Experienced policy advisors for complex regulatory environments

Eric Bailey serves as the Vice President at Joe Tanner and Associates.

Eric Bailey has worked in government affairs and public policy for over 20 years. He brings an extensive background and unique perspective to his approach in delivering the needs of clients. Throughout his career Eric has demonstrated the ability to work with businesses, community leaders, and lawmakers to advance issues and initiatives that improve the quality of life in their community. His experience has led to expertise that transcend across a wide spectrum including government affairs, community organizing and public relations, and business development and procurement.

Prior to coming on board with Joe Tanner & Associates, Eric was the Georgia Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society from 2012 to 2016. In this position, he managed all heath care and public health issues at the state and federal level. These issues included the different nuances and changes to federal and state health care laws, reducing cancer incident and mortality rates by improving access to early detection and prevention programs and treatment, and the application of scientific evidence-based research to improve public health laws.  In addition, where necessary, he established and executed county and statewide education and media campaigns to mount community support. This included working with local health departments, hospital systems, county and state and federal elected officials, and local media outlets.

Since joining the JTA team in 2016 Eric has been invaluable to clients. For county and municipal clients, Eric has been successful in his lobbying efforts with both sides of the aisle. The relationships and reputation that he maintains with leadership and rank and file members at the State capital are beneficial to accomplishing the client’ goals and objectives. Furthermore, his experience in managing issue and electoral campaigns has led to his ability to understand and educate lawmakers on a wide spectrum of issues and challenges that counties and municipalities encounter. His experience as a community and political organizer has groomed his ability to organize and mobilize elected officials, and constituents, on very difficult issues that could potentially have an impact on industry or government clients.

In 1998 Eric received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Southern University majoring in political science with an emphasis in political statistics. He began his career in government affairs and public policy in 1999 in Chicago, IL, where he received certification to manage issue and electoral campaigns. In 2000 and 2004, he managed numerous electoral campaigns across the country, including Georgia, where he focused on environmental issues, the support and utilization of vocational schedules in lieu of traditional 4-year colleges and universities, predatory lending, among other issues.  From 2001 to 2003 Eric worked as a political consultant and organizer for the Service Employee International Union in New England. Here he led efforts to improve home ownership, education, and the growth of small business, by developing a new community partnership with Yale Corporation and the city of New Haven, CT.

Shawn Long is an accomplished technology executive, entrepreneur, and cybersecurity leader with more than three decades of experience spanning healthcare technology, regulatory compliance, data protection, and enterprise risk management.

Since 1996, the former CEO of MedcomSoft a healthcare technology company. Shawn has gained extensive experience navigating the complex requirements surrounding HIPAA, patient data privacy, regulatory compliance, data integrity, and the secure management of sensitive healthcare information. His leadership experience in the highly regulated healthcare sector provided him with a deep understanding of the operational, legal, and reputational risks associated with the collection, storage, use, and protection of confidential data.

In 2008, Mr. Long founded viLogics, an information technology and cybersecurity services company specializing in helping organizations protect their critical systems, sensitive information, and intellectual property. Through his leadership at viLogics, he has developed significant expertise in cybersecurity governance, risk management, compliance, data-loss prevention, incident response, infrastructure security, and the implementation of practical security frameworks across complex organizations.

As artificial intelligence rapidly changes how businesses create, process, analyze, and share information, Mr. Long has expanded his focus to include AI governance, regulatory compliance, and the emerging risks associated with employee and organizational use of public large language models. He brings particular insight into the risks of confidential data, customer information, proprietary business processes, intellectual property, and regulated information being unintentionally transmitted—or egressed—into public AI platforms.

As an Executive Advisor, Mr. Long brings a direct, no-nonsense approach to helping organizations establish disciplined and enforceable AI policies. His work focuses on creating practical governance frameworks that address responsible AI use, data classification, access controls, acceptable-use standards, regulatory obligations, intellectual property protection, data-loss prevention, vendor risk, employee education, and executive accountability.

Mr. Long’s ability to bridge technology, cybersecurity, compliance, and business operations enables organizations to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly without exposing themselves to unnecessary legal, financial, operational, or reputational risk. His objective is straightforward: help companies benefit from AI while maintaining control of their data, protecting their intellectual property, and operating within a structured, auditable, and compliant framework.

Perre Neilan is a state government affairs professional. With more than a 30 year history of involvement in Nebraska politics and lobby management experience in California, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan. He has used his excellent communication, writing and interpersonal skills in various strategic roles that include: Legislative Aide to a State Senator who later became Chairman of a powerful committee and then Speaker; a Government Affairs Director with an influential statewide association; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Attorney General focused on legislative issues; Executive Director of the Nebraska Republican Party; and Manager of State Government Relations for an Omaha based, privately held energy company ranked in the Top 50 for gross revenues by Forbes magazine. He has helped clients on a broad range of business issues including energy, telecom, insurance, tax and many others.

