The

Team

Meet our team of dedicated communications warriors

Fiona Hutton
Founder & CEO
Fiona Hutton
Fiona Hutton Founder & CEO

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Telecommunications, Natural Resources, Education, Energy, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage Services

Expertise: 20+ Years Proven CEO/Business Leader, Communications Strategy, Narrative Building, Reputation Management, Grasstops Relationships, Policy Advocacy, Mentoring & Women Leadership Training

Recognition: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 State Capitol Influencers, PR Week Agency Profile Leader, San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s Top 200 Influencers, Recipient of the Southern California Water Coalition’s Harriet M. Wieder Leadership Award

Board Affiliations: California Chamber of Commerce, LA City Dept. of Recreation & Parks Commission, Open California/Capitol Weekly, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, She Shares, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (former), State Capitol/Sacramento Press Club (former), Valley Industry & Commerce Association (former)

Dagny Ellenberg
Partner
Dagny Ellenberg
Dagny Ellenberg Partner

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Progressive Policies on Access, Equity and Affordability, LA City Hall, Clean Energy, Land Use, Cannabis

Expertise: Strategic Planning, Reputation Management, Narrative Building, Media Relations, Owned Content, Crisis Management, Bilingual (French)

Recognition: PRSA PRism Awards for Crisis Communications – Rocklin Academy (transgender education); Integrated Communications for the California Association of Health Plans/Runaway Rx (high priced drugs)

Clients: Sutter Health, Health Net, CA Association of Health Plans, CA Hospital Association, OneLegacy/Donate Life, Asante Health System, NextEra Energy, Avantus

Kendall Klingler
Partner
Kendall Klingler

Issue Areas: State & Local Government, Telecommunications, Energy, Infrastructure, Police Reform, Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Environmental Remediation

Expertise: Strategic Planning, Legislative & Policy Advocacy, Regulatory Challenges, Ballot Measure Campaigns, Targeted Digital Advertising, Ally Mobilization, Litigation Support

Recognition: PRSA PRism Award for Public Outreach for Proposition 14 (stem cell research); PRSA PRism Awards for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year for Peace Officers Research Association of California (police reform) and Personal Care Products Council (cosmetic product safety and testing); PRSA Prism Award for Crisis Communications – Crimson Pipeline (emergency response)

Clients: CA Cable & Telecommunications Association, Comcast, AT&T, Personal Care Products Council, Association of Talent Agents, Association of California Water Agencies, Yes on Prop 14 (stem cell research)

Rebecca Nicholas
Partner
Rebecca Nicholas

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, CEQA, Cannabis, Broadband, Infrastructure, Energy, Education, Transportation, Federal & State Government

Expertise: Strategic Planning, Thought Leadership, Policy Development & Advocacy, Stakeholder Engagement & Facilitation, Conflict Resolution, Public Education & Outreach Campaigns, Change Management; Leads FHA Sacramento

Recognition: PRSA PRism Award for Integrated Communications – State Water Contractors

Clients: State Water Contractors, CA Natural Resources Agency, CA Department of Water Resources, CA Department of Food & Agriculture/Cal Cannabis, Southern California Water Coalition, Port of Stockton

Affiliations: Association of Women in Water, Energy & Environment, Sacramento Press Club, Sacramento PRSA, Women in H2O, She Shares

Sari Afriat
Vice President
Sari Afriat
Sari Afriat Vice President

Issue Areas: Finance, Agency Operations, Human Resources, Accounting, Administration, Information Technology

Expertise: Financial Planning, Projections, Analysis, Legal Compliance, Contracting, Team Utilization, and Budgeting

Education: B.S. Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting & Marketing, California State University, Northridge

Ian Anderson
Vice President
Ian Anderson
Ian Anderson Vice President

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Infrastructure, CEQA, Water, Police Reform, State & Local Government

Expertise: Policy & Political Strategy, Legislative Advocacy, Entitlements, Regulatory Challenges, Ally Mobilization

Clients: State Water Contractors, CA Department of Food & Agriculture/Cal Cannabis, Irvine Ranch Water District, Yes on Prop 68 (parks/water), Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

Education: M.A. Public Administration, University of Southern California; B.A. Political Science and Government, Manhattanville College

Affiliations: Los Angeles County Young Democrats (former executive board member), California Democratic Party (former delegate)

