People Archive - Page 2 of 2 - Compass Advocacy

Robert J. Garagiola

A triple threat for Compass, Rob serves as a Principal for Compass Government Relations, President of Compass Public Relations and the Managing Member of Compass Law. With nearly 30 years of legislative, lobbying, and advocacy experience at the federal, state, and local levels of government, and over 20 years practicing law in D.C. and MD, Rob plays a leading role in managing the Compass leadership team and nurturing the firm’s enterprise growth and innovation.

Government Relations

An expert on energy, tax, business regulation, and procurement matters, Rob lobbies for clients in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. As a former Maryland State Senate Majority Leader and State Senator for over a decade, Rob understands the inner workings of state government. Prior to becoming a State Senator, he spent close to a decade on Capitol Hill – both as a lobbyist and senior staffer for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., who is now the Ranking Democrat of the Energy & Commerce Committee.

Law Practice

Rob has represented legal clients in nearly every sector, ranging from accounting firms to physician practices, trade associations, and nonprofits. Rob advises clients on general business, employment, and commercial leasing matters, helping them form and grow companies, draft corporate governance documents, and provide counsel on various contract issues. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2016.

Public Relations

Having run for office at the state and federal levels, Rob has extensive media and communications experience. For over a decade, he has helped clients with various grassroots advocacy efforts to affect and shape public opinion on a range of issues. Rob has become adept at employing various grassroots tools, including phones, e-mails, text messages, and other platforms to advance client issues. He has also worked with clients to develop innovative strategies to convey their message before traditional media, digital media, and other venues.

Additional Background

Rob served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1995 to 2003 and received his jump wings in 2000. He is a member of various nonprofit boards, including those with a focus on the arts, healthcare, renewable energy, and public safety. He is married to Hannah Powers Garagiola, the founder of Compass Advocacy, and has five children and a Jack Russell Terrier named Oyster. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, traveling, reading, and cooking.

Practice Areas

Government Relations

Business Regulation
Energy
Healthcare
Procurement
Taxation & Fees

Public Relations

Communications
Grassroots & Political Campaign Strategy
Public Affairs & Coalition Building

Law

Business Law
Contracts & Commercial Leases
Employment/Labor Law

Brian Della Rocca

After practicing for nearly 20 years, Brian R. Della Rocca has built his career providing a straightforward approach to complex legal issues. Dedicating the bulk of his career to estate and trust planning, Brian has counseled a diverse group of clients from business-owners to retirees to mid-life planners in estate, tax, and asset protection planning. He specializes in advising high-net worth clients on income tax, charitable, estate and gift tax, and asset protection issues; developing, implementing, and supervising the administration of complex estates; advising on international tax issues; and guiding charitable organizations on the development and implementation of planned giving programs. He has represented countless domestic and international businesses and individuals, as well as tax-exempt organizations. Reputed for his even-keel temperament, Brian has been tapped to represent foreign embassies and consular offices for legal advice in situations where foreign laws contrast with U.S. law.

Brian represents tax whistleblowers in their pursuit of claims with the Internal Revenue Service. He also represents individuals, businesses, and insurance companies who have been defrauded online through phishing, spoofing or by other means, in an attempt to recover the stolen funds. These matters typically involve pursuing lawsuits against one or more banking institutions – some of the most protected institutions in the U.S.

Finally, Brian advises clients on First Amendment issues and represents clients in defamation suits where the defamer injured the client in violation of the First Amendment.

Brian has lectured extensively on estate planning, giving talks on complex trust planning, planned giving programs, estate planning for single parents, disclaimers, and income tax planning, among other topics. He is consistently recognized by his peers and the media for his outstanding representation and has provided expertise to Money Magazine and the Journal of Financial Planning among others. He has an AV Preeminent Rating on Martindale-Hubbell (2012-present), has been nominated as a Super Lawyer in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and was cited as an Estate Planning Rising Star by Bethesda Magazine. Active in the field and in his community, Brian served on the school advisory board his children’s elementary school and co-chaired the President’s Advisory Council of the Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C. in 2017 after serving as its president in 2015 and 2016. He served on the Estates & Trusts Section Council for the Maryland State Bar Association from 2009 to 2013 during which he served as Co-Chair of the Maryland Estate & Gift Tax Study Group spearheading its use of virtual attendance for members located in distant parts of Maryland. Brian also served as the Co-Chair of the Montgomery/Prince George’s County Tax Study Group.

