Roberto Gonzalez is a principal partner in Medical Services International, Inc. (MSI). In this position, he serves as the liaison for client management, government and public relations, and coordinator for business development efforts. Mr. Gonzalez has over 31 years of successful management experience in the health care sector, - both public and private sector and within national and international markets.

Mr. Gonzalez has been responsible for successfully coordinating several separate large-scale projects involving managed health care programs, various medical schools, universities, federal agencies including the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and technology sector clients. In this capacity, he has advised and assisted clients in navigating federal regulatory requirements, federal acquisition processes, and client/agency relations.

Mr. Gonzalez retired in 1995 from the United States Army in the position of Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Services Corp. While in the Army, he served at various levels of management and responsibility including a position as the Military Assistant and Senior Advisor to two Assistant Secretaries of Defense for Health Affairs; positions within joint military medical operations, health care recruiting, planning and training; and has been involved in international assistance programs and interagency collaborative projects.

Jim Pasco is a legislative and media consultant with over 28 years of experience within the federal government.

In addition to being the principal partner of a consulting firm, Mr. Pasco is the Executive Director of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) - with over 324,000 members, it is the oldest and largest police organization in the United States. In this position, Mr. Pasco is responsible for all operations of the Washington DC office including all legislative initiatives and oversight of programs/policies that impact police officers across the country.

Mr. Pasco began his federal career with the United States Customs Service in 1968. In 1970, he joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). During his tenure with ATF, he ascended to the Senior Executive Service, and held a number of key managerial positions, including Chief, Procedures Branch; Chief, Strategic Planning; and Chief, Alcohol Import-Export Branch. Mr. Pasco retired from the ATF in 1995 after serving 11 years as the Assistant Director for Congressional and Media Affairs.

As the principal partner in Jim Pasco and Associates, he works directly with various private and public sector clients - assisting with the development and implementation of their legislative and Executive Branch strategies.

At the request of the President, he served on the Bush-Cheney Transition Advisory Committee. He has been appointed to numerous boards and committees, including a Presidential appointment to the Federal Salary Council; the United States Marshals Service Advisory Board on Judicial Security; the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Civilian Police International Board of Advisors.

Jim Pasco served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967.

William Pickle is a government affairs/business development consultant with over 30 years of experience at senior levels within the federal government.

Most recently, Mr. Pickle served as the 37th Sergeant at Arms (SAA) of the United States Senate. Mr. Pickle was nominated for this senior position by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and elected by the Senate in March, 2003. He was re-elected in January, 2005. In this position, Mr. Pickle served as the Senate's Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Protocol, Chief of Security; and managed over 950 Senate employees and an annual budget exceeding $200 million. As SAA, Mr. Pickle worked closely with Senators, Committees and senior Senate staff on a daily basis. In addition, as the SAA, he served as Chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police Board with direct oversight for a 2200 person police department with a budget of $300 million.

Prior to his Senate service, Mr. Pickle served in several Senior Executive Service (SES) positions within the Executive Branch. He was the first SES Director of the Transportation Security Administration where he assisted in the formation of the agency and the federalizing of the Denver International Airport in 2002. Prior to this position, he served as the Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Labor responsible for communications, evaluations, and legislative affairs.

The bulk of Mr. Pickle's career was spent with the United States Secret Service where he rose steadily through the ranks from Special Agent to Senior Executive. Mr. Pickle's strong legislative background was enhanced by his appointment as Executive Assistant Director responsible for the Congressional and Legislative Affairs program of the Secret Service. Mr. Pickle served in this position from 1991 to 1998. Mr. Pickle was responsible for numerous pieces of legislation that provided new authority and significant increases in appropriations to the Secret Service.

Mr. Pickle is a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran who served with the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968-69. Among his awards are the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, 7 Air Medals for valor, 3 Army Commendation Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

Mr. Pickle currently serves on the President's Medal of Valor Award Committee as well as numerous University and Corporate Boards.  He is a former member of the 2004 Presidential Election Advisory Committee.

Mr. Pickle currently holds Top Secret, Q, and other compartmentalized security clearances.

Jim Ramsey is a well-established health care management consultant with a diverse background that includes over 30 years of experience in the medical arena.

Since 1992, when he founded Medical Services International, Inc. (MSI), Mr. Ramsey has been involved in various sectors of the health care field. MSI is a management consulting firm that has a unique focus on the federal health care sector, most specifically with The Department Of Veterans Affairs (VA) and The Department Of Defense (DOD). MSI has focused on new business development, marketing, creating healthcare alliances, and project design and management.

