Who's Who
The CSPA 2025 Government Relations 100
In Harrisburg and beyond, these are the commonwealth’s most effective advocates
Michael Barley, Kristen Farry & Joseph Hill Pace-O-Matic; Christina McGill; Cozen O’Connor
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For insight into the state's legislative and policy priorities, look no further than its top government affairs professionals, whose advocacy ignites the initiatives that power the commonwealth. The 2025 City & State Who’s Who in Government Relations reveals the importance – and influence – of this out-of-the-spotlight labor, which educates our lawmakers and propels innovation in sectors from health care and higher education to economic development, communications and life-changing technologies.
Andy Agger
A 30-year veteran of the Philadelphia-area banking scene, Andy Agger has worked at Fulton Bank for nearly 20 of them, advocating for local business financing opportunities. Agger, a senior vice president since 2007, has long overseen all of Fulton’s regional commercial banking activities; last October, he added middle market banking to his responsibilities. In addition, Agger serves as vice chair of the bank’s Regional Loan Committee, handling the credit that helps keeps the local economy humming.
Amelia Chassé Alcivar
Since 2023, Amelia Chassé Alcivar has led corporate affairs as an executive vice president at HRP, guiding external relations and communications efforts across the company’s nationwide portfolio of complex redevelopment projects. These include Philadelphia’s 1,300-acre Bellwether District, for which Alcivar worked closely with state officials to secure a long-term Keystone Opportunity Zone designation. Prior to joining HRP, Amelia spent 15 years in strategic communications, public affairs and senior management roles, most recently as chief of staff to then-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
John Bane
A major player in Pennsylvania’s energy sector, John Bane heads government affairs at EQT Corporation, leading state government activity for this natural gas producer in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Bane’s lobbying helped enshrine a carbon capture and storage framework in commonwealth law, among other policies, and was part of the team that helped EQT reach its landmark emissions goals early. Bane, an executive board member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, has also worked for then-Gov. Ed Rendell and a statewide labor union.
Michael Barley
As skill games gain prominence on Pennsylvania’s legislative agenda, Michael Barley represents the interests of the nation’s leading skill game developer, Pace-O-Matic, where he is chief public affairs officer. Leading the company’s government affairs and public relations departments, he has fought to establish the industry’s legal standing in Pennsylvania, having passed skill game legislation in Wyoming, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Barley, a former senior adviser to then-Gov. Tom Corbett and executive director of the Pennsylvania GOP, has also been a lobbyist with Long Nyquist & Associates.
Sheilah Borne
For 20 years, Sheilah Borne has represented Penn State Health’s legislative and regulatory interests at the university’s Office of Government and Community Relations, where she is now vice president for government relations. She recently led a coalition of top research institutions and government entities to secure critical state funding for neurodegenerative research, specifically ALS. Borne, who served as the mayor of Paxtang Borough in Dauphin County from 2017 to 2022, currently mentors a student at Temple University, her alma mater.
Charles Boruchowitz
Campaign veteran Charles Boruchowitz currently manages government relations for Bentley Systems, the Chester County-based infrastructure engineering software company. He recently organized a bipartisan infrastructure panel with state legislative leaders, part of a mission to advance Bentley’s digital solutions nationally and around the globe. Boruchowitz was previously a fundraiser and campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan; he currently chairs the Government Affairs Committee for the Chester County Chamber of Commerce.
Erin Murphy Boyle
Erin Murphy Boyle’s work at Accenture, where she is associate director for health and public service, is informed by her deep knowledge of Pennsylvania’s public sector. Boyle, who previously advised clients at EY, currently leads Accenture’s regional training program for frontline workers. She has worked for the state Department of General Services, directed strategic initiatives for the state Department of Community and Economic Development – and, as a regional representative for the Governor’s Action Team, helped distribute $200 million in state financing for economic initiatives.
David Brown
A national leader in higher-education public affairs, David Brown has served since 2022 as vice chancellor for government relations and advocacy at the University of Pittsburgh, where he represents the research institution at the federal, state and local levels. Brown, who holds a master’s in health administration, began his career as health director for the University of California system and, just before coming to Pittsburgh, held various government and university relations leadership roles over a decade at the University of Southern California.
