2024 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

Ryan Adams is the co-founder and managing partner at HZQ Consulting. His work spans the spectrum of public and private clients, ranging from assisting publicly traded companies like Nautilus in their digital strategy to building public narratives for national unions such as 32BJ SEIU, to helping nonprofits like Women Engaged, an organization focused on politically empowering women and youth of color, reach one million voters for the Georgia Senate run-off election.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
A mentor once told me that success is about resilience and adaptability. The landscape will constantly shift in every industry, and the key to thriving is to remain flexible and resilient in the face of challenges. He recommended everyone read 10 articles a day to stay sharp! This advice has been invaluable, reminding me to stay agile and proactive, always ready to pivot strategies to meet the evolving needs of our clients and the market.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I wish I knew the importance of building a strong, supportive network early on. Relationships are the backbone of this industry, and having a solid network of mentors, peers, and collaborators can make a significant difference. You can’t just be smart. You have to be out there – like Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘the man in the arena.’ Impactful solutions that drive success for your clients and projects don’t come from brains in jars.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
In 2024/2025, I aim to expand HZQ Consulting’s impact in the renewable energy sector. By partnering with innovative companies and advocating for sustainable policies, I hope to drive significant advancements in clean energy adoption in New York State. Our goal is to support the transition to a more sustainable future, ensuring that our clients are at the forefront of this critical movement. We need a smart future for energy development and transition NOW!

George Arzt, founder of GAC, established his communications firm in 1995 after decades of deep involvement in New York City and national politics. He was executive director of the WNYW (Fox 5) News Division, press secretary to the late Mayor Edward I. Koch, where he supervised PR efforts for 42 public agencies, and a political columnist and city hall bureau chief at the New York Post.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Listen and don’t get emotional

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
No, I’m surprised I got this far. On a serious note, being well-prepared goes a long way toward alleviating anxiety before speeches, events, and interviews.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
I’d like to continue helping our real estate development clients bring their vision into reality. To build in the city, developers need to see their projects move forward on a timeline that makes sense. And real estate development can bring the city’s economy back to pre-Covid levels. I am proud to help contribute to the most spectacular skyline in the world.

On issues spanning infrastructure, health care, gaming, and more, Chris Bastardi has led public affairs campaigns in New York and across the nation. He worked with LaGuardia Gateway Partners, overseeing PR as the public-private partnership created the best airport in the world. A seasoned crisis expert, Chris has seen clients through it all, from corporate malfeasance to individual trials. He is the recipient of a (now lifted) restraining order from then-President Donald Trump.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
That making stakeholders feel included, even when they may end up disappointed, can mean everything.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
That some roads between politics and policy never cross and knowing the regulatory world is vital.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht
When you have exceptional friends, including an extraordinary business partner, you wake up every day with the strength to fight for your clients, the determination to meet their objectives, and the resolve to see through any challenge.

Julie Roginsky is co-founder of BARO Strategies and a nationally recognized public affairs and public relations consultant. Her clients have spanned every sector of the economy, including transportation, health care, energy, real estate, technology, financial services, and government.
She has served as an advisor to governors, senators, members of Congress, and state and local officials. In the nonprofit space, Julie is the co-founder of Lift Our Voices, a national organization dedicated to banning workplace silencing mechanisms.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Know your stuff before you speak. So many people don’t do the preparation – the reading, the line-by-line analysis – before they speak about an issue. I was lucky to work for a congressman early on who not only prepared heavily for every single event and conversation but also expected the people who worked with him to do the same. I’m happy to say it’s a habit I’ve kept up over the last thirty years.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Don’t wait your turn. Too often, young people – especially women – are told to get in line. But there will almost always be someone ahead of you and the line tends to move very slowly. If you want something, don’t wait for permission to go for it. I’ve never regretted anything I have done but I’ve regretted plenty of things I did not do.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Baro Strategies is a relatively new firm composed of principals who have been at the top of their field in public relations and strategic communications for decades. My goal is to grow our business and to help organizations meet the PR goals and challenges they face.

Liz Benjamin has been with Marathon Strategies for five years, focusing on crisis communications, coalition building, and public affairs. She is a former reporter with more than two decades of experience covering state and New York City government and politics. Her expertise includes print, TV and digital reporting and commentary. Liz spent 10 years at the Albany Times Union, four years at the Daily News and hosted “Capital Tonight” on Spectrum News, for eight years.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
I never had a mentor, officially speaking. I learned most of what I know about New York politics and government from my Dad, Prof. Jerry Benjamin, whose broad historical and contextual knowledge about federal, local, and state politics and government has been indispensable. I am deeply grateful for his steadfast support, encouragement and even his (usually gentle) criticism.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
The “dark” side isn’t so dark after all. The world of politics is very small. Your name and your word are everything. You will make a lot of mistakes, learn from them – don’t dwell on them – and move on. No one is paying as much attention as you think they are.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
I’d like to take an actual vacation in which I do not answer a single email or phone call. Since the year is already halfway over, I’d say the odds are this won’t happen. But a girl can dream.

Loren Amor is a longtime New York strategist who uses his experience as a campaigner and senior legislative staffer to help clients navigate complex policy and political issues. Before joining BerlinRosen, Loren was a top advisor to the New York State Senate Majority Leader, building winning coalitions around a historic legislative agenda. He’s managed local, state, and federal campaigns and helped lead the Democrats’ successful effort to regain control of the State Senate in 2018.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Become an expert on something that’s not in your job description. Develop a skill, like graphic design or data analysis, or learn the ins and outs of a particular media market or policy issue. This adds value for your clients and team and can lead to unexpected professional opportunities as your career progresses.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
So many of the wins and losses we experience in politics are determined by external factors beyond any one person’s control, so it’s important to find fulfillment in the work for its own sake. If you can motivate yourself to always put in your best effort, regardless of the odds, you’ll be well positioned to tip the scales in those moments where the outcome really does come down to you.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Our team at BerlinRosen helped launch the Empire State Local News Coalition and pass the country’s first tax credit to incentivize the hiring of local journalists. Local news is critical to a healthy democracy, so I’m excited to build on this momentum and find new ways to promote policies that will expand access to community-focused, independent journalism in New York and beyond.

Valerie drives network growth and expansion, guides client service best practices, and supports organizational culture for Orchestra partners. As principal and co-founder at BerlinRosen, she provides strategy and communications counsel across the firm’s practice areas, advising leaders, companies, and organizations on high-risk matters and developing integrated campaigns.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
At the end of the day, the only thing you have to fall back on is your reputation. Protect it by acting with integrity and surrounding yourself with others who do the same.

Executive vice president and experienced campaigner Matt Tepper manages BerlinRosen’s New York City public affairs practice and leads client teams in crafting and executing high-profile communications strategies. He builds coalitions, media plans and grassroots strategies for prominent organizations. Matt’s campaigns have secured record funding for NYC libraries, thousands of affordable apartments, and major economic development projects. Before BerlinRosen, Matt managed political campaigns at federal, state, and local levels.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
The best advice I received from a mentor was to focus on building relationships. In public affairs and campaign management, the depth of your connections can make or break your efforts. Investing time in nurturing relationships has been invaluable in driving successful campaigns and achieving impactful results.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I wish I had known just how crucial adaptability and resourcefulness are in this industry. Public affairs and campaign management are dynamic, and the landscape changes rapidly. Being prepared to pivot, handle unexpected challenges, and stay focused despite setbacks is key to long-term success. Some of this comes with experience, but knowing how to embrace uncertainty in the field is important.