20+ years

Led a complex business, environmental and local government coalition and enacted industry sponsored legislation that created the largest recycling program in California in over a decade and saved client over $10 million annually in the process;

Enacted legislation allowing health facility expansion so that more beds could serve a critical needs population thus ensuring the maximum return on a multi-million dollar investment;

Led a procurement engagement that migrated tens of thousands of state employees into cloud e-mail services and that consolidated over 100 separate state e-mail systems into two primary choices thus maximizing success on a $50 million contract.

Governor Gavin Newsom's Cabinent Secretary Ana Matasantos, Director of Finance Keely Bosler, Legislative Secretary Anthony Williams.

Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins

Speaker Antony Rendon

Legislative Democrat Moderate Caucus

State Controller Betty Yee

State Treasurer Fiona Ma

As Principal and founder of Sheehy Strategy Group, Tom Sheehy is recognized as one of Sacramento's most experienced and influential lobbyists, as well as a fiscal expert. Known for his strength in developing lobbying strategy, planning and executing lobbying campaigns, Tom’s ability to shape and deliver messaging in a clear and convincing manner achieves superior results for legislative and regulatory clients on difficult issues. He leads teams in complex, competitive and high-pressure environments to secure the client's desired outcome. He has also helped clients develop state department customers and contract with state agencies, thereby securing $100s of millions of dollars in business over the years. His skill in navigating California's political landscape comes from over two decades of experience working at the most senior levels in both the state legislature as well as the Governor's office. He has mastered the intersection between public policy, politics and people in a lobbying career at both a Fortune 100 financial services company as well as an international law firm. Tom manages difficult policy issues by conducting thorough research and understanding the different variables that impact the client's success. He then develops tactics and strategies to craft messages that position the client to win, all while integrating and leveraging the client's resources to achieve effective public policy outcomes.


Our Experience
Tom has worked on some of the most challenging issues in California, including helping more than one Governor solve multi-billion-dollar budget deficits and making government operate more efficiently. He has advised clients on a number of sensitive policy issues in the areas of state finance, transportation infrastructure, privacy, consumer protection, business regulations, tax, environmental quality, natural resource conservation and land development regulations. Tom's unique skill set allows him to see the big picture while developing specific tactics and strategies necessary for each client's needs. Tom offers his clients a wide breadth of experience that is unique in Sacramento's corridors of power in the state capitol.

Over the years, Tom has built up an impressive universe of both public and private sector connections and relationships spanning blue chip corporate executives, local, state and federal elected officials and staff. Many state department directors and governor's appointees "came up through the ranks" with Tom as he started his career in Sacramento and state government in the early 1990s. Tom has worked as a Governor's appointee in the Department of Finance, Department of Transportation, and State and Consumer Services Agency. He was a principal consultant in both the California Senate and Assembly for 10 years, where he mastered the legislative process by developing tactics necessary to win tough policy battles. As Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Finance, Tom not only helped shape and manage the state's $150 billion budget for more than one Governor, but he served on or was Chairman of some of the most influential state Boards and Commissions,including the State Lands Commission, Public Works Board, State Teacher Retirement System (Cal-STRS), State Infrastructure Bank, Building Standards Commission,Tax Credit Allocation Committee, and Pooled Money Investment Fund.


Our Size
SSG is a boutique firm, where client phone calls are returned promptly and emails receive a response within 24 hours so political threats and opportunities are communicated immediately, thus placing all the client's options --on the table -- before it is too late to act effectively. SSG always knows the client and their business without having to search through stacks files to answer basic questions. Tom Sheehy is a trusted advisor and confidant who is always available as a sounding board or to answer questions and provide effective options to every difficult situation and request. He understands the importance of protecting and enhancing the client's reputation while conducting lobbying, regulatory and state contract procurement work with the utmost integrity. SSG also partners with and directs public relations, legal and digital marketing firms to bring about desired outcomes depending on the requirements of the project and client's needs.

Tom received a Bachelor of Science Degree and an MBA in Finance from the University of California at Davis. He lives in Sacramento with his wife Brena and their two sons, Nicholas and Christopher.

DENNIS J. KEARNEY concentrates his practice in government. He provides legal, legislative and strategic services to clients affected by local, state or federal government policy, legislation or regulation. Dennis formerly served in local, state and county government including 12 years in elected office as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature and as Sheriff of Suffolk County. Prior to forming Kearney, Donovan & McGee, LLC in 2003, Mr. Kearney managed the government practice group at Choate, Hall & Stewart, and served as President of Kearney & Gleason, P.C.

20+ years

Nonpartisan staff for House members during development and passage of Washington's Forests & Fish law.

Josh has relationships with key legislators, statewide elected officials, agency staff and locally elected officials across the state.

