Our Team

Jen is a Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where she uses her extensive experience in communicating public policy along with her strategic and political acumen to deliver results for clients. She played a key role in successful efforts to tackle major surface transportation, water resource, and aviation issues while serving as Communications Director for the Democrats on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2015 to 2019.

Jen gained significant experience in all issue areas under the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including surface transportation, aviation, water infrastructure and maritime transportation, rail and pipelines, and public buildings. Prior to that, she served on the Committee on Natural Resources and worked extensively on issues related to conservation, public lands, and resource development. Earlier she served as Press Secretary for Representative Peter DeFazio.

Jen has served as one of Congressman DeFazio’s top aides for the last twelve years—including as his campaign manager for three campaign cycles.

During her time on Capitol Hill, Jen earned a reputation for her effectiveness, responsiveness, and for her ability to turn ideas into action. As a top communications professional, she was responsible for taking complex policy and translating it to make a lasting impact in Member offices and in the public debate.

Jen is a proud Oregonian, who graduated from Oregon State University with a B.A. in Political Science.

Zak Baig recently joined Cassidy & Associates as a Senior Vice President, where he will use his deep knowledge of policy and his significant political and legislative experience to advance client’s priorities on issues related to clean energy and natural resources.

Zak comes to Cassidy from the ClearPath Foundation, where he was the Managing Director for Government Affairs. During his time at ClearPath he worked with Congress and the administration to pass several pieces of clean energy legislation including the Carbon Capture and Utilization Tax Credit, Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, and the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act.

Prior to his time at ClearPath, Zak worked in a variety of positions for Senator Vitter for 14 years, spanning Senator Vitter’s time in both the House and the Senate. During that time, Zak served as Staff Director of the Committee on Environment and Public Works under Chairman Vitter and the Staff Director of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Zak graduated from Syracuse University in 2002 with a major in communications and a minor in political science.

Virgilio “Lio” Barrera has over ten years of public policy experience and has worked with Congress, federal agencies, trade associations, and private industry to craft and implement bipartisan legislative and regulatory strategies.

Lio has an extensive resume of accomplishments as Legislative Director for Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Legislative Assistant to Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Energy Act of 2020, COVID relief packages, and Energy Storage and Transmission ITC legislation. His portfolio of issues included appropriations, transportation and infrastructure, defense, and energy and natural resources.

Most recently, Virgilio served as Director of Government and Public Affairs for Holcim, US, America’s largest building materials manufacturer. In this role, Lio helped shape and implement the company’s extensive climate and sustainability strategy by crafting policies that support industrial decarbonization and Buy Clean programs that support the deployment and adoption of low-carbon building materials.

Lio received a BA from Wittenberg University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M.

Devin Barrett joins Cassidy as a Vice President, applying her expertise and understanding of complex legislative policy issues to assist clients in navigating congressional and regulatory landscapes.

Prior to joining Cassidy, Devin worked for Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) on issues before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Enterprise, including healthcare, education, labor, pensions, Native American affairs, agriculture, trade, appropriations and budget. Additionally, she handled issues related to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including telecommunications, fisheries and transportation policy as well as aviation priorities in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018.

Prior to joining Cassidy, Devin also served as a Public Affairs Advisor at Holland and Knight.

Devin graduated from George Washington University with a Master of Professional Studies Legislative Affairs and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma.

Candace is a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant at Cassidy & Associates, supporting the Cassidy team with scheduling, expense reports, and additional administrative services. Candace also greets and assists clients when they arrive at the Cassidy offices. Candace joined Cassidy in 2012 after 25 years with the American Bankers Association.

Megan is a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where she works with various clients relating to public lands, energy and resource development, environment, and conservation. Before joining Cassidy, Megan worked in a bipartisan position for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee under Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. Megan worked for various political campaigns in Washington State. Including Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA-09) as a Field Organizer and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) as a Regional Field Director for her 2016 re-election campaign.

Megan hails from Seattle, WA and graduated from the Seattle Film Institute and the University of Washington with her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus in International Security.

Will Fadely is a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates where clients rely on his in-depth experience on Capitol Hill and campaign management working on climate, tribal, energy and natural resource policies.

Will joined Cassidy in 2021 after serving as a Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society where he led federal lobbying coalition strategies to modernize energy policies, deploy renewable energy projects, and led the external community through the confirmation process for the first Native American Cabinet Secretary, Deb Haaland.