Amanda Haig
Vice President
Amanda Haig
Amanda Haig Vice President

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Medi-Cal, Health Equity, Land Use, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage

Expertise: Corporate Communications, Reputation Management, Litigation Support, Change Management, Strategic Planning, Narrative Building

Clients: Health Net, Sutter Health, Gold Star Foods, Clear Channel Outdoors, Rodan & Fields

Education: B.A. Political Science, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Alice M. Walton
Vice President
Alice M. Walton
Alice M. Walton Vice President

Issue Areas: Labor, Healthcare, Natural Resources, Local & State Government, Telecommunications

Expertise: Journalism and News Outlets (former reporter for Los Angeles Times, KPCC, City News Service), LA City Politics & Policy, Narrative Building, Media Strategy, Content Generation, Transparency, Ethics

Affiliations: Society of Professional Journalists/Los Angeles Chapter

Michael Schwartz
Director, Creative & Digital
Michael Schwartz
Michael Schwartz Director, Creative & Digital

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Natural Resources, Energy, Public Safety, Local & State Government, Land Use

Expertise: Marketing & Branding, Creative Design, Website Development, Targeted Digital Advertising

Clients: Southern California Water Coalition, CA Association of Health Plans, CA State Parks Foundation, Association of California Water Agencies, Sutter Health, AT&T, LA County Department of Public Works

Education: B.A. Communications and Media Studies, Chapman University

Sarah Melbostad
Account Supervisor
Sarah Melbostad
Sarah Melbostad Account Supervisor

Issue Areas: Cannabis, Natural Resources, Healthcare, Climate Resilience, Renewable Energy, Environmental Justice

Expertise: Narrative Building, Content Generation,Media Strategy, Litigation Support, Stakeholder Engagement

Clients: Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power, United Cannabis Business Association, California State Parks Foundation, California Association of Health Plans, NextEra Energy, Southern California Water Coalition, Personal Care Products Council

Education: B.A. Economics and Political Science, UCLA

Katie Lee
Senior Account Executive
Katie Lee
Katie Lee Senior Account Executive

Issue Areas: LA City Hall, Healthcare, Natural Resources

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Social Media, Account Organization, Media Monitoring, Multilingual (Korean & Spanish) 

Clients: Health Net, Clear Channel Outdoor

Education: M.A. Public Policy, University of Southern California; B.S. Biology, Haverford College

Max McSlavkin
Senior Account Executive
Max McSlavkin
Max McSlavkin Senior Account Executive

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Water, Cannabis, Federal & State Government, Infrastructure

Expertise: Creative Communications, Digital Advertising, Community Organizing, Policy & Political Strategy, Public Education & Outreach Campaigns, Policy Development & Advocacy

Clients: CA Department of Water Resources, North Kern Water District

Education: B.A. Political Science, University of Southern California, Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, Coro New York Leadership Center

Maddie Moore
Senior Account Executive
Maddie Moore
Maddie Moore Senior Account Executive

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Telecommunications, Public Agency, State Government

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Media Relations, Social Media, Account Organization, Media Monitoring

Clients: LA Department of Water & Power, Association of CA Water Agencies

Education: B.A. Political Science and B.A. Journalism, University of Oregon

Evan Swerdfeger
Senior Account Executive
Evan Swerdfeger
Evan Swerdfeger Senior Account Executive

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Healthcare, Land Use, Renewable Energy, Infrastructure

Expertise: Stakeholder Engagement, Content Generation, Litigation Support, Narrative Building, Media Relations, Corporate Communications, Research and Insights

Clients: Avantus, LA Department of Water & Power, Yes on Prop 14 (stem cell research)

Education: B.A. Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara

Melanie Tuberman
Senior Account Executive
Melanie Tuberman
Melanie Tuberman Senior Account Executive

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Health Equity, State & Federal Government

Expertise: Thought Leadership, Social Media Strategy & Content, Policy Analysis, Content Generation

Clients: Sutter Health, One Legacy/Donate Life

Education: M.A. Public Administration, University of Southern California; B.A. Political Science, George Washington University

Sabrina Goodman
Account Executive
Sabrina Goodman
Sabrina Goodman Account Executive

Issue Areas: Water, Renewable Energy, Infrastructure

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Media Relations, Media Monitoring

