2025 Power Players in Public Relations & Lobbying

As founder of Marino, Frank Marino helped build and scale the agency’s Public Affairs and Strategic Communications practice, shaping narratives for leading organizations, policy initiatives, and public figures. Working with the firm’s award-winning team, he has driven results-oriented advocacy and communications strategies that advance legislative priorities, influence public opinion, and deliver measurable impact. Frank’s leadership has positioned Marino at the forefront of public affairs, guiding clients through some of the city’s most consequential issues.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
In a career that has spanned years of service in government and the communication industry, it’s difficult to point to just one lesson learned. But if I had to choose, it would be the value of adaptability, grounded in honesty and integrity. Circumstances and challenges constantly change, but remaining flexible while staying true to one’s principles has been essential – not only for achieving long-term success, but also for fostering trusted, lasting relationships.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
This year, our most significant accomplishment has been the team’s ability to consistently deliver meaningful results for clients in an increasingly competitive and evolving communications landscape. Through collaboration, creativity, and relentless focus on client service, we not only launched successful campaigns but also deepened trusted relationships. I’m proud that our collective efforts showcase the power of teamwork, proving that when we support one another, we achieve lasting impact that extends well beyond individual successes.

John leads Marino’s day-to-day operations and a combined staff of 60 team members, with Marino now considered among the mid-sized agency elite nationwide. His reputation is unsurpassed among Fortune 100 C-Suite executives, founders at emerging technology/innovation companies, corporate principals of leading real estate companies, and directors at prestigious nonprofits. Under his leadership, Marino’s work within the real estate innovation space has also grown exponentially.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
I’ve learned that nothing stays still. Markets shift, technology rewrites rules, and expectations evolve daily. Winning means staying curious, updating playbooks, and letting data and experience refine judgment. Adaptation isn’t a one-time pivot; it’s a habit – listening, testing, learning, and moving without nostalgia for how things used to work. Build teams that embrace change, communicate, and hold themselves accountable. If we keep evolving faster than the environment, we earn trust, create value, and sustain momentum.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
This year, we launched Marino Intelligence, our AI-powered business intelligence platform, and began deploying it across campaigns and clients. It’s helping teams target smarter, measure what matters, and act faster to turn insights into growth. Developing the product, integrating it into our organization, and delivering early wins for clients is the achievement I’m most proud of this year.

Tommy Meara is a partner at Moxie Strategies, where he leads high-stakes campaigns for companies and organizations that operate in highly regulated industries. An expert in labor, energy, higher education and health care, he specializes in crisis management/rapid response, paid media, legislative advocacy, and media innovation. While grounded in these sectors, Tommy thrives on solving complex challenges across industries. Previously a partner at Avōq, he lives in Garden City with his wife and three children.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
I have learned to embrace new opportunities – and to create opportunities for others. My career has been built on the chances people took on me, and I don’t take that for granted. In this business, talent rises when doors are opened. I see it as my responsibility to open those doors, take risks on emerging leaders, and make sure the next generation has the same shot I was given.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
My biggest accomplishment this year has been launching/leading Moxie Strategies’ New York office. Building this team from the ground up – bringing together sharp strategists, bold thinkers, and true collaborators – has been a business success and a reflection of the culture Moxie has built. We’ve created a home base in New York that reflects Moxie’s energy and ambition. I’m proud to be part of a team that challenges each other and delivers results for our clients every day.

Jonathan Greenspun is a partner and serves as Mercury’s key contact for New York City public affairs. His core expertise is New York City government relations. He has worked with the city’s most prestigious corporations and served clients in a variety of industries. Mr. Greenspun has extensive communication skills and has appeared on national cable networks as well as many other New York City media outlets. Born in Brooklyn, Jonathan resides in the northwest Bronx.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Success comes less from what you know than by who you know. Change is constant. Nothing stays the same. Therefore, adapt! Embrace those who know more than you, rather than be threatened by them.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Being named a partner at Mercury. Becoming a partner isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s an opportunity to give back – to invest in the next generation of leaders, to help Mercury continue evolving, and ensure we remain at the forefront of an ever-changing industry. Our success has always been built on adaptability, teamwork, and a willingness to push boundaries, and I’m excited to carry that legacy forward in this next chapter.

Kuae Noel Kelch is a senior vice president for Mercury Public Affairs. An Emmy-nominated journalist with 30+ years of experience, she was previously a producer for CNN and has worked for NBC, MSNBC, ABC News and The Miami Herald. Kuae is national president of the nonprofit Mocha Moms, Inc., with 60+ chapters in 44 states and more than 100,000 followers online. She is a graduate of Howard University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
Know your worth, and go where you are valued.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Helping my clients navigate new policies and uncertain waters, while keeping them shining in the press.

Gregory is a communications executive trusted by leaders to shape narratives, amplify influence, and drive visibility. With 15+ years across government and business, he has launched $100M+ campaigns and secured client features at the Milken Global Conf. and with Forbes magazine. A former U.S. Senate senior advisor, he made history as the first Black campaign manager for a sitting U.S. Senator. He is a member of The Economic Club of New York.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far? 
To paraphrase a mentor: To succeed, pray, prepare, and stay just a little paranoid.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year? 
I pride myself on keeping client confidences as a behind-the-scenes PR executive supporting their names and brands. What I can share is that I have the honor of leading a strategy to elevate the legacy and narrative of someone who is, arguably, a generational icon. Stay tuned!

Luis A. Miranda, Jr. served in the Koch, Dinkins, and Giuliani administrations. As a founding partner of the MirRam Group, he consulted on noted political campaigns, including the senatorial campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Attorney General Letitia James’ reelection. He is the founding president of the Hispanic Federation; currently chairperson of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, Viva Broadway, and the Public Theater; and former chairperson of the Latino Victory Fund.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
I have learned that nothing happens because of just one person. Whatever you accomplish requires a larger effort that calls for you to work hard and create a collective of individuals with complementary skills, who can jointly make things happen. You never do it alone, and you must understand that some people in the collective might be smarter than you in certain areas. 

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
My life is a mix of arts and politics. On the political side, I was able to transition from my chairmanship at the Latino Victory Fund, leaving an organization that is stronger now than when I became its chairperson. On the arts side, I became a Broadway producer with “Buena Vista Social Club,” a new musical that broke barriers by having the first all-Spanish language music score in the history of Broadway.

Roberto Ramirez, Esq. is one of New York’s most seasoned and respected public affairs strategists. From 1990 to 2000 he served as a New York State assemblyman representing the Bronx’ 78th District. In 1996, Roberto became the first Latino to lead a Democratic County Committee in New York State. As chairman of the Bronx Democratic County Committee and, later, a member of the DNC, Roberto led efforts to diversify the party’s roster of candidates.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that clients count on us for more than access or strategy. They need straightforward, direct advice rooted in experience, even when the truth is difficult. By being candid and clear, we give our clients the tools to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and move their priorities forward with confidence. Straight talk builds trust – and trust is the foundation of long-term success in public affairs.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?
Our biggest accomplishment this year has been guiding clients through the uncertainty created by shifting federal policies and budget debates in Washington. With so much at stake for health care, housing, and social services, we focused on helping clients stay steady, adapt quickly, and safeguard critical resources. Even amid constant change, we made sure their priorities advanced and their missions continued to serve the communities that depend on them.