THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLATFORM

Decades of policy expertise. Technology built to keep evolving.

LEADERSHIP & EXPERTISE

Lorie Nevares

PRESIDENT

Lorie founded StateScape in 1991. With over 35 years of experience in state and local government affairs, she has developed a level of expertise that has directly contributed to the long-standing success of her firm. As President, Lorie is responsible for the daily management of staff operations, and works closely with both her team and clients to ensure a superior work product. She is the driving force behind StateScape’s innovations and oversees the development and application of StateScape’s future services.

Lorie began her career in Pennsylvania’s state government and has held positions with the National Soft Drink Association, American Gas Association, and an affiliate of the National League of Cities and Conference of Mayors. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Legal Studies from Quinnipiac University and a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Lorie has held leadership positions with the Washington Area State Relations Group and Women in Government Relations, and is a recipient of the “Business Associate of the Year” award from the American Business Women’s Association. She has been profiled in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and TIME Magazine.

Irene M. Pla, Esq.

VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH

As an experienced policy analyst and attorney, Irene lends her expertise in administrative law and multi-jurisdictional compliance to her role as Vice President of Research at StateScape. Her chief responsibilities are to oversee research staff operations and data management, to develop policy monitoring tools and process improvements, and to design effective custom tracking solutions for clients.

Prior to joining StateScape, Irene performed legal research and policy monitoring while employed with several prominent trade organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Broadcasters. Irene graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the New York State Bar.

Monte McCullough

DIRECTOR, IT

With almost four decades of experience in Data Processing and IT Management, Monte brings a wealth of knowledge and ingenuity to his role as Director of IT. In this capacity, Monte leads the development of StateScape’s technology innovations, as well as management of the firms IT systems and infrastructure.

Prior to joining StateScape, Monte served as Director of IT at Coldwell Banker Stevens, and Realogy Holdings Corporation. He has excelled in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, public accounting, professional counseling, and real estate. Monte holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech University.

Jelena Chargel, Esq.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, RESEARCH QUALITY & TRAINING

Jelena’s deep understanding of public policy and legal research along with her experience as an advocate contributes to her success at maintaining research quality and supporting analysts in developing their issue expertise. In this capacity, Jelena coordinates research staff subject training to ensure quality timely tracking while also monitoring trends and emerging issues at the state and federal levels so StateScape can provide focused solutions to clients’ tracking needs.

Prior to joining StateScape, Jelena supported attorneys representing inmates on death row and participated in dependency litigation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Mason University and obtained her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Jelena is a member of the Virginia Bar.

Lauren Morgunov

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, REGULATORY SERVICE OPERATIONS

With experience in research and policy, Lauren’s natural skill to communicate complex information has been a key to her success. She oversees all Regulatory operations at StateScape. Additionally, she acts as a thoughtful and thorough trainer for both analyst staff and new clients during their onboarding process.

Prior to joining StateScape, Lauren collected data on Chinese government policy towards non-profit group’s fundraising efforts in Kunming, China. She also tracked legislation for Long Island Cares Inc and was a copy editor for L’istituto Affari Internazionale, an international relations think tank. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Tampa, and a Masters from Concordia University.

Amy Hannum

CLIENT RELATIONS

As an experienced assistant in both task coordination and client communication, Amy brings a finely honed set of administrative skills to her role as Client Relations Assistant. Her primary responsibility is working closely with the Vice President, on both current and prospective client matters, and includes a focus on prompt resolutions of questions or problems, a smooth contracting process, and maintaining the organization of internal support materials. Amy’s policy background allows her to connect closely with client needs and provide the highest level of support.

Prior to joining StateScape, Amy served as the communications and volunteer coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Additional experience includes record keeping, customer support, and scheduling from her time with George Mason University’s Office of Admissions, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, and Plato’s Closet. Amy holds a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University.

State Analysis ®