2025 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

Kerri is a nationally recognized communications adviser known for guiding corporate and nonprofit clients through high-stakes campaigns, crises, and leadership transitions. A former TV reporter and communications director at the NYC Department of Education, Kerri brings expertise from both sides of the profession – crafting creative, strategic, and resonant narratives in a constantly evolving media and policy landscape.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
This business is all about human connection. Technology will – and already is – changing some of the ways we do our work, but never the relationship between an adviser and a client.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Helping our wonderful clients navigate the most challenging political and policy landscape I’ve ever seen while also planning a wedding!

Mike is a nationally recognized public affairs strategist who advises CEOs, foundation presidents, academic leaders, and public officials on positioning, leadership transitions, corporate and nonprofit campaigns, and high-stakes crises. As president of SKDK, he oversees the firm’s acquisition and growth strategy and enterprise integration across SKDK, Sloane & Company, and Jasper Advisors. Prior to joining SKDK, he served as Chuck Schumer’s New York communications director.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Be precise. Leave no stone unturned, ask every question, confirm what you believe you know.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Seeing my firstborn child off to college.

Michael Skelly is the president of Skelly Strategic Solutions, a prominent public relations firm, specializing in high-stakes advocacy campaigns. He is an expert in strategic communications, crisis management, and media relations. He has worked with many labor unions on dozens of compelling public relations campaigns that achieved stronger labor contracts, safer working conditions, and critical legislation for essential workers.  Michael has a B.A. from Bates College and a Master of Public Administration from NYU.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
I’ve learned quite a few important lessons over the course of my 20+ years in this business, but I think the one lesson that resonates the most with me is that your reputation is worth far more than any amount of money and over time, your reputation is what ultimately sets you apart from your competition.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Over the past year, our firm developed and executed a compelling high-stakes public relations campaign on behalf of the Sergeants Benevolent Association that helped the SBA secure an unprecedented contract, which for the first time in decades, ended a wage disparity that had left over 1,200 NYPD Sergeants earning less than the police officers they supervise. We were also successful in launching an aggressive public relations campaign on behalf of the Palm Beach County PBA.

Jennifer Solomon is an accomplished entrepreneur and public relations professional who consults for businesses and tech startups, venture capital firms, community organizations and leading nonprofits. She began her career in politics as a congressional staff member and campaign manager, later building her expertise in strategic communications across a range of high-impact roles. Jen graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Binghamton and earned a master’s degree in strategic communications from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Success isn’t always a straight path – it often means making adjustments along the way. I’ve learned to trust the process, stay positive, and have confidence in my ability to figure things out.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
One thing I’m proud of this year is sharpening my ability to bring the right people together and create opportunities that really matter for my clients. It’s been exciting to see those connections turn into meaningful collaborations.

Known as a brilliant strategist and a street fighter, Michael Oliva has been a premier advisor in politics, business and public affairs for decades. With a keen focus on demographic targeting, he’s earned a strong reputation for electing prominent women to office. Michael is highly regarded for his stellar public relations strategies. His knack for achieving the unexpected keeps him high atop the list for aspiring individuals and organizations striving to make their historic mark.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Reaching people is about knowing them. The ability to measure the pulses and fathom the psyches of differing demographics is essential to outreach. What truly informs your marketing strategy is listening to communities, knowing their aspirations, struggles, fears and desires, what separates different groups and what brings them together. Polls, focus groups, data, and methods all matter, but gut intuition inspired by seeing and feeling the world through others’ eyes is most crucial to success. 

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Spending as much time with my daughter as possible.

As founding principal of Sykes Global Communications, Ronnie Oliva has risen to the top of the proverbial call list for clients wishing to break through the cacophony of rapid and sustained informational stimulus and spin. Having successfully broken into a competitive, once male-dominated field, she is one of the first women to start a political public relations firm in New York City.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that one of the most valuable skills I’ve developed is the ability to manage perception, build trust, and influence behavior. What’s great is that this skill isn’t limited to PR — it’s incredibly transferable and plays a powerful role in leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, customer relations, and even personal growth.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
My biggest accomplishment this year has been realizing just how many of our clients have stayed with us for the long term. Their continued trust affirms the value we deliver and reminds me that our strongest achievement isn’t a single milestone, but the lasting relationships we’ve built together.

Lupe Todd-Medina has worked on a variety of issues in the greater NYC area and nationally. She works on political and issue campaigns, crisis communications, and strategic management. Lupe continues to serve as an advisor to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. She currently represents Black lawyers who are part of a multidistrict litigation against international companies that produce hair relaxers linked to increased risk of uterine, endometrial and ovarian cancer in women of color.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
As a woman and of color, sometimes I’ve had to work twice as hard – and sometimes for half the glory. But I don’t allow that to diminish my shine. Underestimate me; that sounds fun.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
I was so proud of the four-month campaign for mayor that I worked on with Speaker Adrienne Adams. She worked very hard and never compromised who she was for a vote or an endorsement. Always cheerful with a quick, wide smile, she stayed true to her beliefs and ideals. She is Adrienne from Southside Jamaica, Queens. I respect that.

Chris has been CEO of Tusk Strategies since 2021. He has been an advisor to Mike Bloomberg, Andrew Cuomo, Ritchie Torres and other leading elected officials. He specializes in running advocacy campaigns that get lots of attention, whether for Uber, Scooters, unions or other nonprofit groups. He chairs the board of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and Women in Need (WIN). Chris lives in Brooklyn with his husband and two kids.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The days of the guy telling the guy to do the thing are mostly over. If you want to move a regulator or elected, get people on board and make it easier for the government body. Quiet phone calls are rarely enough.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
We’ve had a great year in Albany on a number of different things, from film tax credit to defeating unpopular fashion legislation to helping fintech companies get regulated. Proud of that work and looking forward to 2026.