Maine

THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP
201 Townsend, Suite 900
Lansing, Michigan, 48933
517-374-9105
Email jvanderveen@dykema.com 207/626-3052 (fax)

jmackey@pagmaine.com
ldiehl@pagmaine.com

Firm Profile

The Public Affairs Group helps organizations develop and implement comprehensive government and public relations programs to educate the public, motivate people and shape public policy. PAG approaches each assignment based on a broad understanding of client needs and today's rapidly changing public and political environment. PAG provides a comprehensive range of services to help clients understand public opinion, identify policies or activities which are in the public interest and develop and implement a program of action to gain public understanding and acceptance.

Firm Specialty

PAG's primary focus is on government relations in both the legislative and administrative arenas. Media and grassroots mobilization programs are an integral part of lobbying and regulatory activities, together with legal analysis. Substantive areas of expertise include consumer products, environment and solid waste, public utilities and energy law, tax and health care regulation.

TAG Contact

JOSEPH MACKEY, Esq. has more than twenty years of experience in and around the Maine Legislature and working with state agencies. He served as legal counsel to the President of the Maine Senate and was the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Director of the Maine State Employees Association. From 1983 to 1987 he had a general practice of law in Portland. He has extensive experience in policy areas encompassing taxation, health care, insurance, employment, transportation, telecommunications, food industry, school financing and environmental affairs. Mr. Mackey is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maine School of Law.

LINDA R. DIEHL has more than twenty years experience in communications, public relations and strategic consultation. Her expertise focuses on energy, environmental issues, healthcare and telecommunications. Most recently, Ms. Diehl served as the head of public and governmental affairs for Maine Yankee Atomic Company. In this position, Ms. Diehl was responsible for all aspects of a proactive sophisticated communications program, including survey research, production of numerous television and print advertisements, and media relations. She also served as a spokesperson and lobbyist for Maine Yankee. Previously, Ms. Diehl lobbied for the Maine Hospital Association. Her experience includes eight years as an investigative reporter for The York Dispatch and WGAL-TV in Pennsylvania. Ms. Diehl is active with The Maine Republican Party, holds a Master's degree in psychiatric social work and serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations.

PATRICIA ELTMAN is a veteran of Maine politics with more than 20 years of experience in policy and political positions. Most recently Ms. Eltman served as Chief of Staff to Maine's first woman speaker, Elizabeth H. Mitchell, and previously was the director of the Maine Democratic Party's coordinated campaign in 1996. In these roles, Ms. Eltman directed all staff activities and had extensive experience with the Maine media as a spokesperson, strategist and media relations manager. Ms. Eltman has worked at the national level on three presidential campaigns and has served as Chief of Staff or Special Assistant for the last three Speakers of the Maine House of Representatives. In addition, she has worked in political consulting and as campaign manager for a gubernatorial campaign. The South Portland native is active in a variety of charitable organizations in southern Maine.

ANN MITCHELL has a diverse background in healthcare and the small business arena. Previously, Ms. Mitchell operated as an independent healthcare consultant with clients in Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. Ms. Mitchell's focus was reimbursement strategies with an emphasis on communications and systems. Prior to operating her company, Ms. Mitchell was employed by several Maine hospitals, consulted to a number of small businesses, and was a Co-owner operator of a small Maine business. Ms. Mitchell's volunteer experience includes a variety of nonprofit organizations and political campaigns.