2024 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

For over 10 years, Minda has created effective public affairs campaigns for clients in various industries, including energy, finance, and bioscience. Before coming to J Strategies, Minda served under the former Governor of NY and worked for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer as deputy regional director in Central New York. She has experience working on numerous city, state, and federal political campaigns. Minda holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and public communications from Syracuse University.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Always make a plan! By laying out a full plan of attack and implementing a few basic processes, new projects will feel less daunting. I’m constantly juggling multiple clients, issue areas, and types of work. Planning ensures I’m on track, helps me stay organized, allows space for creativity, and keeps me always delivering for my clients.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Just how important emotional intelligence is! The old mantra, “If you’re smart and you work hard, you’ll be successful,” is definitely not true in this industry. The most successful people have high IQs and high EQs. They are able to use their analytical skills, logic, and memory, coupled with self-awareness, motivation, and consistency, to lead and achieve results.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Continue to deliver creative, impactful results for my clients

Adam leads J Strategies’ media practice. He is an award-winning public affairs leader with experience in lobbying, corporate communications, and issue advocacy. He crafts sustained, convincing messages and builds and maintains lasting relationships with press contacts, stakeholders, and public officials. Focused on technology, insurance, civil justice issues, alcohol policy, and agency rulemaking, Adam implements multichannel strategies that navigate political headwinds and shift the narrative on controversial topics, ultimately winning the day for his clients’ goals.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
The two most important things I apply to my work are: read everything and listen to people. You can’t write effectively without reading and you can’t talk effectively without listening.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
No. This is an industry you learn by doing the actual work – talking to advocates, working with reporters, and collaborating on policy issues with elected officials at all levels of government. I’ve always been a creative problem solver and I appreciate every opportunity to strategically communicate and navigate complex policy issues.

With a keen understanding of policy, communications, government relations, alliance development, business development, and strategy, Julie has created results-driven messages for nonprofits and Fortune 100 companies, turning opponents into allies and challenges into overwhelming successes. Before J Strategies, Julie served as regional director for U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and was the first woman political director for the Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters. Julie lives in Albany with her husband and daughter.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Always take on tasks that challenge you to improve your skill set. One of my best mentors always told me to apply for jobs where you don’t have every requirement mastered, so you force yourself to learn at a rapid pace. He always said that it was up to you, and no one would tutor you how to do your job. This has brought me growth and success throughout my career.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I wish I learned more about state politics in college. We’re taught a lot about the federal legislative process, but there’s a lack of courses about state politics, legislative processes, committees, and so on. This industry provides great careers for students studying political science. It would be beneficial to learn more about processes that can secure employment in media and lobbying around state politics.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
To help Kamala Harris be our first female president!

Jaime Venditti believes the catalyst to success is excellent client services coupled with a creative and effective strategy. Jaime maintains close relationships with advocacy organizations, business groups, and various industry partners throughout New York, making her uniquely successful in quality alliance development. With experience spanning over two decades, Jaime has developed a keen expertise in health care, specializing in biopharmaceuticals. She also has extensive experience working with industries such as aviation, energy, technology, insurance, and agriculture.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” a sentiment often attributed to Voltaire, was shared with me by a mentor at a moment when I needed to set aside perfectionism and focus on achieving positive progress. Over the years this advice has helped me achieve meaningful success for clients. There is a time and a place for an “all or nothing” mentality, but building upon incremental success is incredibly important as well.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
No, because it would have ruined the surprise! In all seriousness, my career has been and continues to be the adventure of a lifetime. I always knew that working in this industry would be fast-paced and exciting, but until I embarked on this professional journey I wouldn’t have truly known that no two days are the same and that I would meet so many incredibly intelligent and insightful people along the way.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
In 2024 my goal is to continue pursuing personal growth that fosters my professional growth. As a naturally inquisitive and creative person, I strive to continue exploring the world and using what I learn to bring new ideas and inspiration to both new and current clients.

Suri Kasirer founded Kasirer in 1997, initially serving nonprofits, and grew it into NYC’s #1 lobbying firm. She and her team have achieved unmatched success across various industries, from corporate to nonprofit, education, culture, real estate, technology, hospitality, media, and health care. Suri serves on the boards of the New York League of Conservation Voters, Citymeals on Wheels, the Women’s Leadership Forum, and the New York Building Foundation.

Peter Kauffmann is the founder and CEO of Bluejacket Strategies, with 25 years of experience in public affairs and public service. Peter has served as senior advisor to the Mayor, press secretary for Senator Clinton, deputy press secretary at the DNC, director of communications for the Governor, and lead communications advisor for Priorities USA. After 9/11, Peter joined the United States Navy and spent five years on active duty as an intelligence officer.

Andrew occupies a unique space in New York’s political and media worlds. At Actum, he provides communications and crisis expertise for companies, nonprofits, and education organizations. For years he was one of the city’s most prominent political journalists, hosting “Kirtzman and Co.” on WCBS-TV, and “Inside City Hall” on NY1. His third book, “Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor,” was named one of the best books of 2022 by The New Yorker.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
A boss once told me that ultimately, your reputation is all you have. I’ve kept that in mind and passed that advice along to countless others.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I’ve always considered my career an adventure. I’ve worked in newsrooms, served in government, advised for consulting firms, and founded several businesses along the way.  I’ve gotten advice at points to play it safer, but my life wouldn’t have been half as fun if I had.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
I want to stop staring at my phone.

Brendan Klein is the founder and president of North Shore Strategies. A Northeast Queens native, Brendan enjoys over 13 years of experience in campaign management, strategic messaging, direct voter contact, and more. He solves problems, large and small, to help clients navigate complex climates and amplify their message to the public.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Build long-lasting relationships, maintain your integrity, and keep a clear head in times of crisis.

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay! It’s all part of the growth process.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Here at North Shore we aim to continue working alongside our incredible clients to build public and private partnerships that make a difference in people’s lives. With our Democracy under constant attack, 2024 is a time for both New Yorkers and Americans to come together and stand up for the values we share.

Eric has experience at the highest levels of strategy on political campaigns, crisis communications, government, public affairs, brand management, and corporate communications. Since founding Downfield in 2021, Eric has worked on successful political, public affairs and issue campaigns. He has raised awareness about key causes across the globe, bringing attention to organizations and people who otherwise would have gone unnoticed in a crowded media environment. Eric has also managed high-profile crisis situations.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
Pretty easy: always work hard!

Is there something you wish you knew before starting your career in this industry?
I was blessed to have great mentors – but expect the unexpected has been something that’s come up time and again.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2024?
Flip the house!