Mike Brunelle
Government affairs veteran Mike Brunelle recently launched his own firm, River Front Strategies, to provide lobbying and legislative consulting to clients in health care, education and other industries. Brunelle will remain a strategic partner at GSL Public Strategies Group, where he was previously managing director and developed the state and local government consulting practice. Brunelle, a former two-term New Hampshire state representative, has also managed national political affairs for Amazon, directed the New Hampshire Democratic Party and served as then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s chief of staff.
Todd Brysiak
Known for his tenacity, Todd Brysiak brings energy and passion to his role at Triad Strategies, where he is vice president of government affairs – and to raising money for childhood cancer advocacy, an avocation inspired by his daughter’s struggle with the illness. The Delaware County native started as a local government reporter, then worked for years at the state House of Representatives. For Brysiak, who has successfully lobbied for millions in state funding to revitalize commercial developments, economic development is a particular specialty.
Duncan Campbell
Over a dozen years as president of the PA Bankers Association, Duncan Campbell has shepherded numerous financial policies into state law – and this year, he’s tackling legislation to help banks prevent elder financial exploitation. Campbell currently serves on the Government Relations Council of the American Bankers Association, for which he also co-chairs its Grassroots Committee. His previous federal roles include chief of staff to then-U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, a role he also held at the state level when Ridge was governor.
Gregg Caren
Five years after assuming leadership of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, CEO Gregg Caren presides over an organization that brought 550,000 sports fans and meeting attendees to the city last year, generating nearly $400 million in economic impact – a number he expects to rise with the upcoming FIFA World Cup and six NCAA championships. Caren, who previously had a 20-year career at ASM Global, doubled the bureau’s international offices and is expanding into new markets abroad, with last year’s international tourism reaching new heights.
William Carter
A force in Philadelphia-area civic and legislative affairs, William Carter heads local government advocacy and engagement for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In this role, he has championed tax relief and other measures to boost local businesses’ competitiveness and promote an equitable economy. Carter, who holds a law degree from Temple University, got an in-depth political education as Philadelphia City Council’s legislative director, general counsel and chief operating officer.
Joe Conti
As president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, Joe Conti draws on political skills honed over years serving in both chambers of the state’s General Assembly – and a track record of 19 wins in 23 local elections. Conti, who has also served as CEO of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, currently represents FCC-licensed radio and television stations in both state and federal affairs. He has also spearheaded member service programs and a paid internship program to bolster the industry’s development.
Stephen Cozzo
While most lobbyists begin in politics, Stephen Cozzo studied human development and began his career in behavioral health. That background informs his contributions at AmeriHealth Caritas, which he joined in 2006 – and where, since 2020, he has led government relations, external affairs and public policy. Cozzo’s advocacy has helped grow behavioral health, pharmacy benefits and the core Medicaid-managed care services for the Philadelphia area as it expands across the East Coast.
Darrell Davis
As DoorDash’s food delivery grows in popularity, Darrell Davis makes sure the company is also popular – by, for example, partnering with faith-based and nonprofit organizations to coordinate food deliveries to underserved populations. Davis, the company’s senior public engagement manager for the mid-Atlantic and South region, has also partnered DoorDash with local governments to distribute free dashboard cameras to delivery and rideshare drivers. Previously, Davis oversaw local government and civic affairs for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.
Jim Davis
As the Pennsylvania state director for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Harrisburg office, Executive Vice President Jim Davis brings economic bounty to the commonwealth. His lobbying will result in decades of United States Golf Association championships held in the state, now that it has been established as a USGA Anchor Site. Davis also helped to lure the country’s largest can manufacturer to build its North American headquarters in Olyphant, and secured UPS’ fourth-largest facility – and thousands of jobs – for Lower Swatara Township.
Sonia Di Valerio
Sonia Di Valerio brings expert legal perspective to her leadership at the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania, where she became executive director last summer. Di Valerio, who earned undergraduate and law degrees from Temple University, advocates for the region’s building sector in matters ranging from collective bargaining to labor disputes; she is also responsible for the organization’s member education programs and partnerships with governmental agencies. She draws on nearly a decade of experience as a partner at Rawle & Henderson, where she defended trucking and bus companies.
Mark Dombrowski
At Erie Insurance Group, government relations chief Mark Dombrowski closely monitors state and local policy that might affect his longtime employer, a cornerstone of the regional economy. Dombrowski, who has built his career over nearly 30 years at Erie, also fosters employee political engagement, coordinates the company’s PACs and acts as its representative statewide and nationally. In addition, he served on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s transition team and is a board member of the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency.
