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Team
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About
Team
Services
Sectors
Case Studies
Contact
Internships

About
Team
Services
Sectors
Case Studies
Contact
Internships

Search

Our Team

Matthew Braun

Senior Associate

Matthew Braun

Senior Associate

Matthew Braun joined WSW in August 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from Rowan University. During his time at Rowan, Matthew actively engaged in various organizations, including Model United Nations and the Rowan Institute of Public Policy and Citizenship. He also took on leadership roles as an elected officer in the Student Government Association and the Political Science Clubs.

Recently, Matthew earned a Master of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice from Georgetown University. Throughout his graduate studies, he developed expertise in addiction, mental health, and drug policy through writing memos, policy proposals, briefs, and presentations. Additionally, he interned with the Office of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), where he represented the Congressman in meetings, drafted policy proposals for legislative staff, and assisted with high-profile events.

At WSW, Matthew contributes to client support by conducting research, planning and executing fly-ins, assisting with project management, covering congressional hearings, and tracking relevant federal rules and regulations.

David Camp

Of Counsel

David Camp

Of Counsel

David Camp is the CEO of 162 Strategies, advising select clients on disability government affairs policy. Previously, David served as CEO of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, and he continues as NOSSCR’s Senior Policy Advisor and General Counsel. From 2022 through 2025, David led NOSSCR’s transition to a new home in Washington with an emphasis on advocacy.

David began his career at a legal services program, before serving as clerk to Missouri’s first disabled Supreme Court justice. In private practice, David represented disabled claimants for more than 25 years, focusing on service to the homeless. He operated a firm while handling cases administratively and before federal courts in the 6th, 7th, and 8th Circuits.

David is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, the Editorial Advisory Committee for West’s Social Security Reporting Service, and author of both “Current Social Security News” and “Social Security Claims and Procedures” for Westlaw. He founded the Administrative Law Committee for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and is a Past President of the Missouri Lawyers Trust Account Foundation. He is a recipient of the Social Security Region 7 Commissioner’s Public Service Award and NOSSCR’s Sweeney Award for Distinguished Service, honoring his work litigating an end to the Secret ALJ Policy.

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Bobby Clark

Of Counsel

Bobby Clark

Of Counsel

Bobby Clark has considerable expertise in public health policy, including the regulation of foods, drugs, medical devices, and tobacco. He also counsels clients on biomedical research and health innovation, public insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and delivery system and payment reforms.

Bobby is known for his skilled policy and regulatory analysis, expert strategic planning and counsel, and successful project and process management. Clients also rely on Bobby’s exceptional writing and editing skills to help them hone their message both on and off Capitol Hill.

As a former Counselor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Bobby maintains close relationships with current and former executive branch officials at HHS, and also works closely with policy experts within academic institutions and think tanks, as well as health industry business leaders. Bobby’s résumé also includes time as a Policy Advisor on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, where he worked for many years for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), assisting with the writing of the Affordable Care Act and other major pieces of legislation. Bobby also worked as a Senior Manager at PwC’s Health Research Institute.

Beth Connolly

Senior Principal

Beth Connolly

Senior Principal

Beth Connolly brings decades of public health policy and implementation experience to WSW. Recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in behavioral health, she has spent her entire professional career advancing evidence-based public health policy and practice.

As a senior leader at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Beth led some of the most progressive advances in the history of behavioral health policy. Her work saw the expansion of harm reduction services, treatment access, recovery supports, and overdose reversal medication and messaging. She has a deep knowledge of public health financing and designed the curriculum and teaches Health Care Finance in Georgetown’s Master of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice program.

Beth served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the state’s largest cabinet agency, managing 15,000 employees and $19 billion in state and federal funds. She led reforms in Medicaid, behavioral health, and home and community-based services. Her work there included addressing housing, transportation, food insecurity, child welfare, law enforcement, and labor and employment, much of which carried into her non-profit and federal work.

Bridging her time between state and federal leadership positions, Beth headed up efforts at the nationally recognized Pew Charitable Trusts, leading a portfolio centered on equipping states with evidence-based behavioral health policy solutions.

