The Herald Group

With Democrats set to take control of Congress in 2027, companies should be preparing now for a new wave of congressional oversight and investigations. From political contributions and government contracts to executive relationships and public statements, organizations could face scrutiny even without evidence of wrongdoing. In a new article for O'Dwyer's Public Relations News, THG's Evan Lukaske and David Topping from Fulcrum Intel outline how companies can assess their vulnerabilities, coordinate across legal and communications teams, and prepare before the first congressional inquiry arrives. Read the full article: theheraldgroup.com/insights/…

A food truck on Capitol Hill. A sculpture in a policymaker’s district. An installation steps from the National Mall. An unexpected approach can bring a policy issue directly into a decision-maker’s world and give the entire advocacy campaign a focal point. In our latest insight, Chief Creative Officer Brad Whitford explores how unexpected ideas can help make your issue impossible to ignore. Read more from Brad: theheraldgroup.com/insights/…

This August, we’re celebrating four THG team members and their anniversaries with the firm! Sharon Copeland (Eight Years) Caitlin Burns, Account Manager (Five Years) Lily Reckford, Senior Associate (Three Years) Allison Lees, Controller (One Year) Each has made an important impact on our clients, our work and our culture. We’re grateful for the talent, collaboration and commitment they bring to THG every day. Congratulations to all four!

The Herald Group is excited to welcome Dominique McKay to the team! Dominique brings nearly a decade of Capitol Hill experience, including serving as Deputy Communications Director for Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), and Communications Director for Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). She also held communications and policy roles with the Senate Republican Conference, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the office of the late Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.). Most recently, Dominique worked in public relations at Narrative Strategies, advising clients across health care, finance, transportation, and technology. She began her communications career as a freelance journalist and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Liberty University. We’re thrilled to have her expertise and experience at THG. Welcome, Dominique!

How do you communicate when legal or regulatory constraints prevent you from telling the whole story? Silence may feel like the safest response during litigation, an investigation, or a reputational crisis. But when organizations do not communicate, reporters or opposing voices often fill the void—and stakeholders begin forming opinions without the full picture. Our latest insight explains how organizations can protect their legal interests while communicating with clarity, credibility, and discipline when the stakes are highest. Read more from VP Ashley Pratte Oates:  theheraldgroup.com/blog/how-… #CrisisCommunications #LitigationCommunications #PublicAffairs

We’re excited to welcome Kristen Tyagi to The Herald Group as a Senior Director! Kristen brings extensive experience in grassroots advocacy and strategic communications. Most recently, she served as executive director of Parents for School Options, where she led advocacy efforts across 33 states and at the federal level. She previously advised corporations, trade associations, coalitions, and political organizations at Purple Strategies and DDC Public Affairs. Welcome to THG, Kristen!

Please join us in welcoming Haley Gross to The Herald Group as an Associate! Haley joins THG from Penta Group, where she helped develop multichannel campaigns that connected policymakers and private-sector stakeholders with original research and data-driven insights. Her experience spans education, health care, and national security policy. A graduate of the University of Denver and American University, Haley is a native of the DMV. Welcome to THG, Haley!

July brings plenty to celebrate at THG. This month, seven team members are marking anniversaries with the firm, from their first year to nearly a decade. — Tom Snedeker, 9 years, partner and chief business officer — Marc Brumer, 9 years, partner — Watt Hamilton, 3 years, account manager — Tess Cohen-Dumani, 2 years, senior associate — Mike Bushnell, 1 year, director — Grace Sedlazak, 1 year, associate — Vivek Kakar, 1 year, digital associate Congratulations to all seven, and thank you for the talent and dedication you bring to our clients, our culture, and our team every day!

This National Intern Day, we’re celebrating our summer 2026 interns as they wrap up their time at The Herald Group. Thank you for the hard work you brought to our teams and clients this summer. We’re grateful for everything you contributed and excited to see where you go next! Interested in launching your career in public affairs? THG is now hiring interns and fellows to join our growing team. Learn more and apply: theheraldgroup.com/careers #NationalInternDay #PublicAffairs #Internships #NowHiring

We’re excited to welcome Sarah Young to The Herald Group as a Director! Sarah joins THG from the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, where she served as Communications Director and led national and Louisiana media relations, rapid response, and major legislative rollouts across energy, healthcare, and economic policy. A New Orleans native, Sarah also brings five years of experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she helped members from Texas and Ohio elevate their public profiles and advance their legislative priorities. Welcome to THG, Sarah!

