DIRECTIMPACT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President
- President of Direct Impact
Amy Cloessner is President of Direct Impact (DI), BCW's grassroots arm. She has over 20 years of grassroots and communications experience, designing and executing long-term, award-winning local public relations and public affairs campaigns across the U.S. for Fortune 500companies, associations and nonprofits. Her expertise spans a wide range of issues and industries, such as healthcare, financial services and automotive. She also works closely with BCW Group companies to develop solutions and programs for clients that require holistic grassroots, lobbying, policy and reputational programs.
Previously, Amy served as DI's Chief Operating Officer where she led DI's daily operations, including developing business strategies across all lines of business, overseeing staffing decisions, building and managing relationships with a diverse network of partners, and driving DI's culture, vision and growth.
During her tenure with DI and BCW, Amy has also served as the client lead and grassroots senior strategist for multiple clients. She currently serves as the U.S. local lead for one of BCW's largest global accounts, working with a nationwide field network across more than 90 markets to deliver corporate reputation and marketing communications for the organization.
Prior to joining DI/BCW in 2002, Amy received her B.A. in political science from Louisiana State University and her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Assistant
Andrew Richardson is an Assistant Account Executive who recently joined Direct Impact to work on grassroots and local PR and public affairs campaigns. In September 2022, Andrew completed a Master of Letters degree in Strategic Studies at the University of St. Andrews. While a student, Andrew was a summer intern for Spiros Consulting, a Democratic campaign consulting and research firm. He also completed summer internships in the offices of U.S. Senator Mark Warner and the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Steny Hoyer. Andrew graduated with a BA in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews and The College of William and Mary Joint Degree Program in May 2021.
Andrew is a native of Washington D.C and is fluent in French.
Angela Chiappetta is responsible for locating, developing, defining, negotiating, and closing new business opportunities alongside the entire management team. Her client portfolio includes a variety of corporations and associations across several different industries, that she is responsible for partnering with to grow their programs in meaningful, strategic and successful ways.
Prior to joining BCW, Angela brings years of political and public affairs experience, holding positions at NewsCorp, the U.S. House of Representatives, 720 Strategies, Rational 360 and DDC Public Affairs.
Angela holds an undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as well as certifications in PAC Management and Grassroots Management from the Public Affairs Council.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President at Direct Impact
Briana Huxley is a vice president at Direct Impact, with over eight years of communications and grassroots experience. Prior to working at DI, Briana served as the communications manager at the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), helping shape MEMA's grassroots and advocacy strategy. Before MEMA, Briana worked at the Business Industry Political Action Committee, a clearing house for political tools, strategies, and knowledge, committed to increasing the political effectiveness of America's private sector employers.
In true D.C. fashion, Briana has lived in Maryland, the District, and most recently, Virginia. A Massachusetts native, she can point anyone to the nearest Dunkin'.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Account Executive and Assistant Project Manager at Direct Impact
Dalena Nguyen is an Account Executive and Assistant Project Manager at Direct Impact (DI). In her role, she is responsible for helping clients achieve grassroots and communications success. Dalena focuses on strategic planning, management and execution of grassroots campaigns that include earned media, specialty events, digital and social media, stakeholder outreach, coalition building and issue advocacy. She brings her interest in the intersection of politics and business to support grassroots public relations and issue advocacy campaigns.
Prior to joining Direct Impact, Dalena worked for Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign in Virginia. She built and maintained relationships with the campaign's largest donors through strategic communication and event planning.
Dalena holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and political science from the University of Florida. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Account Director
- Direct Impact As an Account Director
Danielle Boyd recently joined Direct Impact as an Account Director. She is based in Dallas, Texas and brings over 10 years of strategic communications experience to the firm. Prior to joining Direct Impact, Danielle worked at NEC Corporation of America with a primary focus on internal communications, developing effective communication strategies to build brand awareness, driving employee engagement and partnering with local nonprofit organizations for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Danielle has worked in state and local government for the Texas Department of Transportation where she was a media spokesperson covering major county construction projects and transportation issues. She also kept close relationships with government officials to help keep the public informed on the progress of the projects.
