As Director of Housing and Rural Development, Whitley Sullivan is a lobbyist on the government affairs team at Pac/West Lobby Group specializing in housing, rural development, and campaign consulting. Whitley also supports clients through association management and helping communities advance and thrive through grant writing.

Whitley is a problem-solver. She believes that to navigate complex issues, we must first agree on the root issue(s). In every project, she uses her ability to knock down biases and build bridges so that the team can communicate efficiently and effectively. By spending most of her time in the rural Pacific Northwest, Whitley values the hardworking ethos of her community and strives to put just as much effort into the projects she's tasked with.

Whitley cares about rural lifestyles, communities, education, and healthcare. Our rural communities often lack the time, resources, and infrastructure to combat statewide issues such as housing and healthcare or have the funds to pick up the pieces after natural disasters. Whitley believes that through intense collaboration and proactive strategic planning, we can forge a flourishing future for our rural neighbors–without compromising what makes these communities valuable.

Joining the team in 2023, Whitley spent the past three years advocating for rural, Northeast Oregon values within the Oregon House of Representatives of House District 58's Chief of Staff. Whitley has bachelor's degrees in politics and philosophy from Willamette University.

15-20 years

Mr. Finseth has over 25 years of experience in the field of government having worked in Washington, D.C, Hawaii and Nevada. As the principal of Carrara Nevada since 2003, Mr. Finseth has been at the forefront of the companies explosive growth in the state. Mr. Finseth provides one on one attention to all of our clients both large and small. Carrara Nevada is recognized as a bipartisan firm with relationships on both sides of the political aisles. Our work in Nevada spans the spectrum of many of the major sectors and industries that drive our states economy.

As Vice President of Legislative and Public Affairs, Rick Metsger oversees government and regulatory affairs and helps merge lobbying efforts with a communications-minded outreach.

Rick is a seasoned policy and public affairs veteran, bringing decades of hands-on experience with legislative, regulatory, and communications efforts. His work has spanned transportation, financial institutions, economic development, and marketing communications. Rick maintains close personal relationships with Oregon legislative and executive leaders. He serves as an informal advisor to several legislative leaders and understands the intersection between moving public opinion and moving (or stopping) legislation.

Rick cares about civic engagement and ensuring all voices are heard. He believes collaborative policymaking is the only path to lasting success. Rick also believes in rural communities and the importance of sustaining them. He cares about kids having the real-world tools and resources they need to succeed when they graduate.

Joining the team in 2021, Rick previously served as Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration in Washington, D.C., in both the Obama and Trump Administrations. The agency regulates nearly 6,000 financial institutions and is the insurer of more than $1.3 trillion in deposits. During his time with the agency, he was also a voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). Before his appointment by President Obama in 2013, Rick was an Oregon State Senator from 1999 to 2011, serving as the Senate Pro Tempore and chair of the Senate Business and Transportation Committee. He received several awards recognizing his leadership. Before joining the Senate, Rick built his career as a respected, award-winning print and broadcast journalist and founded his own public relations company. Rick has a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in teaching, both from Lewis & Clark College.

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.

0-5 years

As Vice President, Phil Scheuers supports the Pac/West Lobby Group team by tracking and managing legislation and advocating for client interests across state agency budgets, revenue, and capital construction committees. Phil also manages the firm's administrative duties, leads economic development projects, and supports clients through campaign consulting and association management.

There are few that have more experience working on Oregon's state budget and revenue than Phil. When he left as a legislative staffer, he was one of the longest-serving staffers on the House side with a wealth of experience on ways and means. Phil maintains strong relationships with regional and state partners and has extensive experience in economic development programs, including business incentives, industrial land development, and more. Phil is known for his ability to think outside the box and identify ways to leverage opportunities to help clients achieve their goals. Phil cares about advocating for rural issues, lifestyles, and people. He spends some of his free time on the Hermiston Education Foundation Board and is a proponent of equitable education.

Joining the team in 2018, Phil had a decade of experience working in government affairs and economic development in Eastern Oregon, focusing much of his time on the ways and means and capital construction processes.

11-15 years

Emerging Leader Nominee, Just a Kid Big Brothers Big Sisters Flint campaign (2022)

Emerging Leader Award, Greater Flint Arts Council (2008)

As Vice President of Construction Policy and Regulatory Affairs, is a lobbyist on the government affairs team at Pac/West Lobby Group specializing in construction, housing, energy, regulatory affairs, risk management, and program implementation.

Mark has spent more than three decades deep within the policy and regulatory world of construction and energy in Oregon, leading the Building Codes Division and Department of Energy through the administrations of five governors. He has developed a reputation for cutting through complicated and overwrought concepts to find and implement policies that work. He also has earned the respect of people within the industry, agencies, and elected office. Mark cares about creating policies and processes that work for Oregonians. He is passionate about seeing predictable and streamlined programs put into place that improve customers' lives. He believes that political debates should always have the end goal in mind.

Joining the team in 2023, Mark was previously the executive director of the Oregon Home Builders Association. His ability to effectively advocate for clients comes from convening a broad base of collaboration while working out important nuances in policy. By taking a comprehensive view on regulatory rollout and economic impact, he has a strong track record of advocating for and implementing effective programs.

11-15 years

Ryan Tribbett founded Pac/West Lobby Group in 2020. His focus as president is building and supporting a well-rounded team of experts to give clients the reputable, forward-thinking service they seek. He cares about building collaborative relationships by finding common values and interests to create long-lasting and real-world solutions to problems. He believes that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and is proud of being a responsible business owner who cares about his place in the communities in which his team works.

