Mark Weideman
Principal
Weideman has decades of experience representing some of the nation’s most sophisticated and politically powerful clients. He provides strategic advice and counsel to his clients designed to achieve their objectives before government entities and acts as their chief advocate before legislative, regulatory and administrative bodies. Weideman has been the architect of successful procurements that have landed clients billion dollar and multi-million dollar contracts. He designs grassroots campaigns that provide broad organic support for policy initiatives and he coordinates activity in local, state and national elections.
Weideman has served as an officer of Blue Shield of California and AT&T of California, with responsibility for legislative, regulatory, legal and political activities in California and Washington D.C. He has practiced law with the international law firm Pillsbury and with the Sacramento firm Wilke Fleury.
Weideman received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of California at Berkeley. He earned his law degree with honors in written and oral advocacy from the University of California Hastings College of Law. He is a registered lobbyist with the State of California and a licensed attorney with the State Bar of California.
Tim Valderrama
Managing Director
Valderrama is a Capitol veteran, having served in staff leadership roles in both the Senate and Assembly. As Managing Director of the Weideman Group, he spearheads strategic engagement with legislative, administrative and regulatory entities. Clients benefit from Valderrama's extensive knowledge of the legislative process and his strong bipartisan relationships with legislators, staff and administration officials. He has experience in all phases of political work including coalition building, grassroots mobilization, strategic planning, PAC management and legislative/initiative campaigns. Valderrama was instrumental in reauthorizing a managed care tax that delivered over $8 billion in federal funding to California’s health care system, organized and co-chaired the opposition to a statewide ballot initiative that was defeated by a 20 point margin and was the chief architect of an issue campaign that successfully raised the legal tobacco purchase age in California from 18 to 21.
Over the last 15 years, Valderrama has served as Chief of Staff to State Senator Ed Hernandez, Chief Consultant to an Assembly Policy Committee, Legislative Director and Special Assistant for two Assembly Speakers. He was also the California Executive Director of TechNet, the bipartisan organization of high tech companies that promotes the growth of technology-led innovation. There he represented the interests of the nation’s leading companies in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, clean technology, venture capital, e-commerce and finance. Valderrama is a registered lobbyist with the State of California.
Tim Valderrama
Managing Director
Valderrama is a Capitol veteran, having served in staff leadership roles in both the Senate and Assembly. As Managing Director of the Weideman Group, he spearheads strategic engagement with legislative, administrative and regulatory entities. Clients benefit from Valderrama's extensive knowledge of the legislative process and his strong bipartisan relationships with legislators, staff and administration officials. He has experience in all phases of political work including coalition building, grassroots mobilization, strategic planning, PAC management and legislative/initiative campaigns. Valderrama was instrumental in reauthorizing a managed care tax that delivered over $8 billion in federal funding to California’s health care system, organized and co-chaired the opposition to a statewide ballot initiative that was defeated by a 20 point margin and was the chief architect of an issue campaign that successfully raised the legal tobacco purchase age in California from 18 to 21.
Over the last 15 years, Valderrama has served as Chief of Staff to State Senator Ed Hernandez, Chief Consultant to an Assembly Policy Committee, Legislative Director and Special Assistant for two Assembly Speakers. He was also the California Executive Director of TechNet, the bipartisan organization of high tech companies that promotes the growth of technology-led innovation. There he represented the interests of the nation’s leading companies in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, clean technology, venture capital, e-commerce and finance. Valderrama is a registered lobbyist with the State of California.
Ryan McCarthy
Director of Climate and Clean Energy
McCarthy has been a leader at the forefront of climate, energy, technology and transportation policy in California for nearly 20 years. He leads Weideman Group's growing climate and clean energy practice, where clients benefit from his deep analytical, regulatory and legislative expertise.
McCarthy spent over eight years in the Administrations of Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, serving as the Science and Technology Policy Advisor to the Chair of the California Air Resources Board. At CARB, he was instrumental in developing many of the state's leading climate policies, including its 2030 and climate neutrality targets, short-lived climate pollutant strategy, and clean energy and transportation policies. McCarthy has worked extensively with the principals and staff at California's energy, environmental, resource, and transportation agencies, along with leaders in local, state, provincial, and national governments throughout the world.
Prior to CARB, McCarthy helped launch the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative and worked in the California Legislature. He received a BS in structural engineering from UC San Diego and an MS and PhD in transportation engineering from UC Davis. McCarthy is a registered lobbyist with the State of California.
Faith Conley
Director
Conley is a nearly two-decade veteran of California’s legislative, regulatory and political arenas. She has led government affairs on behalf of some of the most sophisticated entities in the state, including the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors where she spearheaded the County's work on ending predatory lending statewide, negotiated an agreement between paint manufacturers and local governments for lead paint abatement, and led the County's efforts to implement SB 1383 organic waste recycling. She represented the largest County in the country in discussions with the Administration, Legislature, and state agencies, securing millions in funding for Los Angeles residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior, Conley led policy strategy for the Civil Justice Association of California and led legislative strategy on labor and contracting issues for the California State Association of Counties. Conley also worked directly in the Capitol, serving as a Legislative Director for a member of the State Assembly. She received her bachelor's degree in government from California State University, Sacramento.