Clients: Clear Channel Outdoor, Gold Star Foods

Education: M.A. Global Communications, University of Southern California; M.Sc. Global Media & Communications, London School of Economics; B.S. Interactive Media Arts, New York University Shanghai; B.A. Global China Studies, New York University Shanghai

Frank McMullin
Account Executive
Frank McMullin
Frank McMullin Account Executive

Issue Areas: Healthcare

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Media Monitoring, Social Media, Multilingual (English, Japanese, Chinese)

Clients: Western Dental, One Legacy

Education: B.A. History, University of California, Santa Barbara

Yvonne Vasquez
Account Executive
Yvonne Vasquez
Yvonne Vasquez Account Executive

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Medi-Cal, Health Equity, State Government

Expertise: Thought Leadership, Social Media Strategy, Content Generation, Media Monitoring, Multilingual (Spanish)

Clients: Health Net, Western Dental, Sutter Health

Education: B.S. History, Political Studies, and Ethics from Pacific Union College

David Hourin
Account Coordinator
David Hourin
David Hourin Account Coordinator

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Healthcare, Public Safety

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Media Monitoring, Social Media

Clients: HealthNet, CA Department of Water Resources

Education: M.A. Business Administration, Colorado Technical University; B.A. English and Political Science, Williams College

Kasania Khachadourian
Account Coordinator
Kasania Khachadourian
Kasania Khachadourian Account Coordinator

Issue Areas: Healthcare, Natural Resources, Local & State Government

Expertise: Creative Design, Social Media, Targeted Digital Advertising

Clients: NextEra Energy, Sutter Health

Education: B.A. Communications, University of Missouri

Emmaline Nguyen
Account Coordinator
Emmaline Nguyen
Emmaline Nguyen Account Coordinator

Issue Areas: Natural Resources, Cannabis, Healthcare, State & Local Government

Expertise: Research & Insights, Content Generation, Media Monitoring, Social Media

Clients: OneLegacy, CA Department of Cannabis Control

Education: B.A. Philosophy, University of California, Santa Barbara

Matthew Gearhart
Executive Assistant
Matthew Gearhart
Matthew Gearhart Executive Assistant

Issue Areas: Agency & Office Operations, Administration, Information Technology

Expertise: Scheduling, Office Management, Staff Engagement, Event Planning, Client Coordination

Education: B.A. Illinois Institute of Art Chicago

Steven Sass
Administrative Office Assistant
Steven Sass
Steven Sass Administrative Office Assistant

Issue Areas: Office Operations, Administration, Information Technology

Expertise: Scheduling, Office Management, Client Coordination

Education: B.F.A. Niagara University

Alejandra Kincheloe
Assistant Bookkeeper
Alejandra Kincheloe
Alejandra Kincheloe Assistant Bookkeeper

Issue Areas: Financial Planning, Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable, Operations

Expertise: Team Utilization and Management, Budgeting, Bilingual (Spanish)

Education: B.A. Spanish, Cal State Fullerton; Associate Degree in Accounting, Golden West College

Brenda Deeley
Senior Counselor
Brenda Deeley
Brenda Deeley Senior Counselor

Issue Areas: Water, Airports, Hospitals & Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Nonprofits

Expertise: Strategic Planning, Thought Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Public Education & Outreach, Crisis Communications/Reputation Management, Media Training

Recognition: PRSA Silver Anvil for Community Relations – Orange County Water District; WateReuse Association Campaign of the Year – Orange County Water District; PRSA Silver Anvil for Community Relations – San Diego International Airport; SABRE Award for Community Relations – San Diego International Airport; Airports Council International – North America Campaign of the Year – San Diego International Airport; PRWeek Awards Honorable Mention for Community Relations for Hoag Hospital Irvine; Healthcare Public Relations & Marketing Association for Crisis Communications – Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center; Public Relations Society of America, Orange County – Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award

Education: M.A. Political Science/Public Policy & Administration, Western Washington University; B.A. Communications/Broadcast Journalism, University of Washington

Affiliations: Orange County Public Affairs Association; Reimagine Board of Directors

Kate Folmar
Senior Counselor
Kate Folmar
Kate Folmar Senior Counselor

Issue Areas: California Government & Politics, Healthcare, Gun Violence Prevention, Education

Expertise: Journalism & News Outlets (former reporter for Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News), Legislative & Policy Advocacy, Media Relations, Crisis Management (former communications director for the CA. Health and Human Services Agency during the COVID-19 pandemic), Message Development

Education: Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism