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.

20+ years

James has over 20 years of experience in the legislative and government relations sector. Prior to establishing Blue Hen Strategies, he was a co-owner of Armitage DeChene & Associates, a full-service government affairs firm, for 4 years. He also worked for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce as Senior Vice President, Government Relations. In that role, he was responsible for developing the Chamber's policy and advocacy positions on legislative and regulatory issues impacting Delaware businesses.

Before coming to the State Chamber, James was Senior Manager, Political Affairs and Federation Relations for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. There, James helped shape the Chamber's political program and outreach to the member organizations that make up its grassroots and federation network.

James was also Senior Manager of the Eastern Region of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for five years where he was responsible for legislative and political grassroots strategy in the 11 states included in the Chamber's Eastern Region.

Before joining the U.S. Chamber staff in June 2007, James worked for state chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors in Syracuse, NY and Burlington, MA as Regional Vice President and Director of Public Affairs & Communications, respectively. During this time, he oversaw all facets of the association's legislative, regulatory, and communications strategy, representing business interests before Local and State governments, as well as the media.

Prior to his work with the association, James worked in Washington, DC for the Grocery Manufacturers of America, the largest association representing the food and beverage manufacturing industry, as their Government Affairs Representative for Federal Affairs and International Trade, and for U.S. Congressman Tom Davis, from Virginia's 11th Congressional District. In this role, James covered a variety of Federal issues, including transportation and Federal IT procurement.

A Delaware native, and University of Delaware graduate, James lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Newark.

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.

Jenna Massoni serves as a senior associate supporting the firm's Annapolis, Maryland office. She assists a team of seven senior professionals with issue monitoring, policy research and analysis and legislative advocacy and outreach. She became a member of the Public Relations Society of America Inc. in 2021.

Prior to her current position, Jenna managed health care benefits for the students of Johns Hopkins University and was involved in planning the annual commencement ceremony.

Jenna graduated from Washington College in May 2015 with a B.S. in Business Management and received her M.A. in Contemporary Communications from Notre Dame of MD University in December 2019.

Tanner Polce served as both the Chief of Staff (2023-2024) and Chief Advancement Officer (2020-2023) at the Brandywine Valley SPCA, the first tristate animal welfare organization in the nation. During his tenure, Tanner was responsible for revenue and fund development, external affairs, and strategies that support the organization's $20+ million in annual revenues. Tanner was also instrumental in the acquisitions strategies that brought the Human Society of Harrisburg Area (PA), the Animal Adoption Center (NJ), and most recently the Humane Society of Washington, DC into the BVSPCA management portfolio.

Prior, Tanner served years in numerous roles for the State of Delaware and as a Councilmember in the City of Dover. Tanner was senior staff in the Office of the Lt. Governor from 2016-2020. Prior to the role of Policy Director for the Office, he served as Legislative Aide to Senator David Sokola and then-Senator Hall-Long. In 2017, Tanner was elected to Dover City Council and served a term before electing to not seek re-election. His deep understanding of relationship management, policy and strategy has been instrumental in his past roles and in ensuring strategic growth, greater connections and key objectives are met.

Tanner holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration. Tanner and his wife, Shelby, live in Felton with their four dogs- Brutus, Allen, Marty and Charlotte. In their spare time, they are often planning their next travel adventure, watching their favorite soccer teams, or pitching in amongst a number of community service projects.

ROBERT BYRD. When the confusion, the divide and the intricacies are at their worst, if anyone can be counted upon to pick his way through, it is Bob. One of Bob's most memorable legislative achievements was the legalization of slot machines at the state's racetracks.

Bob can provide expert advice on legislation, government contracts, regulatory review, local government matters and congressional action and see it through by getting to the right people at the right time with the right touch. Bob has the background to work with everyone, from his days as a state representative with a blue-collar constituency to his time as the vice president and chief lobbyist of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce.

His leadership talents were recognized by his fellow legislators, who elected him the majority whip in the Delaware House of Representatives, and by Governor Ruth Ann Minner, who appointed him as the chair of the Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Council, the panel responsible for the revenue projections that have kept the state's multi-billion-dollar budget balanced year after year. Bob's list of clients in Delaware in unequaled. It includes Aetna, Anheuser-Busch, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River & Bay, and the Medical Society of Delaware.

KIM GOMES became a lobbyist in her own unique way. She did not get here through politics or law or a cause. Her earliest interests had nothing to do with lobbying. She was a gymnast and a competitor in ballroom dancing. That led to a degree from the University of Delaware in fitness management, and that led to a position at the University of Delaware as the coordinator in charge of the fitness class program on the campus. From there, it was on to work at an insurance office and brokerage firm, except Kim was looking for a new direction, and she thought lobbying would be fun.

Of course she did. She had a taste for the unexpected. She had the slow heartbeat that comes from winning competitiveness. She had a practical foundation of business, organizational and management experience.

Kim added in an academic component by earning a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Delaware. One of the faculty members was Ed Freel, formerly the Delaware secretary of state, and he connected her with Bob Byrd. It clicked, and Kim joined the firm.

Kim's background has been a fine fit, even her ballroom dancing. She paired with Tom Cook, who was the Delaware secretary of finance, for a charity "Dancing with the Stars" event, where they were judged the best dancers. See? Kim was right all along that lobbying could be fun.

Bernie Marczyk joined Cornerstone's Annapolis office in December 2018. Most recently, Bernie served as the director of government affairs for Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh. In this role, he worked closely with the County Council and Maryland General Assembly to advance legislative initiatives and implement public policies for the County.

