Roy Wells, President and Managing Partner

Roy Wells is the public face of Triad Strategies, who took an idea and shaped it into one of Pennsylvania’s most successful public affairs firms. He saw an industry that was stale and stagnant and turned it upside down by creating a full-service firm where clients had access not only to top-notch governmental relations, but also true communications, grassroots and business development professionals.

Before entering the private sector, Roy spent seven years working in the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Treasury Department. As deputy state treasurer, he directed the preparation, introduction, and passage of key legislation and served as liaison between the Treasury Department and House and Senate leadership and other members of the General Assembly.

Before that, he was a budget analyst for the House Appropriations Committee, working with the departments of Commerce, Corrections, Probation and Parole, Attorney General and Auditor General. He also had oversight responsibility for the Commonwealth’s economic development programs and was the rural policy coordinator for the House majority caucus. He served as senior staff to both House and Senate.

rwells@triadstrategies.com

Mike Acker – Partner and Senior VP

Mike joined Triad after serving former Gov. Tom Ridge as executive deputy secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, functioning as chief operating officer for the Commonwealth’s fourth-largest state agency, with more than 6,000 employees and an operating budget of nearly $1 billion.  He also served former Governors Dick Thornburgh and Mark Schweiker, and before that was an aide to U.S. Sen. John Heinz.

Mike is the driving force behind the Triad lobbying team and maintains an extensive network of relationships with some of the most prominent elected officials in the state, Republican and Democrat alike.  In 2010, Gov. Tom Corbett tapped Mike to head his transition team on labor and workforce issues. He served on the transition advisory team of President George W. Bush in 2000 and was tapped by the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign to serve as a Pennsylvania Coalition leader.

macker@triadstrategies.com

Todd Brysiak, VP of Government Affairs

Prior to joining Triad in January 2018, Todd was a fixture in the Pennsylvania General Assembly for 13 years and earned a reputation as a key player in a world of complex issues.  He served as chief of staff to the House majority leader, where he was front-and-center for every major public policy debate.

With significant experience in both the policy development and public outreach arenas, Todd honed his skills while serving as executive director of the Republican Policy Committee and director of communications for the House Republican Appropriations Committee.  He also served as communications director for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, the state’s largest broad-based business association.

Todd’s resume of success includes leading negotiations on the state’s nationally recognized pension reform law of 2017, business tax reforms, securing funding for high-tech start-up companies and orchestrating the deal on the state’s unemployment compensation law relating to seasonal workers.

tbrysiak@triadstrategies.com

Olivia Edwards Rindfuss – Associate

Olivia joined the Triad team after working on both Capitol Hills in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg. She worked first as a Congressional intern specializing in trade and commerce, then as a research and policy writer assigned to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. She then worked for nearly two years as PA House staff member before coming to Triad.

Olivia has worked on issues that cross state, federal and international markets. As a Government Affairs Associate, she monitors legislation, counsels clients and develops strategies for direct lobbying campaigns.

Olivia also provides PAC and foundation management, event coordination and correspondence. Olivia serves on leadership teams for several non-profit and local organizations, including The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg Young Professionals and Lebanon Valley College.

She is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College with a B.A. political science and a minor in law & society.

oedwards@triadstrategies.com
Twitter: @Olivia_Rindfuss

Michael Manzo – Senior VP of Government Affairs

Michael came to Triad after serving as chief of staff to the House majority leader in Pennsylvania, as well as stints as president of two successful consulting firms.  While in government, Mike held positions across the spectrum, from his start as a staff writer for the House Conservation Committee, executive director of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and press secretary and spokesman for the House Democrats.  Running the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mike established long-lasting relationships with scores of legislators and senior staff members from both sides of the aisle, and both legislative chambers.

Mike’s policy background includes having a hand in multiple state budgets, Gov. Ed Rendell’s economic development initiatives, transportation funding, environmental issues, alternative energy standards, overtime policy for nurses, minimum wage and the slots gaming law.

mmanzo@triadstrategies.com
Twitter: @michaelmanzo90

Yvonne F. Roberts, Director, Philadelphia Office

Few cities in America have a municipal government that can be as tough, byzantine and fiery as Philadelphia.  But it is within the walls of Philadelphia City Hall that you will find Yvonne Roberts, navigating the tough waters, meeting with top decision makers, and generally making it look like the easiest job in the world.  Smooth, tough and unflappable, Yvonne is the director, and the heart and soul, of Triad’s Philadelphia office.

