In this episode of the Empire State Entrepreneurs and New York Business Law Podcast, host David Pfalzgraf sits down with Jack O'Donnell, founder and managing partner of O'Donnell & Associates, a Buffalo-based government relations and lobbying firm with offices in Albany, Rochester, and New York City. Jack shares a candid look at his journey from Buffalo public schools to the halls of Albany, the deals that shaped his career, and why he believes Buffalo's best days may still be ahead. Recorded live at Incept's podcast studio in Buffalo, NY. Show Notes Buffalo Roots & Family Legacy Jack grew up in Buffalo attending Buffalo Public Schools through eighth grade before going on to St. Joe's High School. He comes from a family deeply embedded in public service. His father retired as a New York State Supreme Court Justice, and his mother blazed a trail as the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, later working in the Obama administration. Early Career: From Campaign Trail to the Statehouse After graduating from Canisius College in 1996 - the same year as the presidential election - Jack passed up a planned career with U.S. Immigration Services and instead rode to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, handed out paper resumes on the convention floor, and landed a job on the Clinton-Gore reelection campaign. His direct supervisor was Bill de Blasio; his deputy was Karen Hinton (now Karen Hinton Keo, current Secretary to the Governor of New York). From there, Jack spent 18 months driving across New York State promoting a then-little-known congressman named Chuck Schumer. When Schumer won his Senate seat, Jack made the deliberate choice to stay in Buffalo rather than follow the campaign to Washington - a decision he credits as formative. Over the next decade, Jack worked as a political operative and campaign strategist for a who's-who of New York State Democratic leadership, including Eliot Spitzer, Hillary Clinton, Kathy Hochul, and Andrew Cuomo, earning him the unofficial title of "Upstate Sherpa." Health Challenges & Reinvention In the midst of his political career, Jack faced a serious health crisis that required an organ transplant, an experience that nearly cost him his life. The ordeal introduced him to Upstate New York Transplant, where he formed meaningful relationships, including with David's late mother, and eventually redirected his path back to law school. He spent seven years completing his JD, graduating in 2010 after petitioning to return following his illness. From Politics to Lobbying Jack registered as a lobbyist for the first time in 2008, initially resistant to the idea. He eventually recognized that lobbying offered the parts of government work he found most energizing, brokering large, impactful projects, without the door-knocking and constituent service elements he found less fulfilling. Starting O'Donnell & Associates...Right Before COVID In November 2019, Jack left his position at an established lobbying firm to launch O'Donnell & Associates. Four months later, COVID hit. He was frank about the fear of running a business with no formal training, but credits the crisis with proving the value of his relationships. Clients and officials needed informed navigators more than ever. Current Work & Clients Today, O'Donnell & Associates works across healthcare, economic development, finance, and cultural institutions. Current and recent engagements include: Alstom (train manufacturer, Hornell, NY): Helped secure a nearly $3 billion Amtrak contract for next-generation trains, leveraging relationships with both Governor Cuomo and Senator Schumer - two leaders famously at odds. Those trains now run between Boston and New York City. Most recently, helped Alstom secure a $3 billion MTA subway car contract.M&T Bank: Facilitating strategic introductions and relationship-building as M&T expands into the Bronx, connecting the bank with key city and state officials.Buffalo Zoo, Albright-Knox Art Gallery (AKG), Niagara Aquarium: Advocating for cultural institutions Jack views as critical economic drivers for Western New York.Downtown Buffalo Development: Working with a developer on office-to-residential conversion legislation, sponsored by Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, modeled on programs that have succeeded in New York City.The Monday Morning Memo O'Donnell & Associates produces a weekly publication recapping key developments in Albany, Washington, and local government. The memo has won awards and is read widely among elected officials and policy leaders across the state. AI, Advocacy & the New York RAISE Act Jack shared his firm's work on the New York RAISE Act, which requires large AI companies (those spending millions developing frontier models) to maintain documented safety plans and bear legal responsibility for their systems. He pushed back on what he characterized as misleading opposition from major tech companies, calling the law a reasonable guardrail; not a threat to startups or innovators. Jack also touched on how digital tools, including geofenced advertising targeting state capitol visitors, have become part of sophisticated advocacy campaigns, while cautioning that relationships and personal judgment remain irreplaceable, especially in bill drafting where changing two words can determine whether a company thrives or is regulated out of existence. Buffalo's Future Jack is optimistic about Buffalo's trajectory, pointing to: A new mayor representing the city's first true "change election" since 1977Strong leadership at the city's cultural institutionsLegislative momentum behind downtown residential conversion projectsGrowing statewide recognition of Buffalo's potential from Albany and NYCFun Facts Jack published a book, Bitten by the Tiger, about William Sulzer - the only New York Governor ever to be impeached - available on Amazon.In 1996, Jack qualified for the U.S. Olympic sailing trials, though the team did not ultimately compete.Key Highlights "We can get government moving faster, but that's not the same as moving fast." Jack's honest take on the pace of public sector change.The Alstom Deal: Navigating a near-$3 billion federal contract while managing a famously hostile relationship between two of New York's most powerful political figures.Staying in Buffalo: Turning down a path to Washington to invest in a community many of his peers were leaving.Organ Transplant: A life-altering health crisis that reshaped his personal and professional path.AI in Government: Firsthand account of educating legislators on frontier AI models and the RAISE Act."Intelligence guided by experience": The firm's philosophy, and how it plays out in weekly intelligence briefings and client strategy.Key Takeaways Relationships are the foundation of advocacy. Knowing the players (and being trusted by them) is what separates effective advocates ...