Beth maintains relationships across numerous federal agencies including HHS, HUD, USDA, Veterans Affairs, and DOL. Her leadership in both government and non-profit sectors provides her a unique insight to help clients build coalitions, plan for strategic advances, and realize sustainable funding opportunities.

Erika Emerson

Of Counsel

Erika Emerson

Of Counsel

Erika Emerson brings more than 20 years of health policy and advocacy expertise to WSW, with a proven track record for convening policymakers, patients, providers and industry partners with a shared commitment to improve health care access and affordability.

She specializes in honing strategy, methods and messaging for optimal impact. Whether Erika is working with first-time grassroots advocates or seasoned C-suite executives, she guides clients through complex policy issues and dynamic environments to take action where and when it matters most.

Erika’s policy-advocacy sweet spot is prescription drug affordability. She draws on decades of professional experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and national patient advocacy organizations, as well as a passion for person-centered, individualized chronic disease care and coverage. Her patient and caregiver collaborations are shaped by deep roots in behavioral and mental health, diabetes and obesity care, and direct experience navigating cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease diagnoses in loved ones.

Erika has served in a wide range of in-house and consultant roles as a skilled strategist and implementer. Her professional experience spans federal and state policy analysis, priority-setting and position statements; non-profit management and board member engagement; grassroots strategy and advocate training; coalition and consensus building; stakeholder relations; and strategic communications.

Erika holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nancy Fox

Senior Principal

Nancy Fox

Senior Principal

Nancy Fox is a distinguished Capitol Hill veteran who brings more than 25 years of Capitol Hill experience to WSW. For two and a half decades, Nancy worked for three Members of Congress in various senior roles, including as a staffer for Rep. Silvio Conti (R-MA) and then as Chief of Staff to Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ). From 2017-2019, Nancy served as the Republican Staff Director of the powerful House Appropriations Committee – the first Republican woman to hold that position in the committee’s history.

In addition to her unmatched appropriations and federal funding expertise, her policy skills include defense and homeland security; telecommunications and technology; transportation and infrastructure, including disaster relief and recovery; energy; water resources; international affairs; and Food and Drug Administration issues. Nancy is known as an accomplished leader and strategic thinker with a strong track record of success in high pressure, fast-paced, complex environments. For example, during her tenure, the House Appropriations Committee had to respond to an unprecedented number of natural disasters; Nancy led the effort to respond, working with House, Senate, and Executive Branch leaders to assess priorities and swiftly pass disaster relief packages to act on those priorities. Clients benefit from Nancy’s firsthand experience as the lead Appropriations Committee negotiator on a wide range of funding and policy issues, and in particular, her relationships forged during such intense times, which extend to the highest levels of the House, the Senate, and the Executive Branch.

In addition, Nancy managed a professional staff of over 80 and successfully discharged more than 60 bills through the committee during her two-year tenure. Notably, taking an essential step in returning to the regular federal funding process, under Nancy’s leadership in fiscal year (FY) 2019, Congress approved 75 percent of all annual discretionary funding prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30, an accomplishment that had not occurred in over two decades.

Nancy is widely respected across the political spectrum by Members of Congress, congressional staff, and other stakeholders and decision-makers in Washington. Her unique ability to work across the aisle has earned her a well-deserved reputation as a trustworthy, pragmatic problem-solver.

James Gee

Of Counsel

James Gee

Of Counsel

James Gee is a nationally recognized political strategist, Capitol Hill veteran, and champion for social and economic justice around the country. He is known and respected for creating outside-the-box advocacy strategies and solutions to difficult challenges even as he elevates those around him. James most recently served as Chief of Staff to Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). In this capacity, he was the driving force behind innovative strategies to dramatically increase the profile for Watson Coleman, New Jersey’s first African American woman to serve in Congress, and the first to serve on the House Appropriations Committee.

With James serving as her Chief of Staff and chief strategist, the Congresswoman was able to take the bold steps required to draw attention to long-overlooked issues in the community, including introducing the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls and the Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide.

Prior to working on the Hill, James worked on numerous state, local, and federal races across the country. In New Jersey, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff in former Governor McGreevey’s Administration, Associate Director of the New Jersey General Assembly, as well as a Senior Adviser to high-profile campaigns, including Corzine for Governor, Booker for Senate, and Murphy for Governor. He also has outstanding relationships throughout the Biden Administration, including at the White House and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and others.

