About us
Make your mark.
SALVO is a consulting firm. We specialize in identifying the right thing to say to the right people in order to achieve our clients' goals effectively and concisely. We help companies, nonprofits, and government entities find their voice on the local, state and federal levels of government.
Our practice takes a client-focused, value-based approach to solving problems. We tailor our messages to reach your target audience, and bolster that message with thorough research, supporting data, and multi-platformed advocacy.
Our philosophy is anchored by the notion that all politics is local. We ensure that our clients have sturdy roots in local government by cultivating lasting relationships with local leaders and stakeholders; and we facilitate brand awareness by telling your story to those leaders.
We apply that same theory to every level of government. Our communications strategies have also resulted in successful statewide and federal legislative initiatives, as well as statewide government procurement projects and public relations campaigns.
As a 100% woman-owned business entity, SALVO Strategies is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania-certified DBE.
What we do
Be a part of the conversation.
In the halls of local, state and federal offices across the Commonwealth and in the United States Capitol, knowing what to say is only half the battle; it's who you say it to. We are expert communicators and relationship managers who have cultivated a diverse network of leaders in the business, government, and political spheres. We align our network and knowledge base with your interests in order to bolster your presence in government.
SALVO offers full-scale, thorough representation on behalf of our clients, on every level of government. We serve as both their eyes and ears in the rooms where decisions are made, and their boots on the ground when a particular issue requires a solution. We produce succinct, streamlined materials and ensure that they make it to the desks of the stakeholders most important to our clients' issues. Our belief is that the best defense is a great offense - our clients remain on the offensive, proactively engaging our government, always working to improve the system for all of us.
You have a constitutional right to petition your government. Whether you are looking to do business with them, or you want to participate in the debate of a certain issue, our mission at SALVO is to assist you in the navigation through the arduous landscapes and confounding channels of government.
Our Team
Vanessa DeSalvo Getz
President
Vanessa is the Founder and President of SALVO Strategies and one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent political influencers.
Since 1992, Vanessa has been a fixture in the inner circles of some of the most powerful political, governmental, and business leaders. She is a connector and a master networker, bringing the right people together to make things happen. Over the past 30 years, she has been a sought-after strategist, information analyst, and event planner for campaigns ranging from school boards to the Supreme Court. A premier fundraiser, Vanessa has raised tens of millions of dollars for political candidates and charitable organizations nationwide.
Vanessa’s core competencies include public affairs, research, procurement, mergers and acquisitions, corporate protocol, and media. Her career began in the office of the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, followed by a role at a prominent Pennsylvania lobbying firm, before taking on senior campaign positions for Bob Casey, Jr. in multiple statewide races through his election to the U.S. Senate. After another stint in government relations, Vanessa founded SALVO in 2016 with a vision to create a boutique lobbying firm that delivers bespoke client service.
Throughout her career, Vanessa has advanced the interests of nonprofits and major corporations including Lloyd’s of London, Verizon, and Enterprise Mobility. She contributed to the development of Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as projects for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company and the City of Philadelphia. Most recently, she was instrumental in advancing the historic U.S. Steel–Nippon Steel partnership, educating stakeholders at every level of government and mobilizing grassroots support to help secure U.S. government approval. Rooted in her deep Mon Valley ties, she has made preserving steel jobs and strengthening the region’s industrial future a core mission.
Her meticulous approach to problem-solving has earned recognition across the Commonwealth as an elite professional consultant motivated by the desire to make a difference. She was named one of Pennsylvania’s top 24 “Most Politically Powerful Women,” received the Wilbur Samuel Jackman Alumni Award of Distinction from California University of Pennsylvania, and returned as the university’s 2016 Commencement keynote speaker. She co-chaired the Shapiro-Davis Inaugural Committee, served as a Governor’s Appointee Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA), and in 2023 was selected by City & State PA for their “Pittsburgh Power 100” list.
Politics was a family value instilled in Vanessa by her late father, Ron DeSalvo, a longtime Luzerne Township Supervisor and Roadmaster who played a key role in regional infrastructure projects. Numerous members of her family have held elected office and proudly served in public safety roles across southwestern Pennsylvania since the 1950s.
