Derris joins Optimus

Shane Derris, a former chief of staff to State Sen. Raymond Lesniak and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, will join Optimus Partners, a top New Jersey public affairs firm, as vice president.

Derris previously worked as director of business development at MWW, and held posts in the Corine administration and at the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.  Lesniak had served as chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee and Quijano chaired the Judiciary Committee ; Derris provided analytical and policy leadership to these panels.

Optimus is run by Phil Norcross and Jeff Michaels.  Karen Elkis and David Vitali are also part of the firm.