Category: PPHC Talent

Alpine Group Strengthens Defense and National Security Team with Abbey Overland

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Top Washington Lobbying Firm Makes Strategic Hires, Bolsters its Teams Ahead of Crucial First Year of a New Administration and New Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Alpine Group announced this week that Abbey Overland, an accomplished expert in defense and national security policy in the legislative and executive branches of government, has joined the company as a Vice President.

Most recently, Overland was an in-house lobbyist at Palantir Technologies and Ursa Major, leading their national security efforts on Capitol Hill. Prior to her work in the private sector, Overland served as the Military Legislative Assistant (MLA) to Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where she handled her defense, veterans’ affairs and foreign affairs portfolio. She then transitioned to the Pentagon where she served as the primary congressional advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the entity driving the Department’s science and technology strategy.

Alpine also announced the promotions of Hannah Schmidt from Director, Public Policy to Senior Director, Public Policy and Travis Fruhling from Staff Assistant to Director, Public Policy. It also announced its plans to hire Madison Gordon as a Staff Assistant from her previous role as an intern.

“Few in our industry have as much wide-ranging and relevant experience in defense and national security policy while also having the relationships to get things done as Abbey,” said Keenan Austin Reed, CEO and Managing Principal of The Alpine Group. “Her deep understanding of defense policy and inter-agency collaboration, coupled with her commitment to bipartisanship, will be instrumental in helping our clients navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities in the defense sector. We’re excited to have Abbey on board as we continue to strengthen our team and provide exceptional strategic guidance. We are also thrilled for Hannah, Travis and Madison who are playing critical roles on our team of experts.”

See the full press release from Alpine.

LPA’s Daisy Castellón elected to Sacramento Press Club’s Board of Directors

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Congratulations to LPA’s Daisy Castellón, a newly elected member of the Sacramento Press Club’s board.

The Sacramento Press Club (SPC) is a nonprofit educational organization established in 1961 with the goal of uniting journalists, public relations professionals, press secretaries, political consultants, legislative staff, and members of the public interested in media and politics. Dedicated to investing in the next generation of journalists, SPC awards over $50,000 in scholarships each year.

See the full list of newly elected SPC board members and other California updates from Politico’s California Playbook.

Partner Kelly Devers-Franklin Joins Seven Letter Corporate Communications Practice, Expansion Result of Rapid Growth

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Firm’s three additional hires increase the digital and strategic communications expertise

WASHINGTON, DC – Seven Letter today announced the addition of Kelly Devers-Franklin as a Partner to its growing team of communicators. The firm also announced three new hires in D.C. and Boston.

Devers-Franklin has served as a trusted advisor to public and private companies, top-tier academic institutions on corporate and crisis communications, media relations and executive positioning. She joins Seven Letter’s Boston office, located within the cradle of higher education, at a time when university leaders are under historic scrutiny from students, funders, and the public. She will play a significant role in the firm’s corporate communications practice.

“Seven Letter has seen exponential growth in our corporate communications practice, year over year. Adding Kelly to the team will allow us to continue to expand that offering,” said Founding Partner & CEO Erik Smith. “Kelly’s depth of experience in both corporate communications and higher education, paired with her roots in the public sector will make her a vital partner to all of our clients.”

Also joining the firm are Kayla Boswell as a Manager, and Danny Jackson and Jody Gallinger as Content Specialists.

Kayla Boswell is an accomplished marketing and communications professional with extensive experience in driving impactful results across the digital landscape.

Danny Jackson and Jody Gallinger both join the firm after having completed the Seven Letter Fellowship Program.

See the full press release from Seven Letter.

Alpine Group Names Keenan Austin Reed New CEO

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Reed Succeeds Les Spivey Who Takes New Role as Alpine’s President

Washington, D.C. – The Alpine Group, a premier bipartisan, bicameral government affairs firm, announced today that Keenan Austin Reed will be the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Effective January 1, 2025, Reed will succeed Les Spivey, who has served as CEO and Managing Principal for over five years and will transition to a new role as President, focusing on business development and strengthening relationships with existing clients.

The transition aligns with the Alpine Group’s commitment to fostering leadership that reflects the dynamic and diverse nature of the policy landscape. With Reed at the forefront, the firm is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, innovation, and impact in government affairs. Reed brings a wealth of experience and a track record of transformational leadership. As a top congressional and campaign veteran, seasoned lobbyist, and civic leader, she has proven to be a tenacious advocate in service to the Alpine Group’s clients and has made her mark by rapidly expanding its roster since joining the Group in 2021. Her innovative approach and strategic mindset have earned her recognition as one of the most influential voices in Washington by multiple industry groups.

Spivey expressed his confidence in Reed’s leadership, stating:

“Keenan is a dynamic and visionary leader who understands the intricacies of policymaking and the importance of building relationships on both sides of the aisle. I am thrilled to see her take the helm and lead the Alpine Group toward new horizons.”

Stewart Hall, CEO of Alpine’s parent company, PPHC, added:

“Keenan’s appointment as CEO marks a pivotal moment for the Alpine Group and PPHC. She has deep expertise, unerring strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to client service. I am confident that under her leadership, the Alpine Group will continue to excel and deliver impactful results for its clients.”

Spivey joined the Alpine Group eighteen years ago after having served on staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee for three different Chairmen. Under Spivey’s stewardship, the Alpine Group has developed into one of the largest and most influential lobbying firms in Washington.


