CASSIDY - Key Persons
Amelia is an Executive Vice President at Cassidy and Associates where clients rely on her in depth experience on Capitol Hill working on every facet of natural resource policy from western water issues to tribal matters to forest management.
Amelia joined Cassidy in 2015 after serving as Deputy Staff Director and Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources since 2011. Amelia served as chief policy advisor and strategist to then U.S. Rep. and now U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and its current Ranking Member U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) on legislative matters involving the management of 600 million acres of federal land, domestic energy production, tribal matters, territories and insular areas, wildlife, and western water. She was also the primary policy contact with House leadership, White House Legislative Affairs, Council on Environmental Quality, in addition to Departments under the committee's jurisdiction.
Prior to the committee, Amelia was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Energy where she served as the top assistant to the Assistant Secretary and directly managed and oversaw the Department's interaction with Members of the House of Representatives and all local, state, and tribal governments.
Her tenure in Washington has also included serving as Senior Advisor and Subcommittee Staff Director to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power; Director of Coalition Development for the Western Governors' Association; Senior Legislative Staff for the House Committee on Resources; Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA); and Legislative Aide to Congressman DeFazio.
Amelia earned a master's degree in Environmental Science and Forest Economics from the University of Idaho and a bachelor's degree in Business and Economics from Weber State University.
Andrea is a Staff Assistant at Cassidy & Associates, maintaining schedules and handling administrative duties for top Cassidy executives and the national security and defense teams. Andrea has worked with Cassidy's President Barry Rhoads for the past 18 years.
In a town where defense and security of the homeland are at the top of the agenda, Terry Paul stands out as leader in the consulting industry as he serves as an Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates. A remarkable military career combined with intimate familiarity of the legislative process, he brings extraordinary value and Hill experience to the firm's clients. During his Marine Corp's career as an infantry officer, he served in various command and staff positions at virtually every echelon from platoon through division. A cherished highlight of his career was as a Captain he co-founded the renowned Marine's Infantry Officers School. General Paul is best known in Washington for his experience as the Marine Corps liaison officer in the U.S. Senate, a post he held for an unprecedented ten years until he was promoted to General Officer and assigned to the Pentagon, where he oversaw all legislative issues in the House and the Senate. The increase to the Marines' Congressional defense funding was very evident during his tenure. His years of world travel escorting Senate and House members provided rare and influential time with members. That exposure created frequent opportunities for mentoring, building enduring relationships, and allowed a forum for presenting candid advice on defense matters. As a trusted confidant, he continues that role today providing experienced counsel to senior military leaders in a supportive, advising effort. Consequently, for the over 10 years he has headed the Cassidy Defense team's effort, the team has enjoyed an unparalleled success rate with clients that otherwise have been stymied and frustrated by the huge bureaucracy within DOD. From energy saving applications to communication devices…. from new aircraft to armored vehicles from ships to satellites….the Cassidy Defense team has excelled at assisting clients in a wide variety of businesses, both foreign and domestic, with winning lucrative opportunities within DOD's vast market. Bio page »
Andrew Forbes has recently rejoined the firm after nearly four years as Legislative Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Sen. James M. Inhofe. In that capacity, he was directly engaged in NDAA policy and process. He was also integral in Sen. Inhofe's work on the Environment and Public Works Committee where he helped draft and secure numerous water resources and infrastructure priorities.
In his 15 years both on and off the Hill, Andrew has developed a deep understanding of the appropriations process as well as defense, transportation, infrastructure and water resource development issues both from a staff and government relations perspective. Andrew has been essential in helping achieve discretionary funding goals and moving projects along on behalf of several clients. His relationships on Capitol Hill in both Chambers of Congress have allowed him to gather valuable intelligence and effectively advance clients' agendas.
Previously, Andrew served as a senior legislative aide in the House where he managed multiple issue portfolios including appropriations, transportation, defense, energy and judiciary. He began his Capitol Hill career working for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he spent two and half years and had the opportunity to work on the 2005 highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) as well as on aviation policy directly under former Aviation Subcommittee Chairman, John Mica (R-FL).
Arthur is an Executive Vice President at Cassidy and Associates and is well known for his extensive network of relationships throughout high levels of government, politics, business and non-profits. He works with clients to advance their objectives by providing the strategic advice and connections needed to position their issues for success. Over his career at Cassidy & Associates, he has served a wide variety of clients including corporate giants, entrepreneurial start-ups, name brand retail products, large healthcare systems, and premier educational institutions.