She started her career in broadcast news as an editor at a local NBC affiliate in Dallas/Fort Worth. In this capacity, she worked under tight deadlines, managed multiple projects and provided live updates to news crews during breaking news and general assignment coverage. During her tenure in local broadcast news, she also worked as a consumer producer with other local NBC affiliates. In this role, Danielle developed a range of relationships with local and national media contacts.
Job Titles:
- Senior Account Executive
- Project Manager at Direct Impact
Destinee Easton is a project manager at Direct Impact, executing communications strategies across targeted local markets throughout the U.S. With experience in strategic planning, earned media, stakeholder engagement, and issue advocacy, Destinee helps clients across various industries navigate today's dynamic landscape.
Prior to joining Direct Impact, Destinee served as State Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. In this role, she crafted communications to advance the Senator's legislative agenda, driving local media efforts for the office on issues ranging from health care and economic policy to climate and education. Before Capitol Hill, Destinee worked for KO Public Affairs, a boutique public affairs firm in Maryland, managing the execution of various grassroots campaigns.
Destinee graduated from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, earning a B.A. in English Literature.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President at Direct Impact
Franco is a vice president at Direct Impact, where he leverages two decades of experience in public affairs, advocacy communications, and stakeholder and coalition engagement to achieve client objectives.
He has advised senior leaders at Fortune 500 companies and trade associations on strategic communications, and has served on winning presidential, gubernatorial, congressional, and state legislative campaigns since 2004. Franco previously served in senior communications and strategic initiatives roles for a statewide elected official and $1.7 billion state agency in Florida, as vice president at a Florida public relations firm managing successful grassroots advocacy campaigns, and as a White House advance staffer.
Franco earned a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida, a Master's degree in international affairs from the Florida State University, and is a proud dad of three boys.
Expertise
Franco Ripple
Heidi joined Direct Impact in 2000 as a part-time employee. Over the next 20 years, she played a pivotal role in key client assignments. She oversaw aspects of a decade-long, large public education project, helped a client set up offices in 40 locations to use as a base for a GOTV campaign, helped manage contracts and budgets for a $33 million-dollar account, and now manages a grassroots campaign for a Fortune 20 company. Heidi also oversees many aspects of Direct Impact's day-to-day operations, including staffing, contracts, and in-market expert relationships. Before joining Direct Impact, Heidi worked with people with disabilities to help them integrate into their communities.
Heidi graduated from the University of Hartford with a B.S. in human services, and from George Mason University with an MPA. When she's not in the office, Heidi is most likely to be found listening to live music at venues across the country.
Hella Sisca is a Senior Account Executive on BCW's Direct Impact team. Before coming to DI, Hella worked on Capitol Hill for two years, where she served as a Deputy Press Secretary to a member of the Senate Leadership and formerly as a Press Assistant in the House of Representatives. During her tenure in the Senate, Hella played an integral role in the Senator's press shop, overseeing the social media portfolio and building out state and national media contacts. She is a graduate of Loyola University in Maryland, where she majored in Political Science, and lives in Washington, D.C.
Jenna helps lead and implement strategic communications and advocacy campaigns, focusing on reputation, corporate social responsibility, and stakeholder recruitment for corporations, coalitions, and causes. Jenna has over eight years of communications and grassroots experience, most recently working for Targeted Victory, where she focused on managing multi-tiered grassroots projects and public affairs campaigns. Jenna also spent over three years as part of Burson-Marsteller's Public Affairs and Crisis Practice, after starting her career as a Direct Impact intern.
A Southern California native, Jenna migrated east and now resides in Alexandria, VA.
