New Jersey

Princeton Public Affairs Group

160 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608

609/396-8838 (phone)
609/989-7491 (fax)

PPAG@ppag.com

Firm Profile
Princeton Public Affairs Group, the largest government affairs firm in New Jersey, is a multifaceted organization specializing in government relations and communications in New Jersey. We have offices in Trenton, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. with an unparalleled network of contacts throughout the state. The strength of our firm derives from the diverse backgrounds of the firm's partners and associates which include a former President of the New Jersey Senate, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, Counsel to the Govenor, Chief Counsel to the General Assembly and several former Directors of the Legislature.

Firm Specialty
An accomplished bipartisan staff between our Trenton, New Jersey and Washington, DC offices ensures that our clients are well represented on both sides of the political aisle and at all levels of government. The mix and wealth of experience among our professionals provides for expertise in all areas of public policy.

Whatever the task: working our way through the permitting process, delivering a change in a regulation or orchestrating the introduction and passage of major legislation, we've done it.

Wherever the setting: before a Legislative Committee or in the Office of the Governor, we've been there.

Whomever the players: the Commissioner of a State Department, a key Committee aide, the Legislative leadership or the Chief of Staff, we know them.

And each and every one of our clients is assured the benefit of that expertise. You see, at the Princeton Public Affairs Group, our philosophy dictates that each of our clients works with a firm partner. There are no junior executives. This is one of the qualities which separates us from other firms. It gives our clients the best we have. And it works.

TAG Contacts

DALE FLORIO, ESQ
Dale J. Florio, an attorney and founder of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a public affairs professional with experience at the federal, state and local levels. He is also President of Winning Strategies Communications, Inc. which oversees the marketing of Winning Strategies Advertising, Winning Strategies Public Relations and Princeton Public Affairs Group. Legislative strategy development, direct lobbying and coalition development are Mr. Florio’s specialties. Immediately prior to co-founding the Princeton Public Affairs Group, Mr. Florio managed the $10 million Philip Morris state and local government affairs program throughout all 50 states. He was responsible for development and implementation of the company’s lobbying strategy, grassroots effort and political contributions program. Before joining Philip Morris, he served as federal public affairs representative with the National Association of Manufacturers and as an administrative assistant to a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.

In 1979, Mr. Florio was elected as a member of the Borough Council in Somerville, New Jersey. He chaired the Finance Committee of the Council, while serving on that committee for nearly three years. In June, 1992 Mr. Florio was elected Chairman of the Somerset County Republican Organization. In the Spring of 1992, he was nominated by State Assembly Speaker Chuck Hayatian and appointed by Governor Florio to the New Jersey Building Authority. Mr. Florio served as a key advisor to Christie Todd Whitman during her successful primary and general election victories in 1993 and 1997 and was subsequently named to the Governor’s Transition Team. Mr. Florio serves on the Boards of Commerce Bank/Central, Opinion Research Corporation, Innovative Educational Programs, Inc., and the Adult Day Center of Somerset County. He was also a member of the Task Force on the Affordability and Accessibility of Health Care in New Jersey.

A graduate of Allegheny College and Seton Hall Law School, Mr. Florio is admitted to the practice of law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

BRAD BREWSTER, ESQ
Bradley S. Brewster, an attorney and partner of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, has worked on some of the most important and complex issues facing this nation in recent years. A former Executive Director of the New Jersey General Assembly and General Counsel to the General Assembly Majority Office, Mr. Brewster played an important role in the drafting and resolution of the New Jersey criminal code reform legislation and the creation of several major state environmental protection programs and economic growth initiatives. He is also a partner in Winning Strategies a Washington, DC based federal lobbying firm.

Prior to joining the Majority Office, Mr. Brewster was in the private practice of law and served as counsel to the Assembly Judiciary, Law and Public Safety Committee. Mr. Brewster has taught environmental law and served as a chairperson of the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy Transition Team for Governor Christie Todd Whitman. He has also lectured in politics and government at Rutgers University and Seton Hall Law School. He previously served on the Board of Trustees at Montclair University and currently serves as a Governor’s appointment on the Board of Trustees of The College of New Jersey.

Mr. Brewster formerly served on the Board of the New Jersey Garden State Games, the Governor's International Trade Commission and the Governor's Olympic Development and Recognition Committee. He has assumed a variety of advisory roles for several statewide political campaigns since 1983. He also serves on numerous local boards and charities. Mr. Brewster is a regular television commentator on state and national political and public affairs for several media programs including the Comcast Network. He has also been a panelist and speaker at numerous public affairs programs and conferences concerning state and federal issues. A graduate of Ursinus College and Vermont Law School, he is a member of the Bar in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

DAVID A. SMITH
Is a principal in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a "Pollie Award" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States "Public Affairs Team of the Year," the only state lobbyist in the country to receive this honor. Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing., Mr. Smith was nominated by the honorable Governor Richard Codey and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate to be a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, a four year term which ends in July 2009. Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. He is a Committee member of the NJ Society of Association Executives and leads the firm’s multi-state public affairs management services. Mr. Smith also serves as the President of PPAG IA, LLC, a subsidiary company of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, which identifies and manages business development joint venture opportunities. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated from Gettysburg College and currently holds various insurance licenses.