From the Statehouse to the White House, our team has decades of experience winning elections, shaping complex public policy and building the strategic coalitions and messaging needed for success in business and politics.
Governor Ted Strickland – Chairman
Former Governor and six term Congressman serving Southern and Eastern Ohio, Ted Strickland has a unique understanding of the inner workings of government at all levels. As a life long public servant and advocate for working people, Ted used his compassion and intellect to improve the lives of those he served, focusing on real results and policies that would support the middle class. His record of accomplishment in Ohio and Washington is unmatched in its focus and success. Read more…
John Haseley – Principal
For almost 25 years, John Haseley has worked for some of Ohio’s most influential leaders, both in Washington, D.C., and in Columbus, earning a reputation as an effective leader in both policy and politics. Most recently, John was Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s Chief of Staff during Strickland’s four years as the state’s chief executive. As Chief of Staff, he led negotiations with the state legislature on the passage of two balanced budgets and monumental energy reform. He also oversaw a successful and collaborative collective bargaining process with the statewide workforce. Read more…
Aaron Pickrell – Principal
For nearly two decades, Aaron Pickrell has been one of the top political operatives in the country. Aaron has served in senior roles for multiple presidential campaigns, cementing his reputation as a leader of successful organizations as the campaign manager for President Obama’s Ohio campaign and Ted Strickland’s campaigns for governor. Aaron also has extensive experience in government, serving as Ted Strickland’s Chief Operating Officer in Columbus and Leonard Boswell’s Chief of Staff in Washington, among other positions. Read more…
Sandy Theis – Principal
Veteran communicator Sandy Theis is a master at media relations, message development and crisis communications. Prior to starting her own business in 2006, Sandy was among Ohio’s most well-respected journalists, ending her 25-year newspaper career as Statehouse Bureau Chief for The Plain Dealer of Cleveland. In her post-newspaper career, she has served as a key adviser to Gov. Ted Strickland, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and coalitions promoting the passage or defeat of statewide ballot issues. Her long-standing positive relationships with reporters and her keen understanding of the media’s needs help to advance her clients’ causes. Read more…
Mark Shanahan – Principal
As a senior public executive with a 27-year career in government, Mark spent the last 22 years advancing Ohio’s energy economy to propel job growth. Mark has an unrivaled understanding and robust track record of working with the Midwest’s strong fossil fuel heritage while simultaneously investing in the technologies of an advanced energy economy. Mark served as the Executive Director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority under four governors in addition to serving as the state of Ohio’s first Energy Czar under Ted Strickland. Read more…
Jeff Ricchetti – Principal
Jeff Ricchetti, Senior Vice President and co-founder of Ricchetti, Inc. has spent over 25 years as an attorney and federal lobbyist, developing an extensive background in health, tax, insurance, financial service and pharmaceutical issues. Jeff has a wide range of experience successfully representing national trade associations and Fortune 500 companies. Before becoming a consultant, Jeff lobbied on health and tax issues for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and served as the organization’s Director for Legislative Affairs. Read more…
Jay Heimbach – Principal
Jay Heimbach, a Principal of Ricchetti, Inc., has vast experience at the highest levels of government, having held positions in both the Clinton and Obama White Houses and serving as Chief of Staff for Senator Sherrod Brown. Jay specialized in telecommunications and information technology policy in the Clinton administration where he served as Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the Director of Legislative Affairs before becoming the Director of the Office of Legislative and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the FCC. In the Obama Administration he served as a Special Assistant to the President for legislative affairs, specializing in clean energy development. Read more…
