Ridge Policy Group Adds Staff, Including Former Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania House Majority Leader

HARRISBURG — The Ridge Policy Group, a state and federal government affairs firm with offices in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., is pleased to announce that it has been joined by three government affairs professionals.

Laura Jan Kuller, who most recently was the Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, has joined the firm’s Harrisburg office as Government Affairs Counsel.   Kuller oversaw the legislative process for the Leader, worked closely with legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, Representatives and Senators, on key legislation, including the budget, gaming, jobs and economic development, health care, environment and education issues.  She also worked closely with the Senate and Governor’s office to devise strategies for enacting bills and on other policy and administrative matters.

“There are few state government affairs professionals who have the kind of high-level strategic and legislative parliamentary expertise that Laura has from working for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  Laura also brings a unique combination of political and policy skills and experiences with her – including a strong Democratic political background to lend some balance to the current makeup of our Group,” said Mark Campbell, Partner at Ridge Policy Group. Laura served on the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign Legal Steering Committee for Pennsylvania and as the Central Pennsylvania Legal Counsel to the 2004 Kerry Presidential Campaign. Prior to that, she was the Central Pennsylvania Lawyers Coordinator for Governor Rendell’s two Gubernatorial Campaigns.

“It is an honor to work with Governor Ridge and his talented team,” said Kuller. “The Ridge Policy Group has tremendous potential and I am eager to assist with its continued development, especially in providing clients solutions to complex legislative and administrative agency problems.”

Kuller graduated with a J.D. degree from the American University’s Washington College of Law in 1992 where she was the Executive Editor of The Administrative Law Journal.  She received her undergraduate degree from Hamilton College in 1985 with a concentration in Government and French.   In 1997, she attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government

In addition, the Ridge Policy Group’s federal efforts have been bolstered by the arrival of Becky Wolfkiel who will serve as a Senior Government Affairs Specialist in the firm’s Washington office.  Wolfkiel comes to the Group after serving for six years as the Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA).  

“Having managed Congressman Platts’ legislative agenda, Becky learned how to effectively navigate the lawmaking process and develop successful strategies,” commented Mark Holman, Partner at the Ridge Policy Group.  “She has experience working bipartisanly in all policy areas and has worked most extensively in the health care, education, energy, and national security fields.”  Wolfkiel is a Pennsylvania native and graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Kristen Ortiz has also been hired as a Government Affairs Specialist to assist the Group with government affairs efforts from the Harrisburg office.  Ortiz comes to the Group from PAR,  Pennsylvania’s Service Network for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities.   At PAR Ortiz acted as the primary staff person responsible for monitoring legislation and policy initiatives for the organization.  Prior to working at PAR, Ortiz served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA).  Ortiz is a Pennsylvania native and graduate of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA

“Kristen’s experience, both at the state and federal levels, as well her successful work orchestrating private-sector grassroots advocacy campaigns for PAR make her an immediate asset to both our state and federal clients,” said Campbell. 

The Ridge Policy Group is a full-service federal and state bipartisan government affairs practice with offices in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  For more information, please visit our website at www.RidgePolicyGroup.com. 

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