Arthur Malkin is a co-founder and principal of Malkin & Ross, and directs the lobbying activities of the firm. He specializes in legislative strategies and communications for M&R clients. He served as legislative director of the New York Public Interest Research Group from 1978 to 1984 where he was responsible for developing and implementing NYPIRG’s legislative agenda. He was also the founder and first director of the Advocacy Training Center where he taught lobbying and media skills to not for profit organizations. During his 20+ years in Albany, he has been at the forefront of dozens of successful legislative campaigns, including efforts for a bottle bill, a state Superfund law, the Toxic Victims’ Access to Justice Act, a hate crimes law and the nation’s first mandatory seat-belt law.

Donald K. Ross is a founding partner and principal of of Malkin & Ross. Ross has been helping shape public policy since 1970 when he joined Ralph Nader as a consumer attorney, then as director of Nader’s Citizen Action Group. He went on to organize many of the nation’s Public Interest Research Groups and served nine years as director of the New York PIRG, which, under Ross, grew to be the largest state-based citizen action group in the country. Ross has headed up numerous major public events, including two of the largest anti-nuclear rallies in U.S. history. He has authored various studies on public policy issues, including two books on citizen advocacy. Ross’ extensive work on behalf of foundations has led him to form a new firm to advise individual donors and small philanthropies on grant-making strategies.

Gene DeSantis is a partner in Malkin & Ross, and has nearly 25 years of state legislative experience, with particular expertise in consumer and legal issues. He advises a diverse client base on a wide variety of issues, and represents the clients’ interests before the legislature, the executive, and regulatory agencies. He served as chief counsel to the New York State Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection from 1978 to 1989. There, he was principal draftsman or negotiator of over 100 consumer laws, including the new and used car lemon laws. He has worked closely with trade associations, labor unions and consumer groups to shape policy debate. He serves as an adjunct faculty member at Syracuse University, where he teaches courses in the Consumer Studies Program.

Theresa Cassiack joined Malkin and Ross in 2008.  She comes to the firm with a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector.  Theresa began her career with the New York Public Interest Research Group, lobbying on behalf of environmental and public health issues.  She spent two years in Montpelier, Vermont working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group where she was instrumental in passing the nation’s second only fire-safe cigarette law. She was also an advocate with the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, where her environmental portfolio included wetlands preservation, recycling, clean energy and environmental funding.  Prior to joining Malkin and Ross, she served as the press secretary for the Schenectady County Legislature.

Joseph Erdman joined Malkin and Ross in February 2008 after more than 8 years working for Senator George D. Maziarz. While working for the Senator, he served as the Legislative Director and Director of the Senate Committee on Labor and prior to that held the position of Assistant Director of the Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development. His work included the successful passage of hundreds of pieces of legislation including the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2007 and the Assisted Living Reform Act. Mr. Erdman has multiple contacts inside the legislature and extensive experience on labor and human services issues.

Terrance N. Pratt joined Malkin & Ross in 2008 and provides legal counsel and governmental relations assistance to non-profit, legal and consumer rights clients.  Prior to joining M&R, Mr. Pratt served as the Counsel for Water at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation where he represented the Department in administrative proceedings and matters before the state legislature, state agencies, and federal government.  Mr. Pratt began his career as Counsel to the Insurance Committee in the New York State Assembly for Chairman Pete Grannis, where he crafted policy and affected progressive change in the insurance law.

Christine Tramontano divides her time between lobbying and communications projects for a variety of clients, including the National Resources Defense Council and the American Wind Energy Association. Prior to joining the firm, she was a public affairs specialist with the public relations firm Sawchuk Brown. She began her career in the New York State Legislature, where she served as legislative director to State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-Albany). Her duties included drafting legislation, coordinating media events and writing articles, press releases and editorials.

Tracy Tress has a true insider’s perspective on health care issues, having worked as a registered nurse for seven years. She returned to school and earned a masters degree from The Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Starting with Malkin & Ross as a graduate intern, she began lobbying the following year. Her main focus is on health care and insurance access, scope of practice issues, reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS and state budget advocacy.

Laura K. Turnblom joined Malkin & Ross in 2006 and provides legal counsel and governmental relations assistance to non-profit and human services clients. Prior to joining M&R, Ms.Turnblom was with the law firm of Hinman Straub, P.C. where her practice involved counseling clients on legislative and regulatory issues with an emphasis on health care. Ms. Turnblom was formerly an Appellate Court Attorney for the New York State Appellate Division Third Judicial Department. She began her career in the New York State Legislature, where she was an aide to Assemblyman David Koon.