By Duane Morris Government Strategies
Welcome to "Back in Session," a podcast focused on exploring various state-level policies and legislation shaping our nation, one state at a time. Join our hosts, Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara from
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The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
In this episode of the Back in Session podcast, hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara sit down with Amy Bos, Director of State and Federal Affairs at NetChoice, to discuss the critical issues facing the tech industry today. They dive into the latest developments around AI regulation, antitrust lawsuits, and online speech moderation. Amy shares insights from her Capitol Hill experience and highlights the potential global challenges to U.S. tech leadership. From privacy law to artificial intelligence, this episode provides an in-depth look at how the government is shaping the future of technology.
Learn more about NetChoice: https://netchoice.org/
Join us in this insightful episode of the Back in Session podcast as co-hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara sit down with Pennsylvania State Representative and Republican Whip, Tim O'Neal. Dive into the complexities of the recent state budget, explore the dynamics of special vs. general elections, and learn about crucial legislative efforts aimed at transparency and consumer convenience. Whether you're a Pennsylvania resident or a political enthusiast, this episode offers valuable perspectives on state politics and governance. Don't miss out on this great conversation!
About Rep. O'Neal:
Relying on his private-sector experience, Rep. Tim O’Neal is working to create and protect jobs, improve infrastructure, ensure our energy diversity and independence, and reform state government. He is serving his third full term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after assuming office following a May 2018 special election.
Tim was elected to serve as the Republican Whip for the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
A life-long resident of southwestern Pennsylvania, Tim graduated from Jeannette High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). While an undergraduate, he served in the ROTC program at IUP and was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. After graduation, he served on active duty, including a tour in Afghanistan. He rose to the rank of captain. While in combat, Tim was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valor. Once he returned from active duty, he chose to settle back in southwestern Pennsylvania and earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. After working in the energy industry, Tim was a human resources director for a construction company.
In his spare time, Tim coaches football and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Tim resides in South Strabane Township with his wife, Julia, and their three children, Lucy, Daniel and Simon.
The 48th Legislative District covers the city of Washington; Amwell, part of Carroll (Districts 3, 4 and 5), East Finley, Fallowfield, Morris, North Franklin, part of North Strabane (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), Nottingham, Somerset, South Franklin, South Strabane, and West Finley townships; and the boroughs of Donora, East Washington and Green Hills.
In this episode, the Back in Session hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara dive into their excitement for the upcoming National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. They then welcome this week's special guest, Alex Baloga, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA), for an insightful discussion on his career journey, PFMA's mission, and their advocacy work. Alex shares recent legislative successes, the challenges of representing the competitive retail industry, and how PFMA navigates the partisan divide in Pennsylvania's government. Tune in for an engaging conversation on the intricacies of legislative advocacy and the importance of collaboration.
About PFMA:
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) is a statewide trade association advocating the views of the food and beverage industries. Our membership includes convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers, distributors, and consumer product vendors of all sizes operating in Pennsylvania and beyond.
About Alex Baloga:
Alex Baloga became PFMA President and CEO on July 1, 2017. After joining PFMA in 2013 as director of government relations, he was promoted to director of government and public relations in 2014 and to vice president of external relations in 2015. Baloga leads PFMA's day-to-day operations and helps implement its strategic vision, working with the board of directors, of which he is a member. He leads PFMA’s government relations efforts at the local, state and federal levels. He also manages PFMA’s federal, state and Philadelphia Food PACs along with PFMA’s Legislative, Pharmacy and WIC Stakeholder’s committees.
He serves on the Classification and Ratings Committee for the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau. He is a board member on the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund. He joined the Pennsylvania Department of Health's newly formed Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Advisory Group in 2022. He sits on the Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE) Board of Directors, the Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association Board of Directors and the NACS Legislative Committee. In addition, he represents PFMA members on the Pennsylvania Lottery Sales Advisory Council.