A popular and entertaining speaker, Arthur is frequently asked to address organizations on "What's Happening in Washington." The diversity of his experience and expertise provides a unique viewpoint that cuts to the core of legislative and political issues. He has served as a guest lecturer on contemporary politics at American University. He has moderated panels for the intelligence community and authored an article on the landscape of challenges facing Congress during an election year.
A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, Arthur was a member of the United States Army and served in the infantry as a first lieutenant and captain in Vietnam. While a company commander, he was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, the Bronze Star, three Air Medals, a Valorous Unit Citation, and numerous other declarations.
Barbara is an Executive Vice President at Cassidy and Associates with over 30 years of combined experience working both in the federal government and in federal government relations. She navigates the intricacies of Congress and across federal agencies, effectively leveraging this experience on behalf of many of the firm's largest and longest standing clients by successfully identifying creative opportunities and solving problems.
For more than 25 years, Barbara has advised corporate CEOs, university and college presidents, hospital executives, municipalities and leaders of non-profit entities on the implications of federal legislation and related regulatory policy. She is a firm believer that in order to be an effective lobbyist, one must fully understand the intersection of policy and politics as it relates to a client's challenge or its strategic planning goals.
Barbara's accomplishments are grounded in the kind of first-hand experience that comes only from working at the highest level of Congress where she served on the Leadership Staff of former Speaker of the House, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. until 1987 when she joined Cassidy and Associates. Her frequent interaction with nearly every office in the House of Representatives, Senate, the White House and the executive branch agencies has provided her with access to an extensive bipartisan political and legislative network in Washington which she maintains to this day.
A lifelong Red Sox fan, Barbara is a native of Boston and received her B.A. from Trinity College in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Leadership Team
Barry is best known for his work with a long list of states and communities facing the daunting threat of military base closure or realignment. After returning from service as a war crimes prosecutor during the first Gulf War, Barry was named Deputy General Counsel to the 1991 Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission. During this time Barry worked on every aspect of the first round of base closures, with an emphasis on environmental remediation, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Commission and its operating procedures. A regular writer and speaker on the topic of military basing, reuse and development, Barry has received special recognition for his pioneering work in various aspects of defense-related privatization.
In 2001 Barry founded the Rhoads group which grew into a very successful firm. The Rhoads Group focused on defense and homeland security issues, working with public and private sector organizations, colleges and universities seeking to support the defense and security of the United States. In late 2010, Barry accepted a merger offer from Cassidy and Associates, ensuring the continuity of his work with Rhoads Group and greatly expanding the resources available to clients.
Prior to taking the helm of his own firm, Barry was a partner in the Washington law firm of Verner Lipfert where he began his defense practice developing and implementing legislative strategies for a broad range of defense and aerospace contractors, Fortune 500 corporations and high-technology leaders.
Before joining the Base Closure Commission, Barry was a partner at the firm Watt, Tieder & Hoffar, where his practice included government contracts, construction litigation, and defense and security issues. In 1987, during his tenure as a federal prosecutor for the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice, he was named the Department of Justice Tax Division Outstanding Attorney of the Year.
Barry retired from the United States Army after 22 years of service, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and holds a BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Admin. Asst
- Administrative Assistant
- Receptionist
- Receptionist and Administrative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates
Candace is a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates, supporting the Cassidy team with scheduling, expense reports, and additional administrative services. Candace also greets and assists clients when they arrive at the Cassidy offices. Candace joined Cassidy in 2012 after 25 years with the American Bankers Association.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Chad is a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where he puts his legal background and expertise in defense policy together to help develop effective strategies and deliver real results for clients.
Chad joined Cassidy in June 2017 after serving on Capitol Hill since 2011. He most recently served as a senior defense policy aide and counsel to U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), and prior to that in similar roles as a military legislative aide to Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC).
Chad holds the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army, earlier serving as a battalion intelligence officer and company commander and continues to serve as a reservist as an aviation officer rated in the AH-64 Apache helicopter.
Prior to his active duty service in the Army, Chad was an Assistant District Attorney in Raleigh, NC.
Chad is a graduate of North Carolina State University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and holds a Juris Doctor from Campbell University. He remains a member in good standing of the North Carolina State Bar.