Nichole Duffy
Lifelong education advocate Nichole F. Duffy serves as vice president of government relations for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. The first-generation student earned a political science degree from Susquehanna University and a master’s in education administration from Lynchburg College. She has overseen the education budget for the governor’s Budget Office, held leadership roles with the state Department of Education and served as a senior education advisor to state House Republican leadership.
Todd Eachus
Since 2021, Todd Eachus has led efforts to expand internet access across the commonwealth as president of the Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania. His recent advocacy has included efforts to reauthorize the 911 fee, shape the Broadband Ready Communities Program and promote updated FCC codes with the state’s Public Utility Commission. Prior to joining BCAP, Eachus, a 10-year U.S. Navy veteran, spent 25 years in government and external affairs roles for cable and broadband providers throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Ohio.
Danielle Eckert
With a passion for pursuing what’s next, Danielle Eckert is championing the opportunities for the electric vehicle transition in her role as government affairs chief for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Eckert, a former U.S. Army sergeant, began her labor career as an Altoona locomotive electrician; she now represents the political interests of 775,000 union members in sectors as varied as utilities, construction, manufacturing and telecommunications.
Sean Edwards
Telecommunications entrepreneur Sean Edwards heads The Rittenhouse Communications Group, a suite of businesses coordinating smart-building technology to make Philadelphia homes, schools and businesses safer. Since launching the company in 2015, the lifelong Philadelphian has grown revenue from the low six digits to $4 million while serving clients ranging from hotels and professional offices to Goddard schools nationally. Closer to home, Edwards has recently worked on Philadelphia CareerLink locations and is upgrading security cameras for the School District of Philadelphia.
Kristen Farry
In 2024, Kristen Farry modeled resilience by balancing cancer treatment with her promotion to executive vice president of policy and strategy at the Woods System of Care, the parent organization of a network of 21 health and human service organizations serving people with autism, intellectual disability, brain injury and behavioral health challenges. With responsibility for government relations, communications, fundraising and marketing, Farry leads the Corporate Strategy practice and has spearheaded funding for recent projects including attainable housing and a mental health crisis treatment center.
Justin Frank
Justin Frank knows how critical communications infrastructure is to the modern workforce – and as Pennsylvania area sales manager for L3Harris Technologies, he helps make it possible. Frank brought the technical skills he honed in law-enforcement roles – he is a former Philadelphia Police sergeant and a veteran of the city’s sheriff’s office – to L3Harris, where he has played a pivotal role in eight-figure infrastructure projects. In addition to advocating for economic and workforce development, Frank also teaches at Rosemont College.
Dennis Giorno
At the Harrisburg firm of Malady & Wooten, Dennis Giorno has a 20-year record of legislative victories on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to education, health care and energy. He led efforts to make permanent the pandemic-era vaccination and testing authority granted to pharmacy workers, and recently worked on the General Assembly’s update to Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law. Giorno, who chairs Kutztown University’s Council of Trustees, previously directed the REACH Alliance, helping secure passage of the landmark Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
Alex Halper
Since 2022, Alex Halper has led efforts to make Pennsylvania the nation’s most competitive state for business as chief of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Halper has partnered the commonwealth’s largest broad-based employer advocacy association with like-minded stakeholders to eliminate Pennsylvania’s tax on startups and ensure the ongoing planned reduction of the state’s corporate net income tax rate. The Allentown native previously honed his political skills working in Washington, D.C., for the late U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
Asim Z. Haque
An attorney by training, Asim Haque brings legal and governmental expertise to a career in public affairs and the utility sector. He is currently senior vice president for governmental and member services at PJM Interconnection. This Pennsylvania-based electric grid operator provides energy to some 70 million people across more than a dozen states. Haque, who began his career in private practice, previously served as assistant counsel for Honda of America Manufacturing and, most recently, chaired the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Erin Dwyer Harvard
Lifelong Philadelphian Erin Dwyer Harvard directs public affairs for the General Building Contractors Association, where, in 2024, she achieved the highest PAC fundraising in the organization’s history. Under Harvard’s leadership, the newly established public affairs team elevated GBCA’s political profile by, among other things, championing the candidacy and priorities of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and supporting regional diversity initiatives for the construction trades. Parker recently appointed Harvard to the Philadelphia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Abbey Haslam
As director of government affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, Abbey Haslam leads a team dedicated to translating free-market ideas into public policies and effective communication. Haslam’s team lobbied to double Pennsylvania’s tax-credit scholarship programs over three years, reaching 75,000 more students. Her crusade for spending restraint helped lead to a 2,900% increase in the state’s Rainy Day fund and bond-rating upgrades, and her team helped pass a constitutional amendment limiting gubernatorial power. Haslam previously advanced free-market policies in roles at the state Capitol.
