FRANCIS X. MCMAHON, ESQ., the founder and president of Advocacy Solutions, has deep expertise in ally development, grassroots and grasstops coalition building, strategic communications management, and online advocacy for clients in a wide range of industries including healthcare, telecommunications, energy, and transportation.

Over the course of his career, Frank has been a key staff member and advisor on many winning political and issue campaigns. He served as Special Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff to Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun and has led campaigns for Honda Motor Corporation, Verizon, and National Grid.

An avid Friar basketball fan, Frank is a graduate of Providence College, Suffolk University Law School, and a member of the Rhode Island State and Federal Bar Association.

Patricia A. Octeau serves as Senior Director at William A. Farrell & Associates LLC, representing a variety of clients before the Rhode Island General Assembly. As a registered lobbyist, she represents clients in the financial services, telecommunications, healthcare policy, information technology and workers compensation areas. She is responsible for complying with the various lobby registrations and mandatory legislative/executive lobby reports on behalf of the Firm's clients and is involved with the Firm's local and state activities at both the legislative and executive branch levels. Ms. Octeau has over 20 years of experience in the government relations and strategy arena.

Ms. Octeau is a 1980 graduate of Bryant University.

15-20 years

Best Lawyers 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, Providence.
Best Lawyers 2015 Lawyer of the Year, Administrative / Regulatory, Providence.
Best Lawyers 2013 Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, Providence.
Selected as a Rhode Island Super Lawyer, 2013, 2016 and 2017.
AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for attorneys.
Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2007 & 2018 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of governmental relations and administrative law.

Director, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.
Member, American Bar Association's Governmental, Fidelity/Surety and Energy sections.
Defense Research Institute member.

Skilled in governmental relations and legislative issues, Richard assists domestic and international companies to succeed and grow, in both regulated and deregulated industries including energy and telecommunications, financial services, health care, insurance, retail, real estate development, entertainment and manufacturing.

His considerable energy experience includes representing domestic and foreign energy companies in developing New England generation facilities. He served as lead counsel in the siting of Rhode Island's largest electric generation plant. He is currently engaged in the permitting process for a 1000 MW power plant.

Richard also has broad experience in litigation matters where he defends insured and self-insured clients in health care litigation, construction accidents, professional liability, product liability, premises liability, corrections actions and director and officer liability matters as well as representing fidelity and surety companies in the litigation of fiduciary/inventory loss and construction disputes.

The TAG network consists of the top lobbying firms across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries and specialty services.

US Members:
50-States
DC Council
US Congress

International:
Profile Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd (Australia)
Tactix (Canada)
Monarch Global Strategies (Mexico, Central & South America)
Kesarev (Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey & Israel)
Instinctif Partners (United Kingdom & the European Union)

Specialty members:
Five Corners Strategies (Grassroots Advocacy & Public Affairs)
FOCUS, a Leonine Business (50-State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking & Analysis)
Select Litigation (Jury Selection)
Bullpen, LLC (Market Entry Strategy)
The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (Social Enterprise Business Development)
Law Offices of Mitchell D. Gravo, Inc. (Specialty Member)

Matthew T. Jerzyk serves as Legal Counsel at William A. Farrell & Associates LLC. As a registered lobbyist, he frequently represents clients before municipal and state agencies on regulatory, legal and policy matters. Matt's expertise includes budgetary matters, financial services, real estate development, education, disruptive technologies, employment matters and the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. He previously served as legal counsel to the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. He also served as Senior Counsel to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and helped to guide the City of Central Falls out of bankruptcy as City Solicitor. Matt is an award-winning political consultant with a track record of success with first-time and non-traditional candidates running for public office. Matt received his B.A. and graduated magna cum laude from Brown University and received his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law. Matt's law review article "Gentrification's Third Way" was published in the Harvard Law and Policy Review.

