11-15 years

Former State Senator Patrick J. Hogan joined Cornerstone Government Affairs in October 2015 as a co-lead of the firm's Annapolis, Maryland office. Prior to joining Cornerstone, P.J. served as the vice chancellor of government relations for the University System of Maryland (USM) since 2007. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating legislative activities amongst the 14 USM Institutions and centers at the federal and state levels of government, including Congress, the Maryland General Assembly, the Office of the Maryland Governor, and other relevant units of government.

As a Maryland State Senator, P.J. represented the 39th Legislative District located in Northern Montgomery County from 1994 -- 2007. P.J. was re-elected to his fourth term in 2006. His Senate committee assignments included Budget and Taxation where he served as Vice-Chairman of the full committee, and Chairman of the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee. He was also a member of the Pensions Subcommittee and the Capital Budget Subcommittee. Additionally, he served on the following Joint Committees; Spending Affordability, Legislative Policy, the Joint Committee on Pensions, the Joint Audit Committee, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Data Systems. Previously, Sen. Hogan served on the Joint Committee on Federal Relations, Task Force on State Personnel, the Property Tax Task Force, the Pre Paid College Tuition Task Force, Telecommunications Work Group, Maryland Council on Management and Productivity, the Child Care Administration Advisory Council, the Maryland Information Technology Board, and as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children Youth and Families, among others.

P.J. authored many pieces of legislation relating to Higher Education including the creation of the Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Funding Higher Education, and the Maryland Pre Paid Tuition and College Savings Plans. He was also active on issues relative to high technology, business tax exemption for computer software, transportation trust fund distribution formula, funding for K-12 & higher education, and issues relating to persons with developmental disabilities.

From 1990 to 1994, P.J. served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Congresswoman Connie Morella. In this capacity he was responsible for issues relating to budget and economy, housing, Social Security, Medicare and Veterans Affairs. He also handled constituent inquiries with federal agencies, and served as a community liaison with local organizations. Prior to his position with Congresswoman Morella, P.J. owned and operated a successful retail sporting goods business.

P.J. lives in Annapolis, Maryland. He is married to Jacqueline P. Hogan, and they have two children. P.J. was born in Pittsburgh, PA and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.