Our Team
Wallace B. Gernt. Jr., President
Mr. Gernt has provided effective government relations, lobbying, marketing, and business development services to clients throughout the region. He is a venerable fixture in the halls of Rhode Island government, having lobbied on behalf of an array of organizations throughout his career. He has served as a trusted advisor and confidant to governors, legislative leaders, members of the legislature, and state agency officials for decades, and his relationships and standing within state government circles is substantial. He began his career in Washington as a congressional aide and returned home to Rhode Island in the mid-1980s to work for Warwick Mayor Joseph W. Walsh and his subsequent campaign for Governor. He went on to serve as Chief of Staff for Warwick Mayor Francis X. Flaherty, managing the city’s $120 million budget and acting as the chief spokesperson and lobbyist. From there, Mr. Gernt entered the private sector founding his government relations firm and advancing the interests of clients throughout the region. He has lobbied successfully for millions of dollars in federal grant appropriations for community health center clients in Rhode Island, and has advanced the interests of clients in health care, higher education, public health, and the environment. He is most proud of his ongoing work to advocate to end homelessness in the state. Mr. Gernt is a former member of the Health Services Council of Rhode Island, the state’s regulatory body for health policy. He is a state committee member for the Rhode Island Democratic Party and serves as Chair of the Board of the Rhode Island Lobbyists Association. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from George Washington University.
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Chris Reilly, Vice President
Mr. Reilly joined the Bradford Group in 2002 following a ten year career in the health care industry. He previously directed public relations, development, and government relations at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket. At the Bradford Group, he has actively developed the firm’s public relations capabilities, serving client needs in the health care, finance, and higher education arenas. He has focused on government relations services for a broad range of clients, including hospitals, community health centers, student loan providers, and national advocacy groups. He has spearheaded brand positioning of numerous clients and serves as a spokesperson with media outlets. Mr. Reilly has also developed a practice assisting clients throughout the country responding to state-based requests for proposals for licensing opportunities. He has also written and helped implement business plans and overseen state regulatory compliance efforts for his clients. Mr. Reilly serves on the legislative advisory committee for the Hospital Association of RI. He is a past board member of the RI Better Business Bureau and the Northern RI Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
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