Michael Cassidy is the Executive Director of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, a nonprofit think tank focused on providing independent research, analysis and public education on budget and tax issues, with emphasis on the impact of fiscal decisions on low- and moderate-income Virginians. Before joining The Commonwealth Institute, Michael conducted program evaluations as an analyst at the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget. He also worked for several years as a budget analyst at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget where he handled policy development, regulatory and legislative review and budgetary process and execution for a wide variety of social policy programs. He began his career in tax policy for the federal government and also worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in their government consulting practice.
Michael graduated from Georgetown University, and has a master’s degree in public policy from the College of William and Mary, where he was a Thomas Jefferson Fellow.
John McInerney serves as the Institute’s health policy director. John produces analysis and research on state and federal healthcare topics, including issues of access, financing, and quality important to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute, John worked as a Program Manager at the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), where he conducted research and worked closely with State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) directors from across the country. He served as a resource and provided technical assistance and support to state directors on SCHIP reauthorization and other key programmatic issues. Previously, John analyzed health financing issues at the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee and served as Director of Communications and Research for a state senator.
He has a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a Master's of Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Sara Okos is a policy analyst with the Institute. Sara analyzes and conducts research on a wide array of tax policies, the overall budget process, labor and wage issues, and education. Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute, Sara worked in the Executive Office of Governor Jennifer Granholm in Lansing, Michigan.
Sara has a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Economics from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master's of Public Policy from the College of William and Mary's Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, where she was a Schroder Fellow in Health Policy.
Cintra Davis is a policy analyst with the Institute. Cintra conducts research and analyzes the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in Virginia and makes policy recommendations to implement provisions of the Recovery Act to improve programs serving low- and moderate-income Virginians. Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute, Cintra was appointed by Governor Timothy Kaine to serve as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Finance. During her tenure she worked on a variety of fiscal policy issues including legislative analysis, higher education restructuring, and local government issues.
Cintra received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Virginia State University, a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. In the Richmond community, Cintra is a member of the Richmond CenterStage Associates Board and the Junior League of Richmond.