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Anne Hilton

Account Supervisor

Anne brings more than 10 years of experience in global education, education advocacy, and nonprofit marketing and communications to GMMB. She believes that finding—and telling—the right stories drives powerful social change, and she has a knack for helping organizations frame their work in compelling and engaging ways and developing communications and content with the user’s experience in mind.

Prior to joining GMMB in 2018, Anne oversaw marketing and communications for Asia Society’s Center for Global Education, which included directing and executing the digital communications strategy for the Center’s official launch, redesigning the website, and overhauling social media and email marketing to improve branding, visual design, and accessibility. Previously, she worked at the League of Education Voters and at the University of Washington in Seattle. She also speaks Korean and German and spent three years in Korea through a Fulbright teaching grant. In her volunteer work, Anne uses her communications skills to support criminal justice reform and reproductive healthcare. And in her free time, Anne is a letterpress printer, going old school in her communications and helping students learn the analog way of putting word to paper, letter by letter.

Alison Kruzel

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / US Healthcare

Alison is a communications strategist, campaign manager and partnership builder who revels in the challenge of distilling complex health issues into easy-to-understand concepts and messages. For more than a decade, Alison has worked with some of the nation’s leading foundations, non-profits, associations, and state agencies to help change behaviors and improve lives.

From her work with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help states implement coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act and uncover motivations and barriers among the uninsured and newly enrolled, to her work with Missouri Foundation for Health to help communities increase access to healthy foods and physical activities to address childhood obesity, Alison provides strategic counsel to clients looking to increase access to healthcare and improve the health of our nation.

Chloe Sikora

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Corporate Social Impact

Chloe came to GMMB with experience in research, design, and content creation. She applies her communication and writing expertise to provide account support to her clients, including Corporation for National and Community Service and Albertsons Companies Foundation. Previously, she served as a graphic design fellow for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.

Growing up in a military home, Chloe was raised to value diversity, responsibility, and hard work. Her background has shaped her to be a natural adapter to new environments and a trusted relationship builder.

Michelle Austin

Senior Vice President / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications / Education

Michelle digs in and dives deep on complex issues and campaigns. With more than 15 years of experience, she revels in working on behalf of clients that tap into her inner education wonk, passion for storytelling and appreciation of smart strategy. She supported the move to consistent academic standards and improved assessments and created brand identities and suites of materials for a range of clients. Michelle is proud to have worked on behalf the Council of Chief State School Officers, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, National Council of La Raza, College of the Holy Cross, Teach For America and others.

Before joining GMMB, Michelle provided public and government relations services for nonprofit education and social policy organizations with a strong emphasis in secondary education. Michelle has her roots in New Mexico, where she grew up and worked for former Senator Jeff Bingaman.

Alyson McColl

Senior Vice President & Managing Director / Issue Communications / Global Health

A senior leader of GMMB’s global health practice, Alyson has 20 years of experience in strategic communications, issue-based advocacy and social marketing, with expertise in strategy development and campaign management. A strategic, forward-thinking consultant, Alyson has executed advocacy and communications campaigns on a broad range of issues including the environment, health and public safety, and global health and development.

Alyson tackles large-scale initiatives that are ambitious in scope, particularly in the areas of maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition and malaria. Whether successfully advocating for longer paid maternity leave in Viet Nam or elevating the issue of early child nutrition on the global agenda, Alyson creates on point, evidence-based strategies that connect the dots between what motivates opinion leaders to act and the positive change we seek to achieve.

Samara Yudof Jones

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Education

Samara brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic communications, national earned media strategies and implementation, crisis communications, public relations and education policy. She works with a variety of education clients, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Get Schooled Foundation, providing strategic and advocacy communications and media expertise. Samara enjoys working across a number of topics, including effective teaching, public charter schools, Common Core State Standards, teacher collaboration, student and parent tools, personalizing learning and education technology.

Prior to joining GMMB, Samara worked for seven years at the U.S. Department of Education, most recently serving as press secretary to Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. In this role, Samara was the primary on-the-record spokesperson for the Secretary and all matters involving the Department, including K-12, higher education and other issues that had national policy and political implications and drew daily attention from national, trade and regional media outlets. She also served at USA Freedom Corps at the White House, leveraging communications and outreach strategies to encourage an increased culture of volunteer service among Americans.

Samara sits on the boards of Harmony DC Public Charter School and the DC alumni chapter of her alma mater, Southern Methodist University.

Kaia Lenhart

Partner / Issue Communications / Global Health / Social Justice

Kaia is an expert in comprehensive communications and advocacy strategies who leads the firm’s global health and development portfolio, focusing on maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition and disease prevention.

She has managed in-country issue campaigns with local governments and partners, and developed U.S. and international media and advocacy strategies for some of the world’s most high-profile clients. Kaia’s secret sauce — individually designed campaigns that are culturally fluent and combine wide-ranging tactics to engage decision-makers, raise awareness and visibility, and move policy forward.

Kaia has directed award-winning issue and brand campaigns to advance causes ranging from reproductive health to maternal and child nutrition in countries as diverse as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Israel and Viet Nam. She serves as senior strategic advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, Johns Hopkins University, the World Bank, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, among others.

Megan Sather

Senior Vice President, Managing Director / Issue Communications / Education / Social Justice

Megan works with a diverse array of organizations that share a common goal: improving conditions for people living in poverty. She takes on some of the toughest local and global challenges, leading campaigns on advancing scientific breakthroughs, increasing access to health technologies, improving education outcomes, and reducing family homelessness.

A seasoned strategist, Megan’s career spans more than two decades in electoral politics, communications, and advocacy. On behalf of leaders in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, Megan has designed strategies to change attitudes, inspire action, and shape public policy. Her clients have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, The Lancet, the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth, and the Washington State Charter Schools Association.

