Senior Staff
Hayden Rigo
Chief of Staff
Hayden Rigo serves as Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor, bringing nearly a decade of experience in state and local government, advocacy, and public administration.
In this role, Hayden provides strategic counsel to the Auditor General on departmental priorities and operations. He oversees legislative relations, communications, and administrative functions, while advancing initiatives that promote fiscal oversight and government accountability.
Hayden has represented Auditor General DeFoor on the Delaware River Port Authority and the New York-Pennsylvania Joint Interstate Bridge Commission, contributing to regional infrastructure and transportation policy.
Before joining the department, Hayden provided government relations and consulting services for Greenlee Partners, LLC, and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.
Hayden earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and a Master of Public Administration from Shippensburg University, where he was an offensive lineman for the Red Raiders football team. He also holds a certificate in grant writing from Temple University.
Originally from Somerset County, Hayden now lives in Mechanicsburg with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter.
John Hershey
Deputy Chief of Staff
John Hershey serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the department. John is instrumental in developing internal and external initiatives, as well as providing strategic input on issues impacting the department. He is involved in legislative, legal, and day-to-day operations within the department. He started with the department in 2022 as the Legislative Director.
John began his career working for a non-profit organization in East Africa. He later went on to serve as a legislative aide to a member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, where he covered issues related to agriculture, small business, and foreign aid. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018, representing Juniata and parts of Mifflin and Franklin Counties. While a member of the House, John leveraged his agricultural and small business background to champion issues important to rural Pennsylvanians.
John holds a bachelor’s in Economics and Politics (International Relations concentration) from Messiah University and a J.D. from Widener University Commonwealth Law School, where he holds certificates in Administrative Law, Government Contracting, and Business Advising. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
John lives in Juniata County with his family.
John Hershey LinkedIn
Michael A. Richart
Deputy Auditor General for Administration
Mike Richart serves as the Deputy Auditor General for Administration. In this capacity, Mike provides strategic support for the administrative functions of the Auditor General including information technology, human resources, and budget management. Mike has 26 years of Commonwealth experience working in the Departments of Labor & Industry, Conservation and Natural Resources, Transportation, and General Services, where he served as the Chief Procurement Officer of the Commonwealth and later as the Deputy Secretary for Procurement.
Mike most recently served as the Director of the Bureau of Planning and Management in the Office of the Budget, Comptroller Operations. In this capacity, he managed the administrative back-office functions of the 400-person office, including human resources, policy development, information technology, and workforce development.
Mike has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Shippensburg University and certified by the Institute for Supply Management as a Certified Purchasing Manager.
Janet B. Ciccocioppo, CPA
Deputy Auditor General for Audits
Janet Ciccocioppo serves as a Deputy Auditor General for Audits. In this capacity, Janet assists in overseeing eight audit bureaus, which complete approximately 4,000 audits annually. These audits include financial audits, performance audits, and attestation engagements. After performing accounting functions for a few years in the private sector, Janet began her career with the department as an entry level auditor in 1989. Much of her career with the department has been overseeing, managing, and conducting performance audits, but she has also conducted financial audits. Janet served as the Director of the Bureau of State and Federal Audits for three years, where she directed, jointly with an independent CPA firm, the conduct of the annual financial audit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Annual Comprehensive Financial Report) and the annual Single Audit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In that capacity, Janet also oversaw the department’s corporation tax activities as well as other financial audits. Janet also served as the Director of the Bureau of Performance Audits for three years. During that tenure, the bureau completed more than 25 performance audits.
Janet has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with proficiency in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University. She earned her CPA in 1991. Janet is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and now lives in Dauphin County with her husband Martin. She has five daughters.
Janet B. Ciccocioppo LinkedIn
Gordon R. Denlinger, CPA
Deputy Auditor General for Audits
Gordon Denlinger serves as Deputy Auditor General for Audits. In this role, Gordon provides managerial and professional direction over the audit bureaus that fulfill the statutory obligations of the Department of the Auditor General.
As a CPA of over 30 years, Gordon brings a solid background of accounting, auditing, and financial management experience to his role. For over eleven years, he served as Assistant Controller of the Graco Children’s Products division of Newell Rubbermaid. Gordon then served as Controller for The Sharp Shopper, a regional, family-owned grocery store chain. From 2003 through 2014, Gordon served as State Representative for the 99th State House District in eastern Lancaster County. Following his time in office, Gordon initiated and led a bank startup effort, serving as founder and Chairman of Hamilton Bancorp into 2017. Most recently, he served as Pennsylvania State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
Gordon earned a B.S. in Accounting and a minor in English at Bob Jones University in 1985. He and his wife, Carolyn, are the proud parents of four adult children. Gordon is active in the leadership of his church, and serves on a number of non-profit volunteer boards. He and his wife reside in eastern Lancaster County.