Valerie Hatfield
Twice recognized as a Workforce Development Hero by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, Valerie Hatfield has devoted her career to helping Pennsylvanians connect with the local economy. She currently manages workforce and economic development for Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. In her past roles, her efforts helped secure over $8 million in grants for job preparation initiatives. A founding member of Career Ready Lancaster! and a 2021 graduate of Leadership Lancaster, Hatfield is a former PA CareerLink Site Administrator and currently serves with the Keystone Apprenticeship Alliance.
Dan Hayward
Twenty years after he joined Novak Strategic Advisors, Dan Hayward is a co-owner and the managing partner for one of Pennsylvania’s premier government relations firms. He is the architect of its public affairs division, which rallies local, regional and statewide support to drive legislative successes in Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., and the court of public opinion. Hayward also serves on the board of Western & Central Pennsylvania BreakthroughT1D, a diabetes advocacy organization, and recently collaborated in the creation of a first-of-its-kind Pennsylvania-based Cancer Respite Center.
Joseph Hill
Joseph Hill leads the government relations and public advocacy efforts in Philadelphia for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, a division of the powerful global legal and advocacy network. Among his many legislative victories was Pennsylvania’s recent bipartisan probation reform, and he has secured millions in commonwealth funding for key Philadelphia-area initiatives. Hill has held political roles with former Gov. Tom Wolf and former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and, more recently, advised the transition teams of Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.
Mary Isenhour
At the government affairs firm she co-founded, Rooney Novak Isenhour Group, Mary Isenhour finds satisfaction in achieving success for clients who improve Pennsylvania – expanding the state’s agricultural footprint, upgrading cutting-edge technology and creating jobs and educational opportunities. Isenhour, a senior partner, views her advocacy as a continuation of her public service career, which includes holding senior roles with then-Govs. Tom Wolf and Ed Rendell, leading the state Democratic Party and serving as the first woman on the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Noah Karn
As vice president of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, Noah Karn shapes laws and regulations impacting one of the nation’s largest insurance markets. A specialist in economic policy, Karn draws on business and political relationships to advance the industry’s public policy agenda and leads its political advocacy efforts through the Pennsylvania Insurance Political Action Committee. Before joining the federation in 2018, he held senior staff positions in both chambers of the state General Assembly.
Laura Stevens Kent
In 2024, Laura Stevens Kent brought her extensive health policy expertise to DeBrunner & Associates, a health policy consulting and advocacy firm, where she is vice president of federal affairs. Kent previously served as senior vice president of advocacy and external affairs for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, where she led state and federal lobbying, communications and political engagement for 235 member institutions. Before that, she worked for over a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives.
James Kessler
In 2023, James Kessler was an integral part of the award-winning short film “Forgiving Johnny,” which details how a Los Angeles County public defender successfully represented a disabled client – thanks to the digital client case management system Kessler implemented. The episode illuminates Kessler’s impact over three decades of digital business consulting with Publicis Sapient, the global consultancy where he is a senior vice president. An engineer by training, Kessler currently serves as national business lead for state and local government.
Holly Kinser
Though born into a politically active California family, lobbyist Holly Kinser is indelibly associated with Philadelphia politics. A veteran of Greenlee Associates and S.R. Wojdak, she built her own public affairs consultancy, The Kinser Group, before merging with Bellevue Strategies, where she is expanding the clientele as senior vice president for government relations. Kinser is known for her advocacy with the City of Philadelphia under then-Mayors Ed Rendell and Michael Nutter, as well as her work in Harrisburg with a succession of governors and legislatures.
Colleen Kopp
As Wojdak’s senior vice president for government affairs, Colleen Kopp draws on three decades of experience in state government and public policy. Her roles have included chief of staff at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, secretary for legislative affairs under then-Gov. Ed Rendell, and partner at a government affairs startup. At Wojdak, Kopp has expanded the firm’s clientele and secured important funding for the arts, health care and economic development initiatives.