Jodi Quintero

Vice President / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Jodi Quintero is a Vice President at GMMB, serving on the firm’s healthcare and political teams.  For the past two decades, Jodi has led political and policy communications efforts for state government officials, political candidates, progressive organizations and the U.S. military. From Maine state politics to the frontlines in Afghanistan, she’s helped shape and guide communications strategies on the most pressing issues of the day.  At GMMB, she specializes in developing and executing integrated communications campaigns for candidates up and down the ballot, political action committees as well as leading progressive advocacy groups. She’s an award-winning ad maker. In 2018, her TV and digital ads helped flip the U.S. House from red to blue, winning in some of the toughest districts on the map. She’s helped Democratic candidates at all levels of the ballot tell their story through earned, paid and owned communications.  Jodi resides in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, two pups and the family tortoise, Luke Slow-Walker. She’s a New Yorker by birth and a Mainer at heart.

Nathan James

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Education

Nathan is an experienced strategist who helps clients communicate complex policy issues and build support for change. At GMMB, his focus is on early childhood and K-12 education. He works with foundations, public agencies and advocates dedicated to expanding opportunity for all students. From branding to speechwriting, he helps develop and execute integrated communications campaigns for clients including the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, Too Small to Fail and the LOR Foundation.

Prior to joining GMMB, Nathan served as a communications consultant and spokesperson for nonprofits, political candidates and issue advocacy campaigns. He serves on the board of the United Way of King County and the Washington State Budget and Policy Center.

Ellen Frawley

Partner / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Ellen is the leader you want around when the challenge is big and the timing tight. A veteran strategist with more than 25 years working on issues and causes across sectors—from startups to NGOs—she brings a powerful blend of possibility and pragmatism that guides clients and teams toward new solutions and measurable success.

Ellen designs and manages large-scale national communications efforts, including media and partnership strategies, message and creative development, and advanced audience targeting. She led the GMMB team that created and launched the Women’s Heart Alliance and the award-winning Fight the Ladykiller campaign, which employs new strategies to combat women’s heart disease.

Whether engaging more Americans in volunteering or assisting military families to become better financially prepared, Ellen is committed to advancing positive change in people’s lives. Outside of GMMB, Ellen serves on the national board of directors of Friends of the Children, a unique mentoring program serving our most vulnerable children from kindergarten through high school.

Will Taliaferro

Partner / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

With nearly 30 years of experience in strategic communications, Will leads innovative programs and positioning campaigns for organizations looking to strengthen their identities, increase their profiles and improve the public good. From branding initiatives to public health and corporate reputation campaigns, he brings in-depth experience in strategic planning, creative development and traditional and digital marketing approaches that work together to spur support, foster engagement and create lasting change.

While his work has helped effect tangible changes in many areas, he has particular expertise in transportation, health care and telecommunications. His skills and experience cross many disciplines: advertising, creative development, media relations, grassroots mobilization and digital and social media. Will’s present and past clients include the American Public Transportation Association, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USTelecom, National Safety Council, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Chrysler and the Society for Human Resource Management.

In addition to his strategic communications work, Will also co-directs GMMB’s Creative Content Group, helping clients craft advertising, video and digital assets that are smart, creative and drive real impact.

Brandon Lee

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications

Since joining GMMB in 2011, Brandon has worked with a number of nonprofit, government, and corporate clients to give a voice to their causes—identifying audiences and moving them to action. Between drafting remarks, developing communications plans, brand planning, and crafting strategic messaging, Brandon provides communications solutions at every level. He works with clients to identify their unique voice, crafting and amplifying effective messaging in speeches, op-eds, blog posts, social media, and internal communications.

Prior to joining GMMB, Brandon provided communications support for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and a U.S. congressional campaign for Washington State Representative Suzan DelBene.

Nicole Bender

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications

Nicole has a passion for cause advocacy work and brings nearly 20 years of experience in communications strategy, message development, nonprofit support, grassroots campaigns, and project management. During her time at GMMB, she has applied her skills to a wide variety of clients supporting public health campaigns, education, foster care advocacy, transportation safety, and other progressive issues. Her client portfolio has included the Pritzker Children’s Initiative, Communities in Schools, the Bangladesh Alliance for Worker Safety, Casey Family Programs, America’s Promise Alliance, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The March for Women’s Lives, the American Beverage Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and America’s Health Insurance Plans. Nicole recently returned to GMMB after a decade spent as the Director of Regional Media Advocacy for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. There, she led communications strategy for nationwide grassroots campaigns to support access to affordable health care, funding for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health, as well as state and federal tobacco control programs. She spearheaded campaigns on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across the country. At ACS CAN, Nicole also developed regional media strategies to support public awareness campaigns, fundraising efforts, voter education campaigns, and state ballot initiatives.

Janet Goss

Partner / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications / Social Justice

Janet specializes in helping nonprofits raise their profiles through branding and reputation management. She offers sharp insights and wisdom to help organizations successfully navigate change. Both qualities make her a natural leader of GMMB’s brand group and an adept counselor for her clients’ challenges. For more than 20 years, she’s brought an audience-centric approach to communications, helping clients like AFSCME, the College of the Holy Cross and the American Heart Association make stronger connections with the people that matter to them. The result: communications work that isn’t simply adopted, but embraced.

Janet forges deep and lasting relationships with her clients because she cares as much as they do about issues like the environment, education, health and social justice. She provides expert counsel on message development, paid and earned media outreach and online engagement strategies. An expert in designing communications matched for each client’s specific need, she’s worked with leading philanthropies like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, trade associations like the Auto Care Association and national nonprofits like the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Janet’s distinctive imprint transforms her clients’ communications strategies, making them ever smarter, more human and more relevant.

Jasmine Johnson

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Jasmine provides research and communications support to the education team on accounts that include NAF, the Allen Institute, and the Gates Global Education. She is passionate about women’s rights, the youth and equal opportunities for low-income families.

Alexandra Rodriguez

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Alexandra provides account management and communications support through research, writing, and project coordination for many of GMMB’s nonprofit, trade association, and corporate clients, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and United Technologies Corporation. Alexandra brings a strong understanding of social media marketing and brand development skills. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, and has experience marketing to Hispanic/Latinx audiences.

Prior to GMMB, Alexandra led grassroots social media campaigns as an intern at TasteBud. She also interned for WRUF-FM.

