Empire Strategic Planning

What Empire Strategic Planning does

Empire Strategic Planning (ESP) is a privately held, boutique government affairs and lobbying firm headquartered at 111 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York. Founded in 2007 by Nick Spano, a former New York State Senator with a 28-year legislative career, the firm provides three integrated consulting services: Government Relations and Legislative Advocacy, Public Affairs, and Business Development. The firm's service model is relationship-driven and entirely principal-led, with all client engagements managed directly by Nick Spano (President), Maureen Kronau (Albany-based, 20+ years of NY State Senate senior staff experience), and John Spano (former Acting Commissioner of the NY State Department of General Services). Collectively, the three principals bring over 80 years of direct government relations experience.

ESP serves a diverse client base across healthcare providers, educational institutions, real estate developers, nonprofits and trade associations, governmental entities, energy companies, and construction firms in New York State. Notable named clients include the Greater New York Hospital Association, St. Joseph's Hospital, the Cappelli Organization, the Town of Ramapo, Abilities First, and Verde Electric. The firm generates revenue through professional services fees, primarily retainer arrangements and project-based engagements, with pricing tailored to each client's scope and not publicly disclosed. ESP does not employ a technology platform; all service delivery occurs through direct principal-to-client and principal-to-government relationships.

The firm's business development is driven by reputation, principals' personal government networks, and referrals rather than paid marketing channels. The firm maintains a website with a news section highlighting case studies and principal media coverage. ESP positions itself as bi-partisan and emphasizes measurable results and individual client attention as core differentiators. The firm operates exclusively within New York State, with no evidence of geographic expansion, external funding, or M&A activity across its 19-year operating history.

Name

Empire Strategic Planning

Legal name

Empire Strategic Planning

Website

https://empireplanning.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Empire Strategic Planning is a privately held boutique government affairs and lobbying firm in Albany, NY, providing legislative advocacy, public affairs, and business development services to healthcare, education, real estate, nonprofit, and government clients across New York State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Affairs Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Government affairs consulting
• Legislative advocacy services
• Public affairs consulting
• Lobbying services
• Business development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Affairs Consulting Services: ESP generates revenue through professional consulting fees for government relations, legislative advocacy, public affairs, and business development services. Revenue is derived from retainer arrangements and project-based engagements with clients ranging from small businesses to large corporations, non-profits, governmental entities, and educational institutions. As a lobbying firm, revenue comes from representing client interests before state and local government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Empire Strategic Planning is a full-service, bipartisan government affairs consulting firm that provides legislative advocacy, public affairs, and business development services to clients across New York State. The firm helps clients develop and implement action plans for influencing state and local legislation, navigating regulatory agencies, obtaining government funding and appropriations, managing media and public affairs, and facilitating procurement and business-to-business introductions in both public and private sectors. Services are delivered as retainer or project-based engagements by the firm's three principals.

Product overview

Empire Strategic Planning (ESP) is a full-service, bi-partisan government affairs consulting firm offering three core services: Government Relations and Legislative Advocacy, Public Affairs, and Business Development. These services are provided as integrated consulting offerings rather than software products or technology platforms. The firm specializes in helping clients navigate state and local government processes, regulatory agencies, and the legislative process in New York State.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Relations and Legislative Advocacy Government affairs consulting service that develops and implements action plans to meet organizational needs, including legislative tracking, policy analysis, and direct engagement with state and local government decision-makers. Targeted at businesses, healthcare providers, educational institutions, nonprofits, trade associations, and governmental entities operating in New York State.
• Public Affairs Public affairs strategy and execution, including grassroots community organization interface, media and press relations, crisis management, and long-term media strategy across various platforms. Offered to clients who need to shape public opinion, manage reputational issues, or coordinate messaging alongside legislative and regulatory advocacy.
• Business Development Business development assistance in both public and private sectors, including public sector procurement facilitation, communication with decision-makers, and private sector business-to-business introductions. Designed to help clients identify and win opportunities with government entities and other private-sector counterparties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multi-million capital appropriation obtained for major downstate educational institution
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Ostroff Associates: Albany-based government and public affairs firm with deep state-level relationships. Comparable boutique NY lobbying firm serving similar client verticals.
• Bolton-St. Johns: Albany-based bipartisan government relations and lobbying firm serving healthcare, education, and corporate clients in New York State. Closely comparable to ESP in geography, client verticals, and relationship-driven delivery model.
• Kasirer Consulting: NYC-based government relations and strategic consulting firm serving real estate, healthcare, and technology clients. Comparable in offering integrated advocacy, procurement, and business development services.
• Brown & Weinraub Advisors: Albany-based government relations firm offering legislative advocacy, procurement, and media services to corporate, nonprofit, and government clients. Mirrors ESP's Albany focus and full-service government affairs model.
• Hinman Straub: Albany-based lobbying and government law firm serving healthcare, insurance, and education clients in New York. Comparable to ESP in vertical specialization and state capital proximity.
• Capalino + Company: New York-based government and public affairs firm serving corporations, nonprofits, and real estate developers. Comparable in targeting similar client mix in NY, with adjacent city-level government focus.
• Park Strategies LLC: Albany-based bipartisan government affairs and lobbying firm offering legislative, procurement, and public affairs services. Comparable boutique NY government relations firm.

Regional players

• Ridgway Wright LLC: Albany-based government relations and strategic consulting firm focused on procurement and legislative advocacy in New York. Comparable boutique NY firm with related service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Dentons (Public Policy and Government Affairs): Global law firm with a substantial public policy and government affairs practice including New York. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering overlapping services with ESP.
• Greenberg Traurig (Government Law & Policy): Large international law firm with a substantial government law and lobbying practice operating in New York and across other states. Comparable as a player in the same advocacy space but with vastly broader scale and service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Strategic Planning