Faith Conley
Director
Conley is a nearly two-decade veteran of California’s legislative, regulatory and political arenas. She has led government affairs on behalf of some of the most sophisticated entities in the state, including the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors where she spearheaded the County's work on ending predatory lending statewide, negotiated an agreement between paint manufacturers and local governments for lead paint abatement, and led the County's efforts to implement SB 1383 organic waste recycling. She represented the largest County in the country in discussions with the Administration, Legislature, and state agencies, securing millions in funding for Los Angeles residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior, Conley led policy strategy for the Civil Justice Association of California and led legislative strategy on labor and contracting issues for the California State Association of Counties. Conley also worked directly in the Capitol, serving as a Legislative Director for a member of the State Assembly. She received her bachelor's degree in government from California State University, Sacramento.
Daniel Kim
Director of Procurement
Kim is a nationally recognized leader in government operations with over 20 years of executive level experience at the state and local levels. As the Director of the California Department of General Services (DGS) for two governors, Kim developed deep knowledge of state policy, procurement, and regulations. Kim led the State’s COVID-19 Logistics and Commodity Movement Taskforce and served as Chair of the California Pharmaceutical Collaborative. As DGS Director, Kim transformed DGS to become a national leader in sustainability in procurement, construction, fleet and clean energy. He also led efforts to revamp the IT purchasing roles for DGS and the California Department of Technology, negotiate the state’s first project labor agreement, and leverage underutilized state property to build affordable housing.
Prior to joining DGS, Kim served as the Chief Deputy Director of Operations for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), where he oversaw all CDPH operations, including the Office of Regulations. Kim has also served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and worked at the executive levels for the county governments of Yolo, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Earlier in his career, he was a management consultant at Price Waterhouse and also worked at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).
Kim was President of the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) from 2019 to 2021. He received his Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Economy.
Bethany Heckman
Director of Operations
Heckman oversees the internal business operations of the firm and provides legislative and regulatory support for the firm’s clients. She previously worked in the California State Legislature in policy and constituent facing roles. Heckman also worked in operations and special project roles for several non-profit and community based organizations. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the California State University, Chico.
Bethany Heckman
Director of Operations
Heckman oversees the internal business operations of the firm and provides legislative and regulatory support for the firm’s clients. She previously worked in the California State Legislature in policy and constituent facing roles. Heckman also worked in operations and special project roles for several non-profit and community based organizations. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the California State University, Chico.
Meegen Murray
Associate
Murray is a registered lobbyist for Weideman Group. She provides direct lobbying, strategic counsel, legislative tracking, regulatory monitoring and procurement services for the firm's clients. Murray has over 15 years’ experience working in the Legislature and oversaw the legislative agendas for several Senators and State Assembly Members. She received her bachelor's and master’s degrees from California State University, Sacramento.
Rachel Mueller
Associate
Mueller is a registered lobbyist for Weideman Group. She provides direct lobbying, strategic counsel, legislative tracking, regulatory monitoring and procurement services for the firm's clients. Mueller previously oversaw government affairs for a large advocacy organization in California, serving as a policy and advocacy specialist for rural and Tribal communities. She received her bachelor's degree magna cum laude from California State University, Sonoma.
Rachel Mueller
Associate
Mueller is a registered lobbyist for Weideman Group. She provides direct lobbying, strategic counsel, legislative tracking, regulatory monitoring and procurement services for the firm's clients. Mueller previously oversaw government affairs for a large advocacy organization in California, serving as a policy and advocacy specialist for rural and Tribal communities. She received her bachelor's degree magna cum laude from California State University, Sonoma.
Greg Reading
Account Executive
Reading is an Account Executive at Weideman Group and provides internal planning, research, and project management designed to advance client opportunities. He comes to the firm after working in government affairs for a clean transportation provider and has a professional and educational background in the Environmental sector. Reading received his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento.
Sarah Brennan
Account Executive
Brennan is an Account Executive at Weideman Group and provides internal planning, research, and project management designed to advance client opportunities. She previously worked with the regulatory team at the Association of California Water Agencies. Brennan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis, where she studied International Relations, Natural Resources and Native Studies.
Sarah Brennan
Account Executive
Brennan is an Account Executive at Weideman Group and provides internal planning, research, and project management designed to advance client opportunities. She previously worked with the regulatory team at the Association of California Water Agencies. Brennan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis, where she studied International Relations, Natural Resources and Native Studies.
Gabriella Clayton
Account Executive
Clayton is an Account Executive at Weideman Group and provides internal planning, research, and project management designed to advance client opportunities. She previously worked as a legislative aide for former Assembly Member Jordan Cunningham. Clayton received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Sociology with an emphasis in law from the University of California, Davis.