Senior Vice President of Government Relations

In his 25 years as a lobbyist, Nello has developed significant experience in the legislative process. As a government affairs professional, his greatest accomplishments have included passing the Medical Cannabis law in Pennsylvania, working on funding for a new arena, passing City of Pittsburgh fiscal bailout, and ensuring provisions in the gaming law for a constant stream of funding for the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Nello focuses on working collaboratively with his clients and keeping them informed throughout the process. He prides himself on being honest with clients and ensuring that their expectations are realistic. He has successfully represented clients in the non-profit, government, development industry, and issue advocacy sectors.

Kathy Pape is a registered Pennsylvania lobbyist and practicing attorney at Saxton & Stump where she is a member of the Regulatory and Government Affairs Group. She leverages her experience gained as a CEO of the largest operating unit of a national utility to provide sound business solutions and effective advocacy for her clients. Kathy is skilled in developing solutions to the most difficult business and government issues. She helps government entities find ways to partner with businesses to address community issues while helping businesses to understand and effectively navigate the complexities of government regulations. At Saxton & Stump, Kathy works closely with former judges and Saxton attorneys to incorporate their collective knowledge to support her advocacy efforts and the firm's five-star approach to client service.

6-10 years

Her efforts won many accolades from customers, regulators and legislators. She proved instrumental in the passage of legislation that ensured water quality and quantity and water system sustainability for decades.

Specifically, she played a critical role in the passage of Act 11 and Act 12, which pertained to water and wastewater system financing; and Act 154, that defines combined sewer overflow (CSO) system assets as sewer assets and thus regulated by the public utility commission. She spearheaded American Water's strategic response to shale gas development, collaborating with shale gas drillers and municipal officials to protect the environment and enhance the local economy by extending water into rural areas using a combination of public and private funding.

Kathy was among 30 task force members from across Pennsylvania selected by Governor Tom Wolf to address the estimated $20 billion funding shortfall needed to upgrade Pennsylvania's aging water infrastructure. She has also served on the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force, selected by Gov. Ed Rendell.

As CEO of Pennsylvania American Water, part of Kathy's responsibilities included building relationships and partnering with legislators, County Commissioners, municipal officials representing the water company's service area in 36 counties and 400 municipalities.

Kathy is a licensed attorney in NJ and PA and started her career at the Office of Consumer Advocate, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and as a utility attorney at General Waterworks. She also served as corporate counsel and manager of finance for American Water and as vice president, treasurer and rate counsel for Philadelphia Suburban Water. During her tenure at Philadelphia Suburban Water, the company grew from a five-county suburban Philadelphia water company to the second largest publicly-traded U.S. water and wastewater service provider.

In 2007, she was tapped to lead American Water's largest subsidiary, Pennsylvania American Water. As the president of Pennsylvania American Water, she used her legal, financial, business and governmental experience to balance customer service, reasonable rates, infrastructure replacement and community engagement. Kathy later led American Water's mid-Atlantic region which included Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland before she entered entering private practice.

Kathy currently serves on the board of directors for Highmark Health and has chaired the Pennsylvania Business Counsel, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies. She is also an active member of the boards of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Western and Central PA Chapter), the Earth Conservancy and the Hampden Township Industrial Development Authority.

Kathy is a nationally known speaker on leadership, utility finance, infrastructure and water and wastewater operations. She is also an expert witness on utility finance, tax and infrastructure issues and has testified before state and federal legislative committees.

Co-Founder/ Managing Partner

With more than 25 years of experience in government, public affairs, and strategic communications, David comes from The Caliguiri Group, a firm he founded in 2011. After successfully managing several political campaigns, David was also an integral part of Pittsburgh First's campaign for a Pennsylvania state gaming license.

Prior to launching his own firm, David was a lobbyist representing clients before local and state governments. He is an active member of the Pittsburgh community and sits on the boards of several nonprofit organizations serving the region.

State and Local Lobbying:

Influencing the decisions of government officials for our clients is key to the work that we do. Whether we're standing beside our client, or advocating on their behalf, we remain focused on policies, legislation, or regulations that are integral to each organization's interest.

