Eckert Seamans welcomes Ryan O’Toole to Richmond office as firm’s Manager of Government Relations
January 31, 2018
Ryan O’Toole joins Eckert Seamans as the firm’s manager of government relations. Based in the firm’s Richmond office, O’Toole assists clients by representing their interests before the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Governor’s Office, and numerous state agencies, providing insight on Virginia’s political process. He is practiced in developing advocacy strategies that activate grassroots coalitions and engage both business communities and the public sector.
O’Toole previously served as a policy advisor to Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, advancing the Governor’s agenda on policy issues relating to energy, including solar and wind, utilities, energy efficiency, climate resiliency, and economic development. Prior to his work in Commerce and Trade, O’Toole served as Governor McAuliffe’s Deputy Director of Scheduling, planning and executing the Governor’s engagement with stakeholder groups and developing programming to advance his policy agenda. He also managed the Governor’s Council on Youth Entrepreneurship, drafting executive orders and legislation and working with stakeholders from the education, business, technology, and startup communities to support and foster entrepreneurship and innovation across Virginia.
Outside his record of public service, O’Toole also has a strong background in business development, grassroots campaigns, and coalition building. Having served on President Obama’s reelection campaign in Virginia and Governor McAuliffe’s 2013 campaign, he later worked as Regional Field Director for Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws and as Director of Market Development for 1776, a global innovation network connecting startups, governments, and corporations.
O’Toole earned his M.P.A from Virginia Tech in 2016, and his B.A. from Fordham University in 2012. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association and is a board member of the Virginia Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation and on the Young Professionals Advisory Council of Virginia21.