CORDO & COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERS JOIN SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Leading New York State Lobbying Firm Promotes Adam Richardson, Nora Boyle & Amy Agars Promoted to Partners

Cordo & Company, one of New York State’s preeminent government relations and lobbying firms, today announced a new senior leadership structure that will provide deep experience and expertise for the firm’s clients. Adam Richardson, Esq., Nora Boyle and Amy Agars have been promoted to Partner, joining founder John L. Cordo, Esq and Steve Harris, Esq. among senior leadership at the firm.

“Adam, Nora and Amy have been a big part of this firm’s success for years, and I am delighted to have them join the senior leadership of the firm,” said John L Cordo Esq., founder of Cordo & Company. “Each of our new partners bring unique assets to Cordo & Co, as our clients already know from the years we’ve been working together. The specialties of each new partner allow us to continue to develop a fresh approach to government relations and implement cutting edge techniques.”

Adam Richardson Esq.: Having started his career with the New York State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office, Adam was quickly appointed Floor Counsel where he oversaw and managed all aspects of procedure as well as the day-to-day operations of sessions of the Senate. Adam was then elevated to First Assistant Counsel and served a vital role with regard to the coordination of more than 20 attorneys, handling the full spectrum legislation and policy affecting New York. During his time with the Senate, Adam also served as policy Labor Counsel and specialized in areas including pension policy, economic development, corporations and authorities, and energy. Since entering private practice, Adam has effectively advocated for companies ranging from tech start-ups to large Fortune 500 corporations. Adam is graduate of SUNY Geneseo and Albany Law School and is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Nora Boyle: Nora brings public and private sector experience in healthcare and labor policy. As a Legislative Analyst at the New York State Assembly, her policy portfolio included housing, labor, veterans' affairs, and governmental operations. Following her term with the legislature, she learned to navigate the complex world of healthcare as a Health Consultant with Public Consulting Group. While at Public Consulting Group she worked on federal, state, and local health and Medicaid policy in New York, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Florida. Nora earned her B.A. from Siena College and Master’s degree from SUNY Albany School of Social Welfare. Nora was nominated in City & State's 40 under 40 Rising Stars in 2018.

Amy Agars: Amy has spent her career honing her abilities in business management and served as second in command for operations of Cordo & Company. She ensured that the company's operational procedures are sustainable to achieve organizational goals and serves as the firm’s gatekeeper for financial communication between clients. She is a critical part in the planning, direction and coordination of decisions for Cordo & Company. Additionally, she is an integral part of the team’s legislative tracking team, and is adept in the use of State Watch, the New York State Legislative Retrieval System and oversees compliance for the firm with The Joint Ethics Commission as well as The Board of Elections. Amy attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Small Business management 2009. She is a native of the Capital Region.

Founded by John Cordo in 2007, Cordo & Company has long been one of Albany and New York City’s most prominent government affairs firms. Recognizing the need for a fresh approach to government relations, every member of the firm has experience in achieving significant success for clients by incorporating cutting edge campaign techniques with strategic, high quality traditional lobbying. Whether it be a campaign to stop massive health care cuts, enactment of the Transportation Bond Act, or coalition building to stop onerous beverage industry tax legislation, Cordo & Company understands that success in Albany depends on knowledge, experience, and creativity.





Doctors Descend on Wall Street to screen NYSE workers

Doctors Descend on Wall Street to screen NYSE workers (March 2020)

Healthcareproviders fromSOMOS (a physician led non-profit) screened over 800 employees of the New York Stock Exchange daily for Covid-19 to ensure that this “essential economic engine” can continue running andboth employees and citizens know that safety is a priority.





NYS approves legal online sports betting

NYS approves legal online sports betting (March 2020)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is planning to run the states online sports betting industry through the New York state lottery to allow for the state to get revenue, not just Casinos. This would go back into the infrastructure of NYS. Over 90% of sports betting in neighboring states occurs online, NY would be the most populous state to offer this.





Governor announces CVS pharmacies in the state will start offering Covid-19 Testing

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces that more than 60 CVS pharmacies in the state will start offering Covid-19testing. (May 2020)

The state has over 700 testing facilities currently, some of which are not adequately utilized, by switching to CVS it is more accessible to citizens as they offer testing every day and get results in 24-48hours.Citizens do not need to have symptoms in order to get the tests at CVS.





Governor Cuomo Announces Partnership With SOMOS Community

Governor Cuomo Announces PartnershipWithSOMOS Community Care to Vaccinate Underserved New Yorkers for COVID-19 at Community Medical Practices

New York State will be providing vaccinations directly to SOMOS Community Care in predominantly low-income areas, populated by majority minority communities. This comes as a part of a push to reduce vaccine access inequality and push the state’s vaccination efforts. Starting with 75 practices, the effort will scale up to 100 practices in Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, & Queens to provide New Yorkers with the COVID-19 vaccine.





New York Does Right by Veterans with PTSD

By Sarah Stenuf, New York Daily News
Nov. 16, 2017

On Veterans Day, New York joined a growing list of states that allow post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be treated with medical marijuana. As a former active-duty soldier suffering from this debilitating disease, I applaud this achievement. Gov. Cuomo has now given thousands of New Yorkers a safe and effective treatment alternative to the opioids and other powerful prescription drugs that PTSD sufferers have been forced to rely on for too long.



http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/new-york-veterans-ptsd-article-1.3638361

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Governor Cuomo Announces Major List of Administration Appointments

Dozens of Highly Qualified and Experienced Individuals Joining Governor’s Administration to Build on Past Progress and Continue Moving New York State Forward


http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-major-list-administration-appointments

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FanDuel and DraftKings prepare legislative push in New York

