Meet the Team

Gretchen Andersen has extensive media relations experience with local and national press throughout her time in Manhattan, Washington, DC and Las Vegas. For four years, Gretchen worked on Capitol Hill as a press secretary in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Most recently she served as press secretary for U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) including work on his re-election campaign. Prior to her time in the U.S. Senate, Gretchen was an official spokesperson for two Republican members of Congress, including U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL). Gretchen got her start in public relations while working in New York City as a press secretary for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a national non-profit focused on improving the lives of post-9/11 veterans. Gretchen is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.

Carl Forti has nearly 20 years of experience in politics, campaign strategy, media relations and public affairs. He is a seasoned political operative, having served in leadership positions at advocacy organizations, a presidential campaign and four election cycles at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

Carl has been described as “one of the smartest people in politics you’ve never heard of” by Karl Rove and “the Alexander the Great of the Republican independent expenditure world.”

Carl develops campaign strategies for the nation’s most successful issue advocacy groups, third-party organizations and SuperPACs. Previously, Carl was Executive Vice President for Issue Advocacy at Freedom’s Watch, an organization that was a strong voice for conservatives and impacted the public policy debate at local and national levels.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Carl served as Deputy Campaign Manager and Political Director for Romney for President, where he built and managed the national political operation that produced 11 primary or caucus victories.

Carl also has extensive experience on Capitol Hill. He served in numerous capacities at the National Republican Congressional Committee, including Communications Director and Issue Advocacy Director, where he managed an $80 million independent expenditure campaign.

Originally from Western New York and a graduate of the George Washington University, Carl resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife Sandy and their three children.

Trevor previously worked as a Government Affairs Associate for the American Planning Association in Washington, D.C. Trevor is an alumnus of James Madison University where he earned his BA in both Political Science and Public Policy/Administration. While obtaining his undergraduate degree, Trevor interned with Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) and Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01). After graduation, Trevor worked for the John Adams for Virginia Attorney General campaign and the American Family Association campaign in North Carolina before moving to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Shauna brings over 15 years of experience in business operations, political campaign management, team development, and investigative research to the team. Her previous work includes directing the operations of award-winning restaurants in the Boston area and leading a statewide ballot initiative in her home state of Massachusetts.

Shauna is also the principal owner of a firm specializing in open-source investigations for companies and organizations. She is based in Boston, MA.

Brian has a proven track record of creating and managing successful public affairs and public relations campaigns for some of the country’s most innovative companies, top-tier associations, influential coalitions and national political candidates. In addition, he has worked with a number of national and local nonprofit organizations.

Over the past two decades, Brian has helped lead effective communications and advocacy efforts in a variety of industries including technology, transportation, healthcare, clean energy, financial services and retail. In the nonprofit realm he has worked in support of marriage equality, early childhood education, eradicating child sex-trafficking and keeping kids safe online.

Brian has also been active in the world of electoral politics, serving in senior roles for the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Chris Christie.

Brian currently serves on the board of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. He earned his MA from the University of Washington in Seattle and BA from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Brian lives in Alexandria, VA, with his wife Emily and their two children.

Chris Maloney’s political, policy and communications experience spans two decades in public affairs. As a Partner at Potomac West Group, he works as a trusted advisor and strategist to a range of political, business and international nonprofit leaders on public policy and communications.

Chris has also served as a general consultant on numerous successful issue advocacy efforts and political campaigns, including Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski’s bids for U.S. Senate in Alaska, the historic Bristol Bay Forever Initiative, and U.S. House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney’s campaigns for Congress in Wyoming. Before joining the team, Chris served as a Communications Director for Mitt Romney, leading his presidential campaign’s battleground press operations, research and rapid response in the Midwest. His career also includes senior staff roles in U.S. House Leadership, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Ohio Republican Party.

