The 2026 Good Guy: Ed McGlynn
We are very excited to share that our Senior Counsel for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Edward (“Ed”) McGlynn, JD, is receiving a Good Guy award next week from the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey! The award recognizes men who actively support and advance women in public life.
Ed, a Kearny native, will be honored on March 12, 2026. Come out to celebrate Ed and grab your tickets here: https://wpcnj.org/events/save-the-date-2026-passion-power-progress-awards/
His Mother’s Influence
Although he grew up in a political family, his father, William, and brother, Richard, both served in politics and public service, it was his mom, Irene, who first shaped his understanding of leadership and civic responsibility. She made sure he participated in the electoral process from a very young age.
At a time when professional opportunities for women were far more limited, she still found ways to create, lead and leave her mark. “She was a tremendous decorator and artist,” said Ed, “She had a keen instinct for what was attractive and how homes should look. She bought many antiques and even refinished them herself. She also took up painting when she got older. Gorgeous painting and antiques still hang in my house.”
Advancing Representation
Throughout his career in public service, Ed consistently used his position to help open doors for women in government at a time when such advocacy was far from standard practice, guided in large part by former Governor Tom Kean’s leadership and priorities. That commitment was evident early in Governor Kean’s administration, including the historic 1982 appointment of Marie L. Garibaldi as the first woman to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
“Governor Tom Kean was ahead of his time and actively sought female appointments to his cabinet and judicial vacancies. After I became his Chief of Staff, we had many conversations about appointing as many qualified women as possible to boards and commissions, and we were successful in doing that,” explained Ed.
Following his time in government, Ed continued his career in law and public affairs, advising clients on complex legislative and regulatory matters. He later founded ERM Government Affairs, where he represented a broad range of organizations navigating issues across all levels of New Jersey government.
Ed eventually joined The Zita Group after a conversation with Trish Zita about bringing his practice into the firm, allowing him to better support his clients while serving as Senior Counsel to our team.
Fun fact: Ed holds the record for the second-longest tenure as New Jersey’s Chief of Staff.
Congratulations Ed!
“Ed is always a gentleman and a consummate professional. He is always respectful when speaking to anyone; and that is not something that is as common as it should be in the world of New Jersey politics and government. As chief of staff to Governor Tom Kean, he supported the hiring of women in key positions, something that was not common then. He is a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather always putting his family first. He is an exceptionally loyal person and has clients he has worked with for over 35 years.”
– Trish Zita, The Zita Group CEO
“It’s been a pleasure working alongside Ed McGlynn and this recognition is so well deserved. Ed’s knowledge of state government and the regulatory process is second to none. He and I recently worked closely on a challenging issue and in every setting, whether in high-pressure discussions or in our regular work together, he always demonstrated decency, kindness and respect for everyone. Ed also has a wonderful sense of humor, making him a joy to work with. He’s been such a strong supporter of women in leadership and it has meant a lot to many of us. I’m proud to call him both a colleague and a friend.”
–Beth Dohm,The Zita Group Executive VP.
The Future Is More Women in Leadership
According to Ed, “Although I am not a member of the party, I’m proud that New Jersey now has a Democratic female Governor.
I hope we see a woman president in the future. Women bring a different perspective to foreign affairs, and particularly to national affairs and I believe broader representation helps strengthen leadership overall.
In addition, the more women we have serving in the New Jersey Legislature, the better off we’ll be. Moving closer to 50% representation in both houses, across parties, would be a real step in the right direction.”
A Note From Ed
“I’m really honored for the opportunity to get this award,” Ed shared. “I want to thank the entire Women’s Political Caucus political organization for choosing me.”
About The Zita Group
The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.
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