I bring our Preti Strategies clients more than 20 years of policy and legislative experience in Massachusetts. Over the last several years, I have represented many clients across a range of business sectors before various state agencies and the Legislature. Before entering into private practice, I served in a variety of senior leadership positions. My last role with the state was serving as Chief of Staff at the MBTA, helping to lead the $1.7B agency. I also served as the Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Highway Department, Legislative Director for MassDOT and as the Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for the Assistant Minority Leader in the Senate for five years. This high-level access in these many senior leadership positions have provided me the unique experience of understanding budgets, procurement, political considerations and just generally how decisions get made in a variety of environments. I leverage these attributes, along with a wide network of contacts, to help clients achieve their desired results.
Our entire Preti Strategies team is made up of government "insiders" who have served many years as elected or administration officials or senior level advisors. Together, we have extensive knowledge and an extensive network of connections. We've spent our careers in government and public affairs, and we love putting our experience to work for our clients to help shape policy and advance important business interests.
1) Association of Social Work Boards
2) Avaya LLC
5) Caribbean Integration Community Development, Inc.
8) Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
10) Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
11) Humane America Animal Foundation
12) International Interior Design Association, New England Chapter
14) Massachusetts Advocates for Children Inc.
15) Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc
20) New England Historic Genealogical Society
22) Notarize, Inc.
23) Opus Inspection Technologies, Inc
24) PLS Financial Services, Inc.
25) Retail Energy Supply Association, Inc.
26) Small Property Owners Association, Inc.
27) Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
28) Stickball, Inc.
29) The Fishing Partnership Health Plan Corporation
30) Transdev North America, Inc.
31) Wellpath Recovery Solutions, LLC
32) WSP USA Inc.
33) Zillow
Helped lead $1.7B agency including management, budget, technology, procurement and legislative affairs at MBTA
Led multiple technology upgrades at MBTA that resulted in a significant leap forward innovation at the agency, also became very proficient in state procurement processes and rules
Helped develop and coordinate strategy to consolidate functions of six transportation departments as Legislative Director at MassDOT
Routinely worked with staff and vendors on hundreds of millions of dollars in road and bridge projects annually
Responsible for writing and tracking all legislation and budget matters for Asst. Minority Leader
Policy Advisor at Preti Strategies
Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Legislative Director, MassDOT
Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Highway Department
Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, Assistant Minority Leader, Massachusetts Senate
Education:
University of Massachusetts
860-748-6413
190 Farminghton Avenue, Farminghton, CT, 06032,
The Connecticut Group (TCG) is a bipartisan firm of lawyer-lobbyists that have over 20 years Government Affairs experience in CT. TCG has worked on many major bills covering energy, privacy, data collection, insurance, renewables, recycling and EPR.
15-20 years
Jim O'Brien, the founder of the firm, has been involved in Connecticut politics and government for the last 20 years. Jim began his political career in college by working as an intern on Capitol Hill. After college, Jim continued to pursue his interest in politics by working on several campaigns and political events and in 1994, Jim went to work in the Connecticut Governor's office as a Legislative Liaison. Jim helped organize the Governor's legislative agenda and his responsibilities included both editing proposed legislation as well as developing and executing a strategy to pass the legislation. He also represented the Governor's office on the Electric Deregulation Working Group, a group formed to analyze ways in which to deregulate the electric utility industry.
Upon leaving the Governor's office in 1997, Jim joined an investment firm. Also, in that year, Jim ran and was elected to the West Hartford Town Council where he served two terms. In 2004, Jim started his own government relations firm, J. O'Brien & Associates, LLC.
Jim received his B.A. in History from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and his J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1995.
I bring our Preti Strategies clients the advantage of nineteen years' experience in Massachusetts state government. Nine of those years I served as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and for five years I was Chief of Staff to the House Committee on Ways and Means. My high level access gave me the unique experience of being directly involved in negotiations on all policy decisions that came before the House. By "being in the room where it happened" for most of my time in public service, I know what questions are asked, what political considerations are measured, and what information is sought by elected and appointed officials at every level. I use this knowledge and experience to develop positioning strategies and narratives that advance our clients' interests with decision-makers across state government.
Our entire Preti Strategies team is made up of government "insiders" who have served many years as elected or administration officials or senior level advisors. Together, we have extensive knowledge and an extensive network of connections. We've spent our careers in government and public affairs, and we love putting our experience to work for our clients to help shape policy and advance important business interests.