Her contacts constitute the definitive list of Philadelphia’s leaders, from the business community, to legislators and city council members, from Mayor Jim Kenney, to council members; from freshmen state Representatives to powerful Senate Appropriations Chairman Vince Hughes and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Jr.

A seasoned lobbyist, negotiator and community relations specialist, her clients represent corporate, public and nonprofit sectors on the local, regional and national levels. Her multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, a product of more than 30 years of working in public relations, politics and business, sets her apart as a practitioner and gives Triad’s clients a critical edge when dealing with the city, Congress, or the U.S. Senate.

Yvonne’s relationships with a diverse array of Philadelphia special interest groups and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus have enabled her to assist with numerous community outreach initiatives, and she has unparalleled skill in resolving conflicts and finding the common ground, something not always in abundance in the rough-and-tumble world of Philly politics.

After establishing a full-service consulting agency in 1982, her career path eventually brought her to Triad in 2001. Along the way, her clients have included Rite Aid, Proctor & Gamble, R.J. Reynolds, Conrail, Comcast, the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the African American Historical and Cultural Museum of Philadelphia, and Sony Music Entertainment.

More recently, she has worked with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Mercy Hospital, Delaware Valley Community Health, Moore College of Art, the Inglis Foundation, LogistiCare, Lutheran Settlement and Baseball at 30th Street.

yroberts@triadstrategies.com

Doug Rohanna – SVP Advocacy & Communications

With more than 20 years of public policy experience serving in a wide variety of roles in the legislative and executive branches of government, as well as the private sector, Doug has earned the respect of leaders from both political parties. He has served as director of communications for Gov. Ed Rendell, as deputy state treasurer, as chief of staff to the Pennsylvania House minority leader, and as vice president of government relations for a Harrisburg public affairs firm.

He has successfully managed public affairs campaigns and advocated for clients at the local, state and federal levels.  He has demonstrated an ability to build expertise in new areas, develop and maintain relationships with individuals and groups, and build consensus among those with diverse interests.

drohanna@triadstrategies.com

Brendan Schubert – Senior Associate 

Brendan has managed the Triad Strategies Pittsburgh office for the last several years. He is part of the government affairs group, however as a government affairs team member at Triad, has both a strong background in government affairs and communications.

Prior to joining Triad, Brendan was on the executive team for Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority managing external affairs and communications. During his tenure, the Authority realized the first access to public dollars for capital investment back into the system.

Brendan has extensive knowledge and understanding of the Pennsylvania Legislature. He worked as a district liaison for a senior member and committee chairman. Brendan is a lifelong resident of southwestern Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree from the John H. Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. Brendan has a unique perspective of understanding the policy and hot button issues from the state capitol in Harrisburg to City Hall in Pittsburgh.

bschubert@triadstrategies.com

Business Manager

It isn’t always easy to find Andrea Updegrove, shielded as she is by stacks of spreadsheets, folders, invoices, contracts and all other manner of crucial documents, but trust us, she is there, making sure the trains run on time.

As business manager, Andrea makes sure that the bulldog stays fed. She manages accounts receivable and accounts payable, generating invoices, producing checks, preparing monthly account analyses and coordinating payroll.

Andrea joined Triad after working her way up through the accounting department at Keystone Peer Review Organization, Inc. Before that, she held accounting jobs with Cleveland Brothers Equipment, the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and Pennsylvania Blue Shield.

She holds an associate’s degree in business administration from Harrisburg Area Community College, and she is working toward a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

aupdegrove@triadstrategies.com

David Dumeyer, Senior Consultant

One of Triad’s senior consultants is Dave Dumeyer, is also owner of Dave Dumeyer Consulting, LLC.  The firm specializes in educational policy and political organizations, a mix he learned through a change in careers. Dave toiled sixteen years in the vineyards of public education, teaching foreign languages and social studies. He later worked in the state legislature, where he dealt extensively with agricultural and educational policy.

His government experience encompasses 21 years as a House of Representatives staff member and, ultimately, as Executive Director of the House Education Committee. During his tenure, he helped to draft a number of key pieces of legislation.  One of the most prominent was Act 48, which mandates the continuing education of Commonwealth-certified teachers.

Dave also brings local government experience to the table, having served as an elected township supervisor in West Hempfield Township for over two decades, the last seven of those as chairman of the board.  In addition to serving the township residents, Dave sits as a regional representative to the Lancaster County Tax Collection Bureau, one of Pennsylvania’s premier tax commissions.

