Category: PPHC Talent

Sarah Grubbs, Chief Growth Officer at TrailRunner International, has been named to PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026, which recognizes rising leaders making an impact across the communications industry. Sarah’s selection reflects her outstanding leadership, strategic expertise, and contributions to the growth of TrailRunner International

Now in its 20th year, PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 list recognizes emerging leaders who are driving innovation and excellence across public relations, communications and marketing. Sarah’s inclusion underscores the strength of talent across PPHC and the impact our professionals are making throughout the industry.

Read the full announcement from PRWeek.

SACRAMENTO – Lucas Public Affairs (LPA), one of Sacramento’s most respected public affairs firms, announced the addition of Sallie Poggi to the leadership team as Vice President. Poggi joins LPA with over two decades of strategic communications experience spanning higher education, brand positioning, corporate communication and crisis management. In this role, Poggi will lead the firm’s digital strategy practice and will take senior responsibility for the firm’s market positioning and thought leadership. 
 
Poggi’s hire reflects LPA’s commitment to expanding its strategic capabilities at a moment when digital fluency and an understanding of cultural forces shaping public opinion have become essential to winning on policy and issues. Poggi’s unique combination of senior level media instincts and honed expertise in emerging platforms, creative content and audience insights adds depth to LPA’s capabilities to reach constituents in new and influential ways.

 “LPA is known for our deep relationships and traditional media savvy,” said Donna Lucas, CEO and Founder. “The addition of Sallie to our bench of strategists ensures that LPA is thoughtfully growing to meet our clients’ new and complex communications challenges with creativity and deep understanding of the digital landscape.”

Poggi was a trailblazer in social media strategy before it was a recognized discipline in public affairs — drawn to the platforms not because they were trendy, but because she was genuinely curious about how people form opinions, build communities and shape influence online. Her fascination with human behavior in digital spaces became the foundation of a practice that has since informed work for global executives, major commercial brands and for issues facing California’s most complex stakeholder groups.

Her work has spanned brand strategy, executive positioning, extensive crisis communications response and audience insight work across complex stakeholder environments. Most recently, Poggi served as Chief Communications Officer at the University of the Pacific. She also served as Executive Director of Strategic Communications at the University of California, Davis, where she directed communications strategy during periods of institutional change and led the university’s brand and leadership digital and social media presence to national recognition. Prior to UC Davis, Poggi worked at APCO Worldwide and at FleishmanHillard, two of the world’s leading strategic communications firms, building digital strategies for California businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

“I’ve spent two decades watching and learning from Sallie as she is both student and master of the digital landscape and how audiences respond and behave,” said Cassandra Pye, President of LPA. “This blend of LPA’s proven strategic capabilities with new age know-how positions us well to provide our clients with thoughtful and effective strategies.” 

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.

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.

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.

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.”