Joe Ritchie joined the Professional Insurance Agents association in December 2025, as its government & industry affairs coordinator.
With a background spanning state government, nonprofit leadership, and corporate government relations, Joe has established himself as a trusted and effective voice on legislative and regulatory issues across New York state.
Joe is responsible for tracking legislation and regulations; helping manage the association's advocacy initiatives throughout the PIA's Northeast states; and drafting position statements and testimonies. He acts as a resource for members, responding to association members' questions; reporting on legislative and regulatory issues; and writing for association publications.
Before joining PIA, Joe served as the advocacy and policy coordinator for Riverkeeper, where he collaborated directly with municipal leaders, environmental organizations, and state agencies to advance clean-water protections throughout the Hudson Valley. He led complex policy research, coordinated multistakeholder coalitions, and developed detailed legislative and regulatory comment letters on issues ranging from harmful algal blooms to drinking-water infrastructure.
Joe spent time working in the New York State Assembly, where he served under former Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill, who long served as the Assembly Insurance Committee chairperson. He assisted with committee meeting preparation, legislative research, and constituent services, gaining deep insight into New York’s policymaking process and key regulatory issues that continue to inform his advocacy work today.
Joe graduated from Syracuse University, with dual bachelor of arts degrees in political science and in environmental policy, and he continues to be a devoted Syracuse football fan.
Active in his community, Joe is passionate about environmental protections relating to the Hudson River and illegal burning of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in an effort to protect his family and community.
