James McCulley

James McCulley joined the firm as a Managing Director in September 2012 when his firm, Capitol Public Strategies (CPS), was acquired by Park Strategies. Mr. McCulley has been involved in New York government and politics for nearly 30 years. After a ten year career in the New York State Legislature, including serving as Director of Legislation for Assistant Majority Leader Senator Nicholas Spano and as an analyst for the powerful Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Mr. McCulley joined one of Albany's largest lobbying firms before founding Capitol Public Strategies. Mr. McCulley has represented some of the nation's most highly respected and successful companies and organizations, including Philip Morris (now Altria), ACE Insurance (one of the nation’s largest commercial insurers), Ameriprise Financial (formerly American Express Financial Advisors), Welch's, Greyhound Lines, Talisman Energy, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Associated Builders and Contractors. Mr. McCulley has extensive experience with a variety of complex issues such as business and economic development, energy and natural resources, labor, the environment, technology, healthcare, transportation, insurance and financial services, the professions and education. A recognized expert in the state's legislative and regulatory process, he has successfully guided numerous clients to their government relations goals. Among Mr. McCulley’s notable legislative and lobbying successes was the rewriting of the state's complex oil and gas exploration laws in 2005 on behalf of the state's largest natural gas production company and guiding Mothers Against Drunk Driving through the process of passing tough new laws against repeat DWI offenders. Mr. McCulley was recently featured in Club Business International, the international publication of the health and fitness industry, for being instrumental in blocking legislation that would have negatively impacted the state's fitness clubs. In 2008, Mr. McCulley was honored to have been named a "Top Lobbyist" by the Capital District Business Review.