Alan P. Novak is president and founder of Novak Strategic Advisors (NSA).

When the firm was established in 2001, Mr. Novak set out to build a public and government affairs firm dedicated to helping clients establish relationships and meet their strategic goals through intense, personalized grassroots campaigns. Today, he leads the NSA team with over 30 years of experience that helps NSA clients achieve one thing: results.

Whether raising a client’s profile, having input on legislation, or building strategic coalitions, NSA clients can always count on Mr. Novak’s personal attention and creativity. They also benefit from an extensive network of contacts that bring clients together with public and private-sector leaders Mr. Novak has known for many years.

Always visible, Mr. Novak is regularly sought out by news media to comment on the political process. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News Network, ABC, MSNBC, Philadelphia talk radio programs, as well as many of Pennsylvania’s local news programs.

It is both Mr. Novak’s high profile and attention to the smallest details that have attracted a national client list to the firm. Mr. Novak’s representation ranges from Fortune 500 companies to charitable organizations and small businesses. On their behalf, he has effectively secured procurement contracts, achieved legislative victories, educated leaders about clients’ issues, and developed relationships with government entities.

Notably, Mr. Novak’s work on behalf of clients has led to legislation and state regulatory changes in the areas of gaming, the environment, taxes and state regulated alcohol sales.

Mr. Novak describes his representation as being “constant and conscientious,” the value of which he learned as both an attorney and political party leader.

At Conrad O’Brien, Mr. Novak practices in municipal law and land use law as well as civil litigation. Known for his legal expertise in local government, Mr. Novak served as solicitor for several municipal authorities, local governments and local government entities. Today he is of counsel with the firm.

Mr. Novak was also the longest serving Chairman of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party (1996-2005). In this role, he was the architect of nearly a decade of Republican dominance in statewide elections and was regularly recognized on PoliticsPA.com’s “Power 50 List” as one of the fifty most politically powerful Pennsylvanians. When Mr. Novak stepped down as Chairman, one political power broker described Mr. Novak as someone with the “ability to persuade, cajole and convince somebody they should do something.”

It is with that same finesse that Mr. Novak serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Ursinus College, the Chester County Economic Development Council, and several community non-profit boards.

Mr. Novak is a 1971 graduate of Ursinus College and a 1975 graduate of Villanova Law School.

Judy leads Novak Strategic Advisors’ Harrisburg office as the firm’s Director of Lobbying Services” to “Judy leads Novak Strategic Advisors’ Harrisburg office as a Partner and the firm’s Director of Lobbying Services.

Judy brings a background in law and legislative affairs to the firm gained from 16 years of experience in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

A lobbyist since 1997, Judy previously served a four year run as counsel to the Senate of Pennsylvania’s Democrat caucus. In that capacity, she advised five legislative committees for the caucus: Aging and Youth; Banking and Insurance; Labor and Industry; Local Government and Veterans’ Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.

Judy has worked on a number of key legislative and regulatory issues in her capacity as a Senate attorney and as a lobbyist, including: agriculture and environmental issues, such as Growing Greener, conservation/preservation easements and alternative energy; workers’ compensation reforms; health care reform; banks selling insurance; tort reform; local tax reform; tax credit legislation; General Fund Budget and Capital Budget issues; changes to the PACE and CHIP programs; telecommunications; gambling; education; transportation legislation and Tobacco Master Settlement legislation.

Prior to her legislative experience, Judy practiced insurance defense litigation in Pittsburgh for four years concentrating in workers’ compensation, personal injury and products liability, toxic torts, ERISA and trademark and contract litigation.

Judy is originally from Buffalo, New York where she graduated from Canisius College in 1986 with a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law. She moved to Pittsburgh to attend Duquesne University School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1989. She currently resides in Harrisburg and is past President and current Board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Government Relations.

After serving 24 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Senior Consultant Bob Flick brings to Novak Strategic Advisors a reputation for bipartisan, seasoned leadership with particular expertise in the areas of education, labor, consumer affairs and information security. He brings his extensive network within the Capitol and throughout the region to the firm.

Elected 12 times to represent the 167th Legislative District located on the suburban Main Line area of Philadelphia, Bob was the 14th ranking Republican in the House upon his retirement in 2006. During that time, he served in several leadership positions, including Majority Chairman for the House Consumer Affairs, Finance, Labor Relations, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committees.

A tireless advocate for a “common sense approach to government,” Bob authored over 20 pieces of legislation that were signed into law, including initiatives in the areas of education, workforce development, and welfare reform.

In 2001, Bob authored Act 114, which overhauled Pennsylvania’s 39 job-training programs to provide better coordination, cost efficiencies, and more accountability through performance-based initiatives. He was the champion and author of the first piece of educational reform legislation signed into law during the Ridge Administration (Act 66 of 1996). This law abolished terminal and travel sabbatical leaves for teachers in public schools and placed requirements on educational sabbaticals to enhance teaching skills. During the 1994/95 overhaul of Pennsylvania’s welfare system, Bob played a pivotal role authoring legislation that eliminated the “transitionally needy” category, which provided cash grants to able-bodied adults, implemented job-training, parental responsibility, and “workfare” programs designed to secure economic self-sufficiency for recipients.

