Led by Pia Carusone and Alex Bloom, Cause-oriented Public Affairs Firm will Build Presence
Washington, D.C. – Today, SKDK announced the launch of its New England practice, which will focus on strategic communications and campaigns across the region. The practice will be led by President of SKDK Political Pia Carusone and Executive Vice President Alex Bloom, two strategists with deep experience in New England.
SKDK’s expansion into New England is a natural extension of the firm’s work in the region. SKDK and its sister agency Sloane & Company have built an extensive portfolio of New England engagements, including work with Steward Health Care, Gillette, Panera Bread, Hartford HealthCare, and National Grid. Over the past two election cycles, the team advised the winning campaigns of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin, and more.
Under the direction of Carusone and Bloom, the firm will offer best-in-class strategic communications and advertising support to campaigns and businesses across the region. SKDK provides a range of services for clients, including message development, crisis management, PR and opinion research, digital and social media content creation, creative design, and ad production and media placement. Our sister firm, Blue Wall Mail, is the direct mail team that led President Joe Biden’s 2020 mail strategy.
In 2022, SKDK produced nearly 600 ads and were the lead makers and strategists to Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the NAACP, Climate Power and host of other candidates and organizations. The Observer named SKDK one of the top PR firms in both 2022 and 2023, citing its continued stream of top rate talent, work advocating for President Biden’s climate agenda; representing more than 1,000 victims of the Boy Scouts seeking justice for alleged abuse; and partnering with New Yorkers United for Justice to reduce incarceration and racial justice in the parole system.
“SKDK is proud to be at the center of the biggest issues facing our country – from electing Joe Biden to the White House, to fighting for reproductive rights, to protecting the environment,” said Doug Thornell, CEO of SKDK. “We succeed by focusing on what works – smart, sharp messaging and a tenacious approach to media campaigns. We’re excited to be expanding our national work with a dedicated practice in New England.”
A 15-year veteran of campaign and branding leadership, Carusone oversees the day-to-day management of the firm’s political department. She most recently led U.S. Senator Mark Kelly’s reelection victory in 2022 as the lead strategist and ad maker, after first leading in the 2020 special election win. In New Hampshire, where her roots in politics began with Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, Carusone led Congressman Chris Pappas’ 2018 and 2022 wins in New England’s most competitive district. Carusone’s campaign work also includes guiding Ritchie Torres to victory in NY-15, defeating a powerful anti-choice, anti-equality opponent. Previously, she served as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration, following her tenure in communications positions in Congress.
“In today’s fast-paced news cycle, it’s important to have an experienced team that can help you navigate the media landscape so that your message and campaigns are reaching the right people,” said Pia Carusone, Managing Director and President of SKDK Political. “SKDK knows how to help candidates and businesses break through the noise at every level – national, state, and local – and we’re looking forward to working with New England institutions, foundations, and campaigns to succeed.”
Bloom, who has worked on multiple Massachusetts campaigns and as a former newspaper reporter, brings more than a decade of communications experience to the New England practice. In six years with SKDK, he has directed high-impact campaigns and outreach for clients including Columbia Business School, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Open Society Foundations. He previously advised Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s campaign in 2020 and worked on campaigns for Attorney General candidate Warren Tolman and Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Before joining SKDK, Bloom spent three years with O’Neill and Associates, where he worked with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589, Stonehill College, and HarborOne Bank, among others. He started his career as a reporter, writing for The Enterprise, The Eagle-Tribune, and The Arizona Republic. Bloom is a Somerville resident and a Tufts University graduate.
“With a track record of success nationally and in the region, SKDK has experience leading campaigns to victory and guiding companies to meet their goals,” said Executive Vice President Alex Bloom. “New England is home to the world’s most advanced businesses, forward-thinking foundations, leading universities, and best hospitals and medical centers, and we are looking forward to helping them tell their stories.”
About SKDK
SKDK is a top national communications and political consulting firm that brings unparalleled strategic communications experience to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and labor unions, as well as political committees and candidates. With offices in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, and Albany, SKDK offers strategic support to manage a crisis, protect a brand, advocate for an issue, or win an election.
In 2022, SKDK served as strategists and admakers for winning campaigns including Governor Wes Moore of Maryland, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas, and Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut – and in 2020, was a key adviser to the historic Biden-Harris campaign. SKDK has won the Holmes Report’s influential North America Public Affairs Agency of the Year multiple times and was listed by the Observer as one of the best public relations firms in America for 2023. To learn more about SKDK, visit our website at www.skdknick.com.
SKDK is a proud member of Stagwell, a digital-first global marketing network that delivers scalable, seamless solutions through a unique combination of culture-moving creativity and leading-edge technology.
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