Ostroff Associates Announces Four New Hires in Albany


New Vice Presidents and Legislative Analysts represent historic growth for top lobbying firm as the 2022 legislative session gets underway

ALBANY, N.Y. – Ostroff Associates, a premier government relations firm based in New York’s capital city, today announced the addition of four new team members to its growing staff.

Vice President Mwisa Chisunka, Vice President Alicia Artessa, Legislative Analyst Patrick Curran and Legislative Analyst Grace Nolan all represent key strategic additions to Ostroff Associates’ diverse advocacy team. Each will play a critical role in advancing the interests of New York’s businesses and non-profits before the state’s elected leaders.

“Mwisa, Alicia, Patrick and Grace have all proven themselves to be motivated, hard-working professionals, with a willingness to learn and limitless potential to help shape policy in New York,” said Ostroff Associates’ founder, president and CEO Rick Ostroff.

Mwisa Chisunka joins Ostroff Associates after working in multiple leadership roles in New York State agencies and the Legislature.  Most recently, Mwisa served as the Department of Taxation and Finance’s Head of Virtual Outreach. Mwisa also served as New York State’s first Business Ombudswoman providing tax education and guidance to taxpayers, businesses, tax professionals and others. In this role, Mwisa also helped taxpayers and businesses navigate the issue resolution process.

Alicia Artessa, a licensed New York state attorney, joins Ostroff Associates after serving in government relations for the New York State School Boards Association and the Retail Council of New York State. An alumnus of Vermont Law, she also served as an attorney for the New York State Senate and currently acts as issue editor for the New York State Bar Association’s Environment and Energy Law Section.

Patrick Curran arrives at Ostroff Associates from his prior job as a budget examiner and budget fellow in the New York State Division of the Budget. The Cornell University graduate also spent time as a government relations representative for his alma mater.

Grace Nolan comes to Ostroff Associates from her role as a government affairs associate at a healthcare consulting firm. A graduate of the State University at Albany, Grace brings knowledge of association management and healthcare policy to the Ostroff Associates team.

“These four newly-hired individuals truly represent a transformative level of strategic growth at our firm,” said Rick Ostroff. “Together they will greatly expand our capacity to help more clients, businesses and non-profits succeed in New York.”

About Ostroff Associates: Experience, integrity and results define the work of Ostroff Associates, one of the premier and most successful government relations firms in New York. Providing services in lobbying, budget advocacy, procurement, strategic consulting, rules and regulations, compliance and communications, the Ostroff team has a proven 26-year track record of expertly meeting the needs of clients of every size in every field.