Performance Driven Government Relations

Brian Turk joins Oak Policy Group with 21 years of state government experience and has worked in both the State House and the State Senate of Pennsylvania. After Brian left his service with the State, he worked on or consulted for over 30 local government and congressional campaigns.

In 2009, Brian joined Alpha Natural Resources as Director of Government and External Affairs, where he helped to develop and coordinate government and external relations strategies in Pennsylvania focusing on state and local level.

In 2016, Brian was promoted to Vice President of Government and External Affairs, where he built a strong reputation in the energy space while helping Alpha with some of the most difficult legislative and regulatory issues. Brian also continued to expand his experience by overseeing all state government affairs for Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Brian is married to Nancy and they live in Sewickley with their four children.

William “Bill” Plassio joined the Oak Policy Group after serving for 38 years with the Department of Environmental Protection. During his time with the department, he served in multiple roles from the early days as a review engineer to his final six years as the Bureau Director of District Mining Operations.

As the Bureau Director, Bill oversaw the permitting and compliance for Coal and Industrial Mineral Underground and Surface Mining, Coal Refuse Disposal operations in Bituminous and Anthracite fields, and Coal Preparation Plants across Pennsylvania. Bill was responsible for six regional offices and the coordination between federal and state agencies.

Bill graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in mining engineering and is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania for the last 35 years. Bill and Debbie reside in Irwin, PA, have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Savannah Perez joins Oak Policy Group with experience in communications and legislative affairs.

Prior to joining Oak Policy Group, Savannah gained hands-on public policy experience at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, located in Harrisburg,Pa.

Savannah furthered her experience when she interned for her local city government. Here she was tasked with updating the Animal Shelter’s website, creating monthly social media campaigns and designing an internal communication platform for the organization.

Savannah rounded out her experience in Congressman Morelle’s office where she assisted in various constituency services, researched legislation and analyzed data on behalf of the congressman.

Savannah graduated from Messiah University with a degree in public policy and communication. She is originally from Rochester, New York and now resides in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

John Stefanko joins Oak Policy Group after serving 38 years with the Department of Environmental Protection. He most recently served as Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations. John oversaw the Bureaus of Mining Programs, Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Mine Safety, and District Mining Operations in this role.

Throughout his career, John held several key roles including Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs and Chief of the Division of Contracts, Procurement and Bonding. John also served as a project designer for the Department’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Division of Acid Mine Drainage Abatement, where he developed engineering designs for mine reclamation, water supply replacements, mine fire control, subsidence control and other abandoned mine land projects. Over his career, John has received numerous awards for his work.

John graduated with an associate degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. John now resides in Harrisburg, PA.