Prior to working for the County Executive, Bernie worked for Ducks Unlimited for seven years as a federal and state lobbyist and thenin managing the organization's conservation delivery in the Atlantic Region (Maryland to Maine). In this role he was responsible partnering with federal, state, and non-profit organizations on land acquisition and wetland restoration projects on private lands or public lands such as Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Bernie began his professional career working for then-Congressman Bob Ehrlich first as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill and then as a policy advisor for Governor Ehrlich in Annapolis where he oversaw the legislative and policy efforts of the Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Planning, and Transportation. Bernie also worked on multiple statewide and local elections in Maryland.

A graduate of Princeton University, Bernie and his wife Keely live on Maryland's Eastern Shore with their nine-year-old daughter Leah, seven-year-old twins Claire and Tommy, and three-year-old daughter Stella. Bernie is an active volunteer at St. Christopher's Catholic Church and as a basketball, soccer, and softball coach.

11-15 years

Member of the Delaware Bar Association
Member of the Maryland Bar Association

REBECCA BYRD knows government, policy and politics with the inside knowledge that comes from broad experience with all three branches of government, and she combines it with the perspective of a lawyer. She can draft legislation. She can lobby for it. She can decipher federal and state regulations.

There was a method to Rebecca's decision not to specialize in just anything. With the breadth of her background, she is ready for everything. Rebecca is a third-generation practitioner. Her grandmother was an aide to Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt, her father is Bob Byrd, and here she is to carry on the family tradition. Rebecca was the deputy legal counsel to Governor Ruth Ann Minner and a deputy attorney general in the state Justice Department under Attorney General Beau Biden. She also clerked on the Delaware Supreme Court for Justices Carolyn Berger, Jack Jacobs and Henry duPont Ridgely and served as a liaison for the court to the General Assembly.

She is the author of articles on Delaware's Coastal Zone Act (Delaware Chamber of Commerce, 2016) and a co-author of "50 State Survey: The Law of Eminent Domain"" (American Bar Association, 2012). Rebecca is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, where she is a member of the Business Law Section and its Government Affairs Committee. She is a graduate of the George Washington University and the Catholic University of America School of Law.

20+ years

In 2017, Governor-elect Phil Murphy selected Eric to serve on the Human Services Committee for his transition team. During that same year, he was nominated by Kentucky State Senator Jimmy Higdon and commissioned by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin to become a Kentucky Colonel.

In 2004, Eric was nominated by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey to serve on the South Jersey Port Corporation's Board of Directors, which is responsible for the development of port facilities in South New Jersey. Eric was reappointed in 2008 by Governor Corzine and again in 2017 by Governor Chris Christie.

In 2018, Eric was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Burbank International Film Festival.

Eric is also a founding member of the Board of Directors for the NYC Fashion Manufactures Alliance of Design Educators and Save the Garment Center in New York City; a position he's held since 2008.

In 2007, Eric was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a bi-partisan not-for-profit international exchange organization, as a delegate to Vietnam for a two-week political exchange program. Eric joined six other young political leaders from the U.S. to study Vietnam's political system, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships. He's also participated in international trade missions, including trips to the Netherlands, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Eric was appointed in 2007 by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to serve as a member of the Economic Growth Council to assist with statewide economic development policies.

Eric is a former Committee Chairman for the Mercer County College Board of Trustees Advisory Committee and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Arts & Business Partnership of Southern New Jersey. He's served on the boards of the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board, the Mercer County Economic Development Committee and Junior Achievement. Eric was appointed by Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano in 2002 to the New Jersey Council of Local Mandates and served as Vice Chairman until 2004.

Ellen Valentino joined Cornerstone's Maryland team in December 2019. She brings to Cornerstone more than 30 years of lobbying expertise in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Ellen represents diverse business interests from small businesses to the energy sector to beverage companies. She focuses her work on protecting client interests through practical policy change, coalition-building, issue positioning and political strategy.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Ellen founded and operated her own legislative and association management consulting firm, Valentino-Benitez & Associates (VBA, Inc.), for more than 28 years. As president of the firm, Ellen advocated for clients and built trusted relationships and coalitions to represent their interests in matters before the District of Columbia City Council, the Maryland and Delaware legislatures, and local governments.

In addition to representing various clients, Ellen currently serves as the executive vice president for the Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Beverage Association and the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Association.

Ellen began her professional career as an executive in grassroots lobbying management with the Greater Washington/Maryland Service Station and the Automotive Repair Association. In 1991, she established her own legislative and association management consulting firm.

A life-long Maryland resident, Ellen is a graduate of Catholic University. She is married to Robert Benitez and they have two daughters.

Former State Representative

A cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College, Mr. Willis earned his Bachelor's Degree in Government. He graduated from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary. During law school, he served as a Law Clerk to then Chief Justice Myron T. Steele of the Delaware Supreme Court. He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2006.


In 2012, Mr. Willis was invited to become a Fellow in the Aspen Institute's Aspen-Rodel Fellowship in Public Service. This two-year nonpartisan educational program is comprised of twenty-four elected officials from all levels of government across the country. The program is designed to "bring together elected officials who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to work responsibly across partisan divisions and bring greater civility to public discourse."

He was also a Fellow in Leadership Delaware. The mission of Leadership Delaware is to recruit and mentor young Delawareans who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the community, nonprofit, political, professional, and corporate sectors in Delaware.

Mr. Willis, his wife, Laura, and their sons, Deane and Ellwood, reside in Clayton, Delaware.