Dave brings multiple levels of value to Triad Strategies: his numerous contacts in state and local government and politics; his aptitude for researching  and analyzing complex policy problems; his ability to find solutions to difficult questions; and his knack for brokering successful deals.  The latter skill was honed through his local political activities in Pennsylvania’s most Republican county, Lancaster, where he served over six years as the county chairman.  Throughout his chairmanship, he had an unblemished record of leading the Lancaster County GOP to victorious campaigns for county, state and federal offices.

Dave also is treasured asset to some of Triad’s non-profit clients but his service doesn’t stop at the office door.  He has been personally involved in Rotary, 4-H, Scouting, his congregation, and the Lancaster County educational community.  He currently teaches U.S. History and the History of Western Civilization on an adjunct basis at the Lancaster campus of Harrisburg Area Community College.

Dave received his BA in German (education) from Susquehanna University and his MA in American history from Millersville University.  He lives with Donna, his wife of 42 years, in Landisville, PA. They are the parents of two married daughters and six grandkids. His roots, however, are in western Pennsylvania, as evidenced by his true passion: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ddumeyer@triadstrategies.com

Rick Kelly, Senior Consultant

Rick has parlayed his experience in the news media and as a corporate communications manager into a successful strategic communications consultancy, which includes national and international clients as well as those closer to home.

He has managed communications for merger and acquisition clients, directed successful community outreach efforts and undertaken numerous issue management and crisis communication assignments for a variety of organizations.  He was the de facto communications director for Associated Pennsylvania Constructors during its successful multi-year effort to advance a transportation funding measure.  Known as Act 89 of 2013, the measure increased Pennsylvania’s transportation funding by $2.3 billion per year.

In addition to project work, Rick is in demand as a media coach and message trainer.  His clients have appeared on 60 Minutes, 20/20 and in a variety of other high-profile, high-pressure broadcast and print media venues.  He has received various journalism and professional communicators’ awards and holds a B.A. in journalism and an MBA.

rkelly@triadstrategies.com

Anthony V. Mannino, Esq., Senior Consultant

Tony is a senior consultant with Triad and has more than 20 years experience in the public and private sectors. He is experienced in developing and executing organizational strategies for operations and communications, and maintains trusted relationships throughout southeastern Pennsylvania with leaders in government and business.

Tony presently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Wolf Commercial Real Estate/CORFAC International, where he provides executive-level leadership to a sales and administrative team. In addition to internal management, he is responsible for enhancing marketing and business development functions, directing recruiting efforts, and implementing strategies for corporate growth in new markets and business lines.

Tony served as a legislative Chief of Staff in the Pennsylvania General Assembly from 2006-2015, working first for a House member in Delaware County and then as Chief of Staff for the First Senate District in Philadelphia. Tony’s experience on the front lines gives him an insider’s view on how to successfully identify, engage, and persuade government and community stakeholders, as well as intimate knowledge of the inner workings of state and local government.

Prior to his public service, Tony spent more than a decade as an attorney in the private sector, handling commercial landlord-tenant, property subrogation, and other commercial litigation matters for a variety of institutional clients.

Tony presently serves on the Board of Directors at the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the agency which manages, maintains, and markets port facilities along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. He previously served as a state Senate designee to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System, and as a Commissioner Alternate at the Delaware River Port Authority.

Tony has been actively involved in many civic and community organizations in Philadelphia. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, where he is also a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Advocacy Committee.

Tony has a J.D. from Temple University School of Law and a B.B.A. in Accounting from Temple University. He is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is also a licensed Pennsylvania real estate salesperson.

amannino@triadstrategies.com

Jeffery Hunsicker, Senior Consultant

After working in various positions with the Service Employees International Union for nearly thirty years,  Jeffery Hunsicker left the organization and founded Hunsicker Strategies,  a firm focused on government relations,  strategic campaigns and political analysis.  Since its founding in September of 2014, Hunsicker Strategies has provided services to a wide range of clients, including: the Blue Green Alliance,  The Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, Triad Strategies, the Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center, Good Jobs PA PAC,  Service Employees International Union, and Morgan Plant and Associates.

With SEIU, Jeff worked extensively on issues impacting working families, human services and social sevices workers, as well as registered nurses and other health care workers.  He also gained extensive experience on election campaigns at the state and federal levels.

Prior to joining SEIU Jeff worked for various organizations in the areas of community organizing and issue advocacy.   He is a graduate of Bloomsburg University (then Bloomsburg State College).

Jennifer L. Mann, Senior Consultant

Jennifer L. Mann is the founder and president of JL Mann Consulting, LLC, a firm that provides customized business solutions to a wide array of companies. A former longtime member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and small-business owner, Jennifer is relied on for her effective cost-cutting strategies and her dedication to helping companies grow.

