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Taft Communications Team

Our Team

There’s no substitute for experience, expertise, and passion. By design, Team Taft is a blend of seasoned communications pros, the next generation of innovative problem-solvers, and a network of subject matter experts from the top levels of corporate, nonprofit, and government communications.

The Team

Neelu Agrawal

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Neelu has forged a sustained passion for learning and teaching throughout her 30-year career as an expert in healthcare commercialization, strategic communication, and management training.

Full Bio

Meghan Bianco

DIRECTOR, MEDIA RELATIONS

Meghan’s inside game is as strong as her outside game. She provides high-level external and internal communication strategies, making sure that — no matter who the audience is — Taft clients’ mission and products are accurately and compellingly portrayed.

Full Bio

Elliot Bloom

SENIOR CONSULTANT

The man is a pro’s pro (and a prose pro, too). None of that is surprising, given Elliot’s deep and broad experience in all facets of strategic communications, branding, crisis management, and all-around ability to come up with great ideas.

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Aaron Brown

SENIOR DIRECTOR, CREATIVE

Aaron has spent 15 years helping brands find their true voices — and then figuring out how to make sure they are heard.

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Erin Byrne

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Erin Byrne is a corporate sustainability, social impact, and public health expert with a knack for connecting people and ideas.

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Sheila Cort

VICE PRESIDENT & COACH

Sheila has a diverse career focused on internal and external comms, strategic planning, leadership communications training and coaching, and diversity consulting. She leads Taft’s DEI communications sector as well as Taft ClearPoint®.

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Ted Deutsch

CEO

Ted doesn’t just drive successful client service and Taft’s overall growth. He also rolls up his sleeves to give the firm’s staff and clients the benefit of nearly 25 years’ experience in corporate communications and public affairs.

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John Ellis

SENIOR CONSULTANT

This guy knows how to win over a room. After a career that included professional acting in New York, John provides Taft clients with the benefits of his interest and expertise in speech, locution and organizational communications.

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Jesseka Kadylak

DIRECTOR, DIGITAL MEDIA

Jesseka has her pulse on all things digital and keeps Taft clients on top of the newest trends in Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn and social media platforms you haven’t heard of yet.

Full Bio

Nicole Kirgan

DIRECTOR, POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS

As a quick-thinking creative strategist with a decade of experience in the fast-paced communications industry, Nicole Kirgan’s policy and marketing expertise is an asset to Taft Communications’ team.

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Laine Klimek

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Behind every account is a detail-oriented coordinator who helps keep projects moving forward. Laine supports the Taft team and clients with research, media monitoring, media list development, writing and editing and more.

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Jenn Kramer

SENIOR CONSULTANT

With 20 years in the political arena, state and federal government, corporate America, and the nonprofit sector, Jenn is up for whatever Taft clients need.

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Bob Laverty

SENIOR CONSULTANT

From the very beginning of his career — he started out as a hospital pharmacist — Bob’s passion has been helping educate people about their health.

Full Bio

Dylan McNulty

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

With the same determination he showed on the mound for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights baseball team, Dylan pitches hard for Taft clients.

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Mark S. McNulty

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

“Dollars and sense” are Mark’s department, and it’s a good thing, too. He has overall responsibility for Taft’s financial, risk management, and IT operations.

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Jordan Mehan

CONSULTANT

Jordan brings her skills and smarts to Taft, where she conducts and organizes research, drafts compelling news releases, and monitors media coverage and performance analytics.

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Jayne O’Connor

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Jayne’s career has put her at the frontlines of political battles and cutting-edge healthcare innovations. The common thread is that she is a shoulder-to-shoulder partner who helps clients.

Full Bio

Nausica Orthodoxou

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ACCOUNT OPERATIONS

Behind every successful project is someone making sure everything gets done. At Taft, that’s Nausica.

Full Bio

Lindsey Pascarella

CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER

As chief client officer, Lindsey makes sure Taft’s clients receive exceptional service while finding ways to elevate client experience and optimize results.

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Oliver Quinn

SENIOR CONSULTANT

You can’t fake gravitas; Oliver is the real thing. This long-time veteran of Newark and New Jersey business and public affairs advises our clients on compliance and ethics, dispute resolution, leadership development, and diversity and inclusion.

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Elise Reiss

SENIOR PROJECT COORDINATOR

Elise’s passion for behind-the-scenes work helps unleash Taft’s creativity by coordinating project timing and budgets for all job deliverables.

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Jon Shure

SENIOR DIRECTOR

Thanks to a career communicating about policy and public affairs, Jon has a knack for getting complex points across in clear, relatable language. The key: meeting people where they are so you can get them where you want them to go.

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Jemia Kinsey Singleton

SENIOR MANAGER

An expert in reaching diverse audiences, Jemia Kinsey Singleton’s provided communications advice and support to various local and national brands and organizations.

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Grace Spencer

DIGITAL MANAGER

It’s a social media world these days, and Grace doesn’t just live in it — she’s a master who stays on top of social and digital media trends so Taft clients’ messages are where they need to be, when they need to be there.

Full Bio

Mara Connolly Taft

CO-FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR EMERITA

A penchant for finding just the right creative expression made Mara a national branding and marketing expert who helped create iconic brands and put several megabrands on the map.

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Pete Taft

CO-FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER

A journalist’s curiosity and a drive to help others find their truest voice have been hallmarks of Pete’s extraordinary career.

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Carmella Vindigni

BOOKKEEPER

For the Taft team, the client comes first. Carmella runs a close second, at least when it comes to getting in time cards and expense reports. She makes sure the bills get paid and all of Taft’s financial records are up to the minute.

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Lisa Williams

SENIOR MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES

Lisa plays an integral role at Taft, overseeing and managing HR functions such as recruitment, employee development, and DEI initiatives, as well as the firm’s community service and team-building activities.

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Career Opportunities

“We’re a communications consultancy, but all of our work is focused in these areas of purpose.” — Team Taft member

“When your company cares about your personal well-being as much as your professional success, you know you’ve found a good fit.” — Team Taft member

Our Team: Taft Communications group photo at the Trenton Circus

“I appreciate Taft’s mission to take on meaningful work to help better people, companies, communities and the environment.” — Team Taft member

Our Team: A photo of Taft employees Elise, Richa and Dylan at the office.

“I can do my best and be my best here because I work with like-minded people who really care about what they do. We all have a passion to help our clients win.” — Team Taft member

Taft staff at JFCS bike fundraiser

Our Work

Finding the right voice and telling the right story is a powerful combination. See how we've helped businesses and nonprofits reach their goals.