In addition, Mr. Ramsey has served as the President of two medical companies with an emphasis on design and delivery of mental health and dental healthcare services. He has represented major corporations as a business development strategist in these two distinct areas.

Mr. Ramsey retired as a Major, having served 22 years in the United States Army Medical Department with experiences ranging from a combat medic in Vietnam on MEDEVAC rescue helicopters, service as the Executive Officer for the Command Surgeon (Medical Forces Europe) and as the Army Medical Department's first TRICARE health care representative.

Kathy Ruffalo is a government affairs consultant who has had a broad, diverse, and bi-partisan career in public policy with 16 years of experience at both federal and state levels of government. She has extensive knowledge of the legislative processes and understands the steps necessary to successfully draft, negotiate and pass critical legislation. Ms. Ruffalo has strong working relationships with Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives - including those Members in leadership positions - and Committee staff directors and other key staff.

From 1989 to 1999, Ms. Ruffalo served as a senior advisor to the United States Senate Environment and Public Works Committee - reporting directly to the Committee Chairman, Senator Max Baucus. She had the primary responsibility for developing, drafting and negotiating all aspects of federal surface transportation policy. During that timeframe, she worked on three major pieces of transportation legislation.

From 1999 to 2004, Ms. Ruffalo was a Senior Policy Advisor to Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne - currently the United States Secretary of the Interior. During her tenure, she was responsible for developing state policy related to transportation, economic development, international trade, adult/juvenile corrections and law enforcement.

In 2005, Ms. Ruffalo returned to Capitol Hill at the request of Congressional leaders to work on the latest transportation legislation. She has been appointed by the United States Congress to be a member of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission. Since leaving Capitol Hill, Ms. Ruffalo began a government affairs consulting practice.

She has a range of professional expertise - covering highway, transit, transportation safety, environmental and transportation tax/financing issues. Ms. Ruffalo is a 1989 graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences.

Jeffery Weekly is a federal affairs consultant with over 15 years of experience within the federal government and the private sector business community. He is the Founder and Principal Partner of Capitol Health Solutions, a federal affairs consulting firm specializing in federal health care policy and advocacy.

Mr. Weekly recently left a senior position on Capitol Hill as the Staff Director for the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Veteran's Affairs Subcommitee for Health. In that capacity, he reported directly to the Chairman (Congressman Steve Buyer) and was responsible for managing all subcommittee business. In addition, he was charged with drafting legislation, exercising oversight over the Department of Veteran's Affairs health care delivery, medical research systems and health-related infrastructure.

Prior to his tenure with the Subcommittee, Mr. Weekly was Vice President for Equities with the G7 Group, Inc. In this position, Mr. Weekly provided political and legislative counsel to various Wall Street equity firms.

Mr. Weekly has an extensive background in public policy matters. He has served as the Senior Pharmaceutical Consultant to the President's Task force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans. In addition, he has held senior staff positions with two United States Senators - the Honorable Rod Grams (R-MN) and the Honorable Spencer Abraham (R-MI).

Prior to Mr. Weekly's government service, he worked as a cardiovascular disease management specialist with Merck & Co, Inc. In that capacity he was responsible for working with leading physicians and allied health professionals to develop best practices and treatment algorithms for coronary artery disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Mr. Weekly received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in 1992 and attended the University of San Diego School of Law, Georgetown University and the United States Naval War College.

John Tomlinson is a principal in Tomlinson Strategies, an enterprise designed to match needs with solutions. The approach integrates lessons learned, best practices, and viable options for the client in developing a path forward for addressing an issue or advancing an initiative. Mr. Tomlinson’s more than thirty (30) years’ experience in multiple government agencies provides a proven and reliable platform for creating and maintaining relationships, to include a range of successes in coalition building and execution. His membership in Cornerstone Associates represents access to a set of professionals, with complementary skills and an established networking apparatus.

Mr. Tomlinson, in his respective positions, has engaged with a variety of governmental and private sector entities, both domestically and abroad. The strength of Tomlinson Strategies is in its willingness to mine for solutions and opportunity, its responsiveness to clients, and an acute awareness that success must be multi-dimensional for it to be sustained. Inherent in the process is a commitment to timely communication among those with equities in the issue or initiative.