Will Farrell serves as Director of State and Municipal Affairs at William A. Farrell & Associates LLC. As a registered lobbyist, he brings a unique integrated set of government and municipal skills, representing clients before the Rhode Island General Assembly, as well as state and local regulatory agencies. His expertise encompasses the financial services, real estate development, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. Prior to entering the private sector, Will worked in Washington, DC for Senator Ted Kennedy, in Manhattan administering the Fulbright Scholarship on behalf of the US State Department, and more recently as Director of Municipal Affairs for Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. In addition to his lobbying practice, Will has also managed several local campaigns and ballot referendums.

Will is a 2006 graduate of Northeastern University.

0-5 years

Systems Change Strategies can offer a suite of advocacy, communications, digital organizing, and community engagement services to ensure your organization's goals are achieved with all target audiences.

Michael Beauregard serves as the principal strategist and operations manager of the firm. He has a breadth of experience in government relations, public relations, digital organizing, fund development, and strategy. He has served as the lead organizer of statewide summits, fundraising campaigns, political and legislative campaigns, strategic plannings, and reorganizations/rebranding efforts.

William A. Farrell is the founding principal of William A. Farrell & Associates LLC. Prior to establishing the firm, Mr. Farrell developed the Government Law and Strategies group at the international law firm of Brown Rudnick, and served as the Group's initial Managing Director, overseeing more than 20 attorneys and government relations specialists, with offices in Washington, DC, Boston, Hartford, and Providence.

For over 30 years Mr. Farrell has represented individual companies, industry trade associations and non-profit entities on state and municipal issues, along with other public issues involving the Rhode Island community. His list of clients represents the leaders within the financial service and insurance industries; regional hospital systems and individual health care providers; national Fortune 500 companies in the telecommunication, manufacturing, servicing and technology sectors; and the gaming industry.

Mr. Farrell earned his Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law (1975) and his M.L.L. from Boston University (1991). A lifelong resident of Rhode Island, Mr. Farrell currently resides in Cranston.

Former and longest serving Chairman of the RI Democratic Party in State's history ; over 30 years experience as practicing attorney and consulting at all levels of Federal, State and local government.

20+ years

11-15 years

Negotiated town funding for a local non-profit to provide educational assistance to students at Rhode Island's last one-room schoolhouse.

Achieved reinstatement of a permanent funding stream for No-Fare Bus pass for elderly and disabled low-income riders.

Received Peter Merritt Conservation Award from Rhode Island Land Trust Council for spearheading acquisition and protection of over 100 acres of Rhode Island open space.

Navigated successful passage of enacting legislation to establish a local public water agency.

Last Rhode Island General Assembly's legislative session, successfully partnered with AARP, Senior Agenda and the National Federation of the Blind - RI on priority bills we had in common; as well as shepherded a bill to enactment for the Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island.

Received 10 Outstanding Young Leaders Award from Boston JayCees

Legislative Commissions' Appointments:
Special Legislative Commission of Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) Human Services Transportation Coordinating Council - resulted in funding for No Fare Bus Passes for low income elderly and disabled.
Special Legislative Commission to Study and Assess the Use of Solitary Confinement - resulted Department of Corrections' policy changes limiting use of solitary confinement.
Special Legislative Commission to Study and Make Recommendations for Protecting and Providing Effective Care for Vulnerable Populations in State-Funded Home Care Programs - currently working on legislation regarding training for police and detectives to address identified needs.

Memberships:
Fire Chiefs Association of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Lobbyist Association
Southside Community Land Trust

Collaborative Relationships with:
Legislators of the Rhode Island General Assembly
Executive Office of Health & Human Services
Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals -- Division of Developmental Disabilities
Governor's Commission on Disabilities
Rhode Island Senior Agenda
Rhode Island Organizing Project
Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of the Blind
Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association
Fire Chiefs Association of Rhode Island
Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island
Portsmouth, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
Rhode Island Land Trust Council
The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at RI College
The Oasis Wellness and Recovery Center

Prior to joining PLDO in 2011, Mr. Jordan was Director of Public Affairs for The Westerly Hospital, located in Westerly, Rhode Island. He also worked at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island for over two decades, most recently as Assistant Vice President, Government Relations. Mr. Jordan received his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Finance and his Master of Business Administration in Management from Bryant University. He received his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Providence College.