Our Team
Meet Our Team
Tiffany Ahern
PartnerStrategic Communicator and Advocate
An innovative vision, mission, and capital investment are essential to any organization’s success, and this is particularly true for non-profits. Tiffany has raised millions for non-profits through corporate, foundation, and individual sponsorships. In addition, she has led efforts for non-profits in strategic planning, positioning, board development, and capital campaign management. Tiffany takes organizations with inspiring missions to the next level of performance and success. With nearly 20 years of experience in business, government, politics, strategic communications, fundraising, and grassroots/coalition building, Tiffany will construct and execute the best strategy to reach your intended audiences. Communication, organization and constituent service are keys to any successful engagement that Tiffany brings to bear on your project.
Heather W. Grizzle
PartnerMeasurably Successful Communications Strategies
With a background that spans corporate, non-profit and political communications in the US and Europe, Heather will help you communicate more effectively to both internal and external audiences. She brings to bear more than fifteen years’ experience in communications including media relations, brand development, crisis management and stakeholder engagement. As a published author and ghost-writer, she will ensure that you communicate with impact and in your own voice.
Heather has an intuition for balancing the competing priorities of task, mission, and people, which helps her design creative solutions and translate them into concrete courses of action with defined, measurable impacts.
As a Board member for multiple large charities in the US, the UK, and internationally, Heather has gained practical experience in the needs and challenges of complex, diverse organizations from the perspective of an advisor and the ultimate owner of the outcome.
Josh Ong
PartnerAmplifying your brand story
Josh is a seasoned communications advisor with strong experience leading campaigns ranging from media relations to brand awareness. He has consulted across the whole range of company lifecycles, from early stage startups to the Fortune 500. Previously, Josh served as Director of Global Brand Strategy & Communications at Cheetah Mobile where he led overseas branding, marketing and communications. Josh also spent years working as an Editor at The Next Web covering technology, startups, and capital markets. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Music from the University of California, Berkeley and is an honoree of Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40 (2018).
Laura Atwood Dueker
Bringing Ideas to Life
Laura has a knack for helping brands and businesses cut through the crowded space of visual identity and positioning. By leveraging her natural and developed creativity, she will help you get noticed, be understood, and have mass appeal. With over a decade of experience in design and marketing, Laura specializes in brand identity, print and social media collateral, logo development, presentations, newsletters, and web design. Laura brings ideas to life by working with clients to engage their customers and stakeholders with a timeless, appropriate, and memorable visual identity.
Valerie Stone
Hawthorne, PhD
Bridging Science and Communication
Success in constituent and client communications is measured by the ability to tell a story that moves people to action. Valerie has nearly ten years’ experience in constructing narratives. She began her career as a classically trained research scientist publishing papers on new molecular ways to fight breast cancer. After moving to a clinical setting and interacting with patients, she realized data is of no use when no one understands it.
Using her natural ability to communicate the complicated into relatable information for all to understand, she can help you make others understand the “why”. She will collect both qualitative stories and resource quantitative data, critical to effective story-telling. Through collecting client stories and combining them with metrics, she will help you craft a relatable message, suited to any level of expertise, that will inspire others to confidently act.
Lauren Thompson
Lauren is a communications associate with experience in research, writing, and public communications. A recent graduate of Baylor University majoring in Political Science and Religion, Lauren is passionate about connecting people across cultures through communication and cooperation. In addition, Lauren is a dedicated researcher who seeks to grow in understanding and insight to better meet the needs of others
Using her natural ability to communicate the complicated into relatable information for all to understand, she can help you make others understand the “why”. She will collect both qualitative stories and resource quantitative data, critical to effective story-telling. Through collecting client stories and combining them with metrics, she will help you craft a relatable message, suited to any level of expertise, that will inspire others to confidently act.
Sadie Van Vranken
Adaptable Written Solutions
Sadie is a writer/editor with experience in public policy, operations management, and research. An analytic problem-solver with a detail-oriented approach, Sadie develops communication strategies fitted to your goals. With a background in race and public policy, she has consulted on diversity and corporate representation. Sadie has cultivated an ability to think across cultural and political divides and has had numerous international experiences. She is a strategic thinker able to see all sides of issues in complex, high-stakes environments. As a versatile, self-starting researcher, she is a quick learner and eagerly jumps into new situations. She recently graduated from Princeton University.
Lydia Vreeman
Lydia is a communications associate with experience in journalism, partnership outreach, and research positions. With a degree in politics, philosophy, and economics, she is able to bridge communication across sectors and create comprehensive communication strategies. Lydia recently graduated from The King’s College.
Joe Watkins
Bridging the Business and
Government Divide
Skills honed through asset management, media relations, school administration, and government affairs allow Joe to navigate complex challenges on behalf of clients. As a regular political commentator and co-host on various networks including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and Al Jazeera, Joe is fully prepared to be an ambassador of your brand. He understands how to leverage the media to elevate an issue and is a tested spokesperson in a time of crisis. With a foundation of experience in government as a former White House and U.S. Senate aide, Joe has the ability to generate the right outcomes for clients through his broad and deep network and a solid understanding of the governmental and political systems.