This Cornerstone Associate retired from the U.S. Secret Service as the Deputy Assistant Director for Government Liaison and Public Affairs, having also served in multiple protective, investigative, liaison, and Director’s staff positions, to include the Office of Congressional Affairs. After retirement, Mr. Tomlinson functioned as the Department of State’s, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Senior Policy Advisor on Security. Most recently he served in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as the Senior Policy Advisor on Security, within the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. He was a member of both the Senior Executive Service (SES) and the Senior Level Service (SLS), and currently holds a Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Mr. Tomlinson is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and received a Masters Degree from Eastern Kentucky University. He is also a National War College graduate. Among his professional affiliations are the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), and the National War College Alumni Association.

Major General Pollock is a principal in Pollock Associates, LLC focused on health improvement and technology. Her more than 36 years of Federal Service provide her with a strong foundation and expertise in addressing health care needs and concerns. Her multiple leadership positions reflect her expertise at developing and articulating strategic vision, goals; and developing a well-integrated team to implement those goals and solve challenges. Her talents in those fields contribute to successful business development, rapid solution of challenges and improvements in health and quality of life.

Her selection as the first non-physician and the first woman appointed as an Acting Surgeon General for the Army Medical Department reflects her long history of breaking barriers and challenging the status quo. Basically, the higher the hurdle, the more she likes it! Her military assignments included MEDCOM Commander; Acting the Surgeon General; Deputy Surgeon General; Commanding General, Tripler Army Medical Center, Pacific Regional Medical Command and United States Army Pacific Surgeon and Lead Agent, TRICARE Pacific, Honolulu, HI; Special Assistant to the Surgeon General for Information Management and Health Policy; and the sole Department of Defense Healthcare Advisor to the Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance.

Ms. Pollock’s military education includes the Department of Defense CAPSTONE Program; the Senior Service College at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; the U.S. Air Force War College; the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives; the Military Health System CAPSTONE program; the Principles of Advanced Nurse Administrators; and the NATO Staff Officer Course.

Major General Pollock received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Maryland, completed the U.S. Army Nurse Anesthesia Program and is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. In addition, she earned a Master of Business Administration from Boston University; a Master of Healthcare Administration from Baylor University, a Master of National Security and Strategy from the National Defense University, and received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Maryland. She is a Fellow in The American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), and The American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

Al Poteet is a health care and federal affairs consultant with over 30 years of practical and wide-ranging experience as a senior executive in both the private and public sectors. As the principal partner in POTEET and Associates, he has worked with clients to design and execute effective strategies to successfully navigate all phases of government acquisition, especially client relations with federal departments.

Most recently, Mr. Poteet was the CEO of Humana Veterans Healthcare Service, responsible for all leadership and management aspects of a start-up health care referral company. Under his leadership, Humana won several VA contracts, the most significant was a $500 million contract to provide specialty care to beneficiaries in 23 states with over 20,000 network health care providers.

Prior to his tenure at Humana, Mr. Poteet served as VP and COO of a $100 million durable medical equipment company where he managed the day-to-day activities of a JACHO/ISO certified company to include the office of Information Technology, Insurance, Customer Service, Managed Care, Call Center operations, Human Resources, Compliance, and nationwide Corporate Sales/Service departments.

During his federal career, he worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and was promoted to the Senior Executive Service. He held a number of key leadership positions, including Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Congressional Affairs As DAS, he was a senior advisor to the VA Secretary and responsible for the successful execution of VA’s strategic congressional and legislative affairs programs. In addition to this appointment, Mr. Poteet also served as the Director of multiple VA medical centers and regional offices. Under his leadership as Director of the Alaska VA Medical and Regional Office Center, his innovative management style led to increased efficiency and improved patient satisfaction while winning three national quality awards. He was routinely responsible for managing 500 employees with annual budgets in excess of $62 million.

At the request of the President, he served as Executive Director of a Task Force To Improve Health Care Delivery To Our Nation’s Veterans. The Presidential Task Force was created to make specific recommendations to the president that would transform VA and DoD health care delivery systems into a seamless continuum of care for all eligible beneficiaries. Mr. Poteet retired from federal service in 2002.

Mr. Poteet is a decorated U.S. Army combat aviator with two tours in the Republic of Vietnam as an attack helicopter pilot. He served in the Air Cav with both the 1st Aviation Brigade and 82nd Airborne.