During Bob’s final term in the House, the Speaker of the House appointed Bob to serve as Chairman of the Bi-Partisan House Select Committee on Information Security. Bob’s goal and objective was to determine whether state agencies and their related entities had the appropriate and necessary information security measures in place to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the financial, health and other personal information of the Commonwealth’s residents from unauthorized access, use and disclosure. During that time, Bob worked with Governor Rendell’s Cabinet Secretaries and Carnegie Melon University’s world-renown cyber information security research officials to implement model information security controls and techniques.

Over the years, Bob’s notable service and accomplishments have earned him several recognitions and awards, including: Citizen of the Year Award from Chester County Chamber of Commerce (2006); the Spirit of Free Enterprise Award from the Chester and Delaware Chambers of Commerce (2004), and the Outstanding Legislative Member from the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) National Task Force on Empowerment (1996). Bob was also honored with the Patriot Award from the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Association for helping to save the Paoli Battlefield (2003) and the Eagle Award, which is given to the strongest advocate for small business in the area from LeTip of Chester County (2002). He was named Public Service Leader of the Year by the United Way of Southeast Pennsylvania (1990) and Legislator of the Year by the ALEC in recognition of his dedication to promoting Jeffersonian ideals of Free Enterprise (1988).

Before seeking election to the House of Representatives, Bob enjoyed a successful 14-year real estate career rising to the position of Vice President of Sales for Roach Brothers Realtors. A graduate of Lower Merion High School, Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Villanova University. From 1966-1972, he served with and was honorably discharged from the United States Army Reserve 358th Civil Affairs Headquarters Company. Bob and his wife, Patti, reside in Malvern. They have three sons and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren; Kyle, Brendan, Mackenzie, Caroline, Dylanie, Marshall Grace, and Lauren Flick.

Over the last decade, few have worked as closely with Pennsylvania’s top public officials as Dan Hayward. At age 25, he was named one of the youngest state party executive directors in the country, where he worked with U.S. Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, numerous members of the state legislature, and local officials in all 67 counties to continue the Republican dominance in Pennsylvania’s campaigns and elections.

In March of 2005, Dan was hired as a Senior Associate at Novak Strategic Advisors, bringing his years of expertise and numerous contacts to NSA. Dan specializes in state lobbying, county procurement efforts, and directs all of NSA’s corporate grassroots campaigns.

Today, as a Partner, Dan’s experience is helping clients achieve wins of their own in the halls of local, state and national governments and on grassroots campaigns across Pennsylvania.

Dan was named Executive Director of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania on January 1, 2004. As Executive Director, he coordinated the committee’s strategic planning and operations, including the implementation of all political, finance and communication functions of the Party and its candidates. During his tenure as executive director, Dan guided the State Party’s grassroots efforts in the 2004 primary, winning both hotly contested races, and that fall’s U.S. Senate and Presidential elections.

Prior to being named Executive Director, Dan spent two years as the Party’s political director and successfully led the grassroots operation that carried all seven Republican statewide judicial candidates to victory in 2001. As political director, Dan organized the grassroots operations, mail and phone programs, voter targeting and GOTV efforts. He was also responsible for media relations with local, state, and national media outlets, along with message development and communication to all affiliated Republican groups and activists statewide.

Dan is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from Shippensburg University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Political Science and History. Born and raised in Milford, Pennsylvania, he’s still active in his home county’s politics, advising local candidates and assisting with voter targeting at the municipal level.

Dan lives in Harrisburg with his wife, Jayanne. In his spare time, he enjoys playing water polo, actively participating in diabetic research and treatment foundations and fishing along the streams and tributaries of the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers.

As Government Relations Director and Partner, Angela Leopold directs top to bottom grassroots campaigns, special events and media outreach for clients. She also provides lobbying services for NSA clients.

Based in Harrisburg, Angela’s ability to quickly assess and analyze pertinent legislation, political climates, and public opinion, as well as her organization and planning skills have contributed to legislative victories in the areas of property tax relief, gaming, and the waste industry on behalf of NSA clients.

Those accomplishments and other successes have come as a result of Angela’s established and highly-productive working relationships with state and federal elected officials and their staffs, as well as professional organizations and business leaders.

During the 2005-2006 Special Session on Property Tax Reform, Angela worked on behalf of an investment banking firm to ensure that bond work, already allowed by the law, was grandfathered into any new legislation. During that time, Angela’s ability to effectively update the client on the continued legislative activities, her vigilance monitoring, tracking, and researching all introduced legislation, and her continued contact with key staff and elected officials helped ensure that the client’s interests were included in the final passage of the HB 39 – The Taxpayer Relief Act.

