Trending...
- From Temecula Wine Country to Canyon Lake: Parkway Construction Transforms Outdoor Spaces for Inland Homeowners
- Tim Tebow to Headline BSI CORE Annual Summit, Bringing Nearly 400 Business Leaders Together at Bethlehem's SteelStacks
- RAS AP Consulting Spotlights Managed AP Governance™ at Esker All Access
Governor Tom Wolf announced that Mike Brunelle will step down as Chief of Staff, a position he has served in since 2017, to take a job with the private sector. Elena Cross, Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor, will assume the role of Chief of Staff on June 26, 2021.
"Mike Brunelle has led my administration through unprecedented times including the COVID-19 pandemic," said Gov. Wolf. "Mike negotiated major pieces of legislation including Act 77, which greatly expanded access to voting for Pennsylvanians. He worked across the aisle to negotiate budgets in the most difficult situations, facing multi-billion-dollar budget deficits. I am proud of Mike's work and his contribution to my administration, and I look forward to seeing the work he will do throughout his career."
Before joining the Wolf Administration, Mike Brunelle spent two years as the National Campaigns Director for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), where he led the organization's programs in 26 states.
Prior to working for SEIU in Washington, D.C., he spent nearly three years as the Executive Director of the Service Employees International Union Pennsylvania State Council, where he directed the planning and execution of Council issue and legislative programs and served as staff-level leadership.
Before coming to Pennsylvania, Mike worked on various candidate and issue-based campaigns in the Northeast, including the elections of Governor John H Lynch. He served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, was a state representative in the New Hampshire General Court, and also served as the Democratic Whip.
More on The PennZone
Elena Cross most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor.
Before joining the Wolf Administration, Elena Cross served on Governor-elect Tom Wolf's Transition Committee. Working with the Wolf campaign and other campaigns and stakeholders across the commonwealth, Cross was the Executive Director of Campaign for a Fresh Start in 2014.
Previously, Cross was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Before that, she held other roles at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and the House Democratic Campaign Committee. Cross began her political career working on campaigns in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Cross is from State College and attended Penn State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
She lives in Cumberland County with her husband Julius.
Today, the governor also announced that Jen Swails will step down as Budget Secretary to take a job with the private sector. Gregory Thall, Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary, will assume the role of Budget Secretary on July 31, 2021.
Jen Swails joined Governor Wolf's cabinet in January 2019 having over nearly 20 years of fiscal and policy experience at the commonwealth. Jen previously served the commonwealth in the Governor's Office of the Budget, the Department of Human Services and the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee.
More on The PennZone
Having started her commonwealth service as a budget analyst at the Loysville Youth Development Center and working her way up through the Department of Human Services, serving in multiple capacities before becoming Financial Management Director of the Agency.
Gregory Thall has spent more than a dozen years in various capacities working on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently as Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary, where he has served since December 2016.
Prior to his work in the Office of the Budget, he served as Deputy General Counsel in the Governor's Office of General Counsel and was Senior Transition Advisor to the Wolf Transition Team. He also held the position of Deputy Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus, under the Chairmanship of Senator Vincent Hughes.
Earlier in his career, Thall was the Assistant Director of Government Relations for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
Thall earned his Juris Doctor from the Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, PA, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He graduated from Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia.
He is also a PSIA level III ski instructor and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and their dogs.
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
"Mike Brunelle has led my administration through unprecedented times including the COVID-19 pandemic," said Gov. Wolf. "Mike negotiated major pieces of legislation including Act 77, which greatly expanded access to voting for Pennsylvanians. He worked across the aisle to negotiate budgets in the most difficult situations, facing multi-billion-dollar budget deficits. I am proud of Mike's work and his contribution to my administration, and I look forward to seeing the work he will do throughout his career."
Before joining the Wolf Administration, Mike Brunelle spent two years as the National Campaigns Director for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), where he led the organization's programs in 26 states.
Prior to working for SEIU in Washington, D.C., he spent nearly three years as the Executive Director of the Service Employees International Union Pennsylvania State Council, where he directed the planning and execution of Council issue and legislative programs and served as staff-level leadership.
Before coming to Pennsylvania, Mike worked on various candidate and issue-based campaigns in the Northeast, including the elections of Governor John H Lynch. He served as the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, was a state representative in the New Hampshire General Court, and also served as the Democratic Whip.
More on The PennZone
- Work 365 Deepens TD SYNNEX Integration with Automated Azure Billing
- Award-Winning Author's New Timely Book "Philly Girl" Highlights Centuries of Brave & Bold Women from Philadelphia
- RAS AP Consulting Signals Growth of Managed AP Governance With Digital Expansion, Pipeline Activation, and Trademark Filing Ahead of Esker All Access
- National Nonprofit Lights 200 Landmarks Pink and Blue for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
- Vegan Kingz Unveils Upgraded Digital Platform to Streamline Commercial Foodservice & Wholesale Ordering
Elena Cross most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor.