“I am deeply honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation that Les has established here at Alpine,” said Reed. “I look forward to leading Alpine into its next chapter, advancing our mission to provide unparalleled service and advocacy for our clients. We will meet these goals while also continuing to foster an inclusive environment that reflects the full diversity of the communities we serve.“

READ: Forbes Tate Partner Doug Usher’s op-ed featured in The Hill

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2024 has been an ‘unprecedented’ election, but the polls are telling us another story

The campaign sprint to Election Day has begun, and as always, an inordinate amount of attention is on public polling. Those polls are telling us the real story of the campaign so far — but are we willing to listen? 

Read the full article in The Hill.

PRWeek: Three agencies on PRWeek UK’s radar this week

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PRWeek spotlights agencies with a story to tell from the past seven days that we think are worth keeping an eye on.

Pagefield

Pagefield feels like an agency to watch these days. Fresh from its acquisition this summer by PPHC, the US government relations and public affairs holding company, the London firm last week announced a trio of senior appointments.

Read the full story from PRWeek.

PRWeek: Pagefield bolsters senior team with ex-FTI and Stonehaven hires

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New hires from left to right: Christopher Clark, Natasha Page and Ollie Wilson

Pagefield Communications has announced a trio of senior appointments following its recent sale to PPHC, the US government relations and public affairs holding company.

Christopher Clark, a former senior managing director and partner at FTI Consulting, joins the Pagefield Communications leadership team as a partner.

Pagefield said he will lead further growth of the consultancy’s corporate reputation offer, “both domestically and internationally”. He previously led global corporate briefs from both London and New York at FTI, where he worked for more than 23 years.

Pagefield said: “During his time with FTI, Christopher developed a particular specialism in foreign direct investment as well as the industrial, aviation and automotive sectors, all of which he brings to Pagefield, where he will also work closely with other PPHC group companies.”

Meanwhile, Ollie Wilson joins as a senior consultant from global strategy consultancy Stonehaven.

Wilson will focus on further expanding Pagefield’s marketing communications and digital platforms offer, the firm said. There will be a particular emphasis on creativity, design, audience insights and online campaigns, as well as Pagefield’s own marketing programme, working with partner Laura Price.

The third hire is Natasha Page, who joins from Red Lorry Yellow Lorry as HR manager.

She will report to chief executive Oliver Foster “as they work closely together on Pagefield’s integration within the PPHC group, and as the company continues to strengthen and expand the skills within the team”.

Read the full story from PRWeek.

Lucas Public Affairs Expands Executive Leadership Team, Names Executive Vice Presidents Jessyca Sheehan and Travis Taylor

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Lucas Public Affairs (LPA) is excited to announce additions to its executive leadership team, naming Jessyca Sheehan and Travis Taylor as executive vice presidents. They join LPA CEO Donna Lucas and President Cassandra Pye in managing the firm, with a focus on driving agency growth and innovation to enhance client strategy, business development and talent management.

Donna Lucas, CEO:

“Our corporate, nonprofit and government clients rely on us to help them navigate many of California’s toughest public policy challenges, and Jessyca and Travis have delivered time and again. They are trusted, effective strategists, and their elevation reflects their place among California’s top public affairs leaders.” 

Read the full story here.

PPHC Completes Second Cycle of Summer Fellowship Program

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Pictured from left to right: Syeria Alvarado | Howard University Class of 2024, Tanner “TJ” Edwards | UNC Chapel Hill Class of 2024, Anamei Walli | University of Kentucky Class of 2026, Sadad Salahuddin | University of Southern California Class of 2024

The PPHC 2024 Summer Fellowship Program concluded this week, marking the end of its second successful rotation.  By leveraging the size and scope of expertise across PPHC’s leading member companies, this highly competitive Group-wide initiative provides a select cohort of students and recent graduates with diverse opportunities to collaborate and partner with PPHC’s leaders and industry experts. The program aims to provide an immersive experience for emerging professionals from groups who are traditionally underrepresented in the government relations and advocacy fields, to equip them with essential skills and knowledge necessary for a career in public policy, and to expose them to the unique political and professional landscape of Washington, DC.

Over the span of 12 weeks, the four distinguished fellows engaged in a comprehensive rotational experience, acquiring valuable insights and skills at PPHC member firms while being mentored by industry experts. The fellows spent a dedicated week at each participating company, including a “California week” that integrated recently acquired Lucas Public Affairs with KP Public Affairs. Additionally, the program featured designated “flex weeks,” allowing fellows to conduct focused independent research, as well as “Professional Development Week” which included career development workshops, as well as opportunities to gain insights from PPHC’s C-Suite and leadership team.  

Ron Starzman, EVP of Human Resources, PPHC:

“Diversity, in all forms, accelerates innovation.  And innovation is a critical component to long-term success. PPHC’s Fellowship Program truly reflects the richness of our diverse organization.  We are very proud of our program, as well as our very talented fellows, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow, learn, and thrive in ways that will enrich their futures and the future of our industry.”

PRovoke Media Headliners: Oliver Foster

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From PRovoke Media:

In this week’s Q&A, we speak to Oliver Foster, the CEO of UK strategic communications firm Pagefield, which has been acquired by US public affairs group PPHC. 

What are the greatest challenges and opportunities for the PR and communications industry over the next 12 months?

It’s a big year of elections around the world and so, whatever the results, a lot of disruption is already happening – politically, socially and economically. But change is also an opportunity – for new connections and trying new approaches to campaigning.

Read the full conversation here.