Jessica Moran joined Capitol Advocacy as a Lobbyist in 2025. With experience lobbying on behalf of consumers and member-based associations, Jessica brings a well-rounded approach to her advocacy.
Prior to joining the firm, Jessica was a Legislative Advocate at the California Dental Association where she led successful state budget and legislative campaigns resulting in multiple bills signed into law and securing millions in state budget investments to improve access to care. In addition to the health care portfolio, Jessica staffed the association on Business & Professions issues including scope of practice, licensure and workforce shortages.
Jessica started her career in 2018 as the inaugural recipient of the Peter Harbage Policy Fellowship, where she worked at Health Access California. In her first year as a lobbyist, Jessica worked on the organization’s #Health4All campaign to expand Medi-Cal eligibility to undocumented individuals. She was part of the team that successfully negotiated the eligibility expansion to young adults (age 19-25) with a historic commitment to expand to seniors in the following year.
After her fellowship was extended, Jessica worked for a children’s advocacy organization where she staffed health, education and immigration issues.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from California State University, Los Angeles. Jessica also holds a Master in Public Health with an emphasis in health policy from the University of Southern California. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jessica is an unapologetic Dodgers fan and shares season tickets with her brothers.
Cara Martinson brings more than twenty years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to her work advocating on behalf of clients before the California Legislature and Administration. She has built a reputation for solving complex policy challenges, developing effective legislative and regulatory strategies, and building durable coalitions on issues involving local government, energy, land use, and environmental regulation.
Cara has held several senior government relations leadership roles, including serving as Senior Director of Regulatory and Political Affairs for a national renewable energy developer. In that role, she managed the company’s legislative and regulatory portfolio across ten western states and worked closely with policymakers to advance renewable energy and energy storage projects. Her efforts included facilitating favorable tax policies for energy storage facilities and engaging extensively with California’s Legislature and Administration to promote clean energy development.
Previously, Cara spent more than a decade representing local government interests at the California State Association of Counties. There, she led advocacy efforts on critical environmental, natural resource, and land use issues impacting counties statewide. Her work helped ensure local government priorities were reflected in the development of California’s climate policies, the allocation of greenhouse gas reduction fund resources, wildfire recovery and resilience efforts, and the passage of Proposition 64 and subsequent cannabis regulatory framework.
Cara began her career in Sacramento working to protect California’s natural landscapes, managing government affairs for a national nonprofit land trust. In addition to her experience at the state level, she brings significant local land use perspective, having volunteered nearly a decade as an appointed County Planning Commissioner. In that capacity, she reviewed and approved development proposals and helped shape land use decisions affecting the Sacramento region.
Cara earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and French from San Diego State University and holds a master’s degree in politics from Brandeis University. Outside of the office, she is an avid traveler and adventurer and is often planning her next trip, whether camping in the Sierras or exploring a new country. Cara lives in Sacramento’s Curtis Park neighborhood with her family.
Madeleine Cooper joined Capitol Advocacy in 2022, bringing over a decade of policy and political expertise to the firm. As one of the firm’s Regulatory Advocates and Legislative Analysts, Madeleine’s background on policy, extensive knowledge on political climate and her proven track record of working in a bi-partisan manner, are instrumental to the firm’s clients. At Capitol Advocacy, she helps clients navigate the legislative and regulatory process.
Madeleine has managed a portfolio of high-priority government projects and issues, liaised with governmental offices and elected officials, and contributed to the development of effective outreach, communications, and advocacy strategies with government and community-based stakeholders. Having spent over 12 years working on environmental issues in California, Madeleine’s portfolio includes working within the Climate Change and Energy practice area, with a focus on recycling and renewable energy issues. In addition, she works within the firm’s Healthcare, Financial Services and Technology practice areas.
Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Madeleine spent four years representing a variety of clients in financial services, local government, healthcare, labor, and energy space at a lobby/law firm in Sacramento. Prior to that, she spent seven years working for several Members in various capacities in the California State Assembly. Her last position in a Member’s Office was as Capitol Director, where she managed the Assemblymember’s legislative agenda and legislative staff and worked on issues related to veterans, healthcare, natural resources and labor. Her knowledge of the legislative process provides her with the political instinct to anticipate outcomes, giving the firm’s clients key insights as they navigate California’s political arena.
Originally from Placerville, Madeleine graduated California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, with an emphasis on Legal Studies and a Minor in Political Science, as well as being Paralegal certified. She also completed a Master’s program in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations. She lives in Placerville with her husband Sam and their two young children, Penelope and Bodie.
Jason Dell’Orto joined Capitol Advocacy in 2025 as one of the firm’s legislative analysts. He specializes in technology and artificial intelligence policy and has an extensive background in California’s K-12 education sector.
Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Jason served as Senior Legislative Assistant to Assemblymember Dawn Addis for three years. During his time with Assemblymember Addis, Jason was responsible for crafting and staffing priority legislation, providing expert policy analyses, and staffing the Assemblymember on multiple policy committees. Prior to that, he worked as a Legislative Assistant for then-Joint Rules Chair Assemblymember Ken Cooley where he staffed the member on key legislation and provided policy expertise.
Jason graduated from California State University, Chico in 2022 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and International Relations, as well as a minor in Law, Ethics, and Justice. Jason currently lives in West Sacramento with his partner, Mia.
Claire Latimer joined Capitol Advocacy in 2022 as one of the firm’s Legislative Analysts.