Perre is a proud 1994 graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where he studied as a four Regent Scholar, earning a dual major Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Communication Studies. He and his wife Jenn live in Elkhorn, NE and have eight children.

Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak is a nationally recognized education leader, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, and longtime public-school administrator whose career has focused on expanding opportunity and improving student achievement. His experience spans elementary, secondary, higher education, and state-level leadership.

Dr. Zahorchak began his career in Pennsylvania public schools, serving as a teacher, football coach, principal, federal programs director, strategic planning coordinator, and personnel director. He held leadership roles in the North Star, Shanksville-Stonycreek, and Greater Johnstown school districts, ultimately serving as superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District from 1997 to 2003. He later served as superintendent of the Allentown School District and returned to lead the Johnstown School District. He also taught as an Associate Professor of Education and chaired the Education Division at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

In 2003, Dr. Zahorchak was appointed Pennsylvania’s Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. In that role, he launched Project 720 and Classrooms for the Future, nationally recognized high school reform initiatives. Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed him Pennsylvania Secretary of Education in 2005, a position he held through May 2010. As the Commonwealth’s chief state school officer, he oversaw education for nearly two million students and administered more than $9 billion annually in education resources.

During his tenure as secretary, Dr. Zahorchak advanced major statewide initiatives, including funding for pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten, a new school funding formula, increased support for school districts, the Keystone Exams, and Pennsylvania’s Standards Aligned System. He also helped establish the Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership Program, a statewide professional-learning initiative for school leaders.

His work emphasized Systems Thinking highlighted by standards-based education, effective teaching, strong leadership, and collaborative reform involving educators, administrators, and community partners. Under his leadership, Pennsylvania was the only state in the nation to be recognized for improving student achievement for all students and all student students subgroup populations as tested on the national and state assessments for eight consecutive years.

Dr. Zahorchak earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Francis College, a Master of Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in Education Administration from Penn State University. He also received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Beyond education, Dr. Zahorchak has served his community as deputy mayor of Johnstown, PA, an eight-year member of Johnstown City Council, and a member of the Greater Johnstown School Board. He has been widely published, speaks frequently at education conferences and forums, and has served on numerous state and national boards dedicated to strengthening public and higher education.

Amanda Fanale is a recent graduate of Penn State Dickinson Law with an interest in government affairs, public policy, and emerging technology. During law school, she concentrated on the legal and policy implications of artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on AI’s impact on government regulation and legislative development. Amanda has experience researching and analyzing legal issues involving artificial intelligence and public policy. She assisted in drafting proposed legislation addressing the use of AI court reporters, providing her with firsthand experience in the legislative process and the practical development of technology policy. Amanda is passionate about helping clients navigate the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding artificial intelligence and government affairs. She brings strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills to matters involving public policy, legislative strategy, and emerging technologies.

Lou Crocco is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in government affairs and strategic consulting.

Lou has a proven track record of successfully advising and consulting leading companies and nonprofit entities throughout the United States. Lou is knowledgeable in current and emerging developments across the AI industry and is successfully assisting clients dealing with these changes. He has an in-depth understanding of legislative and administrative processes and a keen insight into the policy considerations that drive them. His skill at identifying clients' needs and priorities and communicating complex issues in simple terms is unmatched.

Lou worked for over 10 years in the Pennsylvania Legislature rising to the majority Policy Committee Executive Director. After his tenure in the legislature, Lou joined the lobbying practice for an international law firm and went on to serve as Western Pennsylvania Director, Senior Director, and the Pennsylvania Managing Director for Duane Morris Government Affairs. He then managed the Abraham and Roetzel Government Affairs practice in Pennsylvania before founding Keystone Strategic Advocacy and later Keystone Strategic Consulting.

With a diverse client base that includes technology companies, energy companies, statewide non-profit associations, regional health systems, local governments, and national and international companies, Lou has a wealth of experience to draw from. He is also a published author on the topic of legislative advocacy, holds an undergraduate degree in Economics, a master's degree in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, and a law degree from Widener University School of Law. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bar Association.

For inquiries regarding AI policy, Lou can be reached directly at +1 (814) 241-4153.

Kimberly Contino is a government affairs professional with more than 30 years of experience working with nationwide interests and issues affecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania both inside and outside of government. She previously served as Counsel to the Senate Whip in the Pennsylvania Senate and as Counsel to a key committee in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Ms. Contino has extensive experience representing corporate clients, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, and public entities before state and federal government agencies and policymakers on a broad range of legislative, regulatory, and public policy matters. She has worked in private-sector government relations consulting and public affairs, advising clients on complex issues impacting business, economic development, public policy, and government operations.

During her service in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Ms. Contino played a significant role in drafting, negotiating, and advancing major public policy initiatives involving electric deregulation, criminal justice reform, tort reform, family law, and corporate regulation.

Kimberly is a licensed attorney and received her Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law.