Chris has been nationally recognized as a Campaigns & Elections Magazine Rising Star and was named to the American Association of Political Consultants’ “40 Under 40” list in 2018. Chris earned a B.A. in Public Policy from George Washington University, a M.P.S. in Communications from Georgetown University, and a M.P.A. in Public Administration from Harvard University. He resides in Virginia with his wife and son.

Kerrianne was a Communications Strategist for Democracy Forward, a non-profit public interest organization where she worked to expand their digital and social media programs. She implemented frameworks for digital editorial engagement via web and email as well as establishing social media series and design.

Prior to her role at Democracy Forward, Kerrianne was a Digital Associate for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee during the 2020 cycle and 2021 Georgia runoff. Kerrianne worked on writing and producing fundraising emails and assisted the digital team on social media and advertisements.

Kerrianne graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston Massachusetts with a B.A. in Political Communications and a minor in American Studies. Kerrianne is a native to and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Charlotte McCoy has a successful record of running media relations and public affairs campaigns for Fortune 100 companies, multi-stakeholder coalitions, trade associations and international governments. With deep policy communications experience, her work includes technology, transportation and healthcare issues. She previously worked at CLS Strategies executing comprehensive communications plans for technology, trade and litigation clients. Charlotte worked with clients to develop effective messaging, lead media outreach, and generate savvy digital and social media initiatives. Earlier in her career, she also educated federal policymakers on adoption and foster care issues. A New Jersey native, Charlotte graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The George Washington University with a degree in international affairs.

Meghan served as a public relations intern with National Geographic where she worked with the public relations team for the National Geographic Channel supporting talent and administrative needs. She also worked with the event planning staff over the course of her internship.

Meghan holds a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Mass Media, and a minor in Political Science from Merrimack College. She is from Alexandria, VA, and is now based in Maryland.

The Honorable Michael P. Meehan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Squared Communications, a strategic communications, public relations, and political consulting firm he founded in 2007. He is also a Founding Partner of the Potomac West Group, a bipartisan public affairs firm practice. Michael counsels a diverse range of clients, including elected officials, major media outlets, national and regional coalitions, trade associations, foundations, issue advocacy organizations (with a deep focus on environmental, climate, and clean energy interests), and companies ranging from Fortune 100 business leaders to entrepreneurial startups.

The New York Times described Mr. Meehan as a strategic operative who “specializes in adversarial situations.” Mr. Meehan has been at the epicenter of communications, politics, and policy for over three decades, solving complex problems and guiding clients as they navigate crucial strategic challenges.

A veteran of Capitol Hill, Mr. Meehan has held numerous top leadership staff posts in both chambers of Congress. He was the first chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He remains a top advisor to Sen. Cantwell, managing her political operations. He has also served as communications chief for several former U.S. Senators, including Fmr. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)—who currently serves as President Joe Biden’s Climate Envoy and was Secretary of State to Fmr. President Barack Obama—and Fmr. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Mr. Meehan has directly advised high-level Democratic Party leadership—he was the National Political Director for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), has served as Senior Counselor to the Democratic National Committee, and has held top political and communications posts at the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

As a testament to Mr. Meehan’s ability to find consensus and generate progress, both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush nominated him to serve as a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), now the U.S. Agency for Global Media. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, sworn into office by then-Vice President Biden in 2010 and served as a BBG Governor in the Obama-Biden Administration (2010-2015). There he oversaw the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and was Chairman of the Board of the Middle East Broadcasting Network and Radio Free Asia. He also chaired the Budget and Strategy Committee with an annual budget of over $750 million. The five media companies he oversaw and the Open Technology Fund reached a weekly average of more than 270 million audience members in 100 countries, representing 61 languages and promoting the free flow of news and information in the area of public diplomacy.