Stephanie L. Kosta
Attorney Stephanie L. Kosta is Comcast’s regional vice president for government and regulatory affairs and community impact in the Freedom Region – Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. In addition to heading advocacy and compliance, Kosta has also led efforts to connect thousands of Philadelphia-area residents to the internet through initiatives like Internet Essentials, for low-income families, and PHLConnectED, the pandemic-era student program. Kosta, who is also responsible for Comcast Foundation grants, was previously a partner at Duane Morris.
Dave Kralle
A veteran of both the water industry and government relations, Dave Kralle currently oversees public affairs for the water and natural gas divisions at Essential Utilities, where he has worked for a decade, including managing the Essential Foundation. He led recent efforts to pass groundbreaking legislation impacting the valuation of water and wastewater systems and streamlining the removal of lead service lines, and helped secure millions of dollars for PFAS treatment. Kralle recently served on Attorney General Dave Sunday’s Energy & Environment transition committee.
Laura Kuller
Attorney Laura Kuller serves as founder and principal of Pursuit Advocacy, the Harrisburg-area lobbying firm she founded in 2022 to specialize in state-level issues. Kuller’s knowledge of Harrisburg comes from previous roles with the state attorney general and, variously, as counsel and chief of staff for leaders of the state House of Representatives; she has also led state government affairs for a national law firm. Her recent successes include legislation around elementary literacy education, substance-use treatment facilities and mental health treatment centers.
Hugh J. Lavery
In Washington, Harrisburg and Trenton, Hugh Lavery represents Jefferson, the Philadelphia-based institution comprising Jefferson Health, Jefferson Health Plans and Thomas Jefferson University. As Jefferson has expanded its regional footprint, Lavery has helped shape important policy discussions around the evolution of health care. His background spans operations, government affairs and external partnerships, including leadership roles in medical programs and as a campus administrator. Active in civic, workforce and health circles, Lavery received the 2019 Advocacy Award from the Veterans Multi-Service Center.
Katherine Levins
Year after year, Katherine Levins advocates to ensure that Temple University Health System receives the $160 million in state funding that helps keep it a top-tier enterprise, with research hospitals propelled by nearly 2,000 physicians and scientists. Levins is the longtime vice president for public policy and government affairs for the health system, which generates an estimated $9 billion in regional economic impact. She holds both an MBA and a law degree from Temple University.
Mike Long
Mike Long traces much of his success as a partner in LongNyquist, Harrisburg’s largest government relations firm, to the knowledge he picked up over a quarter-century as majority staff administrator at the Pennsylvania Senate. Alongside Todd Nyquist, Long also launched LN Consulting, which played a pivotal role in the victories of Attorney General-elect Dave Sunday and reelected Auditor General Tim DeFoor, among others. Long, who is active in the Lebanon County Republican Party, recently helped spearhead LongNyquist’s acquisition of the lobbying outfit Pugliese Associates.
Amal Mahrouki
As senior director of state and local affairs, Amal Mahrouki advocates for 100,000-plus nationwide members of The American Institute of Architects, whose Pennsylvania chapter she represented for the past decade. Mahrouki also serves as vice president of the Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations and played a key role in landmark state architect credentialing legislation. The onetime professional actor also leads public relations for the Harrisburg Area Roller Derby and is executive director of Bare Bones Theatre Ensemble.
Brittany Mako
One of the commonwealth’s best-known younger lobbyists, Brittany Mako is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Government Relations and serves as public policy chair of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Business and Commerce Young Professionals Council. Mako has also worked on some of the state’s most significant health legislation – around prior authorization, pharmacy benefit manager reform and CHIP participation – as government affairs manager for Capital Blue Cross. Married to state Rep. Zach Mako, she began her career working in the Pennsylvania State House.
Gregory Moreland
A decorated combat veteran, Greg Moreland now brings that sense of mission to his advocacy as Pennsylvania state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. He has championed Pennsylvania’s recent landmark corporate tax reform, legislation fortifying bankruptcy protections and a measure simplifying taxes for the state’s small businesses. Moreland, who holds a master’s in public administration, has also worked in staff roles in both chambers of the state General Assembly.
Melissa Wilbur Morgan
As assistant state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, Melissa Wilbur Morgan advocates for favorable tax strategy and other measures to ensure that the commonwealth’s small businesses operate in a competitive environment. Before joining the NFIB, Morgan was a legislative and policy analyst for over a decade with the Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors. She holds a political science degree and a master’s of public administration from Shippensburg University.
Jon O’Brien
As executive director of the Keystone Contractors Association, Jon O’Brien oversees a commercial construction trade association that provides labor relations, safety services, and workforce and business development programs throughout the commonwealth. O’Brien, a U.S. Navy veteran and University of Pittsburgh journalism graduate, has spearheaded initiatives to combat suicide in the construction trade and recently represented the construction industry at the White House for the President’s Challenge to End Overdoses. O’Brien also co-hosts the popular Building PA podcast.
Douglas I. Oliver
Douglas Oliver has built a successful public affairs career in his hometown of Philadelphia, where he is PECO’s senior vice president for governmental, regulatory and external affairs and in the Capital region, where he worked in state government and was recognized as Milton Hershey School’s 2024 Alumnus of the Year. The one-time Philadelphia mayoral candidate also led external affairs for Philadelphia Gas Works and worked as a press secretary for the city before joining the commonwealth’s largest electric and natural gas utility in 2016.
Daniel Onorato
Daniel Onorato, a former Allegheny County Executive, joined Highmark Health in 2012 and currently leads government relations for the Pittsburgh-based health system as its chief corporate affairs officer. Onorato, who is currently an executive vice president at Highmark, began his career as an attorney before serving two terms on the Pittsburgh City Council, one as Allegheny County comptroller and winning the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010. At Highmark, he helps bolster a fast-growing company with a national clientele and $27 billion in annual revenue.
Teresa Osborne
As state advocacy director for AARP Pennsylvania, Teresa Osborne steers government relations, political strategy and community engagement for the state branch of America’s largest senior advocacy organization. It’s a constituency she knows well: Osborne previously led the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, managing myriad services for the state’s nearly 3 million 60-plus residents. The Scranton-bred social worker began her career with Meals on Wheels of Northeastern Pennsylvania and has led several Northeastern Pennsylvania county aging and human services agencies.
Kim Pizzingrilli
Two years ago, Kim Pizzingrilli used her three decades of state government and private-sector legal experience to help found One+ Strategies, a government relations team of lobbyists, communication specialists, public policy leaders and attorneys. She draws on more than a quarter-century of experience at the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, as Pennsylvania state secretary, and as a commissioner with the Public Utility Commission. Most recently, she led the government relations practice group and co-chaired the energy industry team at a mid-state law firm.
Nicole Pumphrey
Committed to an equitable and diverse labor force, Nikki Pumphrey currently oversees talent and workforce at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where she leads efforts to recruit top candidates from around the region and the world. She previously secured a record philanthropic gift and launched the Alumni Advisory Board at Per Scholas, the technology-training program where she was the Philadelphia senior managing director. Pumphrey has also served as deputy director at the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians and led international programs at local universities.
Zakary Pyzik
At the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, Poconos native Zakary Pyzik has served since 2021 as senior director of public affairs. A member of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Business Roundtable Committees, Pyzik collaborated with legislators to enhance the city’s post-pandemic outdoor dining scene. He has also worked on legislation scrutinizing the impact of Pennsylvania’s short-term rental economy and serves on the steering committee for the Outdoor Business Alliance, a state initiative aimed at bolstering Pennsylvania as a leader in outdoor recreation, tourism and job creation.
Chuck Quinnan
Chuck Quinnan joined LeadingAge PA in 2022 after serving as associate state director for advocacy and outreach at AARP Pennsylvania. As chief government affairs officer, he has helped secure Medicaid funding increases in the last three state budgets and workforce-bolstering legislation to permit certified medication aides in nursing homes. Quinnan was executive director of the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council under then-Gov. Tom Wolf and, before that, directed the state House of Representatives Finance and Aging and Older Adult Services committees.
Mustafa Rashed
Philadelphia native Mustafa Rashed heads Bellevue Strategies, a public affairs firm. Rashed learned the power of communication as a student intern at the Philadelphia Tribune, and brought that social consciousness to his advocacy for projects with impact – including lobbying the city to fund the African-American Museum of Philadelphia and leading the coalition that successfully fought for a city beverage tax to fund community infrastructure.
Eric Reed
After 20 years in senior leadership at Verizon – most recently, leading policy and community engagement team in California – Eric Reed now heads advocacy in Pennsylvania and Delaware for the company’s regional public policy and state government affairs team. Under his leadership, Verizon recently won federal Capital Project Funds to promote broadband expansion across Pennsylvania, and partnered with the City of Philadelphia to connect city recreation centers to broadband internet. Reed serves on the Team Pennsylvania Board of Directors and advised Gov. Josh Shapiro’s transition team.
Robert Reilly
Robert Reilly is the government relations officer for WellSpan Health, representing an integrated health system that serves central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. As WellSpan’s chief advocate, Reilly is a key part of the team that earned the American Hospital Association Quest for Quality Prize last year. Reilly, previously the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, has also been named Government Leader of the Year by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Official of the Year by the York County Economic Alliance.
Bill Ries
Bill Ries has served as UPMC Health Plan’s vice president for government and public relations for over a decade. Most recently, he has led efforts to address the impacts of post-COVID Medicaid disenrollment on the state Medicaid program and academic medical centers, spearheading a coalition to strategize around funding shortfalls. Ries previously directed government affairs for PPG Industries and, before that, served as a chief of staff in Congress and the state Senate, where he was also executive director of the Senate Finance Committee.
Silas Russell
Over 15 years at SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, Silas Russell has championed the workplace rights of 45,000 employees in hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities statewide. He is currently executive vice president for SEIU Healthcare PA, the commonwealth’s largest and fastest-growing health care workers’ union, as well as its political director. With a background in grassroots organizing, he has the ear of Pennsylvania’s most influential lawmakers – and a record of delivering results for his constituency.
Andrew Sharp
As state government relations director for Penn Medicine, Andrew Sharp plays a key role in shaping commonwealth health care policy – and keeps Penn’s pioneering research at the forefront of policy discussions. He closely tracks hospital-related legislation and has fought to preserve regional health care access amid ongoing hospital consolidation. Sharp, a veteran of Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, served on the transition teams for Attorney General Dave Sunday and Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Kevin Shivers
As CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, Kevin Shivers is at the forefront of state banking policy. He has promoted measures to protect seniors from financial exploitation and advocated for deregulation to spur a new era of startup banks. Shivers previously helmed the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business for nearly 20 years. The executive organization Titan CEO has named him twice a Top 100 CEO.
Chris Shuster
Chris Shuster specializes in helping municipal and other employers navigate the challenges of fast-changing workplace standards. As principal for advisory consulting at KPMG U.S., he has counseled the global consultancy’s government clients on a variety of human capital issues, from workforce challenges to regulatory matters. Shuster, who is based in Philadelphia, joined KPMG in 2016. He previously co-founded and led development for his own executive consulting firm and has held leadership roles with Clearpoint and InfoLogix.
Nick Simpson
From credit cards to one-tap digital transfers, Nick Simpson knows people love today’s convenient payment options – and as public affairs and communications chief for the Electronic Payments Coalition, he represents a fast-growing organization of stakeholders dedicated to this cash-free security. Simpson has a long history of successful marketing and public affairs work, including for the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the financial technology outfit Klarna and the Consumer Banking Association.
Laura Spadaro
As vice president for primary care and public health policy at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, Laura Spadaro is a leader in health policy and advocacy. She recently secured $4 million in state funding for a new community health center, and her efforts have elevated the voices of primary care clinicians and earned Wright gold-status Advocacy Center recognition. Spadaro previously worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Health on initiatives related to the opioid crisis, gun violence and COVID-19.
Michael Strazzella
As a senior principal at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Michael Strazzella co-chairs a full-service government relations practice covering Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Florida. His recent successes include securing legislation increasing reimbursement for veterans’ home-care services and shepherding a client through a two-year congressional investigation. Strazzella serves on several advisory committees for members of Congress and national political organizations and is a frequent lecturer on federal health care issues. He also mentors students from his alma mater, Gettysburg College, where he is active with the Eisenhower Institute.
David Taylor
As CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, David N. Taylor leads a century-old statewide trade group representing the commonwealth’s $100 billion+ manufacturing sector. Most recently, he brought his organization’s pro-growth, pro-production agenda to the transition team of Attorney General Dave Sunday. Taylor is also a vocal advocate for maximizing domestic energy production and infrastructure to bolster Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness. The Huntingdon native, who first joined PMA in 1997, has also held roles with the Republican National Committee and the U.S. and Pennsylvania senates.