Krista Reichel

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Krista is an experienced issue communications strategist who has brought her financial communications and brand development background to GMMB. Since her arrival, Krista has developed and executed strategic and creative communications efforts, with an eye for matching client objectives with metrics, including: digital media campaigns, multimedia messaging management, website development, and production of TV and radio ads. Krista has worked on behalf of clients ranging from government agencies to nonprofits and foundations, some of which include the Corporation for National and Community Service, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, ZERO TO THREE, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Ally Flaherty

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications

As part of GMMB’s healthcare team, Ally works with a variety of clients including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, Missouri Foundation for Health, Kaiser Permanente and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ally has helped identify deep campaign insights for a range of health issues including advocating for lower prescription drug prices, increasing access to affordable health insurance and decreasing childhood obesity. For all these efforts, she employs strong research and storytelling skills to advance these causes.

Prior to joining GMMB, Ally worked in grassroots political advocacy domestically and for the Scottish Parliament during their 2014 independence referendum.

Ariel Durgana

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Ariel brings a diverse background in K-12 and higher education, strategic communications, non-profit management, and cause consulting to GMMB. From social media campaigns to community engagement strategies, Ariel employs communication as a powerful tool for social change and pursues her passion for advocacy and community development in all areas of her work. Her clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ashoka.

Prior to joining GMMB, Ariel served as a communications consultant specializing in corporate culture, volunteerism in the workplace, and business transformation at Gagen MacDonald in Chicago. In addition to her corporate work, Ariel brings an array of experience from her AmeriCorps service teaching in Chicago Public Schools, consulting for charitable foundations within the NFL and MLB, and serving as a mentor and advisor in the student engagement center of Georgetown University and the community learning center of the University of Notre Dame.

Matt James

Senior Counselor / Corporate Social Impact / Issue Communications / Environment / Public Health

When GMMB opened a San Francisco Bay Area practice, we turned to Matt to join our team. Matt has long been a non-profit and philanthropic leader, and is recognized as an innovator in communications initiatives for social good, both in the Bay Area and nationally. Matt’s award-winning contributions extend to strategic communications and campaigns in health, climate change and early childhood development. He most recently was a visiting scholar at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where he worked to increase funding on health and climate change. Matt was co-founder and president of Next Generation and spent many years at the Kaiser Family Foundation, where he was a principal architect of Kaiser Health News and oversaw the Foundation’s media and public education work. He began his career in politics, serving as a key aide to Congressman Mo Udall as well as Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Dale Bumpers. Passionate about public health, Matt currently serves on the board of the CDC Foundation, as well as advisory committees for the National Wildlife Federation and the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.

Madalene Milano

Partner / Corporate Social Impact / Issue Communications

Madalene Milano brings more than 32 years of experience in managing, developing and implementing results-driven communications, including media relations, advertising, social marketing, partnership building and brand management. Since joining GMMB in 1994, Madalene has partnered with a range of clients—from nonprofits to leading industries—bringing her brand of research-driven common-sense solutions to solve significant challenges.

Madalene is an accomplished practitioner of public health and public safety campaigns. Her expertise in advocacy, campaign management and advertising has helped change behaviors and laws across the country, including increasing tobacco taxes to fund youth prevention programs and passing smoke-free air laws. Her innovative thinking helped create the new social norm of putting kids in the back seats of cars, raise seat belt use to an all-time high and make it harder for intoxicated drivers to get behind the wheel. Madalene currently serves on the National Board of MADD.

Ben Hawkins

Senior Vice President, Creative Director

Ben brings more than fifteen years of experience in social marketing, integrated advertising campaigns and branding. He’s a big idea generator, writer and leader of creative teams. His vivid imagination and shape shifting skills have been instrumental in expanding the firm’s capabilities, tackling new media and creating innovative ways to reach target audiences.

Ben is wired for causes and has put his creative firepower behind numerous campaigns for associations, foundations, nonprofits, government and corporations looking to strengthen their CSR efforts. He has produced effective and award-winning work for a range of clients, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Credit Union National Association, Consumers Union, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, L’Oreal, Lupus Foundation of America, New Jersey Department of Health, Novo Nordisk, Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, UNICEF, USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the World Bank.

Prior to joining GMMB, Ben worked at McCann-Erickson, where he honed his copywriting skills and keen visual eye in the realm of product advertising. His clients included US Airways, National Breast Cancer Coalition, Points of Light Foundation and Marriott. He graduated from West Virginia University with honors, completing a triple major in English Literature, Spanish and Cultural Geography.

Emily Meyer

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications / Corporate Social Impact

Emily is the ultimate connector, bringing a strong background in digital advertising and brand strategy to GMMB. As a member of the issue communications and corporate social impact teams, she works to develop behavior-changing campaigns and digital strategies for clients such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, UnitedHealth Group, and FEMA.

Prior to joining GMMB, Emily worked for VICE Media’s creative agency VIRTUE Worldwide in her hometown of Brooklyn, where she managed the development of integrated campaigns for Fortune 500 clients in the beauty, beverage and hospitality space.

Katie Stevenson

Vice President / Brand Positioning / Corporate Social Impact / Issue Communications / Public Health

Katie has spent more than 11 years building strategic and creative communications campaigns, specializing in brand positioning, message development, advertising and digital strategy. Currently, Katie serves as project lead for advertising, research and digital strategies for United Technologies Corporation and ATEC, a joint venture of Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney. Her past experience at GMMB includes strategic and project management of policy, education and brand positioning campaigns for nonprofit, foundation, association and political clients.

Previously, Katie was the director of brand strategy for a nonprofit dedicated to the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking. She managed the organization’s award-winning re-branding and name change from The Century Council to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility in 2014. Prior to that, Katie was a managing account supervisor in Ketchum’s brand management practice, where she developed and implemented creative public relations initiatives to support Dr Pepper Snapple Group and its brands.

Kelsey Howe

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications

Kelsey works with an array of clients representing important education, transportation and healthcare issues such as the Hewlett Foundation, the Institute of International Education, The Globe Program, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and the American Public Transportation Association. She supports campaign and brand development through research, analytics, project management, and copywriting.

