Staff

Michael Cassidy is the President and CEO 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.
Contact: michael@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x101

Jeff Connor-Naylor is the Program Director of the Northern Virginia office. Jeff leads our effort to work with diverse stakeholders in this critical region, identify key issues of concern, and expand and better inform the work of The Commonwealth Institute. Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute, Jeff was the Lead Community Organizer at a statewide policy advocacy organization working to end family homelessness in Massachusetts. He has also worked as an employment specialist with an organization assisting homeless individuals and as an operations manager at a Colorado Springs, Colorado soup kitchen.  Jeff holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Hiram College and a Masters in Social Work from Boston College.
Contact: jeff@thecommonwealthinstitute.org

Patrick Getlein is the Director of Communications for the Institute. He works with the Institute’s staff to communicate the Institute’s work to the media and the public. Prior to his work with The Commonwealth Institute, Patrick worked in a variety of positions in strategic communications. From 1989-1993 he served at Christchurch School where he was an admissions officer and then director of publications and media relations with the alumni and development office. From 1993-2000 he served in a variety of roles with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia: managing editor of the diocese’s monthly newspaper , the Virginia Episcopalian (1993-1996); assistant secretary of the diocese (1996-1998); director of communications and editor of the paper (1998-2000). From 2000-2002 he was a freelance writer, publishing articles on food, wine and restaurant criticism in a variety of publications including Style Weekly, The Washington Golf Monthly, The Washington Post, and the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2001 he joined the creative team at Bergman Group ad agency where he was a copywriter. In 2002 he returned to the staff of the Diocese of Virginia as Secretary and Registrar and coordinator of diocesan staff serving also as director of communications and spokesperson. Patrick has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Hampden-Sydney College.
Contact: patrick@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x103

Laura Goren is a Policy Analyst with the Institute. Laura conducts research and analysis on the state budget, tax policies and macroeconomic conditions in Virginia. Laura’s prior experience includes working as a research assistant at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, where she conducted research on housing finance issues. Laura has a B.A. in Sociology from Towson University and prior to joining the Institute was a PhD student in the Sociology program at the City University of New York.
Contact: laura@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x107

L. Sookyung Oh is a Policy Analyst with the Institute and a State Policy Fellow, a new initiative that supports an emerging generation of leaders in shaping state policies and fiscal choices that affect disadvantaged families and communities.  Prior to joining the Institute, Sookyung managed organizing and advocacy campaigns on national immigration reform at The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), served as a research assistant at the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism, and worked in a various community-based organizations in Philadelphia to improve access to health care, social programs, and HIV/AIDS services. She has served on the board of the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition and as a grant reviewer for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Sookyung graduated with honors with a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania where she was a Gates Millennium Scholar and an University Scholar, and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from The Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
Contact: sookyung@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x109

Sara Okos is the Policy Director at the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, where she 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 in 2007, 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 Schroeder Fellow in Health Policy.
Contact: sara@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x102

Benjamin Paul is a Program Assistant with the Institute. Ben assists with managing a portfolio of grant requests and reporting requirements as well as various internal administrative and operational tasks. Prior to joining the Institute, he worked on Senator Tim Kaine’s United States Senate race in the Compliance and Operations department.  Ben graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond.
Contact: ben@thecommonwealthinstitute.org, 804-396-2051 x106

Massey Whorley is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Institute, where he conducts research related to health care policy. Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute, Massey worked for Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (2008 – 2012), the General Assembly’s program evaluation agency. Massey has a bachelor’s degree in public policy from the College of William and Mary. He also earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the College of William and Mary’s Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, where he was a Schroeder Fellow in Health Policy.
Contact: massey@thecommonwealthinstitute.org. 804-396-2051 x105