Katie Graves

Senior Grants Associate

Katie Graves

Senior Grants Associate

Katie brings an extensive background in federal policy and research to the WSW grants team. She specializes in K-12 and higher education policy, with an expertise in the federal budget and appropriations process. She maintains relationships with key personnel across several government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education and Health and Human Services, as well as the House and Senate.

Prior to coming to WSW, Katie was the Coordinator for Advocacy Support Services for the National Association of Elementary School Principals and before that was a teacher for five years.

Chelsey Penrod Hickman

Partner

Chelsey Penrod Hickman

Partner

Chelsey Penrod Hickman brings a wide array of experience to the WSW team. Her policy expertise includes budget and appropriations; defense; health care; energy and environment; and trade and tariff issues.

Chelsey is known for her ability to plan, manage, and execute large scale legislative and regulatory efforts to accomplish a client’s goals. She specializes in coalition-building, grassroots organization, strategic planning, message development, and project management. Chelsey is particularly adept at helping organizations that are new to federal advocacy establish a government affairs program that is effective and sustainable.

Before coming to WSW, Chelsey spent more than 10 years on Capitol Hill working for senior members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, including as Chief of Staff for former Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX). She maintains close working relationships with senior-level staff in key federal agencies and congressional offices, as well as with professional staff on the congressional committees that are important to WSW’s clients.

Laura Lay

Partner & Director of Grants

Laura Lay

Partner & Director of Grants

Laura Lay manages WSW’s grants practice, and has helped numerous clients secure multiple millions of dollars in funding through the competitive grant process. Her expertise includes the federal budget and appropriations process, as well as private grants. Clients depend on Laura’s close attention to detail and extensive federal grants experience to ensure they are in the best possible position for success.

Laura specializes in guiding clients through the ever-changing landscape of seeking federal funds through competitive grants; identifying and tracking federal and private funding opportunities; developing, preparing, writing, and editing federal and private competitive grants; connecting clients to federal departments and agencies as well as private funders; and managing the overall grants process for clients. She assists clients through every phase of seeking funding, from identifying the opportunity to submitting the proposal and beyond.

One of the things that distinguishes Laura in her field is her ongoing relationships with program managers at a number of federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education and Institute of Education Sciences; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Health Resources and Services Administration, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, National Institutes of Health, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; as well as the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and National Endowment for the Arts.

Laura serves as President of the Grants Professionals Association and National Capital Area Chapter, and completed training from the Grants Training Center: Professional Grant Development and National Institutes of Health Grant Training.

Shonia Lyles

Accountant/Office Manager

Shonia Lyles

Accountant/Office Manager

Shonia Lyles joined WSW as the Office Manager/Accountant in December of 2022. She brings more than 20 years of accounting, finance, operations, and office management experience to the organization, having worked for small and medium-sized businesses. She’s an analytical thinker and excels in fast-paced environments. Shonia thrives in establishing policies and procedures that deliver quality results and company growth.

Mike McMenamin

Of Counsel

Mike McMenamin

Of Counsel

Michael McMenamin has decades of experience in all facets of telecommunications policy, including defense, public safety, utilities, privacy, and cybersecurity. Among other key positions, Michael served as an Attorney Advisor at the FCC, as well as Counsel for a telecommunications trade association. Michael specializes in policy and legal analysis, as well as the regulatory process including preparing and submitting official agency filings, and securing meetings with key regulators. Michael works closely with the professional staff on the House Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security Committees, as well as the Senate Commerce Committee. He maintains key relationships at a broad array of federal agencies, including the FCC, the National Telecommunications Administration (NTIA), and the Chief Technology Officers for the Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

Michael Merola

Managing Partner

Michael Merola

Managing Partner

Mike Merola manages the day-to-day operations of the firm, and leads WSW’s health care practice. Mike’s health policy expertise includes Medicare, Medicaid, and hospital reimbursement policy. He also has significant experience managing a wide array of issues on behalf of clients ranging from appropriations to employee benefits and tax policy.