On the federal front, Angela’s grassroots work has contributed to the introduction of legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of American companies from foreign violators. One year before the introduction of the legislation, Angela was responsible for directing an overall campaign to target key legislators and staff and impress upon them the importance of the issue.

Before joining NSA, Angela served as Deputy Finance Director at the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania (RSC). In that position, she helped raise over $2.5 million for the RSC through events, direct mail, telemarketing, and new donor prospecting. At the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, Angela’s organization skills shined as she helped coordinate all of the RSC sponsored activities for the Pennsylvania delegation. Angela’s experience also includes her time as a member of the Corporate Foundation and Relations Department of Dickinson College, where she worked with grants and contributions from government, individuals and private organizations.

Angela is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She is currently working towards a Master’s in Public Administration from Penn State Harrisburg.

In her spare time, Angela enjoys spending time with her husband, Joseph, reading, golfing, and experimenting in the culinary arts.

Lauren joined the Novak Strategic Advisors team in 2009 as an Associate. In this role, Lauren oversees all of the general office operations and assists with many legislative projects that directly affect our vast portfolio of clients.

Prior to joining NSA, Lauren gained valuable experience as an intern to Congressman Bill Shuster, 9th District of Pennsylvania. As an intern, Lauren’s duties included research for constituent inquiries, direct constituent correspondence through letters and phone communication, constituent tours of the U.S. Capital, and general office duties

Lauren also was an intern in the Office of Communications for former Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Robin L. Wiessmann. In this role, Lauren tracked and reported on key pieces of legislation to senior staff members. In addition, she provided support to the Treasury’s team in the branding campaign for the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program. She assisted with market research, producing television commercials, developing an enrollment kit for new account holders, and designing a website. Lauren also assisted with the inaugural planning for Treasurer Wiessmann.

Lauren is a 2009 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History.

Born in Winter Park, Florida, Lauren resides in Carlisle, PA. She is an avid runner, enjoys traveling, and spending time with her family

Josh Snyder brings nearly 15 years of public sector and campaign experience to Novak Strategic Advisors. Most recently, Josh served as Executive Director for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s Northwest and Capital region state offices. Prior to his work with Senator Specter, Josh served as Director of Public Liaison for U.S. Representative Philip English and as a management consultant in Governor Ridge’s Office of Administration. As a political consultant, field director and campaign manager, Josh has worked on races ranging from the Courthouse to the White House.

As Executive Director for Senator Specter, Josh worked with non-profits, colleges and universities, healthcare institutions, and local governments in securing federal funding on important projects in many of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. With U.S. Representative English as Public Liaison Director, Josh was responsible for coordinating the Congressman’s task force advisory boards in the areas of trade, disabilities, healthcare, and local government. In addition to his time in Governor Ridge’s Office of Administration, Josh’s state government experience includes working with many members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly from his time as a field director for the House Republican Caucus. In this position, Josh assisted House members with their annual outreach plans and worked with their staffs to conduct community events. In these various capacities, Josh has developed a reputation for building relationships, organizing coalitions and managing teams on time-sensitive projects.

Josh holds an Associates Degree from Penn State University, a Bachelors Degree from York College of Pennsylvania and is completing his Organizational Leadership Masters Degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. Josh has been a member or volunteered for many service organizations, including the Springettsbury Lions Club, Ducks Unlimited, Habitat for Humanity, York College Alumni Association, and the Starview Sportsman’s Association.

With a decade of experience in government and politics, Craig Tucker knows that success is directly related to consensus building and creating cohesive coalitions. A go-to guy for problem solving and creative solutions, Mr. Tucker earned his stripes at the local and county levels of government and politics. Today, he is known for his ability to maneuver through both the stickiest bureaucratic red tape and most elite political circles.

Novak Strategic Advisors is not the first alliance between Mr. Tucker and Alan Novak. Most recently, Mr. Tucker served under Mr. Novak as executive director of the Chester County Republican Committee. During that time, the county party distinguished itself among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties as one that could lead the pack in fundraising and deliver critical vote margins for local, state, and national candidates.

In 2000, Mr. Tucker devised and coordinated the campaign strategies and fundraising prowess that made Chester County the only southeastern Pennsylvania county that delivered for President George W. Bush. Their success earned high marks from President Bush’s political team.

Through his work on the West Chester Planning Commission and as administrative analyst for the County of Chester, Mr. Tucker was involved with the implementation of the award-winning Landscapes program. In an effort to prevent suburban sprawl, this proactive policy initiative provided a framework not only for the future growth of Chester County, but also for the protection of its natural and historic resources.

Rounding out his credentials as a problem-solver and motivator, Mr. Tucker served as Operations Manager at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute where he initiated several new policies that dramatically increased readership to their publications. Mr. Tucker also served as a field representative for the College National Republican Committee where he coordinated all Presidential Youth Campaign activities, including voter registration drives on 40 campuses in Ohio and Michigan.

Mr. Tucker holds a Masters in Government Affairs from the University of Pennsylvania, Fels Center of Government and earned his bachelors degree from Dickinson College.

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