Practice Areas
News & Events
- 07/16/2008 Congress Overrides Veto of Medicare Bill
- 07/11/2008 Mid-Year Update
- 04/23/2008 Katie Schubert Joins Firm as Vice President
- 04/03/2008 Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be
- 01/30/2008 Legislative And Budget Outlook For 2008
- 01/04/2008 2007 LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP: OUT WITH A WHIMPER
- 04/09/2007 The Battle is Joined
- 02/06/2007 The Fiscal Year 2008 President's Budget Plan
Biographies
NICHOLAS G. CAVAROCCHI, PARTNER AND FOUNDER
Nick Cavarocchi founded the firm in 1980, after a 16-year career in top government posts and five years in the private sector. While in government, he was on the staff of the House Appropriations Committee, where he advised committee members on legislative policy and funding for the U.S. Public Health Service, including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community health centers and health professions training programs. The advice he provided members of Congress was drawn from seven years of first-hand experience gained while serving as budget officer and grants administrator in the U.S. Public Health Service. Mr. Cavarocchi's private sector experience includes serving in Department of Community Medicine at Georgetown University Medical School, Executive Vice President of the Georgetown University Community Health Plan, and Associate Executive Director of Group Health Association, Inc., a pioneer in the field of prepaid medical care and the nation's first health maintenance organization. Mr. Cavarocchi earned his B.S. from LaSalle University in Philadelphia and M.B.A. from The American University in Washington, D.C.
DOMENIC RUSCIO, PARTNER
Dom Ruscio joined the firm at its inception in 1980, bringing 14 years of experience in the legislative and budget processes, including seven years on the staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he advised senators on funding and legislative policy for health, education and employment training programs. While on the Committee he also helped craft the panel's rules and procedures for implementing the landmark Budget and Impoundment Control Act, the first major change to the federal budgeting process since 1921. He left the committee when he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget at what was then the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where he helped guide overall federal education policy and managed a $62 million annual budget. During President Carter's administration Mr. Ruscio was tapped to help with drafting legislative and organizational plans leading to the creation of a new cabinet agency, the Department of Education. After its enactment into law, he was named the new department's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation, where he served as liaison to the congressional appropriations committees. He has been a featured speaker on the legislative and appropriations processes at numerous governmental, university, industry, and trade association conferences. Mr. Ruscio received his B.S. in Finance from Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts.
LYLE B. DENNIS, PARTNER
Lyle Dennis joined the firm in 1994, after 16 years of experience in top-level federal and state positions. He had directed the State of New Jersey's Washington office, where he was the Governor's liaison to the Congress and the White House, guiding the flow of $3 billion into the state's transportation, infrastructure and education systems. Prior to that, he was the Chief of Staff to Representative Bernard J. Dwyer of New Jersey, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Earlier in his career, Mr. Dennis held senior staff positions in the New Jersey State Senate and managed five successful congressional campaigns. He is frequently called upon to lecture on public policy issues at universities and before corporate and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Dennis earned his B.A. in political science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a Master's degree in Political Science from the prestigious Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers.
BRENT JAQUET, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Brent Jaquet joined the firm in 2005 after serving as senior appropriations advisor to Rep. C. W. Bill Young of Florida, former Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and former chair of the panel's Defense subcommittee. While working for Chairman Young, he helped develop and advance legislation covering a broad range of issues, including public health and biomedical research, university education systems, state agencies and municipalities, bioterrorism preparedness and defense. Prior to his work in Congress, Mr. Jaquet was at the National Institutes of Health, where his experience included communications management, science transfer, and information technology programs. Before joining the agency, Mr. Jaquet worked in the Department of Health and Human Services, developing health-related communications programs. In 2007, he was appointed to NIH's Council of Public Representatives, an advisory panel that ensures that the general public has a say in setting federal science policy. Mr. Jaquet earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, and attended graduate school in communications at the University of Maryland.
DON DeARMON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
A 28-year veteran of Capitol Hill, spent most of that time working with key members of the House Appropriations Committee. He joined the firm in 2005, after serving as legislative director for Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard of California, where he managed an extensive portfolio of issues including water, energy, trade, taxes, small business, health, energy and the environment. He had previously served as legislative director to former Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Vic Fazio of California and appropriations advisor to Rep. David Price of North Carolina, where he handled health, small business and commerce, trade, justice, and the Food and Drug Administration. Mr. DeArmon is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
MARK D. VIETH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mark Vieth joined the firm in 2002, after a 14-year career in the House of Representatives, where he specialized in transportation and infrastructure policy. As Chief-of-Staff to Rep. Robert A. Borski of Pennsylvania, his responsibilities cut across a wide range of social and economic development issues including port and waterfront revitalization, defense conversion and brown fields cleanup. During his tenure in Congress he managed several initiatives that channeled millions of dollars to the City of Philadelphia for transportation, infrastructure, health and economic development initiatives. Since joining the firm, he has helped municipalities, colleges and nonprofit organizations secure federal funding for their strategic initiatives. Mr. Vieth earned his B.A. in international relations from Syracuse University.
JOYCE M. BRISCOE, VICE PRESIDENT
Joyce Briscoe has more than 25 years of experience in government relations, grassroots organizing, and special event planning. She has helped to organize and manage a variety of coalitions representing the interests of physicians, scientists and patient advocacy organizations. Her responsibilities also include legislative research and monitoring regulatory issues of concern to the firm's clients. Prior to joining the firm, she served as special assistant to the Associate Executive Director of Group Health Association, Inc., one of the largest health maintenance organizations in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Ms. Briscoe attended the University of the District of Columbia.
JENNIFER L. SHEVCHEK, VICE PRESIDENT
A specialist in government relations and the legislative process, Jennifer Shevchek joined the firm in 2003, after serving as health policy advisor to Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, where she counseled him on a variety of issues including Medicare and Medicaid reform, prescription drug coverage, health insurance, women's health and disability. In addition to her policy work, she also helped shepherd through appropriations projects targeted to communities throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Shevchek earned her B.A. in Telecommunications with a minor in English at the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.
ERIKA A. MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
An attorney and specialist in government relations, Erika Miller has lent her combined skills to wide range of client issues, including antitrust legislation, Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement, graduate medical education, child nutrition, and nursing home quality. Erika's experience includes working with Rep. Steve Rothman of New Jersey, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she handled immigration issues. She previously worked in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health, where she monitored grant awards. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at the lobbying firm of Broydrick & Associates, where she was Associate and Law Clerk. Ms. Miller received her law degree from American University, where she was an editor of the Administrative Law Review. She earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Colgate University. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey.
NICHOLAS L. CAVAROCCHI, VICE PRESIDENT
Since joining the firm in 1989, Nick Cavarocchi has specialized in legislative analysis, drafting special reports and preparing clients' testimony before congressional committees. Based on his experience and familiarity with the intricacies of the legislative process, he also assists clients with the preparation of briefing materials and message points, and takes part in client in briefings with members of Congress and their staff. Mr. Cavarocchi received his B.A. in Communications from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the firm, he was the morning news announcer on WBOB-AM radio in southwest Virginia.