Elected to serve her hometown of Allentown in her 20s, Jennifer was a state representative from 1998 to 2012, quickly earning a reputation as a skilled facilitator, consensus-builder and mentor. In 2008, her colleagues elected her to the post of Caucus Secretary, making her only the third woman to serve in a House Democratic leadership position since the Pennsylvania legislature was formed in 1682. As a member of the national Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Leadership Team, Jennifer served as chairwoman of the DLC’s State Legislative Advisory Board and was named to the DLC’s “100 to Watch” list in 2000.

Prior to serving in the House, Jennifer launched and managed a successful wireless telecommunications business in Allentown. That experience, combined with her legislative focus on business-friendly economic policies, gives Jennifer a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurship and business leadership.

Today, Jennifer uses her vast national network to serve her clients as well as her community. She is currently on the board of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, the Arthritis Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, the executive board of the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the board of associates for the Allentown Art Museum, Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College. She is a member of the Honorary Board for the YWCA of Bethlehem and holds an elected position on the St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus Board of Governors, and a Director of QNB Bank.

Previously, Jennifer served on the board for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and as chairwoman of the Finance Committee for the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, an organization that helps bridge the gap between the private sector and government to help businesses expand and create jobs. She also acted as a government liaison for the Program for Women and Families, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence.

A lifelong resident of Allentown, Jennifer earned degrees in government and economics from Lehigh University.

Jennifer Mann
Senior Consultant
jlm@jlmannconsulting.com
610-820-6266

George Wolff, Senior Consultant

It is difficult to describe how much of a legend George Wolff is in the Pennsylvania public affairs world and, frankly, he will be the last person to ever admit it.  Suffice to say that if it is happening in the world of agriculture, transportation or conservation and George doesn’t know it, it is probably not worth knowing.

George is a true public affairs professional, toiling in the fields of agriculture and conservation since 1953. Over the years, he has also had a hand in workers compensation reform, business tax reductions, the statewide nutrient reduction program and water resources legislation.  Presently, he is leading the fight for funding for the road and bridge construction industry, while still keeping a close eye on food and product safety protection issues, as well as product liability reform.

First appointed when Pennsylvania joined the Chesapeake Bay Commission in the 1980 and reappointed since by the President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate, George is the public member on the commission.  He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and a legislative committee member of the Pennsylvania State Grange. He is a former a member of the Board of Directors for Millers Mutual Insurance Company and as a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.  He was instrumental in coordinating a group which proposed recommendations for the management of the state’s water resources through regional and statewide management committees working in cooperation with the river basin commissions.

George has also been active with organizations which promote the responsible stewardship of Pennsylvania’s water resources. In December 2003, he was appointed by Governor Rendell to the Statewide Water Resources Committee and in 2005 to the Pennsylvania Energy Advisory Board.

Not content to work solely in public affairs, George has owned and operated farms in Lebanon County for over forty years, where he practiced an intensive grain rotation program. He attended Purdue University, majoring in animal husbandry. From 1954 to 1960, George served as the Director of Agricultural Relations for the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association.

In February 2002, Governor Mark Schweiker appointed George to the Agricultural By-Product Management Technology Board. At the behest of Governor Dick Thornburgh in the early years of his administration, George served as co-chairman of the “Vote Yes for Water” Committee, a public relations effort aimed at passage of a state water referendum funding issue to establish PennVest. He served at Governor Robert Casey’s request as a member of a select committee to develop regulations for a nutrient management program which resulted in Act 6 of 1993. Additionally, at Governor Casey’s request, George served as treasurer for a statewide water initiative. Under former Environmental Protection Agency Secretary William Ruckelshaus, George served on a national non-point source committee to design programs for the joint involvement of the EPA and the USDA. George also served on the National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board to develop recommendations on budget and program priorities for research, higher education and extension in the food and agricultural sciences.

George has also served as a member of the National Agricultural Advisory Board, a past President of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation District Directors, a member of the State Conservation Commission, a member of the Lebanon County Conservation District, a member of the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and Chairman of the Jackson Township Zoning Hearing Board.

In July of 2005 George received the Distinguished Service Award from the State Conservation Commission and in September 2005 received the Fran Flanigan award from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. He has received numerous other awards including the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s Centennial Award of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Veterinary Medicine, the Izaak Walton League of America Chesapeake Bay Conservation Award, and several other conservation service awards.

gwolff@triadstrategies.com