Ryan excels at helping policymakers understand the real-world human impact proposed bills and regulations have on his clients. Regardless of political swings, Ryan's ability to translate client needs into a viable political strategy has helped Pac/West Lobby Group clients achieve their goals and overcome challenges previously seen as insurmountable. Ryan's coalition-building skills have led to the development of key state programs like Connect Oregon, where millions have been invested in roads, rail, bridges, and ports to move Oregon's commodities to domestic and global markets. Ryan's expertise comes from knowing the legislative process and his strong relationships with leaders in both political parties of the Oregon Legislature and the Governor's Office.

Ryan has more than two decades of government affairs experience working on legislative and business issues related to economic development, critical transportation infrastructure, apprenticeships, labor law, contracting code, capital construction funding, local governments, and procurement. Before becoming a lobbyist, Ryan was a policy advisor and chief of staff in the Oregon State Senate and managed campaigns and field operations for regional and statewide candidates and ballot measures. A native Oregonian, Ryan has a bachelor's degree in political science from Portland State University.

As Vice President of Health Care Policy, Henry T. O'Keeffe is a lobbyist on the government affairs team at Pac/West Lobby Group specializing in health care and helping clients engage in the legislative rulemaking process and mold their legislative priorities into proposed legislation that protects community health, local innovation, and opposes one-size-fits-all policies.

Henry has a proven track record working in health care, local government, non-profits, and private business. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar and is skilled at organizing, drafting, and negotiating legal agreements and advancing legislation for his clients. Henry is inquisitive and talented at crafting clear, concise language for legislative concepts. 

Henry has a history of caring about helping people, whether in his capacity as a student volunteer at a domestic violence shelter in college, or as the principal attorney at his law firm today. His own personal health story has helped him understand the challenges and opportunities in Oregon's health care system and energized him in his role as an advocate.

Joining the team in 2022, Henry's background includes state legislative affairs, eight years as general counsel for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., and serving as a legislative aide for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State. A native Oregonian, Henry has bachelor's degrees in philosophy, politics, economics, and anthropology/sociology from Eastern Oregon University and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School.

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.

Former Maryland State Senator, Thomas "Mac" Middleton joined the Cornerstone Annapolis office as a senior consultant in January 2021. Mac possesses nearly four decades of experience working in public service in the state of Maryland. He brings to the firm expertise in economic development, financial services, budget and appropriations, agriculture, energy and environment, and infrastructure policy.

He was elected to the Maryland State Senate in 1994 and initially served on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and was Chairman of the Capital Budget Subcommittee. Since 2003, Middleton has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee. As chairman, he led the committee in reviewing all legislation relating to banks and other financial institutions, business regulation and occupations, commercial law, economic development, health, labor, and insurance matters.

Prior to serving in the Senate, Mac was chairman of the Charles County Planning Commission where he worked to better manage growth in the county from 1978 to 1986. In 1986, he was elected President of the Charles County Commissioners and continued to work on improving the county's government services, education, and growth management. Mac has also served as Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, which is a tri-state legislative body that advises the legislatures of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the U.S. Congress on issues of bay-wide concern and ensures state and federal actions to sustain the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay.

Mac has been the owner and operator of his family farm, Cedar Hill Farm, since 1971 and brings unique insight into challenges faced by small business owners. He is a lifelong Charles County, MD resident, a full-time farmer, husband, father of three, proud grandfather, and strong believer in public service.

20+ years

Paul Phillips is one of the leading public affairs and political campaign strategists active today. With more than 30 years of professional experience in politics, marketing and issues management, Paul has an impressive track record of designing and implementing successful programs, initiatives, and campaigns on a wide range of issues such as taxation, transportation, construction, sportsman/conservation, natural resources, health care, facility siting and permitting, and energy.

Paul began his political career in 1978 while working on the successful Oregon gubernatorial campaign of Victor G. Atiyeh. After five years working as assistant to Governor Atiyeh, Paul was hired by Nike, Inc., to manage communication development. In late 1983, while working at Nike, Phillips was appointed to the State House of Representatives. After successfully winning two elections, Phillips left the House and was elected to the State Senate where he served two terms.

While in the Senate and Chair of the Revenue Committee, Phillips helped facilitate major policy changes to Oregon's strategic investment programs which resulted in significant private sector investment stabilizing a changing economy in the Northwest. Later, in his professional life, he organized and led strong coalitions. One example is with Tektronix, Intel, Genentech, Precision Castparts, Nike, Schnitzer Steel, and Columbia Sportswear, among others, that resulted in a major and lasting overhaul of corporate apportionment taxation in Oregon.

In 1997, he and his wife, Nancy Phillips, began Pac/West Communications. Since then, Paul has grown Pac/West into one of the most successful political public relations and marketing firms in the region. Paul and Nancy have built a reputation as a national leader in the arena of behavioral change, whether they be national campaigns or statewide efforts.

Paul is well-known for winning difficult, and sometimes controversial, efforts. He has played lead roles in over 361 campaigns and initiatives across the United States, often securing key support from non-tradition allies, including passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003). He has managed a wide range of campaigns for candidates, including gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, Congressional, as well as statewide and local issue ballot measures on a wide variety of topics. Most recently, Paul was the chief architect and strategist for CRED and Protect Colorado which defeated attacks on the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado.

Paul was recently appointed to the Native American Youth and Family Center Advisory Board. He has also previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees Pacific University. Paul is a member and of Boone & Crockett Club. He is the Club liaison with the Western Governors' Association and serves as co-chair of the club's Conservation Policy Committee.

Paul has a B.A. in economics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.

6-10 years