City & State Highlights MultiState’s Denisse Girón in the 2026 Albany 40 Under 40

Denisse Girón, Assistant Vice President at PPHC firm MultiState, has been highlighted by City & State in the organization’s annual Albany 40 Under 40 list.

The Albany 40 Under 40 list recognizes 40 individuals under the age of 40 who are rising stars in state politics and government. City & State receives hundreds of nominations for this prestigious list, and only a select few make the cut.

Denisse Girón was first introduced to local politics by her mother who helped plan an annual Central American parade on Long Island.

Girón and her family, who emigrated from Costa Rica, attended public hearings to secure funding and met Nassau County elected officials and took photos with them at the parade every year.

“It was really important for my mom to teach us about our culture,” Girón says. “Being a young Latino on Long Island, it’s hard to stay away from politics.”

Girón attended Hofstra University, where she saw Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Donald Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton at two presidential debates on campus. But her interest in politics grew out of her volunteer work with Planned Parenthood and a fellowship at Make the Road New York.

Read Girón’s full profile from City & State.

Seven Letter Expands Nationwide – New Offices and Experts in Los Angeles, New York City, and Huntsville   

Firm’s growth provides clients coast-to-coast advantages and sector-specific strengths, bolsters strategic digital capacities   

  • Seven Letter launches three new offices in LA, NYC, and Huntsville, Alabama   

  • Brandon Shaw, former Comms VP for Disney and Hulu, entertainment industry expert, will be named Seven Letter partner based in LA  

  • Longtime Seven Letter team member Holly Jackson to open Huntsville office serving defense and aerospace sectors  

  • Marley Hambourger adds NYC office and strengthens digital advertising offering   

WASHINGTON, DC – (January 8, 2026) – Seven Letter, an expertise-powered bipartisan strategic communications firm, today announced a major geographic expansion involving the addition of three new offices – Los Angeles, New York, and Huntsville – to bolster its growing nationwide offerings and emerging specialized practices. This development includes the addition of senior-level counselors to open the new offices and support the expansion.   

“Seven Letter isn’t just growing geographically, but strategically,” said Erik Smith, CEO and Founder. “This expansion allows us to be closer to the industries that are driving our growth. We have always emphasized providing senior-level counsel at every step – and now we can do so across more sectors and in more geographies. I’m excited about what’s to come for our clients and our team.”   

Read the full announcement from Seven Letter.

Seven Letter named one of PRWeek’s 2025 Best Places to Work

For the third year in a row, Seven Letter was named one of PRWeek’s Best Places to Work. The honorees are selected from a group of nearly 100 agencies and in-house teams to showcase the companies that rise above the pack by committing to their employees’ professional and personal well-being.

From PRWeek:

Seven Letter has earned a reputation for its attention to building a successful, collaborative team. The agency places a high priority on its people. 

“It knows its people are the greatest resource and treats them that way,” explained one staffer. The value leadership places on its workforce is not only felt by employees, it’s also echoed in the way they speak about each other.  

Read the full Seven Letter profile from PRWeek.

Pagefield’s Oliver Foster recognized as one of Mace Magazine’s Top Political Consultants

Oliver Foster, CEO of Pagefield has once again been recognized by Mace Magazine as one of the publication’s Top 100 Political Consultants for 2025/26. Peer-reviewed by top industry pros, the list covers the best advisers at the forefront of influencing politics, policy, and public affairs today.

From Mace Magazine:

Oliver Foster co-founded Pagefield after a decade working inside British and European political institutions, industry trade bodies, and high-profile listed companies. He is an integrated campaigning specialist, with over 20 years’ experience protecting, promoting and rebuilding corporate reputations through a combination of public affairs, public relations and crisis communications.

Read Oliver Foster’s full profile.

TrailRunner International’s Zack Kozlak Highlighted in PRWeek’s 2025 40 Under 40

Zack Kozlak, Head of US at PPHC member company TrailRunner International, has been named to PRWeek’s 2025 40 Under 40 list.

This prestigious recognition celebrates Zack’s exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding results for clients. It also reflects the high caliber of talent and expertise that defines the TrailRunner International team.

Congratulations to Zack and everyone at TrailRunner on this well-earned honor.

LPA Adds Strategic Communicators to Support Client Growth

Lucas Public Affairs (LPA), a leading California-based strategic communications and public affairs firm, is pleased to welcome three accomplished professionals to its growing team: Julianne Gray, Kimaya Gokhale and Linnea Leidy. Their wide-ranging experience in public policy, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement will enhance the firm’s ability to support clients across California’s policy and political landscape.

“All three of these professionals – Julianne, Kimaya and Linnea – are already having a meaningful impact on our client work,” said Cassandra Walker Pye, President of Lucas Public Affairs. “Each brings fresh perspectives, important connections in and around the Capitol and great energy that adds to our culture. We’re thrilled to have three exceptional colleagues join our already exceptional team.”

Read the full story from Lucas Public Affairs.

LPA Adds Capitol Communications Leader Niesha Fritz as Vice President

SACRAMENTO – With a continued focus on agency growth and enhanced client strategy, Lucas Public Affairs (LPA) announced that Capitol communications leader Niesha Fritz is joining its leadership team as a vice president, a move that further enhances LPA’s success as a top-tier public affairs firm.

Niesha is an effective and proven media and strategic communications expert, with 23 years of professional experience in the journalism and communications field. Niesha most recently served as senior-level staff in the California State Senate for two consecutive Senate leaders, including as director of communications for Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire.
 
In her new role at LPA, Niesha will oversee account teams, lead and manage projects, help guide clients’ communications strategies, and bolster their media presence.

“We are thrilled to welcome Niesha to Team LPA and to leverage her incredible experience to serve our clients,” said Donna Lucas, chief executive officer. “Her public policy chops, familiarity with the process and the players inside and outside the Capitol will further strengthen our ability to win for our clients. She is an exceptional fit for our firm who will undoubtedly contribute greatly to our ongoing success.”

Prior to navigating the complexities of legislative cycles, state budgets, and media related to the state Legislature and California, Niesha worked for the California Faculty Association, where she crafted messaging and media campaigns related to higher education and California State University faculty. Niesha’s deep knowledge of the news media, along with her writing and editing skills, stems from her work for The Sacramento Bee, where she was a reporter for nearly 10 years.

“The media landscape continues to evolve; however, the basics still matter,” said Cassandra Pye, president. “Niesha brings a journalism background, the ability to drive a compelling narrative and phenomenal ties to the Capitol Press Corps – all of which is so important to our work. Niesha is among the best in the business and complements an already strong group of public affairs practitioners. We’re thrilled to add this veteran talent to our dynamic team.”

KP Public Affairs Partner Jon Ross Named Among California’s Top Tech Policy Influencers

We are proud to announce that KP Public Affairs Partner Jon Ross has been recognized by POLITICO as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Players in California Tech.” This prestigious acknowledgment underscores Jon’s pivotal role in shaping the state’s technology policy landscape.​

As partner and leader of KP’s technology practice, Jon has been instrumental in guiding major tech companies through complex legislative and regulatory challenges. His efforts have significantly shaped policies on data privacy, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and the broader innovation economy.

Jon’s inclusion in POLITICO’s list highlights his deep expertise in tech policy and commitment to advancing forward-looking policies that support California’s dynamic tech sector.

Read the full article here: POLITICO – Top 20 Most Influential Players in California Tech

Crossroads Strategies Strengthens Offerings with Strategic Hires & Key Promotions

Crossroads Strategies announced today the addition of two new senior vice presidents, Jackson Stuteville and Stephen T. Voljavec, along with a series of promotions that ensure the firm remains well-positioned to advise clients navigating complex political and legislative waters.

Jackson Stuteville, former Congressional Liaison for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, brings a wealth of expertise in defense innovation, federal policy, and Native American advocacy. Stephen T. Voljavec joins from his role as Legislative Director for the Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, where he focused on health, commerce, and appropriations. Together their diverse experience will significantly strengthen Crossroads’ continued ability to deliver impactful solutions to complex problems across key sectors.

The firm has also promoted seven current lobbyists, including elevating five executive vice presidents to the rank of principal. The newly appointed principals – Scott Brenner, Jason Gleason, Brittany Hernandez, Chris Miller, and Marc Numedahl – each bring deep expertise and a strong track record of success across diverse sectors, including defense, trade, energy, health care, and transportation.

Alongside these announcements, Crossroads elevated Salim Alameddin to executive vice president, recognizing his ability to lead clients through critical industry shifts and his deep expertise in energy and technology policy. Additionally, Lauren Chandler has been promoted to vice president, reflecting her valuable contributions to the firm’s success.

“These promotions and new hires reflect not only the individual achievements of our colleagues but also the collective success of our firm,” said Mat Lapinski, CEO of Crossroads. “As we continue to grow and evolve, our talented and tight-knit team remains the cornerstone of our success and the trust our clients place in us every day.”

See the full press release from Crossroads.