Please join us in welcoming Emily Hauck to The Herald Group as an associate! Before joining THG, she served as deputy press secretary in Sen. Mitch McConnell’s leadership office, where she supported media relations, stakeholder communications, and policy messaging on Capitol Hill. Most recently, Emily worked as a communications specialist supporting the U.S. Department of Labor, developing social media campaigns, newsletters, articles, videos and other digital content to communicate federal programs and initiatives. Welcome to the team, Emily!

We’re excited to welcome Maddie Kirkland to The Herald Group as an account manager. Maddie joins THG from the office of Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., where she served as press secretary, developing strategic messaging and managing the office's digital communications and content. Welcome to the team, Maddie!

THG is proud of the work we do for our clients. From narrative‑driven content to integrated digital and creative campaigns, we help clients navigate complex, highly regulated industries and reach the audiences that matter most. That work was recently recognized by the Hermes Creative Awards across multiple client campaigns. We’re extremely proud of our team members who supported these accounts and helped our clients achieve their goals. Congrats!

This March, we’re celebrating four team anniversaries and recognizing the talented people who help make THG what it is every day. — Account Manager Andrew Thomas, 1 Year — Senior Director Ansley Howd, 3 Years — Vice President Katie Wright, 1 Year — Partner Todd Van Etten, 11 Years Each of you has helped strengthen our team, our culture, and the work we do for clients. We’re grateful for your contributions and proud to celebrate these milestones with you.

We’re proud to share that our work on the Alliance for IRS Accountability (AIA) was recognized at the 2026 MUSE Creative Awards, earning Gold for Best Political Website and Silver for Best Advertising Campaign. The work focused on unifying the message around IRS reform and building a strong, credible coalition that could advocate more effectively to both the public and policymakers. Translating complex tax reform messaging into a clear, compelling narrative isn’t easy, and this recognition at MUSE is a testament to the strength of the work and the team behind it.

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the toolkit across public affairs — from legislative analysis to digital campaigns. But adopting AI is not the same as having a strategy. In a field built on relationships, judgment, and trust, technology can enhance the work, but it cannot replace the experience required to navigate complex political environments. The firms that will lead in this next chapter won’t be the ones that simply adopt AI the fastest. They’ll be the ones that integrate it deliberately — using it to strengthen strategy, not shortcut it. In our latest blog, THG’s Senior Director of Digital, AI Innovation & Analytics Colin Hensel explores where AI is already shaping public affairs, where human expertise still leads, and how organizations should think about integrating these tools responsibly. theheraldgroup.com/blog/ai-i…

THG started 2026 with a Platinum AVA Digital Award—the highest honor and our fourth win in the past five years—following a year of rapid growth. In 2025, our Creative and Digital Teams expanded, took on more complex work, and raised the bar for what modern public affairs creative can do. We're proud of the progress—and focused on what’s next.

Welcome to The Herald Group, @cgutting. Cylee joins THG as a Strategic Alliances Director, bringing a grounded, high-energy approach to modern public affairs shaped by work across campaigns, trade associations, and public affairs firms—with deep experience managing coalitions and building winning issue-advocacy narratives that reach the right audiences at the right moments. Born and raised in rural Missouri and a political science graduate of Arizona State University, Cylee’s path into this work is rooted in community-driven impact: the belief that persistent, thoughtful engagement can move outcomes—whether it’s a call, an email, or the right message delivered to the right decision-maker.

The Herald Group is looking for a highly motivated, senior-level public affairs professional to join our fast‑paced, energetic team in Washington, D.C. As our next Vice President, you’ll play a leading role in shaping high‑impact public affairs and strategic communications campaigns for major corporations, trade associations, and organizations working to influence federal, state, and international policy. Learn more about the position and how to apply: theheraldgroup.com/careers/v…

Heading into 2026, audiences are overwhelmed, skeptical, and tired of being told what to think. And while AI makes it easier than ever to produce more creative, more volume doesn’t equal more impact. THG’s Chief Creative Officer, Brad Whitford, is watching five creative shifts reshape what works in public affairs. The takeaway: less noise, more intention—and campaigns built for how people actually feel. theheraldgroup.com/blog/crea…