Prior to joining GMMB, Kelsey interned at Political Research Associates, a progressive Boston-based think tank, and worked at the Tufts European Center.

Jaime Zapata

Partner / Corporate Social Impact / Issue Communications / Political Campaigns / Education / Social Justice

Whether it’s casting a video to engage Mexican-American audiences in southern California or developing content that conveys complex information to D.C. opinion leaders, Jaime always aims for exact. A multi-talented communications guru with expertise in areas as diverse as labor, small business, aerospace and education, Jaime combines the grit of a Bronx-raised Colombian road cyclist with the savvy and eloquence of a Georgetown-trained Washingtonian.

Jaime began his career on Capitol Hill and has more than 20 years of policy and communications experience. He thrives on finding untapped opportunities, dives deep into issue areas, helps clients see around corners, and ensures every strategy is designed and implemented correctly from the start.

Jaime has managed major advertising and positioning accounts for corporations that include United Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft, Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney. He is on the board of Operation Homefront and leads GMMB teams for a broad spectrum of nonprofit clients including Scholarship America, the National Council of La Raza, the Opportunity Finance Network, and the Council of the Great City Schools. He is also an advisor on teams for the American Beverage Association, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AFSCME and a host of political clients.

Aileen Andres

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications

Aileen comes to GMMB with a background in international development, communications, and issue advocacy. She brings direct experience in governance betterment in Sub-Saharan Africa and humanitarian crisis communications to GMMB’s global health and development team. In this role, she expertly applies a creative and nuanced lens to highly sensitive issues.

Aileen has managed rapid response advocacy campaigns surrounding the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and mass incarceration in the U.S., as well as a portfolio of governance projects in Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Liberia, and Uganda.

Sarah Whitworth

Vice President / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications

Sarah brings a strong background in marketing and advertising communications and brand strategy to GMMB. Since joining GMMB in 2012, Sarah has worked on a range of brand management, health care and education issues, including overseeing communications and brand strategy for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association; brand management and strategic counsel for the American Public Transportation Association; and ongoing work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prior to joining GMMB, Sarah worked for advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, where she managed the development of integrated digital, TV, print and radio campaigns for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola Co. and American Express to nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Abebe Kebede

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Abebe joined GMMB to bring his integrated communications expertise to multi-faceted advertising campaigns. He brings a deep understanding of the issues facing his clients – ranging from government agencies to nonprofits and foundations – and works with clients to match their objectives with metrics.

Abebe has won numerous awards including a PRSA Bronze Anvil, PRSA Best in Maryland, and a National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Award.

Abebe’s deep passion around advocating for mental health issues has brought him to volunteer for a local DC nonprofit called Strength In Our Voices, which aims to eliminate the stigma around mental health.

AJ Lenar

Senior Vice President / Political Campaigns / Environment

AJ Lenar is a Senior Vice President on GMMB’s political team. He has developed strategies and award-winning advertising for leading environmental organizations, major foundations, and labor unions, as well as mayoral, House, Senate, gubernatorial, and presidential races in the U.S. and around the world. AJ’s ads have been profiled in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Washington Post and many other news outlets across the country. Most recently, AJ served as a senior strategist and chief ad maker for Joe Cunningham’s historic campaign in South Carolina’s first congressional district. On Election Night, SC-1 was the reddest district in the entire country to flip blue – for the first time in four decades. It led the Charleston Post and Courier to call AJ “one of the most valuable Democrats in South Carolina”. In 2012, AJ was on the core creative team that re-elected the President of the United States, and his ads were seen by millions of Americans in battleground states across country. One of the ads AJ wrote and produced for President Obama was awarded “Best Television Advertisement of The Year” by Campaigns and Elections Magazine. An honor he earned again in 2015 for an ad he created on immigration. AJ has served GMMB clients overseas as well. He’s worked on an anti-tobacco initiative in Nigeria and a clean energy campaign in the United Arab Emirates. He also ran a successful Mayoral contest in Tirana, Albania, where he led the advertising and media efforts for the Lulzim Basha for Mayor Campaign, which earned GMMB the American Association of Political Consultants’ Campaign Excellence Award for International Campaign of the Year. AJ lives with his wife and two children in Greenville, South Carolina.

Allie McKay

Vice President / Issue Communications / Education

Allie brings a strong background in strategic communications, digital media, project management, and research and analysis to GMMB’s education clients. Whether it’s designing a multimedia campaign to drive support for high standards or executing tactics to elevate personalized learning, Allie relishes telling compelling stories that can lead to better outcomes for students.

Prior to joining GMMB, Allie directed education and advocacy projects at KSA-Plus Communications and created professional development resources for educators around the world at the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Jim Margolis

Partner / Political Campaigns / Issue Communications

Jim Margolis got his start in politics at age 15 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was there that he was Field Director for an inspirational – but losing – congressional candidate (perhaps the aspiring congressman should have hired a lead organizer old enough to drive). Thankfully, since that defeat, Jim has been more successful helping candidates, corporations, advocacy groups, foundations and government agencies develop strategic communications and advertising programs that impact people’s lives and help change the world.

As a founding partner of GMMB, Jim served as a senior advisor to Barack Obama in both the former President’s campaigns for the White House, leading each cycle’s half-billion dollar advertising effort and helping direct the campaign as part of the core strategic team. Jim also co-produced the two Obama inaugural celebrations and both of Mr. Obama’s national conventions. In the 2016 presidential election, Jim served as senior advisor to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, leading her paid advertising effort and co-producing the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Nationally, Jim has helped elect dozens of senators, governors and other public servants to office. From Oregon to Florida, from North Dakota to Puerto Rico, his strategic advice and award-winning creative has helped turn amazing candidates into forceful officeholders. Similarly, overseas, Jim has advised progressive presidential and prime ministerial candidates in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

In the business and philanthropic world, Jim has provided counsel to some of America’s most iconic corporations and nonprofits, including AT&T, AFSCME, Airbnb, AMERICORPS, Ashoka, Cisco Systems, Facebook, The Gates Foundation, L’Oréal, Microsoft, The Pritzker Foundation and VISA.

Before joining GMMB, Jim served as a top appointee in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

Caitlin Hodes

Account Executive / Issue Communications

Caitlin works with GMMB’s health care team, supporting clients including Maryland Health Benefit Exchange and the Missouri Foundation for Health. Caitlin has helped craft and execute communications strategies to advance causes such as improving access to affordable healthcare and decreasing childhood obesity.

Prior to joining GMMB, Caitlin completed an AmeriCorps fellowship in Chicago and worked as a Program Manager at a small nonprofit dedicated to streamlining social services for veterans in Illinois.

Scott Stroup

Vice President / Issue Communications / Public Health / Public Health

Scott provides strategic communications support to a range of public health, global health, and education clients. His work spans advertising and media buying, social media, grassroots engagement, partnership outreach, and messaging and materials support. He supports the Washington State Department of Health’s Marijuana Education and Prevention Program, helping to design and implement a statewide campaign to educate teens and their parents about the risks of using marijuana. Scott also supports the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to educate residents about the health plans available to them, as well as the Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

Annie Burns

Partner

Annie’s steadfast leadership, hands-on mentorship, and business savvy have established GMMB as an international leader in strategic communications. By cultivating an environment focused on excellence, collegiality, and respect, Annie has guided GMMB to achieve its reputation for exceptional client services and as a great place to work.

Currently, Annie oversees GMMB’s work to protect and advance high-quality, affordable health coverage for kids and families, working with child health advocates across the country and in partnership with Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families. She also manages a major digital and creative ad campaign for the American Dental Association.

She led GMMB’s work for nationally recognized anti-poverty organization CAP Tulsa and for Planned Parenthood’s research-based messaging on health coverage. She also works with JPMorgan Chase’s Office of Nonprofit Engagement and the Food Research Action Center.

Previously, Annie has directed the creation and implementation of communications campaigns for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Covering Kids and Families (CKF) Communications Campaign. CKF helped to enroll 11 million children in CHIP and Medicaid, and Annie’s strategy now serves as a model in strategic communications textbooks.

At crucial stages in the firm’s growth, she has expanded capabilities, scope and impact. Known affectionately as “the B” in GMMB, Annie Burns sets the standard for leadership, mentorship, and business savvy in progressive communications.

Rebecca Sivy

Account Supervisor

Rebecca brings a strong background in strategic communications, project management and digital media to her work with the American Beverage Association. Currently, she oversees ABA’s integrated campaign that includes advertising, branding, research, planning and digital and social media. Rebecca’s previous work at GMMB has included managing website redesign projects for Alive & Thrive, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative.

Prior to joining GMMB, Rebecca managed the communications efforts and annual fundraising events for a local education fund, and she got her start at a boutique education consulting firm where she honed her strategic communications, facilitation, and event and project management skills.

Oliver Griswold

Director of Brand Strategy / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications

As GMMB’s brand strategy lead, Oliver Griswold helps his clients dig deep into their purpose, rediscover their identity, and engage their most important audiences with newfound resonance. He shakes the rust off the identities of leading non-profits, companies, foundations, and trade associations and polishes them until they shine. Weaving research insights into stories that capture the unique promise of the organization, he aims to delight the people behind a brand and captivate the people it needs to reach.

Drawing on a product marketing and political background that honed his instincts for what compels consumers and voters to listen, Oliver’s recent brand projects have sharpened the voices of clients like Mathematica, Oxfam, The Nature Conservancy, The Walton Family Foundation, The University of Washington, Evergreen State College, The Allen Institute, and the Public Library Association.

Sandy Won

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / US Healthcare

Sandy brings more than 15 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in strategic communications planning, message development, advocacy, web and social media strategy, marketing and branding.

At GMMB, Sandy specializes in health coverage, working with organizations, foundations and government agencies. She leads work for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign, a national effort to enroll eligible families into Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. She also provides strategic counsel and manages health coverage initiatives for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Prior to GMMB, Sandy directed strategic communications for the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), a global development institute focused on ending global poverty among women and girls. Previously, she worked for the Alliance for Retired Americans, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, where she helped position the organization’s communications and advocacy efforts around Medicare and Social Security. She also worked for the Children’s Defense Fund, managing communications activities to support the group’s policy advocacy and outreach to grassroots organizations.

Tori Quiroz-Haden

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Global Health

Tori provides comprehensive account and communications support for GMMB’s global health and development team. She works with leading global health and development organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, Alive & Thrive, and clients across the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health field.

Tori’s multi-disciplinary background in international development, history and Spanish translates into strong communications support through research, writing and account support. Tori’s prior work experience includes CLS Strategies, the Tulane University Office of Undergraduate Admission, AmeriCorps VISTA, Amnesty International and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jenny Selzer

Vice President / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy / US Healthcare

Jenny is a lifelong lover of language and deeply believes in the power of words to change the world. She lives for a well-timed one-liner or perfectly pithy emotional detail, finding that often humor and empathy can help draw an audience into even the most complicated or intimidating policy issue. Jenny specializes in rapid response advertising campaigns and using paid media to achieve advocacy and legislative goals. She has led strategy and ad development for GMMB’s AARP state advocacy work since 2011. She has helped AARP pass legislation beneficial to seniors and their families on a broad array of issues including cost of utilities, retirement savings, and family caregiving. Jenny has also been integral to the development and production of AARP’s federal advocacy campaigns on Social Security, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, fraud prevention, and family caregiving, which have won Addy and Pollie awards for television and online ads.   Before joining GMMB, Jenny worked for frontline Democratic members of Congress providing policy, communications, and strategic counsel. Jenny is a proud graduate of Northwestern University and lives in Washington DC with her husband, Juan, and opinionated toddler, Diego.

Melissa Morales

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Corporate Social Impact

From managing advertising campaigns in support of health reform to overseeing outreach and education efforts to enroll Americans in health coverage, Melissa is on the front lines of the Affordable Care Act’s implementation. She worked with Vermont and Washington State to introduce their marketplaces and enroll residents, with AARP to educate consumers about the ACA and Medicare, and with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to educate families about low-cost health insurance options available for their children.