Charles brings more than a decade of successfully drafting and advancing public policy on Capitol Hill to his position as Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates. His keen awareness of issues combined with his technical and political skills have helped him create meaningful solutions to some of the nation's public policy challenges.
Charles led negotiations for Senate Republicans on Public Law 113-121, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA), serving as a senior advisor to then Ranking Member Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. That was the first authorization bill for the Army Corps of Engineers in seven years. Charles' work was so crucial to the bill's success that Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) brought him back to the EPW committee to help pass the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act in December 2016.
His tenure on Capitol Hill also includes work on the successful passage of the two most recent highway reauthorization bills known as the FAST Act and MAP-21.
Before joining Cassidy, Charles served as Majority Senior Water Resources Policy Advisor for the EPW Committee and prior to that worked as a senior advisor to then Chairman Vitter of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Charles also served at the EPW Committee during Senator Vitter's tenure as ranking member, from 2012 to 2015, and from 2011 to 2012 on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. He served in various roles before that in Sen. Vitter's personal office.
Charles earned a bachelor's degree in political science, history and philosophy from Louisiana State University.
Devin Barrett joins Cassidy as a Vice President, applying her expertise and understanding of complex legislative policy issues to assist clients in navigating congressional and regulatory landscapes.
Prior to joining Cassidy, Devin worked for Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) on issues before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Enterprise, including healthcare, education, labor, pensions, Native American affairs, agriculture, trade, appropriations and budget. Additionally, she handled issues related to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including telecommunications, fisheries and transportation policy as well as aviation priorities in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018.
Prior to joining Cassidy, Devin also served as a Public Affairs Advisor at Holland and Knight.
Devin graduated from George Washington University with a Master of Professional Studies Legislative Affairs and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma.
Donna Jo, a Vice President at Cassidy and Associates, provides clients with expertise on the development and deployment of legislative, regulatory and advocacy strategies. She specializes in food, nutrition and appropriations issues and where these sectors connect with a broad range of policy, budget, and regulatory matters from production, research, health and food safety, to international trade and commerce.
She brings in-depth government relations experience to Cassidy having served for 12 years as a senior policy and political aide in the U.S. Senate advising U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and J. Bennett Johnston, and uses that background to help her clients successfully navigate the legislative process. Her pragmatic approach to solving multifaceted problems and advancing solutions across party lines has enabled her to develop effective advocacy strategies on behalf of her clients. Her diverse client experience includes advising an agricultural cooperative with $2B in consumer sales, facilitating trade and food safety crisis management for a multinational meat packing company, to working with a large community college system on the advancement of research, food and nutrition programs. Having a broad understanding of the legislative and regulatory process and how political hurdles often interfere, enables her to drive success for her clients.
Prior to her work at Cassidy, she served as Director of Legislative Affairs for United Fresh Produce Association where she led the produce industry's International Trade Council and served as a member of USDA's Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee in Fruits and Vegetables.
Job Titles:
- Office Services Assistant
Jason is the Office Services Assistant at Cassidy & Associates, assisting with all mail services, copy and print production, ordering supplies, reception coverage, conference rooms setups in the office. Jason is from Washington, D.C. and was an on-call service specialist for IST Management before joining the Cassidy team.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee
Jed joined Cassidy after serving as Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he was responsible for negotiating and advancing legislation on electricity generation and transmission, natural gas transportation, cybersecurity, and clean energy technologies such as energy storage and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration. Prior to the Committee, Jed served as Energy Counsel to Sen. John Barrasso and practiced energy regulatory law at a major law firm.
Jed earned a law degree from the George Washington University Law School and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Jen is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where she uses her extensive experience in communicating public policy along with her strategic and political acumen to deliver results for clients. She played a key role in successful efforts to tackle major surface transportation, water resource, and aviation issues while serving as Communications Director for the Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2015 to 2019.
Jen gained significant experience in all issue areas under the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including surface transportation, aviation, water infrastructure and maritime transportation, rail and pipelines, and public buildings. Prior to that, she served on the Committee on Natural Resources and worked extensively on issues related to conservation, public lands, and resource development. Earlier she served as Press Secretary for Representative Peter DeFazio.
Jen has served as one of Congressman DeFazio's top aides for the last twelve years-including as his campaign manager for three campaign cycles.