Ellen Davis

As Vice President of Administration, Ellen leads efforts on many different fronts in Compass’s offices. She directs all maintenance and upkeep in our two offices, including furnishing, engaging contractors, and acquiring supplies. Ellen also works closely with our IT contractors and employees concerning all technology needs. In addition, she works with the Vice President of Operations on human resource matters, with respect to employee sourcing, conducting interviews, hiring, and on-boarding. She directs the marketing committee for Compass, including website maintenance and brand development, event planning, composing newsletters, and advertising. Ellen also oversees the Staff Assistant position in our Annapolis office.

In addition to Ellen’s management roles, she Chairs the firm’s Sustainability Committee where she facilitates energy-saving practices, recycling measures, and sustainable systems for Compass as well as coordinating volunteer efforts in the community.

Prior to joining Compass in early 2020, she spent 5 years working seasonally in environmental education and adventure tourism. She has held positions such as ski rental tech, whitewater rafting logistics in Colorado, and a visitor services internship with the Fish & Wildlife Service in Michigan. She worked in the field as an educator on the Chesapeake Bay, as well as a group leader in Denali National Park where she led learning vacations across Alaska.

Originally from Harford County, Maryland, Ellen enjoys hiking and skiing with her husband, dancing the tango, and spending time outside.

Tyler Bennett

Tyler has been lobbying in Annapolis for over eight years on a wide range of issues including procurement, tax policy, environmental issues, public funding, and more. He has robust experience assisting clients as they navigate procurement opportunities at both the state and local levels. His experience includes companies in the information technology, energy, utilities, and gaming space. Additionally, Tyler also has experience across a broad range of legislative issues including budget, taxes, civil justice, youth services, Chesapeake Bay recovery, and historic preservation.

Prior to representing clients before the Maryland General Assembly and throughout the rest of the State, he worked for Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Jr. where he staffed the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Tyler has used his time working with the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, learning the ins and outs of the state budget process to leverage the relationships he built to represent and help clients secure millions in both state operating and capital budget funding, as well as positioning procurement clients to expand their public sector footprint.

He is a proud graduate of West Virginia University where he studied political science and economics. A lifelong Marylander, he currently resides in Baltimore City. When he’s not walking the halls of Annapolis, you can typically find him on the golf course.

Hannah Garagiola

Founding Compass Advocacy in 2018, Hannah Garagiola has shaped the Compass brand into a political powerhouse for government and public relations, spanning Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Hannah leads Compass as the founder and President of Compass Government Relations and Compass Public Relations. As a private sector lobbyist for 16 years, she understands the intersection of public policy, political messaging, branding, and grassroots advocacy.

Government Relations

Known for her political savvy, understanding of policy issues, and energetic approach, Hannah directs a bipartisan team with a proven track record of commonsense solutions to business matters before the Maryland General Assembly and local governments across Maryland. Hannah’s practice also includes lobbying before the D.C. City Council and Mayor’s Office. Advocating on behalf of fortune 500 businesses, major energy developers, infrastructure companies, and large trade associations, Hannah’s clients are afforded access at the highest levels to meet their organization’s needs. As Deputy Chief of Staff to the late Maryland Senate President, Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Jr., Hannah’s public sector role gave her the experience, institutional knowledge, and concrete relationships with decision-makers to be effective for clients seeking results.

Public Relations

Aside from her lobbying expertise, Hannah has also helped clients navigate media, communication, and political campaign strategies to educate decision-makers. As Deputy Chief of Staff to the late Maryland Senate President and staff to the Maryland Senate Democratic Caucus, Hannah honed her skills on various political campaigns over multiple election cycles. As a veteran on statewide and national campaigns, Hannah uses her skills to help clients educate policymakers on complicated issues by employing multi-faceted grassroots and grasstops tactics to meet client needs.

Additional Background

In February 2022, Hannah was named one of the 40 most powerful leaders in government and lobbying in Maryland by The Daily Record. She has also been awarded by The Daily Record as one of the state’s Leading Women as well as a Very Important Professional (VIP).

Hannah is married to former State Senator Rob Garagiola, and they have two young children together and a Jack Russell named Oyster. A former collegiate sailor, Hannah can be found cruising the Severn River with her family when she isn’t working. She also enjoys cooking, entertaining, and travel.