TLM Associates, LLC
Strategic Planning and Government Relations
ABOUT
TLM Associates is a full service strategic planning and government relations firm representing a broad range of individuals, companies and associations. Our focus is on getting critical access to key government decision makers that will produce measurable results. The firm works closely with New York City government but also represents clients before the State Legislature and State Executive Branch. We have developed relationships with senior decision-makers and elected officials through decades of combined experience both inside and outside government. Equally important, TLM Associates has a working knowledge of how, when and why government decision makers make policy choices. We also understand that success follows commitment and hard work. These principles drive each and every challenge undertaken on behalf of our client.
Thomas L. McMahon
President and Founder
Before founding TLM Associates in 2005, Thomas McMahon worked in senior positions in New York City government for twenty-five years. Most recently, he served as General Counsel to the New York City Council. Prior to that, (1999-2001) Mr. McMahon worked for the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce as their Senior Vice-President with responsibility for the business organization’s government affairs agenda in Washington, Albany and New York City. From 1989 through 1999, he worked at the New York City Council Finance Division, serving as Director of that office from 1994 to 1999. From 1985 to 1989 he worked in the Koch Administration’s Office of Legislative Affairs where he served as First Assistant Legislative Representative. He began his career as a staff person in the New York State Assembly.
Sharada Polavarapo
Vice President
Affordable Housing
Sharada Polavarapu is our Vice President for Affordable Housing at TLM Associates. She offers government relations services to clients in affordable housing policy and development. Starting in 2005, Sharada worked for then-NYC Council Member Bill de Blasio, managing the Council Member’s schedule and operations out of his city hall office. Sharada also served as the Council Member’s legislative director, taking on responsibilities in the areas of policy, legislation, land use, and budget.
From 2007 to 2011, Sharada worked as the political director at the NYC Central Labor Council (CLC), a membership organization that represents over 300 unions and 1.3 million workers in NYC. Sharada managed several electoral field programs, including the successful AFL-CIO member-to-member campaign to elect Michael McMahon to Congress in a highly competitive congressional district in 2008.
Maureen Frazier
Senior Associate
Maureen Frazier joined the TLM team in January 2020 and is responsible for monitoring New York legislation, legislative events and legislative reporting. She also handles all scheduling and coordinates and assists with client support and outreach. Maureen has worked in government affairs in similar capacities with JEM Associates in Albany since 2013 (to present). She started her professional life in 1996 with Schillinger Environmental Associates in Albany where she worked for fifteen years as a regulatory compliance consultant in the waste management and recycling industry. Maureen has a B.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University.
James E. McMahon
Partner
James “Cadillac” McMahon has lived and worked in Albany since 1989. He is a proud graduate of State University of New York at Oneonta, where he studied English Literature. He began his career in government as a staff member for Assemblyman Peter Abbate of Brooklyn and also served as a policy analyst to the Assembly Veterans Committee. James began his lobbying career in Albany in 1992, and has successfully built working relationships with the Office of the Governor, all executive agencies and both houses of the Legislature. He founded JEM Associates NY, LLC (2013-present), a government relations firm with offices in Albany and New York City.
Ian Riley
Lobbyist
Ian Riley has been at TLM Associates since 2008. During that period he has developed a comprehensive understanding of the NYC Council. Ian utilizes this expertise to help clients devise and execute strategies to achieve their budgetary and policy objectives. Ian possesses a thorough understanding of the City Council’s legislative, policy, and budgetary processes, as well as knowledge about the political dynamics of the NYC Council. Ian’s responsibilities include monitoring all city council legislation, hearings, budget deadlines, and press events, creating and implementing strategic plans on behalf of TLM’s clients, advancing TLM clients’ budget requests and legislative/policy agenda, and managing clients’ compliance with all NYC Clerk lobbying regulations.
Pablo Zangerle
Chief Financial Officer
Pablo Zangerle joined the team in November 2011. Before joining TLM Associates, he was the CFO for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Prior employment includes 18 years at the New York City Council Finance Division where he was a Deputy Finance Director and four years in the Mayor’s Office for Economic Development as a senior policy and legislative analyst.