Baloga previously served as deputy finance director for Robert P. Casey’s re-election campaign for U.S. Senator, where he directed the fund raising activities in central Pennsylvania. He has extensive contacts from his experience as an associate lobbyist for a contract lobbying firm in Pennsylvania.
In addition, he worked in U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s Government office as a regional field manager, serving as the senator’s liaison to government, community and constituent groups in central Pennsylvania; monitoring local issues and developments, and representing Senator Casey at civic meetings and community events.
Baloga has earned recognition for his work in the food retail industry on several 40 under 40 lists, including Central Penn Business Journal, City & State PA and The Griffin Report. He recently was recognized in City & State PA’s 2022 PA Agriculture Power 100. He also earned the 2018 Excellent in Government Affairs Award from the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Baloga earned his bachelor’s degree in History with a specialty in Political Science from West Virginia University.
Learn more about PFMA:
https://www.pfma.org/
In this episode of the Back in Session Podcast, hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara are joined by Mark Hutchinson, the CEO and founder of Blue Line Solutions. With a rich background in law enforcement, Mark shares his personal journey and the heartbreaking incidents that led him to create Blue Line Solutions, a company dedicated to improving road safety through automated speed enforcement technology, with a focus in school zones and work zones.
Listeners will gain insights into:
Join us for an enlightening discussion that highlights the critical role of automated speed enforcement in saving lives and making our roads safer.
Learn About Blue Line: https://www.truebluesafer.com/
Learn About the Lipford Foundation: https://lipfordfoundation.com/
Welcome to this episode of the "Back in Session" podcast, featuring a dynamic discussion between hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara, and their special guest, Terra McClelland, the current president of the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) and Vice President of Government and External Affairs for Benevis.
In this episode, discover Terra’s insights on professional development, state-level policy, and her fascinating journey in government affairs. Plus, hear about her unique experiences in presidential advance work (in the Office of the First Lady) and her passion for making a difference in underserved communities.
About Benevis:
Benevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.2 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve.
For more information, visit Benevis.com.
About the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC):
The State Government Affairs Council (SGAC) is the premier national association for multi-state government affairs professionals, providing opportunities for networking and professional development. SGAC's mission is to advance and support the state government affairs profession by fostering community among peers and elected officials, building knowledge, and promoting diverse perspectives in a nonpartisan environment.
Learn more at: https://www.sgac.org/
In this episode of the "Back in Session" podcast, hosts Ryan Stevens and Ryan DeMara delve into the innovative world of AI technology applied in gun detection with Burgess Nichols from ZeroEyes. Starting with some light-hearted sports banter, the conversation transitions into a serious discussion on how AI can help mitigate mass shootings through advanced detection systems. The episode also covers ZeroEyes' efforts in working with legislators and communities to ensure a cooperative approach to security and emergency response, emphasizing the importance of education and transparency in technology deployment.
About ZeroEyes:
Founded in 2018 by a team of Navy SEALs and elite technologists following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school active shooter incident, ZeroEyes was created to protect people from having to face similar circumstances.
As veterans and parents, ZeroEyes’ co-founders were compelled to develop a proactive solution to keep people safe after seeing and hearing about mass shootings occurring in schools and other public places, and the impact they have on our society.
Drawing from over 50 years of collective military experience, they provide military-grade intelligence monitoring to facilities like schools, commercial buildings, and defense sites.
Learn more: https://zeroeyes.com/
This week, the Ryans bring on special guest, Connecticut State Senator James Maroney. They ask Sen. Maroney about his role in shaping artificial intelligence (AI) policy in the state of Connecticut and beyond. They also talk about his path to public service, the importance of collaboration, where things stand in Connecticut's current legislative session, and even how Connecticut has better pizza than New York and New Jersey! Tune in for an excellent discussion.
About Sen. Maroney, Deputy Majority Leader of the CT Senate:
James Maroney was first elected to represent the 14th District (Milford) in 2018.
Before being elected to the Senate, he was a State Representative for the 119th District from 2012-2014, where he served on the Higher Education Committee. Due to his distinguished service on the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, he was asked to serve on the Planning Commission for Higher Education and help develop a strategic plan for higher education in Connecticut.
