Stevens & Lee Public Affairs recently announced that former state Senator Bob Gordon and Dennis Culnan, Jr. have joined the growing New Jersey public affairs firm led by Skip Cimino.
Both executives, who will serve as vice presidents, bring valuable experience in New Jersey policy, energy and transit, that will contribute to the firm’s continued expansion of services.
“I am very pleased to welcome both Senator Gordon and Dennis to the firm,” said Skip Cimino, senior managing director of Stevens & Lee Public Affairs. “Bob brings a stellar reputation for policy expertise and extensive bipartisan relationships, and both he and Dennis have extensive experience that spans the private and public sectors. They will be great assets to the firm as we help our clients address issues at the intersection of government and business.”
A longtime policymaker, experienced public leader and corporate management consultant, Senator Gordon served in the New Jersey Legislature for 14 years, first as an assemblyman followed by 10 years in the state Senate representing the 38th District (Bergen/Passaic) where he was the Senate Majority Conference Leader.
Nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy and confirmed by the Senate in 2018, Gordon served a five-year term as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, where he was intimately involved in developing policy regarding key renewable energy that paved the way for the state to become a national leader in offshore wind and other growing energy sectors. He currently serves on the Board of the NJ Transit.
Culnan has more than 20 years of experience executing public affairs strategy and coordinating major projects through the collaboration of public authorities and private entities. He served in senior management roles for more than a decade at the South Jersey Transportation Authority, including as its deputy executive director, chief of staff, director of business administration and deputy director of finance.
In the private sector, Culnan was an executive leader with Siemens AG and led key efforts to showcase the company’s light rail transit capabilities to a range of local, state and federal government officials. Mr. Culnan also served as a commercial manager for the company’s $100+ million North American locomotive division.
Stevens & Lee Public Affairs launched in early 2021 and has grown to include seven professionals in two New Jersey offices. Stevens & Lee, its affiliated law firm, also has achieved substantial growth in the state. The firm established a Bergen County office in 2020 and has added professionals in both there and in its Princeton office who have significantly grown its litigation, intellectual property, state and local tax, immigration, and estates and trusts capabilities.
Both Gordon and Culnan have worked in and with the private sector in a number of industries. Gordon has held strategic positions within large management consulting firms and has worked closely with Fortune 1000 companies in the healthcare, manufacturing and real estate sectors. Culnan has advised private domestic and international clients that include organizations in the transportation, energy, health care, education and telecommunications industries.
About Stevens & Lee Public Affairs
NJBIA member Stevens & Lee Public Affairs offers New Jersey-focused legislative interaction, governmental process, regulatory affairs, and consulting services with respect to budget cost efficiencies, to a wide range of private companies, healthcare and nonprofit organizations. Stevens & Lee Public Affairs is part of The Stevens & Lee Companies, a platform of affiliated professional service firms which provides a full range of legal, investment banking, financial advisory and government consulting services.
