The Core Strategic Group is a premier holding company comprised of the best political, public affairs and association management practitioners in the world. Our broad range of operating companies brings together the most talented professionals with a passion for creating industry-leading public affairs programs. Our integrated network of companies serves the needs of the most innovative companies, political committees, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations across the country and around the globe.
The leadership of the Core Strategic Group and our entire team are the industry’s most experienced and innovative public affairs specialists. We have a shared set of values that prioritize delivering excellent service and innovative strategies. We are committed to accountability to our clients and each other. And we prize collaboration, talent, and hire only the best. Our team is passionate about the work we do, dedicated to our clients’ success, and fearless about taking on new challenges.
The Core Strategic Group of companies has the scope to handle any challenge. We can scale our services based on a client’s goals. Sometimes just one of our companies is needed for a focused effort that demands a particular specialty. More complex projects may require a full and seamless deployment of all our firms. And with nearly 50 of the best public affairs, political campaign, association management, grassroots, and advertising professionals around and offices throughout the country, clients can be assured that their consultant team will operate seamlessly across all disciplines.
SACRAMENTO
1800 J STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95811
916.448.4234
ANAHEIM
2099 S. STATE COLLEGE BLVD.
SUITE 630
ANAHEIM, CA 92806
949.336.4500
AUSTIN
11801 DOMAIN BLVD.
3RD FL
AUSTIN, TX 78758
ST. LOUIS
211 N BROADWAY
ST. LOUIS, MO 63102
WASHINGTON D.C.
1440 G ST NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20005
Jeff is the CEO of Core Strategic Group and the Senior Partner in the firm. He oversees all aspects of the firm, including client services, project management, business development, and managing the business. Jeff has extensive experience in public relations and political campaigns.
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Cherri has managed day-to-day efforts and multi-million dollar budgets on behalf of a number of statewide and local initiative and referendum campaigns, Fortune 500 companies, local government agencies, non-profit organizations and associations.
Since 2012 she has lead the firm’s Latino Outreach and Spanish-Language team. Assimilating to the language and culture through study and living abroad, Cherri has spent much of her career developing and implementing culturally appropriate strategies for her clients. Her extensive experience and sage counsel makes her the go-to choice for clients seeking to deliver their messages to the Latino community.
Her record of success coupled with her unique collaborative approach to ballot initiative campaigns and traditional corporate public affairs programs has earned her a national reputation for being an intentional, strategic leader and a masterful tactical implementor. Cherri’s passion, dedication and vivacious spirit makes her a client favorite.
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Kristy is a Principal and CEO of The Core Management Company. She oversees TCMC’s administrative operations and leads a number of TCMC’s client teams. For nearly two decades she has excelled at developing integrated communication campaigns for corporate, government and nonprofit clients including Ford Motor Company, Western Carwash Association, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, California Travel Association and the Dairy Council of California. Kristy is currently enrolled in the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) program.
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Frank Rizzo is President of FSB Public Affairs. He has over twenty-five years of political and public affairs experience and has led grassroots public affairs campaigns in over forty states and Canada. He is an expert at developing and managing grassroots campaigns to influence legislative, regulatory, and policy decisions at the federal, state, and local level for corporate and trade association clients. Frank has also managed various ballot and independent expenditure campaigns around the country. Frank has worked some of the country’s largest companies on wind and solar energy projects, cannabis issues, waste facilities, and mixed-use and commercial developments. His experience with community outreach extends to projects involving NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), as well as many state and local environmental regulations around the country.
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Frank spent fifteen years working on political campaigns throughout the country at all levels including presidential campaigns, congressional races, legislative and county races. He has also worked for some of the country’s leading political consulting firms producing television, radio, and direct mail advertisements.
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Chariot’s President and founder James Fisfis has over two decades’ experience in U.S. and international political campaigns, including 18 years in California. He is the recipient of six AAPC “Pollie” Awards and three Reed Award nominations for his successful and innovative ad campaigns to elect moderates in deeply partisan districts in California, which earned him the Silver “Pollie” Award for best Candidate Media Campaign of the 2014 election cycle.
In addition to his award-winning media consulting for political candidates and elected officials, James has conducted and directed over 500 political and public affairs surveys and focus groups – in the United States and in over 20 countries on four continents – for Fortune 500 companies and business and technology organizations.
Prior to founding Chariot in 2006, James served in the California State Assembly as Political and Communications Director for three consecutive Minority Leaders.
Jerry serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the firm. Based in Orange County, Jerry serves as General Manager of the Orange County office and leads business development efforts throughout the southern California region. Jerry possesses nearly 40 years of real estate and land use law, business and corporate law, political and government experience.
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Originally from Oklahoma, Ryan has worked on behalf of some of the toughest political and public affairs campaigns throughout the country. His experience in moving the needle is invaluable for anyone looking to win in today’s tough political climate.