1) Association of Social Work Boards
2) Avaya LLC
5) Caribbean Integration Community Development, Inc.
8) Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
10) Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
11) Humane America Animal Foundation
12) International Interior Design Association, New England Chapter
14) Massachusetts Advocates for Children Inc.
15) Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc
20) New England Historic Genealogical Society
22) Notarize, Inc.
23) Opus Inspection Technologies, Inc
24) PLS Financial Services, Inc.
25) Retail Energy Supply Association, Inc.
26) Small Property Owners Association, Inc.
27) Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
28) Stickball, Inc.
29) The Fishing Partnership Health Plan Corporation
30) Transdev North America, Inc.
31) Wellpath Recovery Solutions, LLC
32) WSP USA Inc.
33) Zillow
Regularly engaged in the highest-level budget and policy negotiations from within the innermost circles of Massachusetts state government
Worked closely with then-Chairman DeLeo to pass four state budgets, multiple bond bills and major pieces of legislation including health care reform and clean energy initiatives.
Responsible for shaping the House legislative agenda, overseeing its execution and strategically advising the Speaker through high-stakes negotiations
Works closely with all parties including the Senate President and Governor, majority and minority legislative leadership, chairs and cabinet officials.
Policy Advisor at Preti Strategies
Chief of Staff and Chief Policy Advisor to Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to House Committee on Ways and Means
Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading
Education:
Suffolk Law School
Hamilton College
Belmont Hill
The Fessenden School
203-771-4687
84 Deerfield Lane, Room 1B2, Meriden, CT, 06450,
617-226-3869
60 State Street, Suite 1100,, Suite 1100, Boston, MA, 02109,
1) Association of Social Work Boards
2) Avaya LLC
5) Caribbean Integration Community Development, Inc.
8) Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
10) Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
11) Humane America Animal Foundation
12) International Interior Design Association, New England Chapter
14) Massachusetts Advocates for Children Inc.
15) Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc
20) New England Historic Genealogical Society
22) Notarize, Inc.
23) Opus Inspection Technologies, Inc
24) PLS Financial Services, Inc.
25) Retail Energy Supply Association, Inc.
26) Small Property Owners Association, Inc.
27) Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
28) Stickball, Inc.
29) The Fishing Partnership Health Plan Corporation
30) Transdev North America, Inc.
31) Wellpath Recovery Solutions, LLC
32) WSP USA Inc.
33) Zillow
617-226-3800
60 State Street, Suite 1100,, Suite 1100, Boston, MA, 02109,
1) Association of Social Work Boards
2) Avaya LLC
5) Caribbean Integration Community Development, Inc.
8) Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
10) Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
11) Humane America Animal Foundation
12) International Interior Design Association, New England Chapter
14) Massachusetts Advocates for Children Inc.
15) Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc
20) New England Historic Genealogical Society
22) Notarize, Inc.
23) Opus Inspection Technologies, Inc
24) PLS Financial Services, Inc.
25) Retail Energy Supply Association, Inc.
26) Small Property Owners Association, Inc.
27) Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
28) Stickball, Inc.
29) The Fishing Partnership Health Plan Corporation
30) Transdev North America, Inc.
31) Wellpath Recovery Solutions, LLC
32) WSP USA Inc.
33) Zillow
(704) 331-2317
100 N. Tryon Street, Suite 4700, Charlotte, NC, 28202,
777 7th Street, Washington, DC, 20005,
1) AVAYA LLC
781-254-3137
60 State Street, Suite 1100,, Suite 1100, Boston, MA, 02109,
1) Association of Social Work Boards
2) Avaya LLC
5) Caribbean Integration Community Development, Inc.
8) Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
10) Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
11) Humane America Animal Foundation
12) International Interior Design Association, New England Chapter
14) Massachusetts Advocates for Children Inc.
15) Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc
20) New England Historic Genealogical Society
22) Notarize, Inc.
23) Opus Inspection Technologies, Inc
24) PLS Financial Services, Inc.
25) Retail Energy Supply Association, Inc.
26) Small Property Owners Association, Inc.
27) Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
28) Stickball, Inc.
29) The Fishing Partnership Health Plan Corporation
30) Transdev North America, Inc.
31) Wellpath Recovery Solutions, LLC
32) WSP USA Inc.
33) Zillow