Prior to joining the GTH-GA team, Josh spent nearly 10 years advocating for counties, serving as the Legislative Relations and Policy Director and General Counsel for the Washington State Association of Counties. Josh started working in Olympia in 1998 as nonpartisan counsel to the House of Representatives and served as Legislative Director for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. As Environmental Policy Director for the Washington Forest Protection Association he represented private forest landowners in the state's environmental regulatory system. He also assisted in Governor Locke's water reform efforts. Josh is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, graduate of Central Washington University and the Vermont Law School, and is a fourth generation Washingtonian. He lives in Olympia with his wife Karen.

Tim Schellberg is the Founder and President of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs, an internationally known governmental affairs and government business market development firm. In addition to serving as the firm's managing partner, Tim maintains an active governmental affairs and market development practice, and provides strategic direction to the firm's four primary divisions: International, Multi-State, Federal, and Washington State. Under Tim's leadership, the firm has had impressive growth and success.

Tim is recognized nationally and internationally for his work to create and grow new markets by collaborating with business and government to implement dynamic public policy and technology based solutions. Tim has used over 25 years of professional experience, worldwide contacts and knowledge of global government institutions to actively lead legislative based projects in over 30 countries and within the United States.

PAUL DONOVAN's practice is focused in the area of government relations, including representation before government bodies at the local, state and federal levels. He has extensive experience representing clients before the Massachusetts General Court, where he has been successful helping clients meet their governmental objectives.

Paul worked for 10 years at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, earning a seat on the Sheriff's Department management team. In addition, Paul provided counsel to the Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association on various legislative issues. Paul has been involved in numerous political campaigns, including a 1993 Boston mayoral campaign, in which he was responsible for directing a field operation of more than 2,500 people. Prior to establishing Kearney, Donovan, and McGee, LLC, Mr. Donovan was a member of the government practice group of Choate, Hall & Stewart.

ANTHONY PETRUCCELLI came to Kearney, Donovan & McGee LLC with extensive experience at the municipal and state levels of government in Massachusetts. First elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1999 and then the Massachusetts Senate in 2007, Anthony is well-versed in legislative issues and is able to use his unique perspective to successfully advocate for his clients' interests.

0-5 years

Members of California State Senate and Assembly

Brena Sheehy brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare and insurance industry experience to the Sheehy Strategy Group (SSG). Brena holds a bachelor's degree in business administration - risk management and insurance from Fresno State University and worked for a number of years in property, casualty and health insurance in the Central Valley. She moved to the Sacramento region in the mid-1990's where she helped launch the innovative Health Insurance Plan of California (HIPC). Soon she was promoted to Sales Manager and finally took over running the HIPC sales program as Director of Sales. This groundbreaking state purchasing pool opened the doors to affordable group health insurance to many small and medium sized businesses in the state.

Later she joined CIBA Vision, a subsidiary of Novartis, where she became a distinguished territory sales representative for the western region. Most recently Brena has represented SingleCare in the Sacramento Valley and promoted pharmacy discount programs for those with and without health insurance. She has served as a strategic advisor to SSG since its inception, and her experience, communication and analytical skills make her a critical component to the success of the SSG.

MICHELLE MCGEE focuses her practice on government affairs representation before government bodies at the local, state and federal levels. She has extensive experience representing clients' interests before both the Massachusetts and Connecticut legislative and executive branches of government. Formerly, Michelle worked at New England Electric System (now National Grid) where she developed and implemented comprehensive legislative and external strategies to achieve New England Electric's public policy initiatives in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prior to establishing Kearney, Donovan & McGee, LLC, Ms. McGee was a member of the government affairs practice group at Choate, Hall & Stewart.

6-10 years

Diana Carlen leads the firm's business and utility practice and has over 20 years of legal and legislative experience. Prior to joining Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs, Diana served as Leadership Counsel to the Senate Republican Caucus. In that role, she also served as the caucus attorney for the following policy issues: energy, natural resources, agriculture, land use, telecommunications and water issues. Prior to working for the Senate, Diana practiced law for several years focusing on land use and environmental issues and also served as a Law Clerk to Chief Justice Gerry Alexander of the Washington State Supreme Court. Diana represents several of the firm's business clients, public utilities, and port clients.

CHARLENE RIDEOUT provides government relations and lobbying services to clients of Kearney Donovan & McGee, P.C. Formerly, Ms. Rideout served as Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). In that capacity, she was responsible for implementing legislative and regulatory strategies as well as promoting and advocating MWRA's legislative agenda. Prior to working at MWRA, Ms. Rideout was legislative director for the Massachusetts State Senate Assistant Majority Leader and Senate Chair of the Banks and Banking Committee.