Paul Powers has a wealth of experience in dealing with government at all levels, having spent 10 years in the New York State Assembly as a research analyst and 12 years with the New York State Public Service Commission in various management roles. Paul served as the Executive Deputy to the Chairman of the Commission on policy matters and all matters pertaining to supervision of the Department of Public Service. He managed the activities of more than 500 legal, technical and administrative employees. Prior to the Executive Deputy position, Paul held several Director positions within the agency, including that of the Director of the Office of Electricity and the Environment. In these positions, he served as the agency representative for numerous interagency and intergovernmental efforts, including the drafting and implementation of the 1998 and 2002 State Energy Plans, the Governor’s Greenhouse Gas Task Force and the Coalition of Northeastern Governors. With Empire Advocates, Paul provides governmental relations and policy guidance to manufacturing, energy and telecommunications companies, including business/project strategy and direction, crisis and risk management, policy design and development and client relationship management. Empire Advocates, LLC is a subsidiary of Hiscock & Barclay, LLP that offers non-legal consulting services involving governmental relations, public relations, and lobbying for clients in the energy/utility and telecommunications industry who are operating in New York.