As a founding Partner of Winning Strategies Washington, Michael Merola supervises all aspects of client service by the WSW government relations staff, while also helping to devise and support the company’s business development strategy.  He co-directs the firm’s appropriations practice and leads teams serving corporate, non-profit and governmental clients.
 
During his tenure at WSW, Michael worked with key Members of Congress to secure a Medicare reimbursement fix worth nearly $100 million over three years for approximately 43 hospitals.  He also specializes in transportation and infrastructure issues, having worked extensively and with great success on the Safe, Affordable, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), as well as every Water Resources Development Act reauthorization bill since 2000.
 
Michael has been active on a number of political campaigns both at the state and federal levels.

Immediately prior to joining WSW, Michael was a Senior Associate at Cassidy & Assoc., the largest lobbying firm in the nation, where he worked on authorization and appropriations for education, healthcare and infrastructure.

He served as Deputy Chief of Staff to a U.S. Senator where his policy specialties included transportation, labor, defense, healthcare and international relations. He also served as the principal liaison between the Senator's office and the Governor's office. 

Michael's education includes a B.A. in International Affairs from Lafayette College and an M.A. in Public Affairs from Rutgers University. He is fluent in Spanish and spent two years serving in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.

Mike_Merola@wswdc.com

 

Michael Merola.vcf