Mike has developed a reputation for outworking the competition, which has led to success on behalf of clients in some of the most difficult health care issues before Congress, from Medicare reimbursement to funding for public health. WSW clients depend on Mike to develop, implement, and manage advocacy strategies, to build coalitions and develop “win-win” scenarios for clients and their Members of Congress.

Mike spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, and went on to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. Robert Toricelli (D-NJ). Mike has an impressive array of relationships on Capitol Hill, including Senate Democrat Leadership and professional staff of the Appropriations, Finance, HELP, and Foreign Relations Committees. He also works closely with House Democrat Leadership and professional staff of the Appropriations, Energy & Commerce, and Ways & Means Committees. Clients also benefit from Mike’s reach into agencies like CMS and the U.S. Department of State.

Kyle Mulroy

Of Counsel

Kyle Mulroy

Of Counsel

Kyle Mulroy brings nearly 25 years of federal health policy and political experience to his work as an advisor, strategist and lobbyist to some of the nation’s most innovative health care providers and trade organizations. For the past 15 years, Kyle has helped health care executives anticipate, interpret and respond to the fast-paced, complex federal legislative and regulatory decision-making processes. He is considered a trusted, results-driven member of his client’s senior management teams, providing expert counsel and direct advocacy on a myriad of policy and political matters, including health care delivery, payment, and coverage reform.

Kyle was previously the health policy advisor for a U.S. Senator, serving as his principal liaison to the Senate Finance Committee, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Before coming to Washington, Kyle held several positions at an academic medical center in central New Jersey.

Kyle graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and from the George Washington University with a Master of Arts Degree in Legislative Affairs.

Donna Mullins

Chair

Donna Mullins

Chair

Donna Mullins has nearly four decades of experience navigating Washington, DC, on behalf of constituents and clients. She is a master strategist with particular expertise in crisis management and Executive “C Suite” management. Clients rely on Donna to help them determine what to ask, who to ask, and when to ask in order to advance their agenda. Donna leads the firm’s strategic planning and communication function on behalf of clients, and is particularly adept at discerning trends early and helping clients prepare and respond accordingly.

Donna’s broad policy expertise is derived from her years of service in both the Senate and the House and includes appropriations and budget; defense and homeland security; federal research and higher education; transportation and infrastructure; health care including pharmaceuticals, patient advocacy, Medicare, and Medicaid; and trade, tariff, and quota policy. She has close working relationships with Senate and House leadership and several key House committees, including Appropriations, Armed Services, and Energy & Commerce, as well as with federal departments and agencies ranging from the Department of Commerce to the FDA.

With nearly twenty years of experience on Capitol Hill, including working as the Chief of Staff to a U.S. Senator, as well as for two senior House appropriators – Rep. Dean Gallo (R-NJ) and Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) – Donna successfully guides clients in identifying opportunities and taking advantage of them, whether through federal grants, programmatic “plus-ups,” thought leadership forums, or other unique means.

Jack O'Donnell

Of Counsel

Jack O'Donnell

Of Counsel

Jack O’Donnell offers clients a unique understanding of the intersection of politics and policy. That knowledge—together with years of experience—form the basis of intelligent, strategic plans and their dynamic execution, delivering results for the State of New York’s most successful leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, and activists.

Jack is focused on problem solving. He helps clients pass—and stop—legislation, solve complex regulatory matters, craft multi-million dollar economic development packages, and win state awards and grants including multi-billion dollar procurements. His experience in government includes serving in senior positions for United States Senator Chuck Schumer and as a Senior Policy Advisor to the State Comptroller. Politically, Jack has provided strategic advice and field and communications counsel to campaigns for president, United States Senate, and Governor as well as numerous statewide and congressional campaigns.

O’Donnell has served as an adjunct faculty member at Canisius College and has been honored as a rising leader by both Buffalo’s Business First and City & State. He is the author of Bitten By The Tiger, the true story of William Sulzer, the only governor to be impeached in New York State history and a contributing author of Impeachment. Jack was recently named one of the top 50 political strategists in New York State. He divides his time between Buffalo and New York City.