Prior to TWS, will consulted on local Democratic political campaigns in Maryland, while also working at Oceana where he led their successful lobbying efforts to protect our oceans from offshore drilling, as well as support the conservation of shark fins in the U.S. Previously, Will worked for Clean Water Action in Baltimore where, among other priorities, he worked with residents and volunteers to develop and implement plans to address environmental concerns disproportionately affecting communities of color in the city.

Will graduated magna cum laude from George Washington University with a Master of Political Management, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communication from Towson University. Will currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his German Shepherd mutt, Melody.

Andrew Forbes has recently rejoined the firm after nearly four years as Legislative Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Sen. James M. Inhofe.  In that capacity, he was directly engaged in NDAA policy and process. He was also integral in Sen. Inhofe’s work on the Environment and Public Works Committee where he helped draft and secure numerous water resources and infrastructure priorities.

In his 15 years both on and off the Hill, Andrew has developed a deep understanding of the appropriations process as well as defense, transportation, infrastructure and water resource development issues both from a staff and government relations perspective.  Andrew has been essential in helping achieve discretionary funding goals and moving projects along on behalf of several clients.  His relationships on Capitol Hill in both Chambers of Congress have allowed him to gather valuable intelligence and effectively advance clients’ agendas.

Previously, Andrew served as a senior legislative aide in the House where he managed multiple issue portfolios including appropriations, transportation, defense, energy and judiciary.  He began his Capitol Hill career working for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he spent two and half years and had the opportunity to work on the 2005 highway bill (SAFETEA-LU) as well as on aviation policy directly under former Aviation Subcommittee Chairman, John Mica (R-FL).

Paul Sass has joined Cassidy as a Senior Vice President. Paul comes to Cassidy after two decades on the Hill, where he most recently served as the Republican Staff Director of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) for Sam Graves (R-MO).

“For the last 3 ½ years, since I took over as this Committee’s Republican leader, Paul has skillfully led our staff in many successful efforts to improve the quality and safety of our Nation’s infrastructure. No one has worked with more commitment and dedication to public service than Paul. I want to thank him for his service, his guidance, his loyalty, and his friendship over these last two decades. I wish him and his family the very best as he moves on to the next phase of his already accomplished career,” said Ranking Member Graves.

In addition to his time on T&I, Paul’s accomplished 20-year career on Capitol Hill included service as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff for Congressman Graves. These experiences served him well as he led strategic efforts and negotiations that contributed to the passage of substantial legislation. During his tenure as Republican Staff Director, the T&I Committee passed landmark bills including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Water Resources Development Act of 2020 and 2022, Aircraft Certification Reform Act, and Coast Guard reauthorization, among others. Looking ahead, Paul brings deep policy and political understanding to the complex issues before the Committee, such as the upcoming FAA Reauthorization bill.

Samantha is a Vice President at Cassidy and Associates where she applies her range of experience to assist clients in navigating congressional and regulatory landscapes. Most recently, Samantha was a member of Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s legislative team, where she led on energy, environment, and climate issues.

Samantha gained her footing on Capitol Hill in the office of the former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. After dedicating years in his office to the natural resources, energy, and environment portfolios, Samantha advised the Leader on issues relating to banking, housing, animal protection, and nutrition.

True to her Nevada roots, Samantha earned a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Linwood is the Office Services Manager at Cassidy & Associates, handling all the office and catering services at Cassidy, as well as the office inventory and equipment maintenance. Prior to joining Cassidy in 2019, Linwood was the Property Manager for The Seville Condominium and other residential properties. Linwood served in the United States Air Force.

Sarah Young has joined Cassidy and Associates as a Senior Vice President after serving 21 years with the House Appropriations Committee. While a senior staff member on the Committee, she negotiated key policy provisions with multiple agencies and government entities on a bipartisan and bicameral basis. At Cassidy, Sarah helps clients navigate the appropriations process by developing and executing winning strategies to help achieve their goals.

Sarah most recently served as professional staff on the House Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Her portfolio for the MilCon-VA Subcommittee included military construction, family housing, the NATO Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

Before joining the MilCon-VA Subcommittee, she handled family advocacy programs, counter drug/narcotics, Missile Defense Agency Programs, TRICARE, the Defense Health Program, and Medical Research for the Defense Subcommittee. She previously worked on the Subcommittee on the Department of Interior, Environmental and Related Agencies. While there, she handled the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Special Trustee, Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation, NEA, NEH, Institute of American Indians and Alaskan Arts and Navajo Hopi Relocation accounts. She was on the Majority staff through both Democratic and Republican-led Congresses, over two decades.