March Membership Madness begins, making the off year count, and more

Hi, AAPC Insiders!

 

In this issue, we’ve got insights on how to make the most of an off year, a friendly (but fierce!) membership competition, and a deep dive into the gender ambition gap in politics.

 

And, we’re celebrating some big moves among our members. Not a member yet? Join this group of innovative professionals !

 

Ready to get in the game? Let’s dive in.

 

Anna Ross

Membership Marketing & Communications Manager

 

In this issue…

  • AAPC Member Moves
  • March Membership Madness!
  • Tips for Making the Off Year Count
  • Are you expanding your PA practice?
  • New on the Podcast: The Political Ambition Gap
  • Don’t Miss
  • February’s New & Returning Members

Member Moves

  • Corey Vale was named President of Push Digital.
  • Ascent Strategic announced the addition of Wes Farno and Kristen Fisher to their team. Farno will serve as the Director of General Consulting, while Fisher will serve as the Director of Business Development.
  • Julie McClain Downey joined Global Strategy Group as Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs.

🏀 March Membership Madness: Who’s Got the Best Recruitment Game?

It’s game time, AAPC! March Membership Madness tips off on March 1, and we’re running a full-court press to grow the AAPC community.

 

Recruit the most new or returning members, climb the bracket, and secure your spot in the Final Four—where each winner scores a $100 Amazon gift card and earns legendary status in AAPC history.


🔥 Shoutout to our current leaders of the pack!🔥

🏆 Art Hackney (Hackney Communications)

🏆 Jaimey Sexton (The Sexton Group)

🏆 Tracy Dietz (DonorBureau)

🏆 Kyle Roberts (AdImpact)

🏆 Mark Harris (ColdSpark)

🏆 Rebecca Pearcey (Bryson Gillettte)

 

For Mark Harris, the competition is personal:

 

“The AAPC has been a huge help to me throughout my career and I love being able to share that with other people in our industry. It's an easy sell.”

 

And as Art Hackney puts it:

 

“AAPC is the only industry organization advocating for the protection of political speech. If you’re interested in working on this campaign and having a future in this business—it’s a smart investment in being successful.”

 

🏀 Think you’ve got what it takes? Get in the game, climb the bracket, and bring new talent into the AAPC community!

 

📌 Pro Tip: To ensure your referral counts, make sure the new or returning member lists your name in the “if someone referred you to us” section when signing up.

 

📩 Questions? Contact [email protected].

 

🏆 Tip-off begins March 1—let’s do this! 🏆

Thriving in an Off Year: Key Strategies for Political Consultants

Election years are hectic—but what about the off years? , Jill Alper (Alper Strategies and Media) and Andy Blunt (HBS Strategies) shared how consultants can stay competitive and build long-term success.

 

🔹 Retain Your Team & Stay Active – “Figure out a way to not lose money in the off year, but retain your existing team,” said Blunt, who emphasized refining strategies, exploring new revenue streams and investing in client relationships.

 

🔹 Different is Better – “We all say we’re better, but what makes your firm unique?” Alper stressed the importance of differentiation being the key to building lasting relationships and securing long-term clients.

 

🔹 Expand Beyond Campaigns – “Most of the people you’ve helped elect will have similar interests. Aligning with them in advocacy can create new opportunities,” Blunt advised.

 

🔹 Be a Thought Leader – “Post thought leadership, attend conferences, and stay in the conversation,” Alper urged. LinkedIn, Blunt added, is a key tool: “People will see what you’re saying and think, ‘I want that person on my team.’”

 

Off years aren’t downtime—they’re opportunities. Stay engaged, diversify, and prepare for the next big election.

 

📊 With the midterms on the horizon, many political consultants are expanding into public affairs. Is this a short-term pivot, or are firms making a lasting shift?

 

We want to hear from you! Take our quick poll and share your perspective.

 

🗳️

Recruit, Support, Win: Tackling the Gender Gap in Political Candidacy

, but a persistent gender gap in political ambition remains. , Dr. Jennifer Lawless (Politics and Public Policy Professor, UVA) and Jill Normington (Normington, Pets and Associates) explored why—and what political consultants can do about it.

 

Dr. Lawless’ research has tracked political ambition over 20 years, revealing that women remain 16 percentage points less likely than men to consider running for office. This gap has barely budged, despite significant gains in female representation at all levels of government.

 

So, what’s holding women back? Two key factors:

 

🔹 Recruitment bias – Women are less likely than men to be encouraged to run, whether by party leaders, colleagues, or even friends and family.

 

🔹 Self-perception – Even when equally qualified, women are more likely to doubt their readiness. As Dr. Lawless put it: “Women think they have to be twice as good to get half as far.” The good news? Political consultants can play a major role in closing this gap. Here’s how:

 

✅ Be persistent in recruitment. “When a woman hesitates, follow up,” Lawless advised. “No doesn’t always mean no—it might just mean she’s never thought about it.”

 

✅ Demystify the campaign experience. Running for office isn’t like a presidential race, and first-time candidates need reassurance about the realities of local elections.

 

✅ Shift the focus. Instead of fixating on barriers, highlight the real impact candidates can have on their communities.