Mr. Meehan’s media training, expertise with multiple communications platforms, and extensive work in U.S. politics create a unique skill set in the field. He has worked with C-suite executives preparing for IPOs and financing rounds, executed crisis communications strategies, and led complex communications efforts for leading policy advocacy organizations and trade associations. As an expert in strategic communications, media relations, messaging, polling and election politics, Mr. Meehan is well positioned to build targeted, tailored public relations campaigns that achieve ambitious policy and media goals. Over the past 15 years, he has expanded Squared Communications’ strategic reach, with operations in Washington, DC, Alexandria, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay area, Boston, New York and a strategic partnership with UK-based Luther Pendragon in London and Brussels.

Mr. Meehan currently serves on several not-for-profit boards, including the anti-poverty Golden State Opportunity board. He holds a degree in political science and education from Maine’s Bates College. As an expert on the intersection of media, communications and politics, Mr. Meehan is an analyst in national media and television news programs and served as a guest lecturer at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, American University, UCLA, Stanford and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA with his wife and teenaged daughters.

Rayner joined the team as an Executive Assistant following her graduation from the George Washington University, where she earned a BA in English with a minor in Political Science.

While at GW, Rayner interned for Breakwater Strategy, a boutique strategic communications firm in DC, where she wrote memos and completed desk research for entertainment, crypto, and private equity clients. Rayner also worked as an Organizing Fellow in the political department of 50+1 Strategies, LLC. She worked with statewide and national campaigns in the 2022 general election, project managing print media and preparing event briefings for candidates. She is based in Maryland.

Kimberly served as a Digital Marketing Intern at Playing the Field, an online dating website for people interested in sports. During her time at Playing the Field, Kimberly worked with the team to develop social media plans, creating and posting content across social platforms, and writing creative blogs to build online engagement. She also coaches both varsity field hockey and lacrosse at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, NY.

Kimberly holds a B.A. in Communications from Pace University where she was also a member of the field hockey team. Kimberly is based in Mahopac, NY.

Andrew first joined the firm as an intern in June 2022, shortly after graduating from The George Washington University (GW) where he was the Opinions Editor for The GW Hatchet. In his position, he wrote and co-wrote over a hundred editorials, and received opinion journalism accolades from the Society of Professional Journalists and Associated Collegiate Press. He has also worked as a Social Media Lead for a small Washington, DC nonprofit, and interned for former U.S. Representatives Max Rose and Nita Lowey.

Andrew holds a B.A. in Political Communication and Political Science from GW, and is continuing his studies at the university as a Master’s candidate in Media and Strategic Communication. Andrew is originally from Westchester, NY, and is currently based in Washington, DC.

Nicole Gyorfi Titus brings over a decade of communications, fundraising, and digital media expertise to campaigns, PACs, progressive organizations, and nonprofits. Nickie has won an array of industry awards and shared her expertise at conferences and events around the globe.

Before joining Squared Communications, Nickie was the National Grassroots Fundraising Director for the DCCC. She directed the DCCC’s digital and direct marketing fundraising programs, raising 60% of the DCCC’s revenue in the 2022 cycle. As the second Super PAC Ready for Hillary (RFH) employee, she directed all of the digital efforts for RFH and led the creation of the PAC’s viral video moments.

In 2012 Nickie served as the Director of Digital Media for Tim Kaine’s successful Senate campaign, raising more than $3.5 million online. She previously worked for Blue State Digital, working with clients such as United Way Worldwide and the NFL; Nickie led the team that created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s award-winning “Remember Me” campaign that uses video, images, social media, and email to identify photographs of orphaned World War II children.

Prior to joining BSD, Titus worked for O’Brien, McConnell & Pearson (OMP) as Director of Client Services, managing multi-million-dollar national fundraising programs for the DNC, Senators Harry Reid and Dianne Feinstein, the ACLU, Hillary Clinton’s Senate and Presidential campaigns, and other progressive causes.

Nickie began managing digital programs in 2004 by executing the DNC’s groundbreaking house party program, raising more than a million dollars online in less than 90 days. Nickie is also an EMILYs List alum from the 2004 cycle.

She’s a graduate of American University and will gladly talk about high school wrestling, her niece and nephews, and podcasts with anyone remotely interested.