Pia is a Managing Director at SKDK and oversees the day-to-day management of the firm’s political department. Pia brings over 15 years of campaign, communications, media, and brand development work to her clients at SKDK.
After years of winning tough campaigns, Pia met U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords and they quickly bonded over growing up in republican families. Pia was the youngest female chief of staff in the house when she joined Gabby’s team. After the stunning and horrific Tucson shooting, Pia was recognized on the floor of Congress for her leadership role in the aftermath.
Carusone was most recently the lead strategist and ad maker for Senator Mark Kelly, who won the special election to fill Senator John McCain’s seat. Previously she served as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama Administration.
Carusone’s campaign work also includes guiding Ritchie Torres to victory in NY-15, defeating a powerful anti-choice, anti-equality opponent. And in New Hampshire, where her roots in politics began with Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, Carusone helped Congressman Chris Pappas secure his first re-election in New England’s most competitive district. In 2006, Carusone managed the first campaign of now Congressman John Sarbanes and then joined him on Capitol Hill as his Communications Director.
Pia has given hundreds of TV, radio, and print interviews and is frequently called to comment on the latest developments in politics and government. Originally from Saratoga Springs, NY, Pia is a graduate of Bard College and now resides in Washington, DC with her wife, daughter and their two dachshunds. Ask Pia what her favorite bourbon is – she’s the co-founder of Republic Restoratives Distillery.
Comments Off on Pia CarusoneOren Shur is a Partner and helps lead SKDK’s political department. For the past 20 years, he has served as a media consultant, campaign manager and communications strategist on some of the most competitive Democratic campaigns and independent expenditures across the country.
Oren is the ad-maker and media strategist for numerous Democratic elected officials – including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. Moore’s 2022 win was historic, as he is Maryland’s first Black Governor and just the third in US history. In 2022, Gov. Kelly was the only Democrat to win a Governor’s race in a state carried by Donald Trump in 2020.
Oren also produces ads for leading advocacy organizations, including Climate Power, The League of Conservation Voters, Future Forward, Protect Our Care and Demand Justice.
In 2020, Oren served as an adviser to the Biden campaign’s paid media team. In 2016, he was the Director of Paid Media on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, where he directed the campaign’s advertising program – overseeing the creative development and placement for all television, radio, direct mail, digital and newspaper ads in the primary and general elections.
Prior to joining SKDK, Oren spent over a decade on the campaign trail, holding positions including: Director of Independent Expenditures for the Democratic Governors Association, where he oversaw paid media programs in 11 states that totaled nearly $50 million; Campaign Manager and spokesman for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon; Campaign Manager to New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish; Communications Director to U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and spokesman on Cardin’s competitive 2006 Senate campaign.
Oren began his career as a campaign aide to legendary former Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and still proudly considers himself a “BAM’er.”
Oren graduated summa cum laude from The George Washington University, where he currently teaches a course in campaign communications. A native Marylander, Oren lives with his wife and their twin boys in Takoma Park, MD.
Comments Off on Oren Shur