March Must-Sees: Thought Leaders, Trailblazers & Can’t-Miss Events!

Hi, AAPC Insiders!
 
From big career moves to how you can step up as a thought leader, we’re spotlighting ways to grow and stay ahead in the industry. Catch up on the Mid-Atlantic Chapter’s House Party, and mark your calendars for upcoming events—like James Carville’s keynote in New Orleans and the Greater NY Chapter networking night in April.
 
Plus, an important email scam alert—stay informed and protect yourself from fraudulent solicitations.
 
Anna Ross
Membership Marketing & Communications Manager
 
In this issue…
 • Member Moves
 • How to Become a Thought Leader
 • Power Networking at AAPC’s Mid-Atlantic House Party
 • Interesting Reads
 • Don’t Miss
 • 🚨 Scam Alert: Stay informed about an email scam alert from folks offering “AAPC lists” and protect yourself

Member Moves
 • Kelly Gibson is joining Bryson Gillette as SVP of paid media.
 • Ben Lazarus is stepping into the role of Principal at Patinkin Research Strategies.

How to Become A Thought Leader

Establishing yourself as a thought leader takes expertise, visibility, and strategic engagement. Ward Baker (Baker Group Strategies) and Raghu Devaguptapu (Left Hook Strategy) share key steps to build your influence:
 
🔹 Get Involved – Volunteer for committees and serve on boards to connect with industry leaders to showcase your expertise.
🔹 Be a Resource – At conferences, ask insightful questions, contribute to discussions, and engage authentically on panels.
 
Leverage Your Track Record
Ward Baker emphasizes that a strong foundation of success is essential. “First and foremost, I would argue a track record of success is critical for establishing yourself as a thought leader in any field or industry. It's also important to strategically select opportune speaking engagements as well as boards to serve on. Your work has given you the deserved credibility, but it's also important that you properly share your experiences—both good and bad—with peers and colleagues.”
 
Raghu Devaguptapu echoes the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing: "It's not just about ad-making or being a media consultant—for me, it's been about what we should be doing to coordinate. It's important to provide insight, and as consultants, we have a role in sharing our expertise with partners across the industry."
 
Thought leadership starts with action—step up, share your insights, and make an impact! As Raghu noted, "Everything from the AAPC to the DCCC offers opportunities to contribute and grow credibility.”

Building Connections at AAPC’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter House Party

On March 6, AAPC’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter brought political consultants together for an evening of networking and camaraderie. Events like these help members forge lasting connections and stay ahead of industry trends.
 
For Josh Nanberg (Ampersand Strategies & Mid-Atlantic Chapter President), the Chapter was his gateway into AAPC and the industry. “Years before I became a member or attended my first Pollies, I was encouraged to join the Chapter, start attending events, and build a network. More than 20 years later, some of those connections have become my mentors, collaborators, and co-conspirators. AAPC’s regional Chapters are incredibly valuable for connecting our community, sharing ideas, and bringing new professionals into our industry.”
 
Next up: Don’t miss our April 9th networking event [ [link removed] ] with the Greater NY Chapter in NYC!

Interesting Reads

• BROOKINGS: When it comes to understanding AI’s impact on elections, we’re still working in the dark [ [link removed] ]
 • The Washington Post: DC’s hopes lie in Senate as residents, officials push to avert $1B hit [ [link removed] ]

Don’t Miss

Southern Regional Conference [ [link removed] ] in New Orleans, March 18-19th (James Carville to keynote)
📢 Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube channel [ [link removed] ] for even more insights.
Our next Webinar: Contracts 101: Protecting Your Business and Clients [ [link removed] ]
The AAPC & Greater NY Chapter Networking Event [ [link removed] ] | April 9th | 5:30-7:30

AAPC Member List Email Scam

We have been informed of a scam circulating via email from a third party attempting to sell a contact list of AAPC members. The American Association of Political Consultants will never offer to sell our member contact list through a third party and the scammers have no member information.
 
Scammers may also attempt to pose as association members to solicit money. If you or your organization has received a fraudulent email asking you to purchase an AAPC member contact list, or if you have received an email from someone posing to be an association member soliciting money, please file a fraud report and notify [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ] .
 
To file a fraud report, follow the steps below:
 1. Navigate to the Federal Trade Commission website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
 2. Select "Report Now"
 3. Select "An impersonator" for Question 1: "Is your report about any of these common problems?"
 4. Select "Well-known or trusted business" for Question 2: "Who were they pretending to be?"
 5. Click "Continue"
 6. Add any relevant information and documentation.
 7. Submit

Please do not respond to or engage with any scam solicitation emails.
 
Questions?
Connect with the AAPC team at [email protected]. [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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