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ANNAPOLIS — When the current titans of the State House lobbying corps call it quits, an abundant crop of rising stars will vie to take their place among the elite.

There is, of course, no formula to determine which of today's up-and-comers will become tomorrow's hotshots, but those in the business say it's not difficult to identify those who stand out.

"There are relationships you have to build, issues that you have to discuss and [an ability to] gain the confidence of the legislator that what you're telling them is the truth and that you're able to tell both sides of the story," said George N. Manis, who has lobbied in Annapolis since the 1960s, when there were nearly 10 times as many lawmakers as full-time lobbyists.

Many more lobbyists work the hallways these days: Nearly 700 were registered with the State Ethics Commission in 2008.

And they're a more diverse bunch, with a greater number of women and blacks, as well as more young people looking to break into the business at an earlier age.

Discussions with dozens of veteran lobbyists, longtime politicians and behind-the-scenes operatives turned up those with particularly bright futures, many of whom already are well known around State Circle:

Timothy A. Perry

History is on the side of Timothy A. Perry.

The office of the Senate president has produced a long line of successful lobbyists: Bruce Bereano, who was chief of staff to Steny H. Hoyer in the 1970s, and Gerard E. Evans, John R. Stierhoff and Melanie L. Wenger, who held the same position with Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

Perry, 38, was Miller's chief of staff from 2002 to 2006 and has made a strong impression in the two years since joining the government relations group at Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander LLC.

"He has a tremendous work ethic. It's a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job for him," said D. Robert Enten, a veteran lobbyist at Gordon Feinblatt who is one of Annapolis' top money earners. "He lives and breathes it all the time."

Perry, the 15th-highest-earning lobbyist in Maryland in the first half of 2008, had 38 clients last year and was a key force behind the repeal of the computer services tax. He has strong relationships with members of the legislature, particularly in the Senate, and many regard him as Enten's eventual successor.

"Tim is not just a player, he's a superstar," said Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach. "What makes him a superstar is more so than anybody else that I have ever met in any branch of government he knows everybody's name in the State House, from the janitor to the governor's office to the bill drafters."

Hannah J. Powers

Another Miller disciple, Hannah J. Powers, has seen her stock rise during two years at the lobbying firm of Gary R. Alexander. The bubbly 29-year-old comes from a politically connected family — her father managed electoral campaigns in Prince George's County, and her grandfather was a judge — and she considers her youth a plus as the General Assembly gets younger.

"The profession of lobbying requires a lot of energy, and that's something that I have," she said.

Lisa Harris Jones

When Lisa Harris Jones opened her firm in 2000, she was among only a handful of minority and a slightly larger number of women lobbyists in Annapolis. Now, she's one of the hottest tickets in town.

In the past six months, Harris Jones, 40, has hired Sean R. Malone, a longtime aide to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), as partner and formed a strategic partnership with prominent law firm Saul Ewing LLP to boost marketing and build their respective client bases.

Her portfolio includes such recognizable clients as Verizon, Penn National Gaming and the Maryland Computer Services Association. And, she has strong ties in Baltimore city and has good relationships with the O'Malley administration.

But it wasn't always that way. She started out with a single client — the Maryland Minority Contractors Association, which she still represents — and had to break through racial barriers.

"It was hard breaking out of the mold of only representing minority businesses," said Harris Jones, who grossed more than $300,000 in lobbying compensation in the first half of 2008. "I had to provide that I didn't only talk to black lawmakers."

Annapolis watchers believe the addition of Malone strengthens the firm and provides a direct link to the second floor.

Steven J. Wise

Another lobbyist considered to be on the rise is Steven J. Wise, who became a partner at the firm of Jay Schwartz and Pamela M. Kasemeyer last January.

The Eastern Shore native boasts a wide range of clients in the medical, gaming, insurance, utility and alcohol beverage industries. He was the state's 25th-highest-earning lobbyist in the first half of 2008 and was lauded for his ability to deal with members of both parties, his workmanlike personality and his honest approach.

"No matter if you agree with him or disagree with him, he doesn't steer anybody wrong," Miller said.

Wise, 40, came to Annapolis in 1994 as an aide to Del. Peter A. Hammen (D-Dist. 46) of Baltimore after a year on Capitol Hill with then-Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin.

The secret to success as a lobbyist really is no secret, he said. "If you're just honest with people and they can trust your word, that to me is the key. Once you lose that, you never get it back."

Sushant Sidh

The four-person lobbying shop of Capitol Strategies LLC has established itself as a player since its founding about 10 years ago. No stranger to the Maryland political scene, Sushant Sidh boasts a strong policy background in the Glendening administration and has campaign experience to boot.

Sidh, 35, who also worked with former Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens, counts Erickson Retirement Communities, Verizon and Washington Gas among his clients.

"It's knowing the process and really caring about your clients and trying to find the best outcomes possible for them," he said.