In 2004, Ryan was a regional political and financial services director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee helping to go 4/4 with special elections. That work in 2004 helped lay the groundwork for the House to turn Democratic in 2006. After two successful cycles at Democratic voter contact firms, Ryan founded and was the President of the AAPC Pollie Award Winding Creek Group from 2009-2020. His work with the Democratic National Committee Analytics team and the Obama for America 2012 Analytics Team revolutionized political calling leading Caroline Grey, OFA Director of Operations for Analytics to say, “Their work on our tracking polls and modeling ID’s was integral to our success on Election Day. We’ve worked with them through vocabulary changes in ‘data’, ‘targeting’ and ‘analytics’ and will continue our relationship with them wherever we go.” Very few people bring the depth of knowledge and value-added approach Ryan will bring to your project.
In addition to his political resume, Ryan is an expert at land-use project management as well as corporate communications. Whether it’s gaining approval for wind turbines in Oklahoma, fighting to block a coal plant in South Dakota or helping navigate out of a media crisis in Missouri, Ryan has the expertise along with the experience to back it up to solve all of your corporate communication needs.
Along with his daughter and her dog, Ryan lives in St. Louis, Missouri where they both enjoy attending Cardinals baseball games even though he is a die-hard Dodgers fan but he has finally given up on her being one as well.
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Over the pat 20 years, John has played important roles on political, public affairs and corporate social responsibility campaigns across the country and internationally including helping to pioneer domestic and international digital advocacy strategies for foreign governments, fortune 100 companies and international nonprofit organizations. Most recently, John was a managing director leading the public affairs practice for Group SJR, a New York digital strategy firm owned by WPP. Previously, he ran the Washington DC office for the California Department of Education, advised legislative leadership on policy and political strategy and lobbied for the California Chamber of Commerce.
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Dan Kramer, President of KPA Strategies, has more than 20 years experience in political, campaign and trade association management, investigative research and public relations. He is an expert in developing and implementing effective public affairs campaigns for businesses, institutions and individuals under attack from competitors, activists, political and regulatory officials, and the media. Dan holds both a B.A. and Master’s degrees from the University of Southern California.
Carlos brings a diverse business and communications background and over 13 years in marketing and design experience to the Core Strategic Group team. Using his proficiency in graphic design, video production, web design work, 3D space layouts, and event production, Carlos implements his experience in marketing and branding principles to deliver effective collateral pieces across several different mediums. Carlos understands the importance of being a student to the ever evolving marketing and creative world. Based in the Core Strategic Group Orange County office, Carlos has worked hand in hand with the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce on countless initiatives, election campaigns, community engagement campaigns, advocacy issues, and economic development policies over the past 9 years.
EXPERIENCE
• Former Lead Designer for a retail design company
• Former Director of Communications for the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
• Over 9 years of public affairs work, leading the design and implementation of
campaign websites, logos, mailing collateral, and social media marketing
campaigns
• Proficient in Video Production and design suites Final Cut Pro, Adobe
Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Sketchup
David is a Principal and the President of The Core Management Company. He is the vision driver of TCMC and primary liaison to our client Boards. He provides executive level services, and assists in strategic planning, government affairs and PAC management for our clients. He possesses a Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and is currently enrolled in the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) program. A respected leader in the realm of association executives, David was named the 2019 Association Executive of the Year by the California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE). He currently serves as CalSAE’s Vice Chair & Secretary and is in line to become Chair of the Board in 2020.
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Miranda Pinto joined the Core Strategic Group team as our Administrative Services Director. Miranda brings nearly 15 years of experience in administrative management which includes finances, human resources, employee development, and office management.
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Adam Rosenblatt is a proven expert at leveraging research and analytics to understand and influence opinion and behavior.
President of Core Decision Analytics (CODA), the opinion insights and data analytics division of the Core Strategic Group, Adam designs and executes cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and data analytics programs for campaigns and non-political clients.
Campaigns & Elections magazine designated Adam as a non-partisan “Rising Star” and his experience spans from Fortune 500 corporations and prominent trade associations, to government agencies and major political campaigns.
During the 2018 and 2016 election cycles, Adam led complex predictive analytics programs in California that enabled victory in key races through data-driven targeting and messaging.
For his role in the 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race, Adam was recognized with the Telly Award, a Pollie Award, and three Reed Awards. For his role in crafting the research-based communications campaign that led to the passage and later defense of interchange (swipe fee) reform, Adam was recognized with American Association of Political Consultants 2012 Silver Pollie Award for “Best in Show Public Affairs Campaign” as well as the 2010 Reed Award for “Best U.S. Public Affairs Campaign.”
Adam has served as an Adjunct Professor of Research and Strategic Communications at American University in Washington DC, where he received a Master of Arts in Applied Politics as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Public Communication.
David M. Wilson is Executive Vice President and CFO of C3 Public Strategies, Inc., managing partner of the firm. David oversees all corporate and political clients as well as campaign grassroots management. David has a lifelong passion for politics and a deep understanding of direct voter contact through grassroots communications.
A Sacramento native, David grew up in the political arena and has extensive experience in the industry aiding over 120 municipal, legislative, and congressional campaigns. David’s career has led him across California contributing to his expertise of California and it’s political geography. David resides in Newport Beach and anchors C3’s Southern California office.