By Jimmy Vielkind and Bill Mahoney
POLITICO NY
Monday, November 16, 2015

ALBANY — Daily fantasy sports site are preparing for a legislative push, retaining some of New York’s most prominent lobbyists in the wake of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s determination that the companies were facilitating illegal gambling.



http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/11/8582916/fanduel-and-draftkings-prepare-legislative-push-new-york

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Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate

In phone call, Skelos son laid out lobbyists' views of upstate, downstate

By Chris Bragg
Times Union
Sunday, November 29, 2015

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Corruption-trial-Adam-Skelos-laid-out-lobbyists-6664025.php

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Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate

In phone call, Skelos son laid out lobbyists' views of upstate, downstate

By Chris Bragg
Times Union
Sunday, November 29, 2015

Adam Skelos, the son of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, believed he knew how things got done in Albany: Don't hire a New York City lobbyist to influence the Senate Republican majority, which was led by his father until earlier this year. It's friendships, familiarity and an upstate ZIP code that move the levers of power.

In typically unvarnished, profane fashion, the younger Skelos laid out those views of New York's lobbying industry in a phone call recorded in February – recently disclosed as part of the father and son's ongoing corruption trial in Lower Manhattan – and his view of how to influence upstate lawmakers.

"Some are from, you know, Binghamton area, I mean, Bumble (expletive) western (New York) – these people that get elected in their district, who are they more likely to talk to?" Adam Skelos said. "Like (New York City), you know, Ivy League brilliant geniuses – that's probably who they should talk to – or are they going to talk to the guy who's there every night having, you know, wine with them, bringing his wife along, you know what I mean?"

Several longtime lobbyists said there is truth in what Adam Skelos said about the importance of relationships in lobbying — as in any business — but that he unfairly demeans the policy chops and intelligence of upstate residents.

The Long Island-bred Adam Skelos himself jumped from high school to high school, but did earn a college degree from Hofstra in 2007. Since then, he often leaned upon his powerful father, who represents a Long Island district, to further his professional dealings, according to prosecutors.

"It is reflecting a kind of downstate arrogance that, in my experience, is common but unjustified," said Jeff Jones, who represents nonprofits, including a number of environmental groups. Jones said upstate lawmakers are less likely to care about academic credentials.

"That would be because they are farther away from Manhattan, and less likely to be enthralled by the notion of being at the Center of Everything," Jones said. "Of course a lawmaker is more likely to listen to someone who they know socially and trust as being closer to their experience than someone who comes in with a big credential expecting to be acknowledged."

The recorded Adam Skelos phone call was a discussion with Bjornulf White, the vice president of strategy and business development at Abtech Holdings, who also led an affiliated company, AEWS Engineering. Federal prosecutors allege that after Dean Skelos helped Adam land a consulting job with Abtech, the ex-majority leader helped push the company's business interests.

In the recorded phone call, Adam Skelos singles out one Albany lobbyist, Nick Barrella, managing partner of the Albany firm Capitol Group, as especially effective in lobbying Senate Republicans. According to Adam Skelos, that's because Barrella and Dean Skelos have condos near one another in Fort Myers, Fla., and their wives are "booze buddies, more or less."

"Nick is like the Republican senator go-to lobbyist because he's, he's like, you know, friendships are stronger," Adam Skelos said to White. "He had some big firm in New York City that has people with credentials out the ass, you know, Harvard graduates, Cornell graduates, and just, you know, people that you know have done their homework."

"So Nick is like the friend," Skelos added.

Barrella represented AEWS in late 2014 and early 2015, according to lobbying records, before the relationship was terminated by Barrella as the federal scrutiny of the Skeloses intensified.

Barrella, a graduate of Manhattan College, once held several high-level positions in state government and served the administrations of former Govs. Hugh Carey and Mario M. Cuomo, according to his online bio. He didn't return a request for comment.

Other Albany lobbyists known to have close relationships with the Senate Republican majority include Mike Avella, a former Senate Republican counsel, who also briefly represented AEWS; Ken Riddett, the former counsel to ex-Senate Republican leader Joseph L. Bruno; and Steven Harris and John Cordo, both of the firm Cordo & Co., and themselves lawyers and one-time Senate Republican staff.

"There is a kernel of truth to what Adam Skelos is saying, but as with much of what Adam Skelos says there is a lot of poor judgment and inaccurate views," said one Democratic lobbyist "These guys are smart lawyers."

In fact, according to Cordo's online bio, he is not only a longtime Albany resident, but does have the Ivy League pedigree Adam Skelos seems to have viewed as important – holding dual degrees from Cornell and Cornell Law, according to his online bio.

It's not just top Senate Republicans that have had close friendships with lobbyists. Avella, the lobbyist close to the Senate GOP, is business partners with Brian Meara, a cooperating witness in the Silver case. He is known to be very close with the ex-speaker and testified that years ago he would drink beer, eat kosher pizza and watch sports with Silver at the ex-speaker's Albany hotel, which had cable. The two reportedly knew each other from their days working in Manhattan court in the 1970s.

In the wiretapped phone call, Adam Skelos notes that Meara was one of the reasons that he wanted Avella to push Abtech's business interests (through Avella's firm was actually hired to represent AEWS by Barrella's Capitol Group.)

"One, he's great at drafting legislative proposals," Skelos said of Avella. "And, two, his partner, Brian Meara. Brian Meara was like the Democrat of the Republican group, right? So he had like all that support for Shelly Silver."

Indeed, lobbyists say, those who live in Albany full time can build closer relationships not just with lawmakers, but legislative or agency staff more likely to live in Albany outside the six-month legislative session.

"Large New York City-based firms are typically hiring the best and the brightest from the best law schools," said one longtime Albany lobbyist. " These are smart people, but they might not be the best people to connect with legislators and staff – especially legislators and staff who are more concerned with what's happening in Mechanicville than in Manhattan."




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