Procurement - Capitol Advocacy

Dean R. Grafilo

Dean R. Grafilo brings over twenty years of political and policy experience to Capitol Advocacy. His relational advocacy approach, deep-rooted knowledge on a wide range of issues, and ability to deliver results is an invaluable asset to the firm.

With the two decades of working on the state budget either as legislative staff or most recently, as Department Director, Dean, is one of the firm’s co-leads for the Procurement practice area. Additionally, Dean works within the firm’s Healthcare, Financial Services, Technology, and growing Attorney General practices.

Quickly after his arrival to the firm in 2019, Dean seamlessly transitioned toward advancing a number of client’s goals in the Legislature, before the Administration and by seizing state procurement opportunities. Whether in healthcare, cannabis, financial products, gig economy, housing, higher education policies, or IT procurement, Dean effectively collaborated with clients and colleagues to achieve desired outcomes.

Dean was most recently appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the Director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, which administers more than 3.9 million occupational licenses in the State of California. This unparalleled experience helps clients navigate through the myriad of licensing schemes, boards, commissions and bureaus.

As Director, Dean was heavily involved in many of the State’s largest consumer protection issues including cannabis, occupational licensing, and healthcare. With the department’s executive team, he led the regulatory entities and other divisions within the DCA and was a featured speaker at numerous events throughout the country.

Prior to his appointment, Dean was the longest serving Chief of Staff to former State Assemblymember, and current Attorney General, Rob Bonta. In this role, he touched a variety of policy areas including public employment, pension and social security administration, tribal gaming, horse racing, budget, appropriations, and housing. As a seasoned Democratic staff member, Dean was recognized as a trusted, reliable, and knowledgeable resource. During his tenure in the Legislature, he was sought out for his ability to win competitive campaigns.

In addition to working for several members of the State Assembly, Dean previously worked as the Associate Director of Government Relations at the California Medical Association. He was also a Gubernatorial Appointee for the California State Athletic Commission, where he was involved with policy decisions affecting the State’s combat sports issues.

Dean was an Organizer Representative at Service Employees International Union Local 925 and a political intern at the M.L. King County Labor Council in Seattle. Additionally, he was a Field Representative and Organizer at International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 in Hawai’i. Working as a union leader in several states, Dean has proven experience collaborating with both labor and business together.

Dean earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington and Bachelor of Arts studying Political Science at San Francisco State University. He lives in West Sacramento with his wife Marisa and two daughters.

Jennifer Roe

Jennifer Roe joined Capitol Advocacy in 2015, bringing nearly a decade of policy and communications expertise to the firm. As one of the firm’s lobbyists, Jennifer’s knowledge of the process, her background on policy issues and her strategic communications skills prove invaluable for the firm’s clients.

Jennifer co-leads the firm’s Procurement practice and advocates on behalf of clients within the Healthcare, Climate Change and Energy and Business and Employer Representation practice areas. She has successfully advocated on behalf of clients both in the Legislature and within the Executive Branch. She helps clients navigate the legislative and regulatory processes and provides strategic counsel to communicate their messages effectively. Her relational advocacy approach proves successful for the firm’s clients as she has navigated difficult issues such as police reform, healthcare transparency, and climate change policy.

Understanding the policy objectives for each client, Jennifer’s analytical communication, research, and writing skills provide timely updates with relevant information about issues pertinent to them. Along with analyzing legislation, Jennifer reviews budget proposals, monitors oversight and informational hearings, drafts position letters, and keeps track of all regulatory matters of interest to clients. Jennifer also works with the firm to implement its marketing functions.

Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Jennifer worked for several members of the State Assembly, most recently as the Capitol Director for the Minority Caucus Chair and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee. She provided strategic counsel to the members and worked closely with caucus communications to develop and implement effective legislative strategies. Jennifer also developed members’ legislative priorities and worked on a variety of policy issues including health and human service budget issues, Proposition 65 reform, manufacturing incentives, workplace flexibility, public safety, and utilities. Her firsthand experience as legislative staff allowed her to build key relationships both in the Legislature and the Administration.

Originally from Sacramento, Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with an accounting focus, from California State University, Chico. She enjoys mentoring young professionals through SheShares, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting women in the Capitol community. She lives in Roseville with her husband Kyle and two daughters.

Cameron Demetre

Cameron Demetre brings over a decade of political, legislative, and policy experience to the firm. At Capitol Advocacy, Cameron is co-lead of the Firm’s Technology, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence practice area. In addition, he works within the firm’s Business and Employer Representation, Climate Change and Energy, Financial Services and Insurance, and Procurement practices.

Cameron has extensive knowledge of the technology start-up ecosystem, ranging from venture capital, early-stage startups, to Fortune 100 companies. He has a keen understanding of emerging technology and the importance of engaging policymakers for those companies to flourish.

Cameron most recently served as the California and Southwest Region Executive Director for TechNet. In his role at TechNet, he oversaw seven western states and represented nearly 100 leading tech companies. Cameron advocated before the state legislature, agencies, and administration in the areas of privacy, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, telehealth, procurement, future of work, education, fintech, advanced energy, venture capital, and e-commerce.

He was instrumental in representing businesses’ interests during the implementation of the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), providing inaugural comments to the California Privacy Protection Agency’s rulemaking for the CPRA. He was also the chief negotiator on Colorado’s Privacy Act, the third omnibus privacy legislation in the nation.

Prior to leading the TechNet, Cameron worked at the California Department of Finance, where he served both the Brown and Newsom Administrations providing budgetary oversight to the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Department of Justice, and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Cameron previously worked as a Legislative Director in the Assembly, as a Legislative Aide in the Senate, and was a recipient of a California Senate Fellowship. Beyond his work in California, Cameron worked as a policy consultant for NATO in the United Kingdom, worked in International Development in Tanzania, and was a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea.

Cameron received his bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University and his master’s degree from the London School of Economics. He serves on the Board of Directors for an international nonprofit focused on reducing poverty in East Africa and for the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Cameron lives in Sacramento with his wife Emma and their two dogs, Huck and Poppy.