Staff Leadership

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Matt Massman, Executive Director
email 763-458-1681 (cell) 651-222-8737 (office)

Matt joined MICA as its Executive Director in 2019. 

Prior to joining MICA, he served as Commissioner of Administration for Governor Mark Dayton. Matt has nearly three decades of public policy and political experience including Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Mark Dayton, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for Tax Policy at the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Chief Fiscal Analyst for the Minnesota Senate, and Fiscal Analyst for the Minnesota House. His early public service career included work as a program analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Auditor, as a policy aide for the Office of the Chancellor at UW-Madison, and a legislative aide to Congressman Tim Penny (MN-01).

Matt is a graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and holds Masters’ degree in Public Policy from the LaFollette Institute at UW-Madison.

 

 

Legislative Team

Matt Massman, Executive Director

Contact Matt regarding general association matters, as well as for policy issues related to state budget and finance, state tax policies impacting counties, property taxes, transportation taxes, environment, and general government issues. 


Nancy Silesky, Health & Human Services Liaison

email 612-747-7242 (cell) 612-291-1900 (office)

Nancy is the human services and public health liaison for MICA, which often involves matters within the purview of the state Department of Human Services and Department of Health, as well as related issues in the areas of housing, child protection and courts. In this role she covers all related budget and policy issues.

Nancy is a lobbyist and is President of Summit Government Affairs Consulting. She has been practicing for over thirty years in various areas of advocacy on health and human services.  She provides MICA direct client representation, legislative analysis, and project coordination and management.

 

Amber Backhaus, Transportation Liaison

email 

Amber is the transportation liaison for MICA, which includes budget and policy issues around roads and bridges, land use and right of way, transportation-related bonding, taxes and fees, and related water and wetland issues. 

Amber Backhaus joined United Strategies in November 2023 as the Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs and brings nearly three decades of Capitol experience on transportation issues to the firm. Before joining United Strategies, Amber served a decade as Vice President of Public Affairs for the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association (MADA), where she successfully passed numerous pieces of legislation on behalf of the industry. Amber’s credibility and grasp of the issues earned her appointments on administrative and legislative task forces, including the Governor’s Connected and Automated Vehicle Advisory Council and the Vehicle Registration Task Force.

 

Rachel Sosnowchik, Environment Liaison

email 402-651-0238 (cell)

Rachel and her Goff Public colleague Pierre Willette are the MICA liaisons for environment policy. This portfolio includes issues such as waste management (including recycling, waste to energy, wood waste), invasive species, and groundwater issues.
 
Through years in the nonprofit world, Rachel is no stranger to navigating finance and policy complexities. As a lobbyist, Rachel brings a broad range of expertise to the team — including developing legislative strategy, planning listening sessions and events with lawmakers, managing coalitions, crafting effective messaging, and of course, developing meaningful relationships with lawmakers. Rachel places a high value on being a subject matter expert on the issues she’s championing, lending her curiosity and intellect to all Goff Public clients.


Pierre Willette, Environment Liaison

email 612-578-7684 (cell) 651-717-4168 (office)

Pierre and his Goff Public colleague Rachel are the MICA liaisons for environment policy. This portfolio includes issues such as waste management (including recycling, waste to energy, wood waste), invasive species, and groundwater issues.
 
Recognized for his expertise in the areas of local government, regulatory and tax issues, Pierre builds on 25 years of experience navigating some of Minnesota’s most complex governmental and political environments to deliver reliable results for Goff Public’s clients at the Capitol. Fiercely loyal and dedicated to his clients, Pierre’s approach is founded on a thorough understanding of client issues.