What Makes Us PCA
Co-founders of Policy Consulting Associates, LLC., Jennifer Stephenson and Oxana Wolfson met at Pepperdine University where they earned their Master’s degrees in Public Policy and, after graduating, became colleagues at the same consulting firm. Working closely together, they recognized their shared vision for creating a consulting company focused on comprehensive public policy analysis that supports their clients’ needs in the most economic way while also advancing public welfare. This shared passion led to the launch of PCA in 2009.When the business opened, Wolfson and Stephenson already had extensive industry experience across several disciplines. In the years since, they have built an award-winning firm, setting the standard for best practices and strategies that are both efficient and effective. Every member of the team has boundless dedication to the highest work standards, a seamless relationship with the client and respect for the public interest. Always striving to produce the top-rated product in their field, they actively pursue continuing education and research opportunities to stay abreast of the topics and trends that inform their work, making the PCA team among the most talented in the industry, as many of their clients and colleagues attest.PCA has an evergrowing portfolio of over 500 projects covering a gamut of public services and initiatives in every corner of the state. Through decades of combined experience of the firm’s principles and staff, PCA established itself as a leader in providing consulting services to a multitude of local and regional governments in California within a wide range of policy areas. The team has a particular passion and trained skillset for performing high-level technical analyses, investigating controversial and politically-charged issues, and developing innovative solutions for public benefit. In addition, the team is active in promoting knowledge of local governance as well as raising awareness of the issues of primary concern for the public, not only within the State, but also internationally through classes, workshops and conferences. The firm has an unshakable commitment to public outreach, education and participation.
Why PCA
Prompt responses and after-hours client support
Innovative solutions to contentious issues
Emphasis on balancing stakeholder cooperation with minimal impact on agencies reviewed
Project completion upon full client satisfaction
Advanced degrees in public policy and economics
CALAFCO award-winner
CALAFCO University Instructors
Proven track record as the authors of more than 200 municipal service reviews
Meet The PCA Team
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Jennifer is a co-founder and principal of PCA where she is responsible for the overall direction of the projects, regional and municipal research analysis, and financial analysis. Her technical expertise includes benchmarking, performance evaluation, municipal budgeting, survey design, statistics, and economic modeling. She has also co-authored incorporation studies, annexation studies, and infrastructure needs assessments.
Prior to establishing PCA, Jennifer was a research associate with Burr Consulting where she conducted performance evaluation studies of fire, water, and wastewater providers in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, and Yuba counties. She has analyzed transportation, air quality, water quality, open space, and park infrastructure needs in the 187-city Southern California region.
Moreover, Jennifer has served as an education analyst in the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office and a statistical analyst at the UCLA Research Center.
Jennifer earned her Master’s degree in Public Policy from Pepperdine University where she was a Frostmann Scholar.
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Oxana is a co-founder and the lead policy analyst and senior planner for PCA. She specializes in benchmarking studies, economic and growth analysis, and data collection coordination. Oxana also has technical expertise in data discovery, regulatory agency research, and the review of agency documents.
Prior to forming PCA, Oxana authored municipal service reviews on solid waste and park and cemetery service levels. She has co-authored a service evaluation and infrastructure needs assessment on emergency services as well; a project that covered the entirety of Southern California, for the Southern California Association of Governments.
Additionally, Oxana served as the Executive Director of a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization and as a policy consultant for the Civil Society team at the World Bank.
Oxana earned her Master’s degree in Public Policy from Pepperdine University where she was a Forstmann Scholar. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Nebraska.
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Jill Hetland, a University of Iowa graduate, joined PCA in its tenth year. The team immediately capitalized on her expertise in communications, media, and marketing by having her usher in a rebrand for the firm.
Since then, Jill's contributions to PCA have also included co-authoring municipal service reviews, project management, data collection and research, and the maintenance of the firm's online presence.
Before joining PCA, Jill was a senior content strategist at a Google-certified, five-star rated digital marketing firm. Prior to that, she served as a writer, editor, and social media marketer for a New York Times bestselling author. Jill has refined her investigative and analytical skills as well by conducting research and managing public records requests for one of the largest private archives in the nation.
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Melat is a Policy Analyst at PCA. Her technical expertise includes research, data analysis, writing, and administrative support.
Prior to joining PCA, Melat was a Public Affairs Fellow at Open Door Legal, a San Francisco-based nonprofit promoting universal access to civil legal representation, where she supported the organization’s advocacy efforts for continuation of funding from the Mayor's office. She also assisted the Director of Development and Communications and the Executive Director with tracking political news and keeping abreast of the changing policy landscape in San Francisco and California to be up to date on policies, rules, and regulations relevant to the organization and its clients.
Additionally, Melat has diverse background working in various sectors including as an by external affairs intern at the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom and as a Strategic Planning Intern at Second Harvest Heartland.
Melat earned her Master’s degree in Public Administration from San Francisco State University and received her B.A. in Economics from Minnesota State University, Moorhead.
The team at PCA would be privileged to earn your trust and collaborate with you on your next project.
Contact us today to get started.