2025 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

Suri Kasirer founded Kasirer in 1997 and built it into New York City’s leading lobbying firm. She and her team have guided nonprofits, corporations, and cultural institutions through complex government processes, advancing projects in real estate, technology, hospitality, healthcare, and more. A lifelong advocate for people and progress, Suri also serves as vice president of Citymeals on Wheels and sits on the boards of the New York League of Conservation Voters and other civic organizations.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Success comes from building a team with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and technical expertise. No one person can navigate New York’s complexity alone, but a team that reflects the city can approach challenges with creativity and insight. At Kasirer, we also cultivate emerging talent – our internship program, which draws more than 250 applications for just 10 spots per semester, helps shape the next generation of professionals committed to government and public affairs.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Kasirer played a pivotal role in shaping New York’s housing and cultural landscape this year. We advanced major housing projects, including 5 Times Square’s office-to-residential conversion with hundreds of affordable units and Gotham’s Urban Village with nearly 2,000 rent-stabilized homes. We also guided the Delacorte Theater and Waldorf Astoria through complex approval processes, leading community outreach and stakeholder engagement to ensure these iconic institutions could reopen and continue serving New Yorkers.

Over 25+ years in public affairs and public service, Peter has served at every level of politics and government – including as press secretary for Senator Clinton; communications director for the Governor; and deputy press secretary at the DNC. At the height of the COVID pandemic, Peter served as senior advisor to the Mayor, managing day-to-day operations at City Hall. After 9/11, Peter joined the Navy and spent five years as an intelligence officer.

Brendan Klein is the founder and president of North Shore Strategies, a leading marketing and public affairs firm serving political, private, and nonprofit organizations nationwide. At North Shore, Brendan solves problems, large and small, to help clients navigate complex climates and amplify their message to the public. His client portfolio includes members of Congress, Fortune 500 executives, major political committees, and nonprofit leaders.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to go above and beyond in your work, empower the people around you, and invest in building long-term relationships.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
This year, our biggest accomplishment has been growing our team with the addition of a new vice president and associate, while also expanding our footprint by opening a new office in Washington, D.C.

Eric has experience at the highest levels of strategy on political campaigns, crisis communications, government, public affairs, brand management, and corporate communications. He has shaped narratives that have won elections, guided market leaders, changed public opinion and protected and defended brands, organizations and individuals in high-stakes crisis situations. The work has been in the United States and around the world.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Always. Play. Offense.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
It’s been a big year, helping several frontline Democrats win races in districts Trump won across the country and helping get Mark Levine elected New York City comptroller.

For more than 30 years, Paul Larrabee, APR has been a well-known player in the field of PR, lobbying and New York politics – leading Corning Place Communications since 2011. Prior to joining CPC, he served on the senior communications staff of three governors, an attorney general and the state Assembly leadership. He is also an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, where his coursework focuses on integrated strategic communications, advocacy, and crisis mitigation.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Every assignment presents the opportunity to learn something, and those that often contain the greatest lessons are those that initially may have fallen short of the objective. It is the lessons learned during these difficult moments that prepare you to succeed in future endeavors.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Our biggest accomplishments this year are interrelated. We are growing in number; the client portfolio is expanding; and we are remaining focused on achievement-oriented outcomes. The entire leadership team takes pride in that collective accomplishment.

Greg has served in all sectors of government at the municipal, state, federal, and international levels. He possesses a deep understanding of public affairs and governance, allowing him to advise clients utilizing sophisticated strategies in dealing with complex issues. Greg had a seat at the table in local and federal matters as past district director to Congresswoman Grace Meng and chief to staff to former New York City Council Member Karen Koslowitz.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Listen and try to understand what others’ needs are. It allows you to find key pain points and challenges as well as keeps focus on potential solutions to issues.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
I am deeply proud of the work with my McBride colleagues on behalf of our clients which span key sectors including the environment, nonprofits, transportation, cannabis, health care, affordable housing and technology.

Scott Levenson is founder and president of The Advance Group (TAG), a leading consulting firm bridging government, nonprofits, and the private sector since 1990. A veteran organizer, he has managed high-profile campaigns nationwide, from Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential run to New York City mayoral races. Internationally active, TAG champions pay parity and equality. A cannabis policy expert, Scott helped shape New York’s Compassionate Care Act and advises startups, while frequently appearing as a political commentator.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Every year, we find that people are less willing to invest time and effort into building relationships. I believe relationships are key. I encourage all our folks to work on deepening their relationships with others because it helps them be more effective AND have richer lives. We implore people to text, not email, to call, not text, and to meet, not call. The most important lesson is to spend time and effort nurturing relationships.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
We continued advancing our decade-long effort to expand public art across the city. Working with ArtBridge, the industry leader, we helped amend the scaffolding law, enabling capital funds to support even more artistic displays. Words can spark real change, and we are proud to have transformed the cityscape. What was once dominated by a decade of monotonous forest-green scaffolding has evolved into vibrant works of art, now visible in neighborhoods across the city.

Over the last three decades, Stu Loeser has helped some of the most successful people and companies in the world prepare for massive changes in their industries and emerge through tumultuous times with both their businesses and their reputations stronger than ever. Previously, Stu was U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s communications director, and then the longest-serving chief spokesperson for the City of New York, under Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
This year we moved out of our longtime home in the Chrysler Building into our new office in NoMad, which is the former apartment of Leonard Bernstein for a brief but pivotal period in his career.

Patricia Lynch is the founder and owner of Patricia Lynch Associates, Inc. One of the few woman-owned government affairs firms in the state, PLA/NY began in 2001 as a two-person start-up in Albany. Presently, Patricia Lynch Associates maintains a strong and unwavering presence at the forefront of policy and decision-making across the Empire State while simultaneously working to advance the interests of clients on projects and initiatives both domestically and across the globe.