15-20 years

Central PA 40 under 40
Central PA JDRF Board Chairman 2013-2015

Dan Hayward was named executive director for the Pennsylvania Republican Party in 2003, and became one of the youngest political power-players in Pennsylvania. Today, he applies his success and experience to orchestrate successful local, regional, and statewide issue advocacy campaigns, manage and direct lobbying efforts, and continues to be a key advisor in campaigns and elections.

It was in those early days after graduating summa cum laude from Shippensburg University and landing his first job at the Pennsylvania Republican Party that Dan honed his leadership skills through organizing grassroots campaigns and motivating people toward a common goal. Dan’s hard work and skill helped him rise quickly through the ranks. In 2004, at age 25, he was both the executive and victory director of the state GOP and managed a $28 million budget while directing 115 field operatives.

In 2005, Dan joined Novak Strategic Advisors (NSA) as a Senior Associate where he translated his campaign skills into a new paradigm of advocacy, which mobilizes grassroots constituencies on state and national issues at the local level in Pennsylvania. The success of the Issue Advocacy and Public Affairs division, along with the already successful traditional lobbying arm, earned Novak Strategic its reputation for being the state’s premier public advocacy firm. Dan became partner in 2010 and the firm's managing partner in 2013. Dan currently serves on the non-profit boards of the Central Pennsylvania JDRF, Running for Rachel and Riding on Insulin.

0-5 years

An expert in legislative and regulatory affairs, Matthew is a seasoned government relations professional and strategic communications specialist who puts his expertise to use for a wide variety of sectors.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Matthew has worked to improve benefits for first responders, including enacting new rules to help firefighters who get cancer on the job. He’s also worked to create innovative job training programs for developmentally disabled youth and adults.

Matthew was a key lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project to successfully legalize cannabis in Massachusetts and advises new cannabis companies on municipal licensing, compliance, business strategy and community engagement. Additionally, he has advised clients with municipal development projects as a consultant on construction, building trade and general union issues.

Prior to joining Tenax, Matthew worked as director of communications and intergovernmental relations for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. In that role, he worked with every state agency and the Massachusetts legislature on veterans’ issues. He also worked on economic development issues, including helping launch a program with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to link veterans with employment opportunities and advocating for a veteran-owned business preference for state contracting. Prior to DVS, Matthew spent seven years working for state Senator Steven Tolman as his chief of staff and district director.

A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in political science, Matthew is a 22-year member of the U.S. Army National Guard. He currently serves as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 and a Blackhawk helicopter instructor pilot. He also serves on the boards of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes and Alternative Treatment for Veterans, a nonprofit that advocates for cannabis therapy for vets.

He lives in Braintree with his wife and two children.

15-20 years

Recognized by the Central Penn Business Journal, Forty Under 40

Recognized by Susquehanna Style, Women in Leadership

Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations
Women in Pennsylvania Government Relations
Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, Class of 2008
Past Chair, Board of Directors, American Red Cross, Central PA Chapter
Leadership Harrisburg Area Executive Program, Class of 2016
Founder and Former Co-Chair, Dickinson College Alumni Association for Central Pennsylvania
Board member, Keystone Human Services Partnership Board
Board member, D.R.E.A.M. Partnership,
Associate Board member, Members 1st FCU

Angela Leopold is a Senior Partner of Novak Strategic Advisors. A savvy businesswoman and an accomplished community leader, Angela knows people and gets results. At NSA, Angela directs top to bottom grassroots campaigns, earned and social media strategies, and coalition building activities. For the past 15 years, she has worked on state and national issues such as healthcare, taxation, and energy. Angela co-leads the Issue Advocacy division at Novak and oversees several of Novak’s government affairs clients as well.

Early in her career as a political fundraiser, Angela developed creative, direct approaches to navigating grassroots campaigns that included issue-based forums, consensus building, and reputation management. Today, she utilizes this experience and continues to cultivate her well-established relationships and strong, broad-based coalition networks. Angela has successfully managed several local races drawing on her impressive organizational skills and ability to mobilize grassroots armies at the local level. From circulating petitions to building relationships with local business and community leaders, Angela leveraged her connections in creative ways, which ultimately led her candidates to victory in these local elections.

Angela is the past board chair of the Central PA Chapter of the American Red Cross, and in 2016 graduated from the Leadership Harrisburg Area Executive program. When Angela is not pulling it all together at work, she is pulling together ways to support nonprofits, including the Midwest Food Bank, D.R.E.A.M. Partnership, and Keystone Human Services (Partnership Board). In 2021, Angela was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Leader by the Central Penn Business Journal as well as Women in Business 2021 issue in Susquehanna Style.

Angela is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Angela lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband, Joe, and son, Mark.

6-10 years

Greg has been a force in public affairs and lobbying for the past 18 years, helping execute effective and successful government relations and public policy strategies for Fortune 500 companies, corporations, non-profits, labor organizations and trade associations.

A graduate of Oregon State University, Greg grew up in Natick and is well-known in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. political circles, as he’s worked with many of Massachusetts’ top elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and former Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, among others.

Greg served as Chief Operating Officer of one of Boston’s most successful communications and public affairs firms before launching the public affairs division at Tenax in 2016 with his brother Pete.

Greg is an expert at public affairs, especially in highly-regulated industries. He’s worked effectively and successfully at the local, state and federal level, including representing interests in multiple states across the country for global corporations. He’s built coalitions to support strong public policies at every level of government, lobbied lawmakers locally and nationally, and created innovative strategies to overcome regulatory and legislative roadblocks for a variety of businesses and organizations.

His specialties include long- and short-term strategic planning; media and public affairs strategy; message development and discipline; earned media consulting; and managing grassroots, employee, stakeholder and customer communication mobilizations to impact public policy.

Whether it's fighting for free industry, creating protections for health care consumers, waging a local public affairs campaign, engaging elected officials to advance public policy or helping a business cut through legislative or regulatory red tape, Greg has the experience, relationships and knowledge to draft a strategic blueprint to get the job done.

Victoria joined the firm in 2018 after several years working in politics, including as Deputy Campaign Manager for U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.

A graduate of Suffolk University where she double majored in Government and Philosophy, Victoria is a key part of our public affairs and legislative teams. She is a hands-on strategist who works directly with clients whether organizing "Days of Action" on Beacon Hill, leading grassroots efforts or building relationships for clients through grasstops connections.

A political fundraiser and campaign advisor for Moulton and other state and local candidates, she has also worked regularly with the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Prior to her political work, Victoria worked at Scholars Strategy Network and the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency in the 40B department.

Victoria is a guest lecturer at Suffolk University and serves on the fundraising committee for Emerge Massachusetts, a nonprofit that provides training and resources for female political candidates. She was Suffolk’s student commencement speaker and has been featured in the Boston Globe. Victoria has also been a volunteer for More Than Words, a literacy program for underserved and homeless children.

A native of North Andover, she currently lives in Arlington.