 

As Normington summed up, “Our job as consultants isn’t just to manage campaigns—it’s to help more women see themselves as candidates in the first place.”

Don't Miss!

🚀 Welcome to our newest and returning members—glad to have you on board!

Andrew Flach (Storytellers Mail, LLC), Brannon Miller (Chism Strategies), Jeremiah Guappone (Data Genomix), Rachel Campbell (Novel Messaging), Joey Rodriguez (American Made Media Company), Anne Wakabayashi (BerlinRosen), Andrew Mowry (Cambrai Strategies), Josh Pulliam (JPM+M, Inc), Tyler Sandberg (Timor Strategies), Kyle Martinsen (K24 Creative LLC), Charles Richardson (Chism Strategies), Donya Zargham (Axis Research, Inc.), Robert Talbot (Guidespost Strategic Partners), Logan Church (5 Point Strategy), Joseph Resta (RepublicanAds.com), Emily Henderson (Chism Strategies), Justin Plumb (Javelina Consulting), Sofia De Lozada (RumbleUp), Robert Arnow (RUN!), Sulli Norris-Cole (SBDigital, Inc.), Brianna Vercellino (i360), Erik Potholm (SRCP Media), Paul Curcio (SRCP Media), Jon Reedy (SRCP Media), Jay Payne (SRCP Media), Charlie Liebschutz (SRCP Media), Betsy Vonderheid (SRCP Media), Amanda Fiedler (SRCP Media), Bill Turner (SRCP Media), James Cave (SRCP Media), Gregory Kolomitz (KOLOMITZ & COMPANY), Alison Wagner (Whitehurst/Mosher Campaign Strategy & Media), Camryn McNab (Whitehurst/Mosher Campaign Strategy & Media), Daniel Lupin (Whitehurst/Mosher Campaign Strategy & Media), Andy Greco (PollMakers/VoiceBroadcasting), Benjamin Niven (D2 Media Sales), Sam Bohn (The A.B. Data Group), Anna Still (The A.B. Data Group), Cam McNab (Whitehurst/Mosher Campaign Strategy & Media), Caroline Strom (X), Arun Ayyagari (Deep Core Strategies), Caryn Clark (Caryn Clark… The Hip Chick Voice!), John Egan (Apex Canvassing), Georganna Carlisle (Apex Canvassing), Daniel Mullen (Indie Politics), Kevin Lindley (Riverside Strategies), Charlie Liebschutz (SRCP Media), Carolin Kaardal (ColdSpark), Renea Schoedel (ColdSpark), Mor Greenberg (ColdSpark), Sofia Airey, Trevor Smith (WPA Intelligence), Martin Penny (AARP), Ryan Deeter (Blueprint Interactive), Tanner Williams (Convergence Media), Jesse Stokes (Convergence Media), Raynor Chaote (Causal), Shana Atwood (Causal), Jen Laing (Causal), Krysta Cain (Causal), Nina Kaplan (Causal), Stephanie Conway-Young (Causal), Tracey Rose (Spectrum Reach), Jaclyn Colbeth (5 Point Strategy), Keith Braun (Make Liberty Win), Adam Wilson (Make Liberty Win), Jane Hughes (Liftoff Campaigns), Andres Guilart (Eyesover), Ryan Locurto (Magnite), Matt Klink (California Strategies), Hillary Lehr (Harvard Kennedy School), Elizabeth Bunger (Amber Integrated), Helen Wood Grant (Wood Grant and Associates), Aaron Ashe (Salem Political Solutions), Alex Peña, Corey Barsky (ColdSpark), Nate Kanuch (ColdSpark), Kristine Lawrence (AdImpact), Winnie Clegg (Make Liberty Win), Loren McIntyre (Ourso Beychok Inc.), Cat McParland (Rittenhouse Political Partners), Joseph Jacobson (Progress Action Fund), Ryan Young (Foundation for Government Accountability), Luis Montenegro, Jr (NORS Surveys, Inc.), Crystal Dandridge (Crystal’s Unions), Moe Ahsan (Orion Digital Media), Andrew Shult (TAG Strategies), Pedro Ochoa (PDO Agency), David Lee (Fabrizio Lee & Associates), David Watts (Double Eagle Strategies), Bret Garwood (Aristotle), Julianne Frosolone (AGENCY), Elizabeth Robertson (AGENCY), Travis Tracy (i-360), Katie Lea (Foundation Blue Media), Ansley Mendelson (CN4 Partners), Jennifer Havey (Audacy Government/Political Division), Benjamin Meers (DSPolitical), Maria Charkoudian-Fox (The Dover Group), KYetta McKinney (Civox & Associates), Sarah Gibbons (Magnite), Mara Kunin (The Adwell Group), MH Sklueff (State of California, Investigations), Walter Monk (PollMakers/VoiceBroadcasting), Darcy Nothnagle (CN4 Partners), Claire Murphy-Cook (Eyesover), Asa Bryant (Fox Bryant LLC), Alycia Albergottie (Green & Wood Media Services), Victoria Perrone (Spruce Street Compliance), Jaelan Price (The Adwell Group), Falicia Mandel (MWE Group), Jessica Koland (Patriot Grassroots), Travis Gondrezick (Patriot Grassroots).

 

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