Prior to politics, Sen. Maroney was a past president and founding member of the Milford Education Foundation and also served on the Milford Board of Education. A proud and active participant in the community, he is a member and past president of the Devon Rotary, where he is the co-chair of the scholarship committee.
Sen. Maroney founded First Choice College Placement in January of 1999 which aims to make young people’s higher education dreams come to fruition. First Choice College Placement also makes community service a priority and offers a number of educational seminars, donates to scholarships, and makes practice SAT and ACT tests available to the community. First Choice is a member of the Milford Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Milford Business Association.
Prior to a successful career in public service, State Senator Maroney attended Yale (Class of 96), where he was a 3-time varsity letter winner in both track and field and cross-country. In his senior year, he was elected captain of the track and field team and was awarded the Yale Men’s Cross-Country Award for Performance and Dedication. He graduated from Jonathan Law High School of Milford in 1992.
Senator Maroney lives in Milford with his wife Jennifer and his son Jay.
His committee assignments:
Learn more: https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senator/james-maroney/bio
This week, the Ryans bring on Jody Thomas from the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) to talk about the NFWL, its mission, and more. They cover the NFWL's role in supporting female legislators through professional development, mentorship, and networking. You won't want to miss this fun and informative conversation!
The Ryans also recap the DMGS 2024 State Capitol Building Bracket Challenge, which saw over 5,000 votes on our Twitter/X. The winner for the inaugural challenge was Nebraska! Thanks to everyone for voting.
About the NFWL:
THE VISION OF NFWL is to empower and inspire elected women to become thought leaders who shape America’s future.
THE MISSION OF NFWL is to provide strategic resources to elected women for leadership development, exchange of diverse legislative ideas, and effective governance through conferences, state outreach, educational materials, professional and personal relationships, and networking. We encourage the election and/or appointment of women to public office.
Since 1971, the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled. Today they hold 2,307, or 31.2% of the 7,383 seats nationwide. Currently, 24 women serve in the US Senate and 120 serve in the US House of Representatives, while 95 women hold statewide elective office. Of those, there are 9 women Governors, 19 Lt. Governors, 8 Attorneys General and 21 Secretaries of State. From Washington, DC to local city councils, women are making a big difference in politics and how our country is run. Women chair numerous committees, they influence policy and they understand the importance of building bipartisan coalitions in support of the nation’s most pressing concerns to ensure widespread change in both thought and policy on a variety of issues.
That’s where the National Foundation for Women Legislators comes in! Since 1938, NFWL has served as a forum for elected women from across the country to be empowered through information and experience. As the oldest organization for elected women in America and the ONLY one that includes women on the city, county and state levels, we encourage our members to take leadership roles and form connections across the aisle. We know that only by working together, can we achieve our goals.
Learn more: https://www.womenlegislators.org/
In the latest Back in Session episode, the Ryans bring on Pennsylvania State Representative Josh Kail to discuss various issues facing Pennsylvania and his role as the Chairman of the House Minority Policy Committee. Kail gives his perspective on numerous topics from energy to education, AI to taxes, and everything in-between. Notably, he offers his reaction to Governor Shapiro's new energy plan and discusses the legislature's role in shaping AI regulations moving forward.
Kail also talks about his path to becoming a State Representative, what it's like being a father of 8 and his hall of fame statistic from his college football days. Enjoy!
Learn more about Rep. Kail at https://www.repkail.com/ and about the House GOP Policy Committee at https://www.pagoppolicy.com/
On this week's Back in Session episode, the Ryans are joined by special guest Jon Anzur, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. They discuss Jon's path to the Chamber, including his experience working campaigns and on the Hill in DC. They also discuss what issues the Chamber is working on and highlight some policy successes. And with March Madness coming up soon, they also touch on the Chamber's upcoming "Coolest Thing Made in PA" bracket challenge.
About the PA Chamber of Business and Industry:
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