Melissa currently leads GMMB’s work with Missouri Foundation for Health to address childhood obesity. In addition to health coverage projects, Melissa brings her media buying experience to integrated advertising campaigns, most recently managing a campaign to bring the story of the AT&T Aspire education initiative to life.

Katie Schofield

Vice President / Issue Communications / Education

Katie brings nearly 15 years of experience in communications strategy to a diverse portfolio of clients focused on food security and nutrition support, volunteer service, and children’s and women’s health.

Katie helped develop the Think Babies^TM campaign on behalf of ZERO TO THREE to bring national attention to what babies and their families need to thrive, and currently works with grantees to implement the campaign at the state level. She manages stakeholder outreach for a new safety net education campaign on behalf of Missouri Foundation for Health. Katie also provides strategic counsel to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)—including message development, content creation, earned, paid and digital media strategy and evaluation—to demonstrate the agency’s impact on communities and those who serve.

Recently, Katie worked with the Food Research and Action Center to provide technical assistance to states to implement research-based messages related to food insecurity and the food assistance programs. Katie previously served as the account lead for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) national media campaign to raise awareness and educate eligible individuals, families and trusted messengers about nutrition assistance as a resource to help families struggling to make ends meet. Additional clients have included the Corporate Coalition to Fight Hunger, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Women’s Heart Alliance, and the FINRA Investor Education Campaign.

Katie also serves as a point person for incoming new business requests.

Stefana Simonetto

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications / all / Environment

Stefana manages complex, integrated campaigns across a range of issues. She identifies opportunities—and spots trouble—on the horizon for clients, and can translate disorder into action. From climate solutions that can save our planet to the technological innovations reshaping society, she’s committed to ensuring the world is a better place for the next generation.

Prior to joining GMMB, Stefana supported public affairs, media relations and corporate communications campaigns for non-profit organizations and technology companies at leading communications agencies in the Bay Area. Stefana grew up in Sacramento and has been involved in state and local politics her whole life. She is passionate about the vital role technology can play in solving some of the biggest problems in California, the U.S, and the world.

Jordan Treible

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications / Global Health

Jordan brings traditional and social media, communications strategy and writing experience to GMMB’s Global Health team. With a background in U.S. and international policy communications, Jordan has expertise in distilling core messages from data-heavy research and in developing and placing content in top media outlets. Her current clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative and other leading global health and development organizations.

Traci Siegel

Senior Vice President & Managing Director / Issue Communications / Corporate Social Impact / Environment / Global Health

Traci leads GMMB’s San Francisco practice, which focuses on harnessing the power of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility to achieve impact. A seasoned strategist and issue advocate, Traci began her career on Capitol Hill and has since leveraged more than two decades of communications, political and issue advocacy expertise to help high-profile clients achieve impact domestically and in more than 20 countries.

Traci has served as senior strategic advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Energy Foundation, the Climate Leadership Initiative, PATH and the World Health Organization, as well as major brands advancing social responsibility initiatives. In her spare time Traci serves as a speaker coach for TEDx Seattle.

Mariah Jones

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications

Mariah utilizes her strong background in policy and project management, to provide comprehensive communications and account support for GMMB’s healthcare team. Mariah works with leading health coverage organizations, foundations, and government agencies, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Prior to joining GMMB, Mariah interned in the office of Congressman Ben Ray Luján in the U.S. House of Representatives, providing constituent communications support and policy research. She also served as an intern in the office of the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, Representative Gina Mitten, in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Jacquie Lawing Ebert

Partner / Issue Communications / Education / Social Justice

Jacquie develops and executes research-based strategies that ensure powerful change takes hold and is sustainable in our nation’s communities. She has spearheaded much of GMMB’s work to improve the nation’s education system so all young people can succeed.

Years of experience working in Congress, on the 1992 Presidential campaign and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff at the Department of Housing and Urban Development give her a deep understanding of the nexus of politics, policy, and advocacy.

Whether it’s developing and executing a strategy to ensure bipartisan support for and strong implementation of high standards for advocacy organizations, working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to elevate the perspectives of critical stakeholders like students and teachers through insightful and fresh research, or advising clients on Personalized Learning communications, Jacquie will not stop until the job is done.

Ashley Middleton

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Environment / Public Health

For leading businesses, foundations, and government agencies, Ashley distills complex topics into compelling campaigns. She has scaled up the advocacy capacity of public libraries throughout the world, connects climate change to global health priorities, and directs traffic safety initiatives that save lives.

Through research and a solid understanding of her clients’ priorities, Ashley builds a strong foundation for strategy and message development, which she supports with ongoing and thoughtful analysis of project outcomes. She enjoys the challenges of bringing together diverse coalitions and working across platforms including websites, media releases, advertising, videos, and events.

Becky McGrath

Account Executive / Issue Communications

Becky delivers strong communications support through research, writing, and account management. She works with an array of clients including: The Pritzker Children’s Initiative, ClimateWorks Foundation, American Beverage Association, and United Health Group. Prior to joining GMMB, Becky worked in the nonprofit sector in donor development and event planning for The Center for Healthy Minds and the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation, creating new donor gratitude practices and exceeding sponsorship totals and event goals. Most recently, she worked as the Marketing and Social Media Specialist for the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company where she provided management and oversight across all social media channels, marketing efforts, and brewery organization.

Chelsea Hawkins

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications

Chelsea works with our public health team to develop and execute strategic campaigns that amplify impact by bringing together traditional and digital communications. She’s passionate about storytelling and helping her clients find the most effective ways to share their messages. Chelsea comes to GMMB with extensive media experience – daily newspapers, digital news sites, radio, and magazines – and a deep passion for social justice and racial equity. Prior to joining GMMB, Chelsea worked at Pyramid Communications with a focus on philanthropy, health, and issues affecting indigenous communities.

Emma Eisenberg

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / US Healthcare

Emma brings strong writing, research, and media buying skills to GMMB’s healthcare coverage team where she supports a variety of clients including the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, Missouri Foundation For Health, Kaiser Permanente, and the Drug Pricing Lab. With a background in policy analysis and political campaigns, Emma helps craft and execute communications strategies designed to aid health care reform, enroll Americans in health coverage, and tackle children’s health issues.

