About Us

Jeffrey T. DeLeone and

Matthew R. Forney

Jeff DeLeone & Associates (JDA) is a business and governmental affairs consulting company based in Columbus, Ohio and founded in 2002 by Jeffrey T. DeLeone. With over 50 years of bi-partisan experience between the firm’s principals, JDA offers a wide array of comprehensive services, specializing in providing clients with strategic advice when dealing with legislative, regulatory, and procurement matters involving state government. JDA’s goal is to help position clients in a manner that enables them to demonstrate their expertise and compete successfully in Ohio’s diverse economic and governmental environment.

JDA serves a broad range of private and public sector clients with expertise in energy, public utilities, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, construction, transportation, manufacturing, casino and sports gaming, alcohol, economic and real estate development, education, pension funds, investment management, and workforce development.  Clients include some of the nation’s top Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations, and businesses of all sizes.

JDA has a strong network and relationships throughout the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio Senate and the Office of the Governor. In addition, the firm’s network and relationships throughout the Midwest and Washington, D.C.

About Jeff

Jeffrey T. DeLeone

 

 

Jeff DeLeone brings over 30 years of varied experience to his role as President of JDA.  Having developed strong bi-partisan relationships, his areas of focus include oil & gas, public utilities, pharmaceuticals, construction, transportation, manufacturing, casino and sports gaming, alcohol, economic and real estate development, pension funds, investment management, and workforce development. As President of JDA, Jeff DeLeone has built a stellar reputation among Ohio’s elected officials and utilizes his knowledge and experience within Ohio’s business and political arena to advise and to impact positive outcomes for his clients.
 
Prior to forming JDA, Jeff gained unique experience while serving nearly eight years in a senior-level capacity under former Ohio Governor George V. Voinovich, who later served 12 years as a United States Senator.  As Director of Boards and Commissions, Jeff managed the gubernatorial appointment process by identifying qualified professionals, performing due diligence, and executing the formal appointment process of the candidates for service on state professional boards and commissions, public university boards of trustees, and on the state judiciary.
Jeff served as Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy for the Ohio Department of Commerce where he oversaw alcohol financial services, real estate, construction, and licensure legislation and policy.  Jeff served as Governor Voinovich’s personal Executive Aide, and he also served in the Ohio Department of Development as a special assistant to the Director, where he specialized in economic development policy and marketing.
Jeff is active in a variety of central Ohio civic, charitable, service, and arts-related organizations.  He is a former President of the Ohio Lobbying Association, is a board member of the Ohio Lobbying Association Foundation, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the $18B Ohio School Employee’s Retirement System pension fund (OSERS). Jeff has served OSERS’ since 2016 as a past Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Board. He is currently also a member of the Board’s Compensation Committee. He serves as a member of The Ohio State University President’s Government Affairs Council which advises The Ohio State University President on government affairs and policy issues. Jeff has a life-long passion for the game of golf and serves as a Director for the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation which provides fully paid college scholarships to high-achieving caddies with limited financial means. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Jeff resides in Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus, with his wife, Lara, their daughter, Gina, and son James.

About Matt

Matthew R. Forney

 

 

Matt Forney brings over 26 years of comprehensive governmental affairs experience to his position as Vice President of Jeff DeLeone & Associates. As Vice President of JDA, Matt utilizes subject matter expertise gained over his years of employment within and around state government. Matt has established a strong network of long-standing relationships with thought leaders and policy makers which provide him with avenues to help clients navigate the bureaucratic landscape of government to produce positive outcomes for clients.

Prior to joining JDA, Matt has held positions which have allowed him to build a wealth of knowledge and subject matter expertise in the healthcare industry. Matt has served as Manager of Government Affairs for the law firm of McNees, Wallace & Nurick; Manager of Government Affairs for Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter; and Managing Director of Government Affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Communications from the University of Toledo. Matt resides in Dublin with his wife, Lisa, and their two sons, Austin and Dylan.