20+ years

Tim provided a long sought-after voice to retirees in the Retired Detroit Police & Fire Fighters Association. He and his team successfully fought unions, the City of Detroit, and the pension board's opposition to amend decades-old state law. The association spent 25 years trying to obtain representation on its pension board through litigation and city charter amendment to no avail. Tim and his team did it in a fraction of the time.

Prior to becoming president of MLC, Tim was appointed as Governor John Engler's Campaign Manager to manage his 1998 re-election campaign, after having worked in the Governor's office as Director of External Affairs and Deputy Director of Public Affairs. Former positions also included stints in the Michigan House and Senate, Oakland County government and Senior Director of Government Affairs of the Michigan Credit Union League.

Mike Vlacich brings over 25 years of experience in public policy, administration and government at every level to open Cornerstone's Concord, New Hampshire office.

He joins the firm following his time at the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), where he was appointed by President Biden to the role of regional administrator. He was responsible for overseeing SBA programs, offices and operations in the SBA's New England region which serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Prior to this role, Mike held several positions in the Office of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) with the latest being senior advisor. He provided support to the Senator, Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, State Director, scheduling department and Communications Director on policy, communications and other strategic imperatives. He also held key roles in Sen. Maggie Hassan's office (D-NH) and Gov. John Lynch's office as director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development.

Along with his government involvement, Mike was president and CEO of a higher education trade association, the New Hampshire College and University Council, a member of the University System of NH Board of Trustees, UNH Alumni Association Board, the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, NH EPSCoR Statewide Committee, New Hampshire Small Business Development Council Advisory Committee, New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council and the Governor's Save Our Shipyard Commission.

He has received the New Hampshire Business Review Business Excellence Award. He also earned the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development Award for Excellence, the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire's Above and Beyond Award and was ranked on the Business NH Influencer Index.

Mike received his bachelor's in political science from the University of New Hampshire.

Lauren Vella joined Cornerstone in January of 2025, launching the firm's Delaware office and expanding our Mid-Atlantic reach and capabilities.

Prior to Cornerstone, Lauren served as Chief of Staff to the University President at the University of Delaware (UD).

Lauren also served as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House in the Delaware House of Representatives, where she managed the staff of the Majority Caucus and was the chief advisor to House Majority Caucus Leadership to shape and achieve their policy and political goals. Lauren served Attorney General Kathy Jennings as Policy & Legislative Director for the Delaware Department of Justice during Jennings' first term where she managed the significant legislative agenda for the department.

Lauren holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delaware.

20+ years

The firm's namesake, Phil Reale is an attorney and government relations consultant who has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in the courtroom and all levels of government. Phil has vast experience in a myriad of public policy areas ranging from oil and gas matters, healthcare policy, gaming and lottery laws in multiple jurisdictions around the U. S., economic development, alcohol policy, and e-government.

Phil is a 1977 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law. He has been an active member of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, including one term as president of the organization and at all times an effective coordinator of public policy and legislative affairs for the industry in West Virginia. He served on the Board of Directors of Alliance Petroleum Corporation, an exploration and production company with operations in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He also served as the Independent Oil and Gas Association representative to Governor Tomblin's Natural Gas Vehicle Task Force. He is often found on the editorial pages of state newspapers offering comments on various issues confronting state government.

He rose to prominence in statewide political circles when in 1988, he chaired the transition team for incoming West Virginia Governor, Gaston Caperton and ultimately served as his Chief of Staff. This role led him into a career of helping guide clients through legislative and government processes. He has served the state in a variety of capacities including that of its representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission for which he served as its Vice Chairman. Additionally, he Co-Chaired the Higher Education Advocacy Team and championed a higher education reform effort, served two terms as Chairman of the State College System of West Virginia Board of Directors, served on the West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission, the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, the West Virginia Prepaid College Tuition Trust Fund Board of Directors and has held leadership positions in various political and civic organizations. He is the recipient of two Distinguished West Virginian Awards of Public Service.

Phil has routinely left his mark on statewide political campaigns over his many years of involvement in West Virginia politics and is often consulted by candidates seeking assistance with political strategies.

In addition to being a past Chairman of Special Olympics of West Virginia, Phil maintains an active role in the stewardship of several charitable organizations. Phil is the current Chairman of the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, a member of the West Virginia Golf Association Executive Committee and currently serves the organization as its vice-president and chair of its Long Term Planning Committee, and serves on the Leadership Council of the West Virginia University Cancer Institute.

In his spare time, Phil enjoys playing golf and supporting West Virginia Mountaineer athletics.

Delora R. Sanchez, Esq. joined Cornerstone in October 2015 after leading Johns Hopkins Medical System's government affairs team. Delora spent nearly a decade representing Hopkins' interests before the Maryland General Assembly, Governor's office, and state administrative agencies. She has an extensive background in state legislative and regulatory issues.

As a senior vice president in Cornerstone's Annapolis office, Delora specializes in representing hospitals, managed care organizations (MCOs), pharmaceutical manufactures, medical cannabis companies, and private sector special interests. Over the past 10 years, Delora has used her deep policy expertise and legislative connections to save or create tens of millions of dollars in state funding for clients; shape Maryland's medical liability policy; and steer the top healthcare system in the world through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the creation of the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange.

Delora was recognized by the Daily Record in 2017 as a VIP, 40 under 40 and as a Leading Woman in 2013. In 2014 Sanchez was named a Marshall Memorial Fellow -- the flagship leadership development program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. From 2008 to 2010 she was appointed by the President of Johns Hopkins University to serve on the Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council. During the same time period, she was also appointed by then Governor Martin O'Malley to the Maryland Commission for Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities.

Delora is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and serves as chair of community engagement on the board of directors for Thread, which engages underperforming high school students facing significant barriers outside of the classroom. As a native of Baltimore and current South Baltimore resident, Delora was proud to accept an appointment by the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates to the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership Board. The organization is responsible for distributing approximately $8 million in casino revenue for community development projects in the areas immediately impacted by the casino's construction. Previously, she was a board member of the Charles Village Community Benefits District and Vice Chair of the board for Hope Forward, which provides support transitioning for former foster youth.

Delora holds a Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in Health Law from University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and an undergraduate degree in Healthcare Management from Towson University. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Delora is a lifelong resident of Baltimore and enjoys living downtown, yoga, and biking around the City.