Insight & Influence

Our guests this week include the Honorable Kevin M. Kraus, Sheriff, Allegheny County, Mike Daniher, Director of Field Services Scouting America Laurel Highlands Council and Todd McGregor, Scout Executive/CEO Scouting America Laurel Highlands Council. They sit down with Amie Downs to talk about America 250 and Scouting America Laurel Highlands.  

C&G Strategies' Amie Downs & David Caligiuri are on location with Matt Smith, Chief Growth Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development. They're talking about the NFL Draft, downtown projects and more. 

Representative Justin Fleming and Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children's Executive Director, Jen DeBell sit with Rob Vescio to talk about child care, early learning and accessing high quality care. 

Brian Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Rob Vescio and David Caliguiri to talk about the upcoming 2nd annual PA Data Center & Energy Innovation Summit. 

Nello Giorgetti, sits down with Dewey Ianuzzo (Saitta's Towing) and Rachel Poorman (Dave's Towing) talk about the Pittsburgh Towing Association and how possible new legislation can impact small businesses.   

Alex Halper, the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the PA Chamber, sits down with Rob & Amie to talk permit reform, CNI reduction & more.

The C & G Strategies team from Harrisburg and Pittsburgh get together to talk about what's ahead for the general assembly in 2026. Tony Crisci, Co-Founder/General Counsel Amie Downs, SVP of Communications Nello Giorgetti, SVP of Government Relations Don Smith, Senior Policy Director Rob Vescio, Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer

In 2025, C & G Strategies launched the Insight & Influence podcast, a place for meaningful conversations that shape the Commonwealth. Across 17 episodes, we have remained bicameral and bipartisan. We didn't just talk about policy; we talked with the decision-makers leading the charge. This past year, we were honored to host the Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the majority and minority leaders of both chambers, and legislators from across the state, ensuring every perspective had a seat at our table. Insight & Influence has also taken a deep dive into local issues that legislators and organizations are developing policy around. We've featured voices like Pittsburgh City Council members, and partnered them with statewide organizations on the podcast, to talk about how their work is impacting every Pennsylvanian. Or a State Representative talking with a nonprofit organization about their work around housing. We sat down with organizations like The Salvation Army to discuss emergency preparedness, and the Pittsburgh Film Office to explore the future support of the film industry in Pennsylvania. And C & G Strategies' government relations professionals were central to these talks. They provided the bridge between high-level policy and everyday law, speaking to the intricacies of the state budget process, pending legislation, and the impact of policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Whether it was analyzing the 2025 election trends with Senator Greg Rothman and former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, or championing the Waterfront Development Tax Credit with Representative Emily Kinkead, Insight & Influence proved that when we listen to one another, we can find a path forward. And we closed our year with a look at the massive transformation of the Pittsburgh International Airport that has been supported by legislators from across the state who recognize the airport's significance and its economic impact on this region. Thank you for joining us for a landmark year. As we head into 2026, we remain committed to bringing you the insight you need and the influence that drives Pennsylvania forward. Catch up on all our 2025 episodes on our website or your favorite podcast platform and watch for the first episode of 2026 later this month.

Senator Devlin Robinson, 37th Senatorial District & Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority join Rob Vescio this week to talk about the new front door to the world, advanced manufacturing and a new destination Pittsburghers will soon be able to visit. 

This week's guest: House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Bradford Hosts: Rob Vescio, Partner & Chief Financial Officer, C & G Strategies and Nello Giorgetti, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, C & G Strategies

Former PA Auditor General Eugene DePasquale joins Nello Giorgetti on this week's episode.

NAIOP's Tom Frank & Pittsburgh City Council Member Erika Strassburger sit down with David Caliguiri to talk about energy legislation, inclusionary zone legislation, DEP regulations, permitting and more. 

C&G Stategies Co-Founder/ General Counse, Tony Crisci and Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer, Rob Vescio sit down to talk with Amie Downs (Senior Vice President of Communications) about the Pennsylvania State Budget. What's happening and what could happen in PA if a budget isn't agreed to, soon.

Episode 11: Riverlife Matt Galluzzo & Rep. Emily Kinkead join us to talk about Pittsburgh river fronts, Shore Thing and the waterfront development tax credits.

September is National Preparedness Month and we have Major Marcus Jugenheimer is the Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania and Adam Kitta is the Assistant Director at The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division Emergency Disaster Services.    

Episode 9: Insight & Influence welcomes Rep. Lindsay Powell, Marc Little of Emery Construction Services, and Jason Tigano of LEVEL Equity Building to talk about attainable housing, homeownership programs, and efforts to take programs that grow wealth and opportunities for families statewide.

Lauren Neihaus, Director of Government Relations for Trulieve Cannabis Corp and Meredith Buettner, Executive Director of PACC, speak with Nello Giorgetti about the state of cannabis (medical grade and recreational use) in Pennsylvania

Dawn Keezer, Executive Director for the Pittsburgh Film Office and Mamie Stein, President for IATSE Local 489, talk with Amie Downs about Pennsylvania's Tax Credits for the film industry. The roles unions play and how do we keep Hollywood filming in PA? 

Amie Downs has a conversation with Senator Fontana and Saleem Ghubril from the Pittsburgh Promise. Today's guests discuss PHEAA,  affordable access to higher education for PA students and families. Also, what The Pittsburgh Promise is and how families will be impacted in the coming years. 

PA House Republican Leader Jesse Topper and President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council Audrey Russo join Rob Vescio to talk data centers, policy, energy, technology space and the budget in Western Pennsylvania

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman & Ali Mills the Executive Vice President of Plum Contracting, Inc. join host, Rob Vescio.

Senator Kim Ward and Danielle Ramaley from Watt Fuel Cell join host, David Caliguiri to discuss everything from U.S. Steel, power outages and generator smart home backup power

Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Trying Together Executive Director Cara Ciminillo join host, Rob Vescio, to talk about the Childcare Crisis in PA. They also cover after school programs, holistic family care and childcare strengths and strains you need to know

State Senator Jay Costa joins hosts David Caliguiri & Nello Giorgetti to discuss Pennsylvania jobs at risk, NIH Funding Cuts, the Steel Industry's future and the Supreme Court.