Dean Paranicas

Of Counsel

Dean Paranicas

Of Counsel

Of Counsel to WSW, Dean Paranicas brings over 40 years of leadership in the life sciences and health care in a broad range of executive and legal roles. His background spans federal and state advocacy and public policy, trade association management, major nonprofit leadership board roles, and extensive corporate and transactional experience in the private sector. Dean offers clients a unique understanding of the intersection between government relations, corporate affairs and advocacy, especially in an industry where government reimbursement, regulation and incentives are critical to large-scale investments in innovation.

Dean recently retired after 13 years as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ), a nationally prominent state-based trade association for the leading research-based biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies in New Jersey. He was a skilled champion for the state’s life sciences community, working in New Jersey, Washington and nationally to navigate a fast-changing policy environment by building relationships with an expansive cross-section of public, private and nonprofit stakeholders. Dean also served for five years as Chair of the State Medical Technology Alliance of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the nation’s leading medical technology trade association, which is a coalition of state-based life sciences trade associations across the U.S.

Prior to joining HINJ, Dean was a key player for several decades with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company based in New Jersey. He held numerous senior corporate and legal positions covering many areas, including corporate governance; government relations; public policy; investor relations; corporate communications; philanthropy; business development; acquisitions and divestitures; and a wide variety of commercial transactions.

Dean began his career as an attorney with the New Jersey law firm of McCarter & English, LLP, where he concentrated on litigation and business matters.

Charla Penn

Principal

Charla Penn

Principal

Charla Penn is one of WSW’s leading health care policy specialists. Charla works extensively with hospitals, provider associations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, insurers, and non-profits to navigate the transforming health care landscape on issues of reimbursement and access to care. Clients rely on Charla for her expertise in reimbursement policy, as well as her impressive legislative skills and policy analysis.

Charla helps clients develop, manage, and implement comprehensive government relations strategies, often tackling some of the more complicated and technical aspects of Washington, DC as part of the process, including reviewing and analyzing pending regulations, submitting official comments to pending rules, and crafting responses to Requests for Information. Charla is able to translate complex policy matters into actionable items for clients, and gives them the context they need to make the best decision for their organization.

With close relationships in key offices in both the House and Senate, particularly with the professional staff on the Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees, Charla gives clients access to key decision-makers as well as to timely information and ahead-of-the curve intel to help them plan or react quickly, decisively, and effectively.

Charla’s previous experience includes serving as the Health Legislative Assistant for Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the Ways & Means Committee.

Bryan Ricker

Principal

Bryan Ricker

Principal

Bryan Ricker is a Principal at Winning Strategies Washington, bringing more than 15 years of experience in government affairs, coalition leadership, and policy strategy across multiple industries including energy, manufacturing, defense, and financial sectors. A seasoned advocate with a proven record navigating Republican offices and bipartisan partnerships, Bryan provides clients with strategic insight into legislative and regulatory processes at both the federal and state levels.

Before joining WSW, Bryan served as Regional Government Relations Manager at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, where he led legislative strategy in Washington and Idaho, advancing balanced energy policies and strengthening relationships with key policymakers and business coalitions. He previously served as Vice President for Community Development and Military Affairs at Zions Bank, where he worked on banking and finance issues, built partnerships with the Idaho National Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force to promote cybersecurity and defense collaboration. Earlier in his career, Bryan worked as Regional Director for U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, focusing on agriculture and natural resources, coalition building, energy, defense, and economic development initiatives throughout Idaho.

Bryan’s work is grounded in relationship-driven advocacy and ethical leadership. He has served on multiple business and policy boards, including the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, and the USS Idaho Commissioning Committee.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Boise State University and completed his MBA at Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Jamie Robinette

Senior Principal

Jamie Robinette

Senior Principal

Jamie Robinette is a Capitol Hill veteran who brings 25 years of Capitol Hill experience to WSW. Jamie worked for four Members of Congress in various senior roles, including as a Chief of Staff to Reps. John Culberson (R-TX) and Ross Spano (R-FL). She served as Senior Advisor to Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and the Executive Director of the Suburban Caucus under the leadership of Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO). Her most recent role was as Chief of Staff to Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL). Throughout her career, Jamie has worked closely with Members and professional staff on committees that are critical to WSW’s clients, including Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce, Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the prestigious Ways and Means Committee.

