Cleveland, OH – July 17, 2017 – Roetzel & Andress LPA (Roetzel) today announced the expansion of its existing government relations practice within Roetzel Consulting Solutions (RCS), a Roetzel subsidiary. Bolstering Roetzel’s Public Law Group, RCS advises clients on matters in areas such as government relations, crisis avoidance and management, state and federal lobbying, coalition building, and procurement and business development strategies. Public sector institutions, private companies, energy and public utilities, infrastructure and construction companies, developers and nonprofits are among the clients that RCS serves. Since forming last year, RCS has continued to expand throughout Ohio and at the federal level in Washington D.C.
Joining RCS is Julius Ciaccia, Jr., former CEO of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Julius Ciaccia Jr. is well-known both regionally and nationally in the infrastructure space. Ciaccia built his career in public utilities, most recently serving as CEO of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, where he oversaw all aspects of managing one of the nation’s largest wastewater management utilities. He began his career in public utilities in 1977, previously serving as commissioner of Cleveland Water and as Director of Cleveland’s Department of Public Utilities.
During the 25 years in the Division of Water, Ciaccia oversaw the management of over $1 billion worth of capital improvement projects and maintained the Division of Water’s very favorable financial position. The latter was marked by successive bond rating agency upgrades to the current AA standard. He was appointed Director of the City's Department of Public Utilities in 2004 and began his tenure as the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Chief Executive Officer in November 2007, until retiring in 2017. In his role at the District, he oversaw all aspects of managing one of the nation’s largest wastewater management utilities, including the compliance with a $3 billion 25 year consent order for a long term control plan that significantly reduced combined sewer overflows, as well as the development and implementation of a new storm water management program.
Ciaccia’s professional affiliations include the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, American Water Works Association, Water Research Foundation, US Water Alliance, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. In each organization, he has served on the board and as an officer.
Other key members of the RCS team include:
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Galen L. Schuerlein focuses on providing comprehensive strategic solutions for public, private and nonprofit clients at the state and local level. Her prior experience includes providing strategic counsel to assist public entities, local school districts, libraries, private corporations and trade associations reach their specific goals. Additionally, Schuerlein has extensive experience in traditional governmental relations, including procurement and dozens of successful ballot initiatives. A licensed attorney, she previously served as chief counsel for the City of Cleveland, as an Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Cleveland, and as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney representing Children and Family Services with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office.
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Lewis W. Adkins, Jr. focuses his RCS practice on public law. With decades of public affairs experience, Adkins is a sought-after advisor for procurement, government relations, and for creating and executing complex strategies to help clients reach their goals. He serves as lead strategist to numerous, large public and private entities throughout Ohio and Washington, D.C. Previously, he served as general counsel to Summit County, Ohio, and is a member of the University of Akron Board of Trustees.
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Diana M. Feitl focuses her RCS practice on all aspects of public law, including government relations, education, and lobbying at the federal level. Feitl counsels small and large companies, government organizations, and nonprofit entities on legislative matters in a diverse range of industries. Previously, she worked in Washington, D.C., staffing key committees for a member of U.S. Congress, and also formerly worked at a government relations firm in Washington.
“We are thrilled about the expansion of RCS, a strong group of legal and non-legal professionals dedicated to providing high-level strategic advice where the public and private sectors intersect,” said Galen L. Schuerlein, Founding Director of RCS. “We bring exceptional and diverse experience to help guide our clients to reach and exceed their business’ goals. Ciaccia’s experience in infrastructure, utilities and the functions of government are second-to-none. The rest of our team’s experience both in Ohio and nationally brings strong relationships and a unique understanding of how today’s government functions.”
Robert E. Blackham, Chairman of Roetzel, added, “RCS brings focus and a keen understanding of the political system that complements Roetzel’s traditional legal services. Our clients have access to traditional legal services and RCS consulting services to better help them reach their goals. We believe RCS provides our clients a strategic advantage in key industries and on matters where public sectors are involved.”
The bi-partisan RCS team members include both attorneys and other professionals who are actively involved in their business networks and communities and who possess extensive legislative, municipal, administrative and lobbying experience at the local, state and federal levels. While not providing legal advice, their experience includes success participating in the public policy process, direct lobbying, assisting in the procurement process, creating effective communications plans and compelling messaging, and generally helping to identify and bring to fruition clients’ specific goals.
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