Gordon R. Denlinger LinkedIn
F. Stephenson Matthes
Chief Counsel
Chief Counsel Steve Matthes has served the department as Chief Counsel since January, 2018. Prior to this appointment, Steve was a Deputy Chief Counsel with the Department of the Auditor General from 2005 through 2017, where he arrived after thirteen years in the private practice of law. In addition to his duties as Chief Counsel, Steve provides counsel to the Bureau of Human Resources as well as to the bureaus of Municipal Pensions and Volunteer Fire Relief Association Audits. Steve handles internal and external litigation matters, conducts various department training sessions, and is the Open Records Officer for the department.
Before his tenure with the department, Steve worked for Tucker Arensberg, PC (1999-2005) in their banking/finance and litigation departments. Steve also routinely handled labor and employment law and bankruptcy matters, and was a registered lobbyist representing health care clients (Physical Therapists) and Special Courts (AOPC). While at Tucker Arensberg, Steve served as counsel to the Prevailing Wage Appeals Board (Labor & Industry).
Prior to Tucker Arensberg, Steve was an attorney with McNees, Wallace, and Nurick, Harrisburg’s largest law firm from 1996-1999 in their banking and finance department. While at McNees, Steve routinely handled labor law and litigation matters. Steve began his legal career at Wolfson & Kahan, PC, in York, PA, where he focused on litigation and labor/employment law matters.
Steve earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, PA in 1992 and is a 1988 graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
F. Stephenson Matthes LinkedIn
Courtney Brodbeck
Director of the Office of Human Resources and Budget & Financial Management
Courtney Brodbeck is the Director of the Office of Human Resources and Budget & Financial Management, where she supports the department by leading training, workforce development, human resources functions, labor relations, and the budget team. Since joining the department in 2022, she has held multiple roles within the Department of Human Resources, bringing ability and passion to her position.
Before joining the Commonwealth in 2019, Courtney spent nearly 20 years in the private sector, specializing in training, recruiting, workforce development, operations, and human resources across various companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from York College and an MBA from the University of Phoenix, along with certifications in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Courtney Brodbeck LinkedIn
April L. Hutcheson
Director of Communications
April Hutcheson is the Director of Communications for the Office of the Auditor General. She is an experienced media relations expert with more than two decades of professional work in crisis communications and public relations.
Most recently, April served as the Director of Communications at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, overseeing all external communications, serving as the lead for the Opioid Command Center and the COVID-19 response. She has worked on high profile issues like the implementation of the medical marijuana program and served as the department spokesperson.
April has served Pennsylvania governors Ridge, Schweiker, Rendell, and Wolf in communications roles. She also served in the private sector providing public relations, association management, strategic planning, and organizational support for non-profit organizations, public relations firms, and marketing companies nationally and internationally.
April is a recipient of a Pennsylvania Excellence in Technology Award for her work as part of the Opioid Data Dashboard Team. She was named to the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40 list. April has been recognized for her work by the International Association of Business Communicators and the Religious Public Relations Council of America.
A Philadelphia native, April holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s in Journalism from Temple University.
April L. Hutcheson LinkedIn
Gabrielle Ernst
Deputy Communications Director
Gabrielle Ernst is the Deputy Director of Communications for the department. She is a skilled communicator with nearly a decade of experience in marketing and public relations. In her role, Gabrielle oversees the ‘Be Money Smart’ financial literacy initiative as well as other public outreach and educational events.
Most recently, Gabrielle served as the Deputy Director of Communications at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, managing marketing campaigns on various public health topics such Lyme disease, opioids, immunizations, antibiotic awareness, vaping and e-cigarettes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She assisted in the communication of high-profile issues such as the implementation of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania and the distribution of naloxone, and evaluated all promotional materials distributed on behalf of the department. Prior to serving as Deputy Director of Communications at Health, Gabrielle started her career as Press Assistant, where she assisted with the day-to-day operations in Communications Office.
Gabrielle is a proud alumna of Penn State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, minors in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Sociology, and a certificate in Sports Journalism from the John Curley Center.
Gabrielle Ernst LinkedIn
Brian Lemelle, Jr.
Legislative Director
Brian Lemelle, Jr. serves as the Legislative Director for the department. In this role, Brian leads the Legislative team and serves as the liaison between the department and the members of the General Assembly.
Brian joined the department in 2021 as a communications specialist, working to help Pennsylvanians get a better understanding of the auditing process. Prior to that, he served as Chief Courtroom Clerk/Crier for a Dauphin County judge. Born and raised in Harrisburg, Brian holds a bachelor’s in applied science in communications from the University of Connecticut.
Brian Lemelle Jr. LinkedIn
Alex Simmons
Assistant Legislative Director
Alex Simmons serves as the Assistant Legislative Director for the department, supporting the Legislative Director and acting as the liaison between the department and the members of the General Assembly.
Alex joined the department in 2024 as Special Assistant to the Auditor General, where he supported statewide initiatives and coordinated legislative efforts. Prior to that, Alex managed Auditor General Tim DeFoor’s reelection campaign and gained legislative experience at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Greenlee Partners, LLC.
Raised in Harrisburg, Alex graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.