20+ years

Rocco founded the firm of Pugliese Associates in 1980 working from a small office in Harrisburg with a single client. The firm now maintains offices in Harrisburg and Philadelphia with close to 50 clients including: non-profit organizations, universities, government authorities, venture capitalists, state and national corporations, and trade associations.

Rocco has more than 35 years of lobbying and state government experience. Starting his working years in the mid-70's employed in the State Senate; he was later hired as an aide to the House Transportation Committee. In his years of lobbying, Rocco has been active on a number of highly visible, diverse and complex issues. They include such topics as gaming, corporate initiatives and ventures, appropriations, tobacco settlement, economic development, workers' compensation, state procurement, along with a variety of other policy and legislative issues.

Rocco graduated from Gannon University in 1975 with a BA in Political Science, and he also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Penn State University.

Experience, Integrity, and Results- Rocco's motivation, commitment, leadership and direction are what make Pugliese Associates what it is today.

Richard has extensive experience representing corporate clients, developers and individuals before local planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustments, and governing authorities of political subdivisions throughout the state. Richard also represents clients before local and state regulatory bodies on a wide range of governmental matters.

Richard is chair of the firm's Diversity Committee, the mission of which is threefold: to increase awareness of the importance of diversity within the firm, to foster mutual respect and appreciation for different perspectives and experiences, and to develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain, and advance lawyers and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Prior to returning to Jones Walker in 2013, Richard served as executive counsel to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu from 2010 to 2011 and as city attorney for the City of New Orleans for three years. As city attorney, Richard was responsible for directing and supervising legal affairs for the City of New Orleans and was part of the team that negotiated the New Orleans Police Department consent decree. Prior to his public service, he practiced law with Jones Walker for six years.

Before practicing law, Richard served as regional director for United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu.

MICHAEL BZDYRA, Senior Lobbyist at FOCUS Government Affairs, has extensive experience in state government and provides government relations services for a variety of clients. Mike works closely with organizations in the financial industry, business clients, and educational organizations, on a wide variety of issues related to their businesses and government affairs goals. He possesses excellent relationships with the administration, executive branch agencies, the legislature, as well as with local municipal officials across the state.

Mike has more than 30 years of professional experience in Connecticut state government. Most recently from 2016 to 2019, Mike served as Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He was responsible for the overall operations of the DMV that served millions of customers annually and led the department of 800 employees and managed a $66 million budget. He previously served as the DMV Deputy Commissioner.

Prior to joining the DMV, Mike served as the Government Relations Liaison to the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA). In this role, he was responsible for directing, planning, and implementing CRRA's legislative, governmental, and regulatory activities. He also regularly collaborated with the Connecticut State Legislature, the Governor's office, and executive branch agencies.

In addition, Mike has served as the Senior Policy/Communications Specialist at the Senate Democrat's office and as a legislative aide and clerk for the General Assembly's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Rick Allan joined the Pugliese Associates staff as a lobbyist in 2013 after serving as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

His considerable experience with the private sector along with his broad knowledge of the environment enabled him to direct a state agency with a staff of 2,300 employees and an annual budget of $300 million. While with DCNR, Rick oversaw the Department's improvement of the review process for the development and oversight of the natural gas industry activities on PA State lands. This would result in lower costs and more timely permitting decisions for all types of development on state lands.

Rick has been providing reliable and successful lobbying service to clients in the private sector through his extensive knowledge of the state legislative, permitting, and financing process with a proven track record for over 26 years. Rick has worked closely with the business community, several non-profit environmental organizations and state agencies, developing public policy while serving on their advisory committees and boards for many years.

He has developed and maintained close relationships with members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, legislative leadership, and state agencies. Rick has developed experience in various sectors, ranging from petroleum, paper/forestry, education, landlord/tenant, engineering, coal, utilities, alternative energy an was instrumental in developing the Pennsylvania Recycling Law.

Prior to his public career, Rick was instrumental in rebuilding, modernizing and expanding his family's recycling operations in northeastern PA over a 20 year period. Rick graduated from Wilkes College with a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences & biology. Rick and his wife reside in Camp Hill.