During her time on Capitol Hill, Jen earned a reputation for her effectiveness, responsiveness, and for her ability to turn ideas into action. As a top communications professional, she was responsible for taking complex policy and translating it to make a lasting impact in Member offices and in the public debate.
Jen is a proud Oregonian, who graduated from Oregon State University with a B.A. in Political Science.
Jesse is a Vice President at Cassidy and Associates where he helps clients successfully navigate the legislative and regulatory landscape across the federal government. Jesse strives to build strategic relationships for stakeholders and clients so they may secure critical investments and help educate decision makers in Washington.
Jesse recently served as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) where he managed a public policy portfolio that included energy, financial services, transportation and labor issues. He was responsible for monitoring federal policy, interacting with state and local government stakeholders and briefing lawmakers and their staff on Congressional and Administration initiatives and priorities. He also served as the Congresswoman's liaison to the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Congressional Alaskan Pacific Asian Caucus, and has strong connections to the Congressional Black Caucus. Jesse earlier served a similar role to U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY).
A Native of New York, Jesse earned a bachelor's degree in political science from American University and a master's degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University. Jesse serves on the Advisory Board for the Grassroots Professional Network, is the co-founder of Electing a Democratic Generation (EDGE), and is a two-timed recipient of the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
As the Chief Operating Officer of Cassidy and Associates, Jordan manages the day-to-day operations of the firm while also representing his clients who are as diverse as global brand names to national non-profits, large integrated health systems, universities and trade associations. He specializes in devising and executing comprehensive legislative strategies directed at promoting clients' specific federal policy and funding objectives in Washington.
Jordan's exceptional ability to create and grow relationships between the federal government and public and private entities is grounded in his tenure as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson. In this role, Jordan not only had unique inside-access to the legislative process, but also was an essential participant in the determination of congressional policy and appropriations. His policy work encompassed healthcare, transportation, homeland security, education, telecommunications, corporate governance, defense, and other front-burner topics.
Jordan provides trusted advice and counsel to many of his clients as their general representative in Washington relying on his keen awareness that client issues don't fall neatly into a single category and that the best solutions come from having a deep understanding of the entire legislative and political process.
He earned a bachelors degree in Political Science from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Political Management from George Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
- Member of the Cherokee Nation
Julie is an Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates, providing clients key insight on how Washington works from her more than 20 years of experience in government, politics and the private sector. She joined Cassidy after serving 11 years as chief of staff to Congresswoman Doris Matsui where she earned a reputation as one the hardest working and most effective senior staff members on Capitol Hill.
She distinguished herself as a leading presence on a diverse set of issues from energy to tech to healthcare and was responsible for a substantial portfolio of work for Congresswoman Matsui, who served as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her work also included assisting the Congresswoman in the drafting and passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) while on the committee.
Julie has a first-hand understanding and impressive legislative skill in the top issues of the day including renewable energy, smart grid, cyber security and autonomous vehicles. She gained particular appreciation for how government can encourage clean energy and 21 st Century manufacturing through Congresswoman Matsui's work as co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition
During her tenure on Capitol Hill, Julie played an integral role in securing nearly $1B in funding to reinforce infrastructure in safeguarding Sacramento from flood risks as well as federal transportation dollars for a new rail yard.
Julie is a member of the Cherokee Nation and was honored by the tribe in 2017 when it recognized her with its Statesman Award for "significant contributions for statesmanship, patriotism, community leadership and devotion to the Cherokee Nation."
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Chief Executive Officer of Cassidy & Associates
- Chief Executive Officer of Cassidy & Associates, Hel
Kai Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Cassidy & Associates, helps a broad range of corporate and non-profit clients advocate for their interests in Washington, DC. In addition to general representation, he specializes in designing legislative strategies that balance the responsible development of natural resources and critical infrastructure with conservation.
From positions on and off Capitol Hill, Kai has contributed to numerous conservation campaigns in the West including the responsible siting and construction of high-voltage transmission lines, the completion of renewable energy projects, and improving corporate sustainability for a variety of clients ranging from start ups to Fortune 500 Companies to local and national environmental organizations.
After earning a PhD in geology from Stanford University in 1998, Kai came to Washington DC to serve a one-year Congressional Science Fellowship in the office of Senator Joseph I. Lieberman's (D-CT). Kai worked nearly six years for former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, ultimately as his Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, before leaving public service to establish an environment and energy advocacy practice at Cassidy. Kai assumed leadership of Cassidy & Associates in 2013 and still continues working with his clients.