Jamie is known for facilitating constructive conversation across the aisle, building coalitions and meaningful relationships and crafting resonating messages. She maintains close working relationships with senior-level staff in various federal agencies and congressional offices, as well as the White House.

Madison Spencer

Senior Associate

Madison Spencer

Senior Associate

Madison Spencer joined the firm in August 2024, after completing an internship on Capitol Hill in the office of Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX). Madison helps serve WSW’s clients with research, writing, monitoring and reporting, and administrative support. Madison is especially adept at organizing successful Hill Days for clients, and also helps manage WSW’s Fly-In services including our customizable Fly-In app. She also manages all aspects of WSW’s intern program.

Prior to this role, Madison worked as a consultant for Save the Children, where she crafted recommendations to enhance emergency responses in the education sector. She also has several years of experience working for Phoenix Sister Cities (Arizona) and Montgomery Sister Cities (Maryland).

Madison holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from American University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Law from the University of Arizona.

Tony Wyatt

Senior Associate

Tony Wyatt

Senior Associate

Tony Wyatt is a Senior Associate at WSW, specializing in government relations with a focus on health, education, and federal policy. He brings expertise in legislative strategy, stakeholder engagement, and direct lobbying to support clients navigating complex policy landscapes.

Before joining WSW in January 2025, Tony worked at Washington Strategic Consulting, where he advised clients on legislative processes and developed tailored advocacy strategies. With a strong background in healthcare policy, he has played a key role in federal appropriations efforts, securing funding to address workforce shortages and expand patient access to care—impacting healthcare accessibility in New Jersey and beyond.

Tony earned his bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communication and Rhetoric from Baylor University, where he was co-captain of the Glenn R. Capp Debate Forum.

At WSW, Tony is dedicated to fostering client relationships through project management, direct lobbying, and personalized support—helping organizations effectively navigate the ever-evolving policy landscape.

John Yaros

Of Counsel

John Yaros

Of Counsel

John Yaros is a finance, technology, and national security expert who currently serves as the President of VirFin Solutions a financial technology consulting firm that provides government relations, policy, business, and product solutions for clients. Yaros specializes in a wide array of disciplines including artificial intelligence (AI), banking, cybersecurity/cybercrime, digital assets/distributed ledger technology, emerging technology, finance, fintech, illicit finance, money transmission, prediction markets, quantum, and securities/commodities.

Previously, Yaros served in numerous high profile positions including leading the U.S Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence’s (TFI) Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation Team, conducting investigations for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), advising fintech and cybersecurity companies, managing cybersecurity audits at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and working in the securities industry at Morgan Stanley. Most recently Yaros was appointed Securities Bureau Chief for the state of Idaho where he managed a large team of financial professionals who investigated financial crimes and provided regulatory oversight for the over 153,000 entities and individuals that are licensed/registered to offer securities and financial services in Idaho.

Yaros is also a Board Member for the TechCongress Fellowship Program, a former Division 1 college ice hockey player, and a proud cancer survivor.

Rob Zucker

Partner

Rob Zucker

Partner

Rob Zucker is an expert on public health funding and policy, working extensively on expanding access to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and the federal response to the opioid epidemic, including policy, funding, and reimbursement. Rob manages an array of WSW clients including SUD treatment providers advocating to expand access to care and life sciences innovators on ways of expanding access to life-saving naloxone. Rob also works on higher education policy for several of WSW’s institutions of higher education, helping guide them on authorization and appropriations matters that directly affect student access to a college education.

In addition, Rob spent several years on Capitol Hill in both the House and Senate, including working as an Appropriations Associate for Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a member of the House Appropriations Committee. This experience helped Rob develop his expertise in the issues of importance to WSW’s public sector clients, including counties, municipalities, and public commissions, such as infrastructure, flood control, and federal funding. Clients rely on Rob’s particular skills related to stakeholder and third party engagement and coalition building, as well as his ability to plan and execute multifaceted lobbying and advocacy initiatives.

Rob has close relationships with a number of staff and Members on key congressional committees, including House and Senate Appropriations, Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, HELP, and Finance. He has also developed working relationships with key personnel at a number of agencies including HHS, ONDCP, CMS, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

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Contact WSW

info@wswdc.com
202.589.0800

409 7th St NW Suite 450, Washington, DC 20004, USA

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