Policy & government relations
Experience across Congress and industry, with a focus on technology, energy and economic development.
Preston Grisham
I lead policy and external affairs where technology, infrastructure and government meet.
Explore my backgroundVP, Policy & External Affairs, Cologix
Columbia, South Carolina
About
I lead policy and external affairs at Cologix, working on the government relationships, stakeholder engagement and policy issues that shape digital infrastructure growth. Before that, I led U.S. public affairs, policy, and infrastructure communications at Amazon and AWS on issues including data centers, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and energy.
My career has taken me from Capitol Hill to technology industry leadership and digital infrastructure. Along the way, I founded Stonewall Strategies and ran TechSC, South Carolina’s first statewide technology industry association. Building software gives me a direct understanding of the technology behind the policy.
More about my backgroundAreas of work
Engagement & communications
Stakeholder engagement and policy communications that connect complex technology issues with the people deciding them.
Digital infrastructure
Data centers, power, permitting and the local politics of building the physical internet.
Experience
2026 – presentCologixVice President, Policy & External Affairs
2022 – 2026Amazon / AWSLead, U.S. Public Affairs, Policy & Infrastructure Communications
2020 – 2022APCO WorldwideVice President, Technology Policy
2017 – 2020TechSCExecutive Director
Full career history
Software
I build cool things. iOS and Mac apps in Swift, ESP32 devices, smart home projects and whatever else I get curious about. Working directly with code, data and hardware keeps my view of technology grounded in how it actually works.
College Football 2026
Live scores and schedules without the clutter, built by a fan who got tired of the alternatives.
On the App Store
Details
Capital DC Metro
Live train arrivals and line status for commuters who care more about reliability than flair.
On the App Store
Details
PLNS
The easy way to make plans with the people you actually know. Post it once, friends tap in, and it happens.
In development
plns.app
Why I built it
Shot List
A daily photo scavenger hunt: four everyday objects and 24 hours to find and shoot them.
In beta
dailyshotlist.com
RiverFlow
Live USGS river flow, gage height and temperature, with historical trends, for people who live on the water.
Coming soon
Details
Stash
A Mac text expander and clipboard manager: type a short keyword for the full text, keep clipboard history close, and sync through iCloud.
For Mac
Sweep
A native Mac cleaner with Smart Scan and a live menu bar monitor, built for my own machines and not headed to the App Store.
Personal project
Hearth
A glowing LED sign for the family room that shows weather, calendars, countdowns and notes for the family.
Home project
Outside work
Fall Saturdays are for Gamecocks football. The rest of the year I’m usually kayaking or floating on the rivers around here, cooking something new, or out with a camera. I also like good travel gear and tech. Mostly I just like having fun with my wife and daughter, exploring around the Midlands and getting to the mountains or the Lowcountry when we can get away.
Contact
I welcome thoughtful conversations about technology, policy and the work of connecting them. Email is the surest way to reach me.