Because of the experience of our team, we approach each issue and challenge separately. We're empathetic, sensing where there is great need. We value the work that our clients do and understand our own roles in this process. We always strive to learn and know more about the issues that are important to our clients, recognize the challenges that they face, try to find common ground, manage expectations, are creative in our problem-solving, and put all of our skills and talents to work for our clients, working smarter to great success.

Having insight into operations at a local level is just as important when clients interact with their local or county government daily. In some cases, those interactions may be even more impactful to organizations who work with C & G Strategies.

Each of our team members boasts decades of experience in government and uses that background to great effect for clients. No matter the issue or interest, C & G can provide clients with information, a deep understanding of the process they're navigating, observations relevant to their work, and solutions that may be unconventional. At the heart of all of that work is the client goals.

20+ years

Led the passage of legislation to provide for Ready to Go Drinks in grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurant licensees.

Secured funding for the 15 Community Colleges including passage of the State Board of Higher Education.

Led the passage of legislation to provide for the addition of the federal judiciary in the Pennsylvania Protective Class Law.

Worked to advance client's legislative goals in the reauthorization of the Commonwealth's One Call System.

C&G Strategies has focused its practice on working both sides of the aisle. We have relationships in all four Caucus Leadership Teams

Co-Founder/General Counsel

Tony has dedicated his entire career to government relations, representing a variety of corporations and non-profit organizations from across the Commonwealth. An effective advocate, his experience and reputation helps make connections between his clients and policy makers. Tony is an active and well-respected participant in the legislative process in Harrisburg. Tony is known for his tireless work ethic and his ability to bring together stakeholders on any issue to find commonalities and work together. His expertise lies in government relations, legislative strategy, political action committee (PAC) regulation, and lobbying regulation. Tony is also a frequent continuing legal education (CLE) presenter.

Senior Vice President of Communications

Amie's 25 years of experience in communications and government includes 12 years in an executive leadership position reflecting significant responsibility for establishing and implementing goals, policies, procedures, strategic direction, and engagement initiatives. In her roles with local, county and state governments, she has navigated complex environments, developed and maintained strong bipartisan relationships, and interacted effectively with journalists in local, state, and national outlets.

Amie thrives on challenges and is skilled at handling media relations, crisis communications, message development, communications plans, coordinated media and public service campaigns, and public announcements. She is well known for her collaborative work with both internal and external stakeholders and has a proven ability to convey highly complex information in clear, compelling ways. Amie's experience in launching initiatives and creating procedural and organizational processes also serves clients well.

Senior Policy Director

With over a decade of experience in government relations, Don has honed his skills in legislative and regulatory tracking, research, firm communications, and lobbying. His clients have ranged from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations.

His roles have provided him opportunities to spearhead grassroots campaigns, shape legislative agendas, direct political action committee initiatives, and lobby. He also previously served in lobbying and government relations roles in statewide associations.

State and Local Lobbying:

Influencing the decisions of government officials for our clients is key to the work that we do. Whether we're standing beside our client, or advocating on their behalf, we remain focused on policies, legislation, or regulations that are integral to each organization's interest.

Because of the experience of our team, we approach each issue and challenge separately. We're empathetic, sensing where there is great need. We value the work that our clients do and understand our own roles in this process. We always strive to learn and know more about the issues that are important to our clients, recognize the challenges that they face, try to find common ground, manage expectations, are creative in our problem-solving, and put all of our skills and talents to work for our clients, working smarter to great success.

Having insight into operations at a local level is just as important when clients interact with their local or county government daily. In some cases, those interactions may be even more impactful to organizations who work with C & G Strategies.

Each of our team members boasts decades of experience in government and uses that background to great effect for clients. No matter the issue or interest, C & G can provide clients with information, a deep understanding of the process they're navigating, observations relevant to their work, and solutions that may be unconventional. At the heart of all of that work is the client goals.

20+ years

Led the passage of legislation to provide for Ready to Go Drinks in grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurant licensees.

Secured funding for the 15 Community Colleges including passage of the State Board of Higher Education.

Led the passage of legislation to provide for the addition of the federal judiciary in the Pennsylvania Protective Class Law.

Worked to advance client's legislative goals in the reauthorization of the Commonwealth's One Call System.