Prior to joining the coverage team, Emma was a central member of GMMB’s strategic media team for the 2018 election cycle where she helped to plan, place, and execute successful media campaigns for clients including the Democratic Governors Association, House Majority PAC, Emily’s List, and Friends For Steve Sisolak.

Frank Greer

Partner / Political Campaigns / Education

Over the course of his extraordinary career, Frank has helped elect U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, South African President Nelson Mandela, Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, and President Horacio Cartes in Paraguay.

Frank provides strategic advice and counsel to some of the world’s leading foundations, public interest groups, labor organizations and corporations, as well as candidates running for Congress, governor and Senate.

Chantal Wong

Account Executive / Issue Communications / Public Health

Chantal brings experience working in social media marketing and project management to GMMB’s clients. Currently, she supports GMMB’s public health, global health, and education clients, which include Alive & Thrive, Gates Program Related Investments and the LOR Foundation. Chantal’s background is in management, social media, and content development.

Patricia Clemente

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Patty provides account management and communications support for a host of education, corporate, and government clients, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, StandardsWork, Be a Learning Hero, United Technologies Corporation, and FEMA. She specializes in digital marketing campaigns with precise audience targeting. Bilingual in Spanish and English, Patty contributes insight and content across campaigns and platforms to ensure audience reach.

In her previous role supporting GMMB’s production team, she served as a lead radio producer and production coordinator for political clients during 2016 including Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Governors Association, Senator Ron Wyden, and the League of Conservation Voters.

Micheline Kennedy

Senior Vice President & Managing Director / Issue Communications / Global Health / Social Justice

Micheline has 25 years of experience in strategic communications, advocacy and event planning for campaigns around the world that have elevated global health issues and influenced progress and policies on behalf of women and children. She is a leader in the global reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) field and is responsible for a diverse portfolio of clients at GMMB, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of America, Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition and the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health.

Prior to joining GMMB, she spent 15 years in nonprofit communications, working on global population, health and development issues, creating awareness about learning disabilities and advancing women’s reproductive health and rights in the U.S.

Dana Cronyn

Account Supervisor / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Dana is an impact-driven storyteller, with experience in both the political and nonprofit sectors. As a member of the issues communications team, she develops behavior-change campaigns and messaging strategies for government clients to drive consumers to action.

Before joining GMMB, Dana was a Teach For America corps member in Charlotte, NC. She went on to lead TFA’s millennial communications and public relations strategies. Dana has also worked on Capitol Hill, where she developed and implemented digital media campaigns for progressive candidates.

Frances Bresnahan

Vice President / Brand Positioning / Issue Communications / Environment

Frances is a member of GMMB’s education and brand teams. She coordinates efforts to build grassroots communications capacity in support of education reform and executes soup-to-nuts brand development for clients in the nonprofit and foundation space. She has experience guiding clients through complete rebrands—from new logos, positioning and messaging to websites and core materials. Frances has also coordinated efforts to build grassroots communications capacity for Linked Learning partners and districts across California on behalf of the James Irvine Foundation.

Dylan Tyne

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications

Dylan is a skilled story teller. Whether it’s through video, social media or public relations campaigns, Dylan excels at and is passionate about finding creative, often humorous ways to get a message across and create meaningful behavior change resulting in a safer, healthier world. He currently supports GMMB’s work for LOR Foundation and Handshake.

Prior to joining GMMB, Dylan produced award-winning work for clients such as the CDC, Washington State Department of Transportation, Group Health (now Kaiser Permanente), King County and Seattle Department of Transportation. After, he went to teach English and travel in Central America and Mexico.

Susan Feeney

Partner / Issue Communications / Education

Susan co-leads our Seattle office, overseeing an innovative team that supports a diverse roster of national, Bay Area and global clients. Her primary focus is on strategic communications and advocacy around education here and abroad, edtech, public policy, public health and enhancing the quality of life in the Intermountain West.

Key clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, LOR Foundation, Omidyar Network, National Academy Foundation (NAF), IIE (Institute of International Education), the startup Handshake, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Susan is a storyteller, writer and expert in public positioning, advocacy, leveraging digital content, media relations and public speaking training. She joined GMMB in 2009 after an award-winning career in journalism that included nearly a decade as senior editor of NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, and many years covering the White House and national politics.

Kristen Handley

Vice President / Issue Communications / Brand Positioning

Kristen has spent more than eight years designing and implementing award-winning, purpose-driven communications. At GMMB, Kristen leads the communications strategy and implementation for United Technologies Corporation, Pratt & Whitney, and the Advanced Turbine Engine Company, blending her background in international relations, economics, and communications. Before joining GMMB, Kristen led communications initiatives at the Department of Defense, the Air Force Medical Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of State.

Lance Greenberg

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications / Political Campaigns

As an integral part of GMMB’s progressive communications work, Lance thrives at the intersection of issue communications and politics. Lance’s experience crafting national and statewide advertising, media strategy and rapid response messaging has propelled a wide variety U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, public awareness and legislative campaigns. His clients have included the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, AARP, AT&T, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and many more. 

Sapphira Glemaud

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Sapphira provides account support for GMMB’s education team. She brings her passion for politics and the educational system to her client work. Sapphira previously interned for two non-profit organizations, Teach For America and The National Education Association. She also served as an intern for the Alabama House of Representatives Education Ways and Means Committee and Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama’s 7th district.

Angela Landers

Vice President / Issue Communications / Education / Public Health / US Healthcare

Angela joined GMMB in 2010, bringing a strong background in strategic communications, coalition-building, issue and crisis management, and earned and digital media, as well as federal agency and Capitol Hill experience. Currently, she works with national trade associations and foundations, and several state-wide health and education nonprofits. She has lent her expertise to GMMB clients on a range of issues, including childhood obesity, consumer health products, pharmaceuticals safety, early learning and K-12 education. Angela is a leading member of GMMB’s earned media team and consistently secures client voices and opinion pieces across the country in national publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, POLITICO, U.S. News and World Report, and across radio, TV and digital outlets including CNBC, NBC, CNN and FOX News.