A native of eastern Oregon, Kai grew up hunting, fishing, and hiking on public lands. He has applied his background and experience in natural resources and earth science to policymaking throughout his career.
Kai lives in Washington DC with his wife, kids, and border collie mix and enjoys gardening, tending a backyard pizza oven, and traveling to the West.
Kevin is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy and Associates, representing prominent tech and industrial companies and their interests in cybersecurity, privacy, as well as tax and trade. Kevin helps technology innovators build strong relationships in Congress and at federal agencies, impact the policy-making process, and get results. He has a successful track record of executing winning strategies for clients in areas ranging from privacy to pensions to helium supply.
Kevin has 20 years of senior staff experience on Capitol Hill, including his tenure as Chief of Staff to one of the largest committees in the House of Representatives - the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee - where he helped write the law creating the Department of Homeland Security. While serving on the Committee, he developed an expertise in federal procurement laws and laws directly affecting high-tech companies.
His work on Capitol Hill was recognized by Roll Call newspaper which named him one the 50 Most Influential Staffers in Congress.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Legislative Assistant
Kevin is a Legislative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates where he primarily works with the National Security team on base realignment and closure (BRAC) initiatives, university research, economic development, and grant funding. In addition to his National Security focus, Kevin also assists the Cassidy team in issues regarding education, agriculture and rural development, and transportation. Flexible and adaptive, Kevin serves as a resource to Cassidy's clients with his background in scientific research and ability to monitor press and federal publications to identify new and creative opportunities for clients. Before joining Cassidy, Kevin built a strong skill set in community relations, advocacy campaigns, and government funding as a Project Management Associate in the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Community and Governmental Relations. Kevin proudly calls the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, region home. Kevin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with his Bachelor of Science in ecology and evolution with studies in Political Science. Bio page »
Job Titles:
- Office Services Manager
- Office Services Manager at Cassidy & Associates
Linwood is the Office Services Manager at Cassidy & Associates, handling all the office and catering services at Cassidy, as well as the office inventory and equipment maintenance. Prior to joining Cassidy in 2019, Linwood was the Property Manager for The Seville Condominium and other residential properties. Linwood served in the United States Air Force.
Virgilio "Lio" Barrera has over ten years of public policy experience and has worked with Congress, federal agencies, trade associations, and private industry to craft and implement bipartisan legislative and regulatory strategies.
Lio has an extensive resume of accomplishments as Legislative Director for Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Legislative Assistant to Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Energy Act of 2020, COVID relief packages, and Energy Storage and Transmission ITC legislation. His portfolio of issues included appropriations, transportation and infrastructure, defense, and energy and natural resources.
Most recently, Virgilio served as Director of Government and Public Affairs for Holcim, US, America's largest building materials manufacturer. In this role, Lio helped shape and implement the company's extensive climate and sustainability strategy by crafting policies that support industrial decarbonization and Buy Clean programs that support the deployment and adoption of low-carbon building materials.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Legislative Assistant
- Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Megan is a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where she works with various clients relating to public lands, energy and resource development, environment, and conservation. Before joining Cassidy, Megan worked in a bipartisan position for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. Megan worked for various political campaigns in Washington State. Including Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA-09) as a Field Organizer and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) as a Regional Field Director for her 2016 re-election campaign.
Megan hails from Seattle, WA and graduated from the Seattle Film Institute, the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and The University of Denver with a Master's of Science in Environmental Policy Management with a focus on Natural Resources.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Mike is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates and puts his 26 years of experience in the Army and in Washington to work for his clients. Clients benefit from his deep understanding of how Congress' oversight responsibilities shape decisions inside the Pentagon.
He joined Cassidy after a decade of helping lead the Pentagon's congressional legislative and appropriations engagement most recently as a Congressional Appropriations Liaison for the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition and Sustainment.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Vice President
Michelle is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy and Associates and a recognized military healthcare professional with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the U.S. Army. Clients benefit from both her operational experience in the Army and the Military Health System as well as her legislative expertise gained while serving as the Chief of Congressional Affairs in the U.S. Army's Office of the Surgeon General and an Army Budget Congressional Liaison.
