Israel G. Torres
The Torres Consulting and Law Group (TCLG), is a law and public affairs consulting firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm focuses on its law and government relations practice, public relations, business development, and marketing. TCLG's professional staff has more than 40 years experience in these arenas and works with a broad group of other professionals—including land use planners, attorneys, organizers, and political/organizational management consultants—to create just the right team for any situation. This allows us to give our clients exactly what they need.
In September 2006, the firm's Managing Partner, Israel G. Torres won the Arizona Democratic Primary and was elected as the Democratic nominee for Arizona's second highest constitutional office--Arizona Secretary of State. Previously, he served on Governor Janet Napolitano’s Cabinet and as Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) from 2003 to 2006.
As the former regulatory authority of Arizona's construction industry, Torres reviewed or decided thousands of residential and commercial construction complaints. He won wide recognition as a fair and respected regulator. Further, he reformed the ROC's mission and brought innovative solutions to the state's 52,000 licensed residential and commercial contractors, while developing first-time consumer initiatives to protect homeowners and seniors statewide.
Through partnerships with neighborhoods, senior groups, industry associations and organized labor, Torres made unprecedented strides in consumer advocacy and protecting Arizona seniors and homeowners from construction fraud. He spearheaded major new efficiencies for Arizona’s construction industry, focusing on small business contractors and online services, and took an unparalleled aggressive stance on unlicensed contracting and the crimes against Arizonans that it precipitates.
His fairness and commitment to Arizona’s seniors was recognized by the Area Agency on Aging, which honored Torres with the 2005 Caring Spirit Award for Community Involvement for developing assistance and consumer protection programs for the elderly. Equally important, his efficiency at the ROC and tireless efforts to partner with contractors and industry groups earned him the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association’s prestigious designation two years in a row as the 2004 and 2005 Appointed Public Official of the Year. Additionally, The Business Journal Phoenix honored Torres as one of Phoenix’s “40 under 40” community leaders.
Torres' experience working with neighbors, developers, and contractors on contentious community issues is significant. He previously served as the Chief of Staff for a Phoenix City Councilman, managing an office staff for two successful elections and a district of 175,000 constituents.
Torres was President of the National Association of State Contractors’ Licensing Agencies from 2004 to 2006. He has served as Chairman of the Board for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class XXI. Torres has also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Maricopa Community College System and is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences nationwide.
Torres is a member of the Arizona Bar and is licensed to practice law in Arizona. He currently serves as a Zoning Adjustment Hearing Officer for the City of Phoenix and he has official mediation training from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law. His educational background includes a Juris Doctorate from the UNM School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University.
Marie Levie
Ms. Levie possesses the unique combination of formal education and experience in public sector administration, along with media and public relations, marketing and advertising. Through this experience, she translated public policies and services into informational campaigns targeting a variety of constituencies at the city, county and state levels. Ms. Levie has spent her public service career integrating the objectives of administrators and elected officials with the informational needs of constituents.
As assistant to the city manager/public information officer for the city of Longmont, Colorado, Ms. Levie developed English and Spanish public awareness print materials, television programming and speakers bureaus for public information campaigns including Census 2000 for Boulder County, Colorado, municipal election ballot issues and Year 2000 (Y2K) preparedness activities.
Ms. Levie served in multiple capacities in the city of Phoenix, working with individual departments – Street Transportation, Community and Economic Development, Development Services, Planning, Budget and Research, Housing and Personnel – to develop strategies and implement informational campaigns. Additionally, she served as public information officer for Phoenix’s eight city council members, producing television programs for PHX11, council district newsletters and district-specific public relations campaigns.
As assistant director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, Ms. Levie served as the agency’s communications director. Keeping pace with Arizona’s rapidly growing construction industry and related consumer issues, she developed comprehensive statewide public awareness campaigns that addressed consumer protection, contractor licensing and enhanced services provided by the agency.
In 2006, Ms. Levie was co-manager of the Israel Torres for Arizona Secretary of State campaign. As such, she oversaw the campaign’s communication activities, including media relations, electronic newsletters, radio advertising and the preparation of various printed collateral pieces.
Erin Barrett
Ms. Barrett has a variety of professional experience in the legislative and political arenas, and serves TCLG's government relations and legislative clients. She has worked on a variety of Arizona Corporation Commission, Arizona State Legislature and national political campaigns, as well as statewide ballot initiatives.
Additionally, Ms. Barrett has served as a political researcher and has produced campaign-related press materials and print collateral. She has been selected for numerous legislative workshops around the country, as well an ambassadorship to Japan for the Phoenix Sister Cities Program and a seat on the city of Phoenix 2005 Youth and Education Commission.
M. Philip Escolar
M. Philip Escolar serves as Associate Counsel to the Torres Law Group, PLLC, focusing on construction law, collections and business contract disputes. Mr. Escolar also possesses experience in general civil litigation, collections and appellate practice.
Mr. Escolar is licensed to practice law in Arizona, as well as the United State District Court in Arizona. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, where he also served a Post-Graduate Fellowship in Negotiations. Mr. Escolar served four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps and was a Reservist in the United States Army.
Brooke L. Findley
Brooke L. Findley serves as Associate Counsel to the Torres Law Group, PLLC, handling legal cases and disputes that involve construction defect, real estate, business contract disputes and collections. Ms. Findley also has worked in the areas of personal injury, business leases, business entities, probate, title insurance, property damage subrogation and domestic relations.
Ms. Findley is a member of the Arizona Bar and is licensed to practice law in Arizona. She earned her Juris Doctorate from The Thomas Jefferson School of Law, with a certificate in Law, Technology and Communication. Prior to this, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of California, San Diego.
Patricia E. Ingalls, APR
Pat Ingalls, public relations projects coordinator, brings to the firm 25 years of experience in communications. She has worked in Phoenix, Denver and Columbus, Ohio, for a variety of organizations, including businesses, government agencies and nonprofit groups involved in international manufacturing and distribution, as well as in the healthcare, transportation, education and utility industries.
Her areas of expertise include crisis communications, community relations, news-media relations, special events, publications management, marketing and employee communications.
A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Ms. Ingalls graduated from Metropolitan State University in Denver with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and business management. She is an accredited, award-winning member of Public Relations Society of America.
Maureen Koonsman
Maureen Koonsman, Paralegal for Torres Law Group, PLLC, and Office Administrator, brings years of legal support services experience to our team. Ms. Koonsman has served as a head paralegal and legal secretary in the areas of real estate, liquor licensing, and construction defect litigation. Through these endeavors, she worked closely with homeowners, subject matter experts, contractors and elected officials on behalf of clients.
Ms. Koonsman earned an Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies from the American Institute; a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Grand Canyon University; and, a Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
