Townsend Public Affairs Client Service Team Biographies
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
• 28 years of legislative and public policy experience, including serving under three consecutive Mayors in the City of Oakland.
• Secured over $425 million in grant funding and
legislative-directed funding for clients throughout
California.
• Secured the passage of very complex legislation into law in the realm of housing, cannabis, CEQA reform, and economic development.
• Widespread bi-partisan relationships with Members and staff of the California Legislature, and with the Governor's Office, including key officials in various agencies and departments.
• Expertise in the policy sectors of public safety, cannabis, natural resources, local governance, and cultural resources.
Elisa Arcidiacono, Senior Associate
• 11 years of legislative and public policy experience with public agencies throughout California:
o Chief of Staff, Office of Assembly Member Tom
Lackey
o Public Affairs Lobbyist, League of California Cities
• Managed public safety portfolios for both county and state governments.
• Secured significant grant funding and legislative-directed funding for clients throughout California.
• Widespread bi-partisan relationships with Members and staff of the State Legislature, and with the Governor's Office, including key officials in various agencies and departments.
• Expertise in the policy sectors of local governance, public safety, technology, emergency management, and housing and homelessness.
Attachment 8
Townsend Public Affairs Client Service Team Biographies
Ben Goldeen, Federal Advocacy Director
• 14 years of federal government affairs and public
policy experience:
o Legislative Director, Congressman Jim Costa
o Legislative Assistant, Congressman Dennis Cardoza
• Led Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) FY22, FY23, and FY24 federal appropriations processes, helping secure more
than $177 million in federal funding for TPA clients.
• Extensive experience with research, proposal development, and funding advocacy for various federal grant programs on behalf of local public agencies throughout California.
• Close relationships with key staff for numerous Members of Congress, as well as many federal agencies.
• Expertise in several policy sectors including water resources, agriculture, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, and foreign affairs.
Joseph Melo, Senior Associate
• 10 years of federal government affairs and public
policy experience:
o Policy Advisor, Congressman Jerry McNerney
o Legislative Assistant, Congressman Jerry McNerney
• Experience managing legislative activity, including bill analysis and research, particularly for federal funding opportunities.
• Experience with research, proposal development, and
funding advocacy for various federal grant programs on behalf of local public agencies throughout California.
• Close relationships with key staff for numerous Members of Congress, as well as many federal agencies.
• Expertise in several policy sectors including energy and commerce, technology, education, housing, foreign affairs, and local governance.
Attachment 8
Townsend Public Affairs Client Service Team Biographies
Alex Gibbs, Grants Director
• 13 years of funding and public policy experience
• Four years of experience working for the California
Legislature analyzing, researching, writing, and
shepherding bills through the legislative process.
• Secured over $200 million in competitive grant funding for clients throughout California.
• Success in over 50 different funding programs in a wide range of policy areas, including public safety, parks and recreation, and transportation.
• Extensive relationships with relevant state and federal agencies, including key officials in the areas of transportation, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and community development.
• Widespread bipartisan relationships with Members and staff of the State Legislature and with the Governor's Office.
• Expertise in the policy sectors of parks and recreation, local governance, public safety, transportation, cap and trade, and emergency operations funding.
Barbarah Torres, Senior Associate
• Eight years of grant funding and public policy experience • Managed billions of dollars of state and federal grant funds for California projects, including the $2 billion Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project.
• Success in over 30 different funding programs in a range of policy areas, including transportation and infrastructure, economic development, parks and recreation, and
education.
• Experience coordinating community engagement and outreach efforts to strengthen project applications and ensure local support. • Widespread bi-partisan relationships with key state and federal agency officials, particularly in the Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, California Energy Commission, and California Natural Resources Agency.
• Expertise in the policy sectors of local governance, transportation and planning, education, public works, infrastructure, and community development.
Attachment 8