As the principal advisor to the Army Surgeon General on all congressional and legislative matters, she formulated the Surgeon General's position on legislative issues and developed the congressional engagement strategy for all senior leaders of the Army Medical Department. As an Army Budget Congressional Liaison to the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees she served as a conduit and advisor for the Army leadership and the Congressional Appropriations Committees on topics including Army Healthcare, Medical Research and Development, Medical Procurement, Chemical Demilitarization, Military Construction and Chemical and Biological Defense.
Michelle is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and holds a Master's degree in Health Evaluation Sciences from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates
Mika is an Administrative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates, maintaining the schedule and all administrative duties for several of Cassidy's top executives, as well as providing additional legislative assistance. Mika is from Reno, Nevada and interned at Senator Jacky Rosen's (D-NV) office prior to joining Cassidy.
Nicole is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy and Associates, successfully helping clients anticipate, understand, and navigate the policy, budget, and regulatory actions across the federal government while protecting their interests and creating opportunities.
Utilizing her substantial knowledge and experience of Congress and the Executive Branch, Nicole develops comprehensive strategies for clients. She actively pursues legislative and administrative avenues for opportunities and solutions. Nicole advocates for a broad range of corporate and non-profit clients in the National Security area, tailoring unique approaches to promote her client's interests, raise awareness on issues, and develop results.
She joined Cassidy and Associates after serving 16 years on Capitol Hill, most recently on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense as a Professional Staff Member. Her portfolio for the Defense Subcommittee included the Defense Health Program and all medical research and health information technology; missile procurement for all Services; Marine Corps Procurement; Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; programs and authorities related to security stabilization and operations in the Global War on Terrorism; and military bases and commands in Hawaii and the Pacific Area of Responsibility. She also supported the Hawaii delegation through the 2005 BRAC process, successfully removing Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard from the closure list.
Paul Sass has joined Cassidy as a Senior Vice President. Paul comes to Cassidy after two decades on the Hill, where he most recently served as the Republican Staff Director of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for Sam Graves (R-MO).
"For the last 3 ½ years, since I took over as this Committee's Republican leader, Paul has skillfully led our staff in many successful efforts to improve the quality and safety of our Nation's infrastructure. No one has worked with more commitment and dedication to public service than Paul. I want to thank him for his service, his guidance, his loyalty, and his friendship over these last two decades. I wish him and his family the very best as he moves on to the next phase of his already accomplished career," said Ranking Member Graves.
In addition to his time on T&I, Paul's accomplished 20-year career on Capitol Hill included service as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff for Congressman Graves. These experiences served him well as he led strategic efforts and negotiations that contributed to the passage of substantial legislation. During his tenure as Republican Staff Director, the T&I Committee passed landmark bills including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and 2022, Aircraft Certification Reform Act, and Coast Guard reauthorization, among others. Looking ahead, Paul brings deep policy and political understanding to the complex issues before the Committee, such as the upcoming FAA Reauthorization bill.
Job Titles:
- Government Relations Consultant for Cassidy & Associates
Rob Gleason is a government relations consultant for Cassidy & Associates. Over the course of his successful career, Rob has held a number of high-profile positions at both the state level in his native Pennsylvania and at the national level.
Notably, he served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania from June 2006 to February 2017. While Chairman, Rob helped lead President Trump's successful 2016 campaign in Pennsylvania- the first time the state's electoral college votes went to a Republican in 28 years.
From November 1985 to January 1987, Rob served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under Governor Dick Thornburg. Rob has also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, was appointed by President George W. Bush on the Commission on Presidential Scholars and appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security.
Rob attended the United States Air Force Officer Training School and served on active duty from 1962-65. He then entered the Air Force Reserve and left in 1972 as a Captain. He was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors for the Air Force Academy. Rob is graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he served as a trustee for 15 years.
Rob is married to Jeanne Adamson and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Russ is an Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where he develops and deploys legislative strategies that are specifically tailored to keep clients fully and successfully engaged in Washington at the highest levels of government. Russ joined Cassidy in August after serving three years as Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn as part of a 15-year tenure on Capitol Hill that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said was "incredibly effective" and Russ was "an invaluable member of (the Senate leadership) team."
Russ has served on Sen. Cornyn's staff since 2003 and as the Majority Whip's Chief of Staff, he developed and implemented legislative and policy strategies as part of the Republican leadership team as well as conducted negotiations with Members, senior staff, and committees. Roll Call newspaper has repeatedly recognized Russ as one of Capitol Hill's top 50 staff members in its annual list. Earlier Russ served as Sen. Cornyn's Legislative Director and Legislative Assistant.
