Former director of government relations at natural gas producer CNX, Smith brings strong background in legislative and regulatory strategy, particularly in key Midwest and upper Appalachian regions.
Pittsburgh (March 9, 2026) – McGuireWoods Consulting announced that Zach Smith, a former government and external affairs executive for Pennsylvania-based energy companies, has joined the firm’s Virginia state government relations team as a senior vice president. He is based in Pittsburgh.
Smith brings extensive experience managing federal, state and local government affairs and lobbying initiatives, along with handling comprehensive legislative and regulatory strategies. He previously served as director of government relations for CNX Resources, a natural gas company based in Canonsburg, PA, and before that was Manager of External Affairs at CONSOL Energy, also in Canonsburg.
At CNX, Smith’s responsibilities included political outreach and communication with multiple state and federal agencies, including the US Congress and Department of Energy, as well as ensuring that CNX’s priorities were addressed through legislation in key energy states across the upper Ohio River Valley. At CONSOL, he served as company spokesperson and led public relations, communications and government affairs efforts for a NYSE-traded company.
“Zach brings a formidable mix of hands-on legislative, regulatory and communications experience and is steeped in the needs of the energy industry for handling the most challenging government relations matters,” said Mark Bowles, the chairman of McGuireWoods Consulting. “It’s especially exciting that Zach brings our firm reach, contacts and experience into new markets like Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio that will be extremely beneficial to our clients.”
At CNX, Smith worked collaboratively with industry trade associations and contract lobbyists in developing and advancing legislative agendas, while coordinating government affairs initiatives across multiple levels. He also oversaw PAC strategy and political outreach for the energy company, with particular focus on Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
“I’m excited to join McGuireWoods Consulting, which has one of the most distinguished government affairs platforms in the country, at the state, federal and local levels,” Smith said. “It will be an honor to work with the firm’s many clients in helping devise and execute robust strategies in support of their government and political needs across the commonwealth and beyond.”
Smith is active on important Pennsylvania state energy and environmental advisory bodies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Climate Change Advisory Committee and was an appointee to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Working Group. He was named to the government relations esteemed Power 100 list in 2023.
Earlier in his career, Smith worked at Greenlee Partners, a premier bipartisan lobbying firm, based in Harrisburg. As an associate advisor, he managed the Western Pennsylvania office for Greenlee, supporting clients on local and state government issues.
“Zach’s understanding and familiarity of government at all levels will be of immense value to our clients as they navigate complex and changing relationships within and between the public and private sectors,” said McGuireWoods Consulting president and former Gov. Jim Hodges. “He brings new depth to our team, with strong experience in the energy sector. He also adds new capabilities to serve our clients in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.”
Smith graduated magna cum laude from The Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012.