Gregory Thall
As one of Harrisburg’s sharpest numbers gurus, Greg Thall brings extensive experience to overseeing budget and regulatory affairs for GSL Public Strategies. Gov. Josh Shapiro appointed him chair of the State Employees Retirement System in 2023. He has been a longtime board member of the system and previously served as secretary of the budget for the state Office of the Budget for eight years. Thall, a Villanova Law graduate, has also held legal roles with the state Senate and the governor’s office.
Brian Tierney
Brian Tierney has created multiple firms during his career and currently heads Brian Communications, a Philadelphia public relations firm. Tierney, who also holds a law degree, is also known for being the investor-publisher behind Philly.com, the news website that won a Pulitzer Prize and reached No. 2 in national advertising dollars. His advertising and communications clients read like a roster of Philadelphia’s top employers, from Comcast and Independence Blue Cross to AmeriHealth Caritas.
Tim Ward
Tim Ward coordinates lobbying in Harrisburg and Washington for the Pennsylvania Healthcare Association, where he directs advocacy and government relations. He recently helped secure an additional $120 million in annual state Medicaid reimbursement and a $5 million increase in nursing-home Medicaid, along with legislation to create a Certified Medication Aide professional designation in Pennsylvania nursing facilities. Appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council, Ward previously worked as a state House chief of staff and managed state legislature campaigns.
Stephanie Watkins
The commonwealth’s world-class health systems have an advocate in Stephanie Watkins. As advocacy and policy chief for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, she engages policymakers on the complexities of contemporary health care and raises awareness of hospitals’ critical community functions. Most recently, Watkins is highlighting the critical issues facing rural health care and the need for more equitable maternal health policies. She began her career in Harrisburg legislative circles and has also served as a senior lobbyist and run her own advocacy firm.
Dan Wiedemer
Commonwealth educators are enjoying a record boost in state funding, thanks in part to the Pennsylvania State Education Association and its assistant executive director, Dan Wiedemer. Wiedemer leads a government relations team that crusades for public school support, promoting legislation to boost dollars for schools and teacher pensions and initiatives to ameliorate the shortage of teaching professionals. He is also a force at election time, rallying his 180,000-strong constituency to support candidates who support public education.
Mitch Vidovich
From the Affordable Care Act to the opioid epidemic and prescription drug prices, Mitch Vidovich ensures that Independence Blue Cross is at the center of health policy conversations. As the Philadelphia insurer’s longtime chief of government affairs, he leads its powerful PAC and coordinates stakeholder partnerships with the $140 million Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Vidovich, who learned the ways of Pennsylvania and Washington politics as a senior staffer to then-U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, was recently named to Attorney General Dave Sunday’s transition committee.
Peter Yaffe
Peter Yaffe is the founder and president of Capitol Strategies Group, a boutique, multi-state government relations firm. Under his leadership, the outfit has helped win tax credits for affordable housing, increase Medicaid funding and secure grants for clients in fields spanning health care, housing, nonprofits and government. Yaffe previously headed legislative affairs at one of Pennsylvania’s largest lobbying firms, and held leadership roles at Philadelphia Gas Works and Waste Management and worked for the governor, the mayor of Philadelphia and state agencies.
Malcolm Yates
Malcolm Yates oversees government relations for Public Health Management Corporation, the fast-growing Philadelphia human services nonprofit for which he has secured more than $50 million in services and contracts. In 2023, Yates launched his own consultancy, Emjae Strategies, to bridge community needs and government resources. He served on the transition teams for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Chester City Mayor Stefan Roots, was Southeastern Pennsylvania political director for the Harris-Walz campaign and currently serves as convenor of the Delaware County Black Caucus.
Jonathan Young
Service to others was inculcated in Jonathan Young during his Darby Township childhood – and it remains his mission as political director for the Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters, where he advocates for some 42,000 unionized workers. Young, who joined the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in 1996, is also in his second term as a Camden County commissioner, where he has overseen public safety. He is also a member of the Black Legislative Caucus Labor Advisory Panel.
Ray Zaborney
When Elon Musk invested $1 million to elect Pennsylvania GOP candidates last fall, nearly half of that went to campaign materials with Ray Zaborney’s Red Maverick Media – one of three political consulting, public affairs and lobbying firms Zaborney has established to wield influence in Harrisburg and beyond. Zaborney’s often-aggressive efforts have made him the architect of numerous state-level Republican victories, with clients including the new Pennsylvania House Republican Campaign Committee chair, state Rep. Jamie Barton.
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