Prior to his work for Sen. Cornyn, Russ served as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) and as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Air Force.
Russ earned a master's degree in Russian Studies from Indiana University and a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Ryan is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates developing and deploying substantial public policy solutions that deliver real results for clients. After 11 years in the Senate, most recently serving as an energy and environmental policy advisor to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Ryan distinguished himself as an effective, astute, pragmatic advisor successfully operating under the constant pressure of Capitol Hill.
Before joining Cassidy in December 2016, Ryan served Sen. Reid in numerous roles, as Policy Advisor since 2011, providing key analysis on energy, environment, agriculture, and natural resource bills and to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee prior to that. He earlier served as a legislative aide in the Leader's personal office.
Ryan knows how the Hill works and understands the focus necessary to solve complicated energy, environment and infrastructure challenges. His decade of public policy experience includes participating in the development of clean energy markets, ensuring energy security, developing water infrastructure and deploying advanced biofuels.
Ryan earned a master's degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University and bachelor's degrees in history and political science from Xavier University.
Samantha is a Vice President at Cassidy and Associates where she applies her range of experience to assist clients in navigating congressional and regulatory landscapes. Most recently, Samantha was a member of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's legislative team, where she led on energy, environment, and climate issues.
Samantha gained her footing on Capitol Hill in the office of the former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. After dedicating years in his office to the natural resources, energy, and environment portfolios, Samantha advised the Leader on issues relating to banking, housing, animal protection, and nutrition.
True to her Nevada roots, Samantha earned a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Sarah Young has joined Cassidy and Associates as a Senior Vice President after serving 21 years with the House Appropriations Committee. While a senior staff member on the Committee, she negotiated key policy provisions with multiple agencies and government entities on a bipartisan and bicameral basis. At Cassidy, Sarah helps clients navigate the appropriations process by developing and executing winning strategies to help achieve their goals.
Sarah most recently served as professional staff on the House Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Her portfolio for the MilCon-VA Subcommittee included military construction, family housing, the NATO Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
Before joining the MilCon-VA Subcommittee, she handled family advocacy programs, counter drug/narcotics, Missile Defense Agency Programs, TRICARE, the Defense Health Program, and Medical Research for the Defense Subcommittee. She previously worked on the Subcommittee on the Department of Interior, Environmental and Related Agencies. While there, she handled the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Special Trustee, Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, NEA, NEH, Institute of American Indians and Alaskan Arts and Navajo Hopi Relocation accounts. She was on the Majority staff through both Democratic and Republican-led Congresses, over two decades.
Susann is a Vice President at Cassidy and Associates, providing political and policy insight to clients and developing successful economic development strategies for military communities. Her experience in developing successful coalitions and grassroots campaigns have been instrumental to her work as communities and military bases across the nation adapt to the new restricted budget realities in Washington and at the Pentagon.
Susann developed her innovative approach to strategy formulation during her years working on state and national political campaigns. At the Democratic National Committee, she worked with senior Party officials to create strategies, resolve problems and organize high-profile events. She used her creative talents to help manage the Platform Committees at three Democratic Conventions.
In a town where defense and security of the homeland are at the top of the agenda, Terry Paul stands out as leader in the consulting industry as he serves as an Executive Vice President at Cassidy & Associates. A remarkable military career combined with intimate familiarity of the legislative process, he brings extraordinary value and Hill experience to the firm's clients. During his Marine Corp's career as an infantry officer, he served in various command and staff positions at virtually every echelon from platoon through division. A cherished highlight of his career was as a Captain he co-founded the renowned Marine's Infantry Officers School. General Paul is best known in Washington for his experience as the Marine Corps liaison officer in the U.S. Senate, a post he held for an unprecedented ten years until he was promoted to General Officer and assigned to the Pentagon, where he oversaw all legislative issues in the House and the Senate. The increase to the Marines' Congressional defense funding was very evident during his tenure. His years of world travel escorting Senate and House members provided rare and influential time with members. That exposure created frequent opportunities for mentoring, building enduring relationships, and allowed a forum for presenting candid advice on defense matters. As a trusted confidant, he continues that role today providing experienced counsel to senior military leaders in a supportive, advising effort. Consequently, for the over 10 years he has headed the Cassidy Defense team's effort, the team has enjoyed an unparalleled success rate with clients that otherwise have been stymied and frustrated by the huge bureaucracy within DOD. From energy saving applications to communication devices…. from new aircraft to armored vehicles from ships to satellites….the Cassidy Defense team has excelled at assisting clients in a wide variety of businesses, both foreign and domestic, with winning lucrative opportunities within DOD's vast market. Bio page »
Former Congressman Nick Rahall represented West Virginia's Third Congressional District. He served as the Ranking Member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and also served as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee from 2007 to 2011.
