SHARPE JOINS UTCA AS DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Farmingdale – The Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) today announced that veteran legislative staffer Ryan Sharpe has joined the organization as Director of Government Affairs and Communications.

“We are thrilled to have Ryan on board. He brings a wide variety of skills and knowledge – both of the Legislature and of the issues that are most important to our membership – and he is a talented writer. Ryan is a welcomed addition to our UTCA team and we look forward to accomplishing great things with him at the helm of our government affairs and communications team,” said UTCA Executive Director David Rible.

Sharpe has more than 20 years of experience with the New Jersey Legislature and spent the last five years as Chief of Staff for Assembly Minority Conference Leader Edward Thomson, where he managed the district office, oversaw the implementation of the Assemblyman’s legislative agenda, interfaced with various elected officials, and directed all communication activities. Prior to that, he served as Chief of Staff for multiple legislators, including Assemblyman Dave Rible, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblyman Sean Kean. He began his career as a Communications Specialist in the New Jersey Senate where he wrote speeches, produced communication materials and acted as a spokesperson for members of the Senate.

Ryan also served as the Director of Public Relations for the Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce, which represents hundreds of local businesses and seeks to promote economic prosperity in and around the community. He has managed and been involved in multiple political campaigns, including races for Governor, Congress, State Legislature and local office. Ryan graduated from La Salle University and lives in Point Pleasant with his wife and two children.

”I am excited to utilize my two decades of government experience to be a forceful advocate for the contractors who build and maintain our state’s infrastructure,” said Sharpe. “With New Jersey slated to receive billions of federal dollars for infrastructure and our Transportation Trust Fund coming up for renewal, it is a unique moment to join this dedicated and widely respected organization. Working with elected officials, policy makers and professionals, we can enhance the infrastructure industry that is so vital to New Jersey’s economic well-being and our quality of life. It is truly an honor to collaborate with this wonderful organization.”

As Director of Government Affairs and Communications, Sharpe will manage and implement all aspects of the association’s legislative and governmental policies and directives. He will help develop UTCA’s policies and positions concerning bills and regulations and be the main interface with elected officials, political leaders, legislative staff, and others in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

UTCA of New Jersey is a non-profit trade association headquartered in Wall, New Jersey. UTCA represents approximately 1,000 member firms in the public and private sectors, active in all phases of heavy, highway, utility, and marine construction, as well as site work including remediation of brownfields and contaminated sites. For more information, log on to http://www.utcanj.org and follow on Twitter @UTCANJ.

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