitol Hill favorite.

Rick Shelby, American Gas Association. In addition to his work at AGA, Shelby is also an active participant in the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth, an umbrella group.

Joe Stanton, National Association of Home Builders. Stanton and his trade association turned off the spigot of PAC contributions as Capitol Hill stalled during the housing crisis.

Jaime Steve, American Wind Energy Association. Along with the rapid growth in the wind power industry has come greater influence on Capitol Hill for Steve and his group.

Todd Stottlemyer, National Federation of Independent Business. Along with lead lobbyist Dan Danner, Stottlemyer is positioning this traditionally Republican association for big things next year, particularly on healthcare.

Billy Tauzin, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The charismatic Cajun GOP ex-congressman is reaching out to his Democratic antagonists even as they sharpen their criticisms of drug makers.

Stephen Ubl, Advanced Medical Technology Association. Ubl has done a lot to boost the medical device industry’s profile in Washington, but one of his greatest coups was luring David Nexon away from Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

Dirk Van Dongen, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. Van Dongen, a GOP loyalist and fundraiser, put together the Tax Relief Coalition, which is now working to ensure the extension of the Bush tax cuts.

Steve Vest, National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Staffers call Democrat Vest an invaluable resource on issues that affect the cable industry.

William Walters, Acute Long Term Hospital Association. Walters has put ALTHA on the K Street map. The group scored a huge victory late last year when Congress passed legislation it had touted for years.

Joel Wood, The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. A lobbyist by day, Wood moonlights as the part-owner of Johnny’s Half Shell, a favorite lunch spot for many K Street insiders.

Ed Yingling, American Bankers Association. Yingling shrewdly eliminated a rival last year when he courted America’s Community Bankers to merge with the ABA.