2024 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

Jenn has worked at the intersection of policy, politics, and public affairs, where she has cultivated deep relationships with the most prominent elected officials in city and state government. Prior to founding Green Book, Jenn served as a senior advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, as well as a top staffer for NYS Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger and the NYS Department of Labor. Jenn earned her Juris Doctorate from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
State Senator Liz Krueger, who was my first boss in government once told me, “Be confident in who you are, how hard you work and that you can be yourself and still be successful in politics.” I also think of advice Mayor Adams gave to me when I worked for him, “the biggest error we make in communication is that we believe it actually occurred.”

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
In a business of “people,” projects are never complete. Initiatives are never final. There is always more work to be done. But you don’t have to be the one to do it at all, all of the time. Sometimes you just have to sleep.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Getting the City Council to pass and the Mayor to sign into law a local law to prevent my children from saying “mommy” more than four times in a row. If efforts are unsuccessful, 2025 looks promising for lobbying efforts in the State Legislature. And for my husband/partner to appreciate my legislative humor.

Jeff Guillot serves as managing director at MAD Global Strategy. In his previous role as founding partner at Millennial Strategies, Jeff worked on some of NY’s most forward-thinking public policy endeavors such as Universal Pre-K, Paid Family Leave, and the legalization of ridesharing. His prior public sector experience includes working for Congressman Gary Ackerman and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. Jeff holds a B.A. from Sacred Heart University and an M.A. in American government from LIU Post.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
“‘I don’t know’ is a perfectly acceptable answer in a serious conversation.” – Former New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I was a starving actor before I entered this arena. Actors need to have very short memories and be able to handle criticism, and ultimately, rejection well. I had no idea that this skill set would come in so handy in the business of professional politics and government!

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
For the first time in nearly 12 years, I am no longer my own boss! I am incredibly excited to have moved myself and my team into MAD Global Strategy and to launch its New York government and public relations practice.

Mark Guma has worked as a media and mail consultant for more than two decades, launching his firm in 2002, and is recognized as one of the leading Democratic strategists in New York. His clients include Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; Congress Members Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Ritchie Torres; State Senators Zellnor Myrie, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson; and DACC. Mark grew up in New Orleans and is a diehard Saints fan.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
In most years, very little happens from November through mid-January. Relax and enjoy the downtime.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
That advances in technology would make it possible to do creative work remotely, from anywhere with reliable wifi.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Helping lay the groundwork for Zellnor Myrie to become New York City’s next Mayor.

Keith Corbett is a litigator who advocates for clients and masters the courtroom by making the facts and the law understandable. Working in partnership with his clients, Keith navigates complex situations, some of which are politically fraught, and resolves them with pragmatic solutions. Keith has extensive experience in political and election law, including campaign finance, having represented former President Barack Obama in the noted birther case. Keith is co-leader of the firm’s Political Law Practice Group. 

Jared Kasschau has extensive experience as a litigator in private practice and the public sector. He also has experience in all aspects of New York State Election and Campaign Finance Law. He’s represented candidates for federal, state and local offices, including candidates for the U.S. presidency. Jared’s counseled candidates through every phase of the election process, from ballot access to post-election recounts and has significant experience in campaign finance matters.

Tyquana Henderson-Rivers is the founder and CEO of Connective Strategies. With over 30 years in politics and advocacy, she has a proven track record of helping clients build their brands. A registered lobbyist and MWBE business owner, Ty has played crucial roles in many campaigns, including those for Governor Hochul, Congressman Meeks, Queens DA Katz, Borough President Richards, REBNY, FedEx, and the Newtown Creek Group to name a few.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
The best advice I received from a mentor was to always stand up for myself and not let others speak down to me. She emphasized the importance of asserting myself and never hesitating to speak up.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Politics and government have been a part of my life since high school; it’s all I’ve ever known. It was my first job and my first love, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
One thing I hope to accomplish in 2024 is to contribute significantly to electing the first Black woman to the White House, particularly in battleground states.

Matthew Hiltzik, president and CEO of Hiltzik Strategies and longtime NYCEDC board member, is a trusted advisor to leaders in finance, technology, sports, entertainment, education and philanthropy, leveraging his experience as an attorney, activist and producer to help the firm’s demographically, geographically, religiously and politically diverse client base to shape, protect, and advance their narratives and share their stories with audiences that matter most.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Judith Hope, the trailblazing former New York State Democratic Committee state chairwoman (and my first boss after law school) would tell us that “Information is currency…don’t be a counterfeiter.” She also exemplified the importance of speaking up, challenging the status quo and not just accepting that ‘this is the way we have always done things’ as an excuse.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
How hard it can be for innovators to convince certain institutions to implement the necessary new approaches to adapt to changing realities in their worlds.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Hopefully, we can continue identifying shared values and building bridges between people of different backgrounds and providing ongoing communications and emotional support to the parents of Omer Neutra and other families of hostages of all religions being held in Gaza to #bringthemhome.

Bradley Honan is the CEO and president of the Honan Strategy Group – a strategic public opinion research and data analytics company and has worked for marquee names within New York State including; Mayor Bill de Blasio, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Congressman Eliot Engel, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, among many others.  

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
You can’t control how smart you are, but you can control how hard you work.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
The road to success isn’t always a straight line.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Drive innovation by leveraging AI tools in the public affairs space.

Patrick B. Jenkins is the president and founder of Patrick B. Jenkins and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in strategic solutions for businesses and campaigns, government and community relations. He has more than 15 years of combined experience in community relations, government administration and public policy. The firm is considered one of the most well-connected in Albany, and Patrick Jenkins one of its most powerful lobbyists.