Before joining the Wolf Administration, Elena Cross served on Governor-elect Tom Wolf's Transition Committee. Working with the Wolf campaign and other campaigns and stakeholders across the commonwealth, Cross was the Executive Director of Campaign for a Fresh Start in 2014.
Previously, Cross was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Before that, she held other roles at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and the House Democratic Campaign Committee. Cross began her political career working on campaigns in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Cross is from State College and attended Penn State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
She lives in Cumberland County with her husband Julius.
Today, the governor also announced that Jen Swails will step down as Budget Secretary to take a job with the private sector. Gregory Thall, Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary, will assume the role of Budget Secretary on July 31, 2021.
Jen Swails joined Governor Wolf's cabinet in January 2019 having over nearly 20 years of fiscal and policy experience at the commonwealth. Jen previously served the commonwealth in the Governor's Office of the Budget, the Department of Human Services and the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee.
More on The PennZone
- Steve Thompson Launches StickyHealth to Tackle the Retention Gap in the Growing GLP 1 Market
- Qscription Technologies Appoints Dr. Kimberly Beavers as Founding Clinical Advisor
- When Hope Feels Gone, Death2life Is Still Here!
- Sebastian Stroeller Publishes "The MAP Language Canon" — The Complete Practitioner's Guide to Structural Conversation
- OneVizion Appoints Zebra Technologies CIO Matt Ausman to Board of Directors
Having started her commonwealth service as a budget analyst at the Loysville Youth Development Center and working her way up through the Department of Human Services, serving in multiple capacities before becoming Financial Management Director of the Agency.
Gregory Thall has spent more than a dozen years in various capacities working on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently as Special Advisor to the Budget Secretary, where he has served since December 2016.
Prior to his work in the Office of the Budget, he served as Deputy General Counsel in the Governor's Office of General Counsel and was Senior Transition Advisor to the Wolf Transition Team. He also held the position of Deputy Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus, under the Chairmanship of Senator Vincent Hughes.
Earlier in his career, Thall was the Assistant Director of Government Relations for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
Thall earned his Juris Doctor from the Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, PA, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. He graduated from Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia.
He is also a PSIA level III ski instructor and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and their dogs.
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
0 Comments
Latest on The PennZone
- 3ptechies Partners with Coolmuster to Give Away Data Recovery Software Licenses
- INAD Warriors' 4th Annual "Dancing with the INAD Stars" Gala
- DAZN Review 2026: Streaming Price Worth It?
- Michael Fischer, President and CEO of Client 1st Financial, Named to LVB 300
- Easwe Lightweight Electric Wheelchair Collection with Travel-Focused Mobility Solutions
- Dr. Pen Official Introduces Advanced Microneedling Technology for Precision Skincare at Home
- Bspin Launches Lightning-Fast Crypto Gaming Expansion With Sportsbook, Poker, VIP Rewards, and Bitcoin Lightning Network Integration
- From Temecula Wine Country to Canyon Lake: Parkway Construction Transforms Outdoor Spaces for Inland Homeowners
- Tim Tebow to Headline BSI CORE Annual Summit, Bringing Nearly 400 Business Leaders Together at Bethlehem's SteelStacks
- Pipeliners Tour Brings Appalachian Basin Rally to Western Pennsylvania
- Gigasoft 2026 JavaScript Chart Comparison: ProEssentials, Highcharts, SciChart, LightningChart, ECharts
- Experienced eXp Realty Agent Kerri Lawless Guides Buyers and Sellers Through Life's Next Chapters in St. Tammany Parish
- Supreme Garage Door Repair Redirects Marketing Dollars Into North Texas Communities
- RAS AP Consulting Spotlights Managed AP Governance™ at Esker All Access
- ANSI BSR Upholds Appeal of AFDE Member Andrew Sulner, MSFS, JD, finding the AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB) Violated ANSI Essential Requirements
- Prolific Press Publishes 100 Word Fiction Issue #1, the Journal's Debut Anthology
- 100 Word Fiction Releases Issue #2: Forty Stories, One Hundred Words Each
- Kentucky's Plane Crash Data Lands Far from the State's Busiest Airports
- StockResearch AI Initiates Coverage on Apple (AAPL) With New Report Examining Valuation, AI Strategy and Future Growth
- Netberg Announces the Aurora X2 Switch Series, Built on Xsight Labs' Programmable X2 Silicon