Claire’s excellent writing and analytical skills are a great benefit to Capitol Advocacy’s clients. As an analyst, she tracks and reviews hundreds of pieces of legislation throughout the legislative session, keeping each client’s priorities at the forefront. Claire also drafts position letters, policy memos, and advocacy documents for the firm’s clients. At Capitol Advocacy, Claire’s primary policy focus lies in areas concerning public safety, law enforcement, and health care.
In addition to her duties as a Legislative Analyst, Claire supports the firm’s clients that participate in the political contribution process, where her accuracy and follow-through are a critical element of these client’s compliance process.
Claire earned a degree in Creative Writing, as well as a minor in Business Administration from Chapman University. She currently lives in Sacramento with her family.
As the firm’s Director of Operations, Charissa Lott brings over twenty years of legislative, political, and client communications experience to Capitol Advocacy. Charissa oversees the firm’s in-house functions, while also coordinating and providing guidance on all legislative filings required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and California Secretary of State on behalf of the firm’s clients.
Along with Charissa’s FPPC compliance duties, she manages the firm’s large political and legislative events. In accordance with the clients’ political resources, Charissa plans social and political events that have included various Governors, Assembly and Senate Leaders, and members of both houses. She also routinely manages legislative “lobby days,” coordinating hundreds of association and organization members in Sacramento to meet their legislators and hear speakers pertinent to their respective industries.
Working closely with the firm’s managing partner, Charissa oversees client communications, works with the firm’s Controller on client contracts, and generates client activity reports as needed. Charissa is also involved in the legislative function of the firm, analyzing legislation as it is introduced and amended, and conducting research and coordination of political activities.
Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy in 2000, Charissa worked in a similar capacity at another Sacramento-based lobbying firm and as a staff member for a former Assemblymember. This experience has helped shape Charissa’s analytical and problem solving skills, which are utilized to troubleshoot issues for the firm’s clients and ensure Capitol Advocacy’s internal affairs function smoothly.
Charissa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento. She resides in Roseville with her husband, Robert, and their two children, Madison and Tyler.
Alisa Altamura joined Capitol Advocacy in 2022 as a Legislative Assistant, supporting Margaret Gladstein by organizing and managing her calendar, travel arrangements, as well as scheduling client visits and meetings within the Capitol and state agencies.
Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Alisa worked as a legal secretary and office administrator, but most importantly, spent her time raising her two children Nikolas and Marina.
Alisa has a degree from University of California, San Diego, with a major in Political Science and a minor in Law & Society. Outside the office, Alisa enjoys spending time boating on the Sacramento River and snow skiing in Lake Tahoe. She resides in Wilton with her daughter Marina, and her dog Memphis.
Venessa Burns joined Capitol Advocacy in 2023 as a Legislative Assistant. She supports Kristy Wiese by organizing and managing her calendars as well as scheduling client visits and meetings within the Capitol and state agencies.
Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Venessa worked as a Senior Executive Assistant for a lobby/law firm in Sacramento for 15 years, where she supported managing partners and other portfolio lobbyists/attorneys within the Firm. Prior to that, she was a Community Association Manager and worked closely with northern California developers and their new community developments.
Venessa has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications and a Master’s degree in Human Resources. She resides in Placerville with her husband Kevin their three spoiled German Shepherds.
Jennifer Lopez joined Capitol Advocacy in 2025 as a Legislative Assistant, where she supports Cesar Diaz, Dean Grafilo, and Jennifer Roe. In this role, she manages complex calendars, arranges travel, schedules client visits, and facilitates communication across government offices, state agencies, and key stakeholders.
With more than 25 years of experience in California’s legislative arena, she brings extensive institutional knowledge and administrative expertise. Jennifer worked in the California State Senate, providing high-level executive support to five Senate President pro Tempore’s: Senators Mike McGuire, Toni Atkins, Kevin De León, Darrell Steinberg, and Don Perata.
Previously, she served for 11 years as the sole Executive Assistant to the Senate President pro Tempore’s Policy Unit. In this role, she supported the Legislative Director and Principal Policy Consultants with scheduling, correspondence, coordinating policy activities, managing daily operations, legislative tracking, and report preparation. Her sound judgment, discretion, and deep understanding of the legislative processes earned her the trust of Senate leadership and colleagues alike.
Beyond her work in government, Jennifer has dedicated her time to volunteer work. She served for nearly a decade on the board of a Soccer Club in Sacramento, where she helped coordinate player registration, scheduling and organize community events. Jennifer holds a Career Certificate in Bookkeeping and Office Management from Sacramento City College. Originally from San Diego, she has made Sacramento her home for over 25 years, where she and her husband have established a life while raising their family.
Carin Martin joined Capitol Advocacy as a Legislative Assistant in 2019. She supports Dean Grafilo and Sam Mahood by organizing and managing their calendars and scheduling client visits and meetings within the Capitol and state agencies.
Carin brings over a decade of experience working with the legislative offices and state agencies and has built relationships with their support staff, which benefits the firm’s clients and helps them achieve their policy goals in Sacramento.
In addition to supporting Dean and Sam, Carin assists in coordinating and providing guidance on all legislative filings required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission and California Secretary of State on behalf of the firm’s clients.
Prior to joining the firm, Carin worked as an office manager and executive assistant for a boutique lobbying firm in Sacramento for over ten years, where she supported the managing partner and handled all office administration duties. In addition, she coordinated all FPPC filings for the firm’s clients. This unique experience brings valuable knowledge to Capitol Advocacy’s clients.
Carin moved to Sacramento from San Jose to be near her four children and eight grandchildren.