Prior to GMMB, Angela worked as a Communications Director in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also served as a primary negotiator and protocol advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings at the U.S. Department of Education, traveling to more than 40 countries and working with domestic and foreign leaders, officials and Embassy staff from around the world.

Sarah Green

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Sarah brings more than 15 years of experience working on a range of causes and issues from health and safety to consumer protection. Sarah has an unmatched ability to quickly understand an issue or cause, lead a team to uncover answers to the tough questions and then drive toward impactful solutions. She has created dozens of successful campaigns reaching a wide range of audiences—including connecting low-income parents to workforce training programs in the healthcare industry, helping military spouses find portable careers, and reaching homeowners about the vital importance of flood insurance in protecting their livelihoods and largest investment.

Her expertise includes qualitative and quantitative research; development of positioning platforms; messaging and target audience strategies; branding; advertising development; media planning; and analysis of campaign effectiveness.

Morgan Dorsey

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications / Education

Morgan works with GMMB’s education team, supporting multiple accounts, including Communities in Schools, the Aspen Institute and the Hewlett Foundation. Her strong desire to help develop and spread messages representing equality and change began early, while interning for the Houston City Council.

Prior to joining GMMB, Morgan gained traditional PR skills at MMI Agency in Houston, working across client accounts, including Shell Houston Open, Perry’s Steakhouse and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She graduated from Howard University with a degree in Strategic, Legal and Management Communications, concentrating in Public Relations.

Sonya Bessalel

Assistant Account Executive / Issue Communications

Sonya provides bilingual communications and account support for national and local clients across the transportation, education, and nonprofit sectors. Her clients include “Check To Protect”, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about auto safety recalls, as well as Discovery Education, Martha’s Table, and the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation.

Sonya’s rich and varied educational background in the humanities, Spanish, and creative writing translates into an acute cross-cultural sensitivity, deep analytical skills, and strong oral and written communications. She brings diverse experience across the nonprofit, corporate, and agency sectors to her work at GMMB, including prior positions with Glover Park Group, WeatherBug, and Discovery Education’s Corporate Education Partnerships Division, where she helped launch Spanish-language health and wellbeing programs in Latin America.

Outside of GMMB, Sonya performs as an alto soloist in the DC-based, award-winning a cappella ensemble, The Capital Hearings, where she also serves as social media manager. Sonya also recently completed her first manuscript, an historical fiction novel about women in medieval Spain.

Melissa Simpson

Senior Vice President & Managing Director / Issue Communications / Public Health

Melissa specializes in public health and health care communications, developing integrated campaigns that include advertising, public relations, social media, grassroots outreach and innovative partnerships to reach people at the right time with the right message. Her mission is to reduce complexity and provide health information in emotionally compelling and actionable ways. She worked with the Washington State Department of Health, Group Health Foundation and WithinReach to prevent the spread of HPV and pertussis, reduce tobacco use among youth and adults and encourage parents to talk with their kids about the risks of using marijuana.

Melissa is passionate about increasing access to health care. Through her work with the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, she designed innovative outreach strategies that helped connect more than one million people in the state with health insurance—many for the first time.

Erin Connolly

Senior Account Executive / Issue Communications / Consumer Advocacy

Erin is a communications strategist with experience in earned media, research, production, and media planning. As part of the issue communications team, she supports GMMB’s non-profit, foundation, and government clients including the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Federal Emergency Management Association.

Erin started at GMMB as a media assistant during the 2016 election season where she helped plan media buys for candidates and issue campaigns. Previously, she worked as a production assistant and freelance reporter for national news outlets.

John Rimel

Senior Vice President / Political Campaigns / Environment

John is the indispensable center of our efforts to help Democrats across the country win tough races. As a top-flight strategist, John has honed prodigious political, ad-making and management skills working for a broad cross-section of GMMB’s clients, from Senator Webb to Senator Boxer to President Obama, as well as environmental, labor, and health care organizations.

Julie Green Bataille

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / US Healthcare

Julie is a seasoned communications professional whose 25 years of experience spans political campaigns, Capitol Hill, the White House and federal agencies. With expertise in crisis communications, brand and reputation management, marketing and digital outreach, she crafts communications strategies that deliver impact and results. She has a particular passion for addressing social policy issues that improve the lives of children and families, especially health care and education.

At GMMB, she advises clients on implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the evolving health care system. She leads consumer campaigns and projects related to patient access and affordability, delivery system reform and drug pricing.

Prior to joining GMMB, Julie served in the Obama administration as the Communications Director for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, where she oversaw communications, outreach and education for the launch of HealthCare.gov and its historic first open enrollment period. Julie drives change by distilling complex policy into efforts that help clients navigate implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the evolving health care system.

Merideth Potter

Senior Vice President / Corporate Social Impact / Issue Communications / Public Health

Merideth brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to helping her clients build communications strategies that solve the most pressing public health challenges in the country. Merideth’s more than nine years of experience in strategic communications includes advertising, branding, research, planning and digital and social media. Merideth oversees integrated campaigns at GMMB and currently manages the Mixify campaign on behalf of the American Beverage Association (ABA).

Working alongside ABA, Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple and PepsiCo, Merideth manages this unprecedented joint effort on behalf of the beverage industry to raise awareness among teens of the importance of balancing what they eat and drink with physical activity. Mixify launched in 2014 and reaches teens through nationwide television and digital advertising, a robust social media campaign, influencer marketing and on-the-ground events across the country.

Siobhan McCready Bunaes

Senior Vice President / Issue Communications / Public Health

For more than 25 years, Siobhan has been helping realize cause campaigns. Her expertise has been critical on national campaigns devoted to child safety, women’s heart disease, eye health, systems biology and health insurance coverage for children and low-income families. Most recently, she worked with the Women’s Heart Alliance to launch a national campaign called Fight the Ladykiller to raise awareness of heart disease—the number one killer of women.

Prior to GMMB, she led marketing and communications at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, where she launched EyeSmart, an eye health campaign.