2024 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

Trip Yang is a premier political strategist and the founder of Trip Yang Strategies, a top consulting firm that has elected dozens of candidates. Trip Yang Strategies, the #1 AAPI-owned consulting firm in NY, led an independent expenditure that reached tens of thousands of AAPI voters in support of Tom Suozzi’s congressional win. Trip started his career working for President Obama’s campaign and has since led and advised campaigns in over a half-dozen states.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Clients hire you because you have demonstrated that you are trustworthy and competent in your work. When you have been consistent for years with these qualities, you will build a reputation that will attract prospective clients to you. There are other elements of this business that are fun – like being a regular on the gala and happy hour circuit – but being a great drinking buddy is not what gets you hired.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Success in this business is not always linear, but you can put yourself in a position to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves by building a strong foundation every day. Your hard work of learning new skills, improving your craft, and building authentic relationships will pay off over time. Most of the opportunities that you benefit from today are possible because of all of your previous grinding.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
We’re encouraging Democrats to invest in media ads and outreach to AAPI communities – the fastest-growing demographic in NY as well as our country. AAPI voters are the key to victory in both the presidential election as well as pivotal Congressional races. In addition, our firm is growing our public affairs practice, where we work with organizations and nonprofits looking to build public opinion in support of a key project.

Ben Tulchin, AAPC’s 2022 Pollster of the Year, is the founder and president of Tulchin Research, a polling and strategic consulting firm. Tulchin provides research and consulting services to a wide range of clients across the country including candidates, corporations, government, and nonprofit organizations. He served as the pollster for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Bernie Sanders for the U.S. Senator’s presidential campaigns.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
I worked as a paralegal at a corporate law firm in college but felt something was missing. The partner at the firm took me to lunch on my last day and told me, “If you like politics, go into politics. Don’t get a law degree to practice politics. You’ll have a lot of debt and a degree that may not help much.” I followed that advice, and here I am today – a leading political pollster!

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
How challenging it is to do this job year in and year out. While I do love it, election years can be very stressful and intense.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Protect our democracy and stave off the rise of authoritarianism in our country!

Chris is the CEO and a partner at Tusk Strategies. He ran the NY practice for 10+ years before taking over as CEO in 2021. Previously he worked for Mayor Mike Bloomberg in various press and political roles for over a decade. He’s run campaigns for Uber, TransPerfect, McDonald’s and others. Chris chairs the Brooklyn Bridge Bridge Park Conservancy and Women in Need (WIN). He lives in Brooklyn with his husband and their two children.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
It’s better to say I don’t know but I’ll find out or I don’t know but let me come back to you than to pretend to know everything. Take the time and try to get it right. And it’s ok to ask lots of smart people with lots of different perspectives before coming up with a plan.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Lots of things! But I’ve enjoyed learning them and I’m sure I’ll learn more tomorrow and the next day. This is a really fun job in a really fun and important industry.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
The most important thing for 2024 is electing Kamala Harris (we do some work on Future Forward, but this will be an accomplishment for America as a whole).

Shontell Smith is an attorney and government affairs professional with over a decade of legislative and political expertise. She is currently a partner at Tusk Strategies, overseeing public policy campaigns in New York. Before joining Tusk, Shontell served as chief of staff and counsel to the New York State Senate Majority Conference. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from Siena College and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland, School of Law.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Every failure comes with a lesson.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Getting married!

Following a decade-plus political and government career in New York and Washington, Eric now advises fast-growing start-ups and founders on high-stakes political, media, and regulatory issues around the country and overseas. A lawyer by training, Eric has become the go-to political adviser for FinTechs and other advanced tech companies in New York, while building a practice that also spans AI, fantasy sports, mobility, and broader crisis management.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Figure out what the principal wants and deliver it.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Your clients have their own internal pressures which may be equal to or greater than the external problems you’re trying to solve for them.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Continue to expand Tusk’s already formidable bi-coastal presence in all things tech.

Bob specializes in state and local advocacy.  Some union clients include the Uniformed Firefighters Association FDNY, Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics & Fire Protection Inspectors, FDNY,  New York State Nurses Association, Fire Dispatchers Benevolent Association, Dutchess County Deputy Sheriff’s, NYC Deputy Sheriffs Association, correction unions in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, TBTA Superior Officers Benevolent Association, Fire Marshal Benevolent Association of Nassau County, Council of Administrators & Supervisors, NYC Mechanics Local 246, Nassau Police Medics Association and others.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
To always step to the plate for my clients and  fight for them and their families with the utmost honesty and integrity. To respect all of the people we work with, be they elected or staff, including those with points of view my clients and I may disagree with.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I wish I knew the amazing way it would feel to spend my career helping the hardworking heroes who protect all of us. The amazing feeling every time one of our bills gets signed, knowing it will add to the protection of these heroes and their families. 

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
To be able to continue to represent the amazing labor organizations and working people we represent. To be able to continue to fight the battles to protect them and keep them safe!

Ross M. Wallenstein founded Wall to Wall Communications, LLC. in 2021 after more than 20 years in corporate communications, public relations, and New York politics. He has a storied history of managing ambitious communications and stakeholder programs for a host of private and public corporations and nonprofit organizations. 

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Work hard and people will notice.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I wish I had exposure to some other industries and occupations. I would tell any young person starting out or in college to try out a variety of areas. Get internships in more than one targeted specialty. See what you like. Try stuff you may not like. Who knows where it will lead?

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
With 2024 more than half over, I hope I’ve been serving clients as best I can while expanding the business and enhancing my reputation in the industry and the New York area.

David is the co-founder of Brown & Weinraub, New York’s top lobbying firm. He sets the overarching vision for the firm and provides the strategic framework necessary to meet each client’s objectives. The common theme of David’s experience – confidential, high level, complex assignments with little margin for error. The firm’s growing list of clients attests in no small part to David’s creativity, prudent judgment and network of key policy makers and political thought leaders.

Kinami is a media strategist specializing in tech and political communications. With a diverse background in politics, digital strategy, education, and nonprofits, she brings a unique perspective to designing and executing effective media campaigns. Before joining Stu Loeser & Co. Strategy Kinami worked in data research and business development for a New York-based digital advertising startup. She also worked in Senator Chuck Schumer’s New York press office after completing two Congressional internships in Washington, DC. Originally from Tokyo, Kinami graduated from New York University, earning a master’s degree in educational politics, leadership, and advocacy. She also holds a B.A. in education studies and a minor in Japanese language from NYU.