C&G Strategies has focused its practice on working both sides of the aisle. We have relationships in all four Caucus Leadership Teams

Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer

With over two decades of executive experience, Rob's career has placed him at the highest level of local and state government. As a public affairs professional, he has shaped public policy and legislation for clients in non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, trade associations, unions, and more. Rob provides individualized services that support clients' specific needs and has successfully represented clients in a variety of sectors. Whether navigating state or local government, facilitating introductions with decision makers, working with stakeholders, or developing and executing strategies, he is focused on allowing each individual client to meet their goals.

Senior Policy Director

Involved in state government for over 20 years, Andrew brings a vast skill set to the table including government relations strategy development, research and analysis, lobbying, legislative drafting, beverage alcohol policy, economic modeling, transportation policy, gaming policy, and higher education policy.

Prior to joining Dentons Cohen & Grigsby and its successor firm C & G Strategies, Andrew served as research director for a political campaign, a legislative liaison for a state row office, executive deputy director of policy and planning within the state executive branch, executive director of the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB), and the founder and principal of Four Lights Research Solutions.

Kathleen Duffy Bruder is a registered Pennsylvania lobbyist and practicing attorney who chairs Saxton & Stump's Regulatory and Government Affairs team. She is passionate about helping clients win and knows how to navigate challenges and opportunities that involve all levels of government. As a former deputy chief of staff to a governor and former senior adviser to a mayor, Kathy relies upon her far- reaching network to connect clients with government decision-makers. With more than 25 years of experience as a professional in Pennsylvania, Kathy has mutually respectful relationships with government and business leaders and staff, and an extensive knowledge of government operations, regulatory processes and administrative matters. At Saxton & Stump, Kathy works closely with former judges and Saxton attorneys to incorporate their collective knowledge to support her advocacy efforts and the Firm's five-star approach to client service.

6-10 years

Kathy's service as a senior adviser to Governor Tom Corbett for four years and the late Mayor Stephen R Reed of the City of Harrisburg provided her leadership experience and insight into how state and local governments operate from the inside. In those roles, she had real experiences in government and established and fostered relationships throughout all three branches of government. These experiences and relationships help her serve clients efficiently and effectively.

During the Pennsylvania COVID-19 business shutdown, Kathy helped clients in diverse business industries tell their story to Governor Wolf's Administration and obtain approval and a waiver to continue to operate. She worked with her team as if every client's business needs were a "911" call for help. Her round-the-clock work and counsel helped clients and their employees operate quickly, in a safe manner and in cooperation with law enforcement.

Clients have succeeded with their legislative lobbying goals as Kathy and her team supported them with needs to amend, pass or oppose legislation that would impact the client's business goals. Kathy's efforts and guidance support clients' business timeline and budgets.

Kathy lobbied with a team to successfully oppose any nuclear bailout legislation.

Kathy assists clients who need quick access to an agency decisionmaker for time sensitive issues. a Kathy assists clients with obtaining grant funds to support client projects.

Kathy is a licensed attorney in NY, NJ and PA, and she has more than a decade in Pennsylvania state and local politics with the unique experience as a senior staffer in the Office of the Governor. Kathy served as former Gov. Tom Corbett's Deputy Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2015. In that role, she was a trusted advisor to the governor and his cabinet and staff. She served as the governor's liaison to numerous state agencies and helped coordinate and manage policy, legislative and press initiatives. Kathy also worked on the governor's behalf with contacts in local and federal governments. While with the governor's office, Kathy represented the governor with numerous state and regional boards and commissions, including the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bi-state transportation authorities, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). Further, she served with the governor as vice chair of Team Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that connects business and industry leaders and facilitates partnerships to support economic development and prosperity in the commonwealth.

Prior to joining Saxton & Stump, Kathy was an attorney for a Harrisburg-based law firm where she represented clients as an attorney and a lobbyist in diverse subject areas including energy and environmental, oil and natural gas and food and beverage on matters involving public finance, state and local tax, employment and corporate governance. Before joining the governor's office, she was a partner at Rhoads & Sinon LLP for 10 years where she focused her practice in litigation and labor and employment. She also previously served in leadership roles for the City of Harrisburg's Mayor Stephen R. Reed as deputy solicitor and director of human resources for approximately four years.