First elected in 1976, he served nineteen terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and is recognized as the youngest-elected, longest-serving Member in the history of the House. As the longest serving Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he was a leader in every Federal Highway debate since coming to Congress. He worked to build and repair the nation's highways and bridges, improve and modernize airports, and provide critical water, sewer systems and flood control projects throughout West Virginia and the Nation.
A quarter of the bills he sponsored while in Congress related to public lands and natural resources. As Chairman of the Natural Resources he worked to honor the Committee's charge of serving the natural environment, wild lands, scenic vistas, fish and wildlife, Native Americans, and the public interest.
Vern is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy and Associates and specializes in working on behalf of defense policy and procurement stakeholders to help them secure federal funding and promote their issue-specific needs in Washington. He brings U.S. Department of Defense budget, acquisition, and resource management expertise to bear on behalf of Cassidy & Associates' clients. Combined with his organizational, financial, and strategic planning capabilities, Vern is an excellent asset to our clients.
He came to Cassidy and Associates following a distinguished military career where he served in a variety of leadership and financial positions across all levels of the U.S. Air Force. In his most recent assignment, he served as Deputy Chief of the U.S. Air Force Budget and Appropriations Liaison Division where he worked with Members and staff of the House and Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees in order to promote the legislative priorities of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In this role, his primary responsibility was to garner support for the $117 billion Air Force budget called for in the President's Budget. Vern also held the position of Assistant for Congressional issues in the U.S. Air Force, Budget and Appropriations Liaison Division with responsibilities for science and technology, medical, and information technology issues.
Formerly, he served for two years as the Budget Director of the Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where he was responsible for a budget of $26 billion in appropriated funding which supported 85,000 personnel at 10 major installments.
Earlier in his career, Vern held other notable positions including Commander of a 50-person Air Force Comptroller Squadron at Seymour Air Force Base, North Carolina; U.S. Air Force Budget Analyst at the Pentagon; and several other prestigious positions. He attained Top Security Clearance during his tenure with the Air Force.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President at Cassidy & Associates
Will Fadely is a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where clients rely on his in-depth experience on Capitol Hill and campaign management working on climate, tribal, energy and natural resource policies.
Will joined Cassidy in 2021 after serving as a Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society (TWS) where he led federal lobbying coalition strategies to modernize energy policies, deploy renewable energy projects, and led the external community through the confirmation process for the first Native American Cabinet Secretary, Deb Haaland.
Prior to TWS, will consulted on local Democratic political campaigns in Maryland, while also working at Oceana where he led their successful lobbying efforts to protect our oceans from offshore drilling, as well as support the conservation of shark fins in the U.S. Previously, Will worked for Clean Water Action in Baltimore where, among other priorities, he worked with residents and volunteers to develop and implement plans to address environmental concerns disproportionately affecting communities of color in the city.
Will graduated magna cum laude from George Washington University with a Master of Political Management, and earned a bachelor's degree in political science and mass communication from Towson University. Will currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his German Shepherd mutt, Melody.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- & Associates As a Senior Vice President
- Clean Energy Expert
Zak Baig recently joined Cassidy & Associates as a Senior Vice President, where he will use his deep knowledge of policy and his significant political and legislative experience to advance client's priorities on issues related to clean energy and natural resources.
Zak comes to Cassidy from the ClearPath Foundation, where he was the Managing Director for Government Affairs. During his time at ClearPath he worked with Congress and the administration to pass several pieces of clean energy legislation including the Carbon Capture and Utilization Tax Credit, Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, and the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act.
Prior to his time at ClearPath, Zak worked in a variety of positions for Senator Vitter for 14 years, spanning Senator Vitter's time in both the House and the Senate. During that time, Zak served as Staff Director of the Committee on Environment and Public Works under Chairman Vitter and the Staff Director of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Zak graduated from Syracuse University in 2002 with a major in communications and a minor in political science.