Born and raised in Fayette County, Vanessa held her first job at her aunt’s newsstand, where she developed her lifelong love of people and community. She resides in Southwestern Pennsylvania with her husband, Blake, and their two sons, Chase and Max. Away from her professional work, Vanessa enjoys Pilates, spa experiences, and time with her family. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Marketing from California University of Pennsylvania.
vanessa@salvostrategies.com
Marios Kritiotis
Director of Policy
Marios is a government relations specialist with over ten years of political and government relations experience. His ability to take complex policy perspectives and distill them into cogent, influential advocacy materials has earned him a reputation as an extremely effective communicator and strategist among local, state, and federal leaders in Pennsylvania.
Marios started his professional career on the 2008 Obama/Biden presidential campaign as a field operative, organizing volunteers and building coalitions with elected officials in western Pennsylvania. After securing an Election Day victory in each of his assigned precincts, he joined the lobbying firm Greenlee Partners in 2009. For five years, Marios successfully advanced the agendas of a broad portfolio of clients on every level of government. He was instrumental in the passage of House Bill 254 (2011), expanding Pennsylvania’s Automated Red Light Enforcement program; and he also successfully lobbied to protect and extend the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit. Representing the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Marios worked to influence critical votes during the tense debate over HB 1060 (2013), which injected billions of dollars into Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure.
When the opportunity to return to the political arena presented itself to Marios, he put his lobbying career on hold to manage gubernatorial and congressional campaigns in western Pennsylvania. He re-joined his mentor when she started SALVO Strategies in 2016, representing clients in the fire services, recycling, and development industries in the State Capitol. Marios is passionate about solving problems using creativity and research, and is known for creating sleek, multi-platform content for legislators, community leaders, and other project stakeholders. His record of cooperating with members and leaders from both major political parties allows him to appeal to legislators from a wide array of the political spectrum.
The son of a Cypriot immigrant who came to the United States to get an education after civil war and conflicts left few opportunities in his home country, Marios knows all too well the impact governments’ policies have on their citizens, and the importance of collaboration in public policy.
Marios lives in McCandless Township, Allegheny County, a short drive from where he grew up on Pittsburgh’s North Side, with his wife Julia, their daughter Stella, and their son Michael. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and guitarist.
He is a graduate of Slippery Rock University, where he majored in Political Science.
marios@salvostrategies.com
Jessica Vogliano, MPAP
Government Relations Specialist
As SALVO’s Government Relations specialist, Jessica troubleshoots client issues, manages data, and helps tailor our clients’ advocacy materials. A natural multitasker, Jessica is a youthful veteran of politics and government with a perfectly-balanced federal, state and local government skill set.
Jessica comes to SALVO from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where she had served in various capacities starting in 2021. She officially served on a number of political campaigns while completing her studies and interned on Capitol Hill for United States Congressman Gus Bilirakis. Her campaign, government and internship experience have resulted in Jessica being widely known as a bipartisan problem-solver and a prodigious networker. She joined SALVO in 2023, applying her laser-focus and superb research skills to clients across the business and public sectors.
Politics isn’t just a profession for Jessica; it’s a hobby and a passion. A successful run for class president for all four consecutive grades of high school sparked Jessica’s interest in campaigns. Her community-oriented approach to public policy has led her to numerous volunteer and public service opportunities, including the Carnegie-Collier Rotary Club; and as an elected member of the Carlynton School Board, where she was the highest vote-getter out of four candidates, the rest of whom were incumbents. She remains very involved in local politics and is in constant search of ways to give back to her community. In 2023, Jessica was a recipient of the Get Involved! Western PA Rising Star Award.
Jessica graduated – in three years – from American University in Washington, DC in 2021 with a degree in Political Science. She serves as a lector for St. Raphael the Archangel Parish. Jessica lives in Carnegie, PA with her dog, Tilly. She enjoys reading in her spare time, and is an avid swimmer and golfer.
Jessica@salvostrategies.com
Contact
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
phone
Vanessa: 724-880-3500
Marios: 412-720-5093
Jessica: 412-737-7025
vanessa@salvostrategies.com
marios@salvostrategies.com
jessica@salvostrategies.com
address
P.O. Box 22215
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