Job Titles:
- Account Director
- Account Director With Direct Impact
Katharine Viles is an Account Director with Direct Impact, leading strategic public relations and public affairs efforts across local markets nationwide for clients in the tech, communications and financial services verticals. Prior to joining Direct Impact, she led public relations campaigns with Sage Communications on behalf of industry leaders in IT modernization, digital transformation and cloud technologies as well as trusted government partners in defense and cybersecurity. Her core focus is on driving impactful messages grounded in a robust understanding of the government and tech policy landscapes and media markets, and she is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ representation across the industry.
Katharine speaks French and Arabic fluently and holds a BSFS from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and an MA from King's College London in Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies. She is originally from Lynnfield, Massachusetts and lives in Washington, D.C. with her cat Sybil.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Account Executive at Direct Impact
Lindsey Beane is an Account Executive at Direct Impact. With experience in marketing, public relations and client management, she provides support and strategic consulting to clients in the financial services and Tech sector industries. Prior to working at Direct Impact, she worked as a Business Development Representative for a financial education software company and as a public relation intern at a public affairs agency. In her free time, she enjoys yoga. She graduated from West Virginia University with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Strategic Communications. She is originally from Hurricane, West Virginia and currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Mark has been with Direct Impact since February 2017. He plays a key role on the Direct Impact Business Management team. Mark's responsibilities run the gamut, from handling the billing on some of DI's largest clients to assisting the financial directors with monthly financial close, corporate reporting, and day-to-day financial management of Direct Impact's grassroots network. Mark is very conscientious and enthusiastic about doing his part to ensure the financial success of Direct Impact.
Mark holds a B.A. in Business Management with an emphasis on finance from St. Petersburg College.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Senior Vice President With Direct Impact
Maura Hogan is a senior vice president with Direct Impact. She specializes in corporate reputation, public affairs and ESG/sustainability. Previously, she was an assistant vice president for Global Marketing and Corporate Communications at State Street Corporation in Boston.
Prior to that role, she served as digital communications and strategy advisor to U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Public Affairs. Hogan was the Department's chief liaison to the White House Office of Digital Strategy as part of the all-federal agency digital communications working group.
Before her time in the Bureau of Public Affairs, she led all communications strategy and efforts for the State Department's Office of Public-Private Partnerships, elevating cross-sector partnerships at the highest levels, including on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Before the State Department, Hogan worked on Capitol Hill in the U.S. Senate for U.S. Senator William "Mo" Cowan, serving as his press secretary, as well as then-U.S. Senator John F. Kerry, serving as his deputy press secretary and spokesperson.
Hogan holds a Bachelor of Journalism (ABJ) degree from the University of Georgia's Grady School of Journalism and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in corporate strategy from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President at Direct Impact
Mike is a vice president at Direct Impact, joining the firm in February 2016. Mike manages multi-market media, stakeholder, and reputation management campaigns, working hand in glove with DI's network of in-market experts. A news and current events junkie interested in all things politics, Mike uses his understanding of this landscape to advise clients in the financial services, telecommunications, and technology sectors. He's a passionate problem solver focused on finding business solutions for his clients. Before joining Direct Impact, Mike worked for the Business Industry Political Action Committee, implementing grassroots education and mobilization programs targeting America's private sector employees.
A graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., Mike now lives in Jersey City, NJ, working out of BCW's New York office.
As a senior vice president at Direct Impact, and with over 12 years of experience, Sloane has guided health care, finance, telecommunications, and nonprofit clients through some of their most difficult issues. Previously, Sloane worked on President Obama's 2012 re-election bid, and served as spokesperson and chief lobbyist for Planned Parenthood in South Carolina. Most recently, she worked at KO Public Affairs in Maryland, where she was on the front lines of some of the state's largest policy debates. Known for her thoughtful client counsel and targeted strategies, Sloane brings her multifaceted background in politics, policy, and strategic communications to all her client work at Direct Impact.
Expertise
Sloane Whelan
A native Wisconsinite, Stephanie has 15 years of experience across the public and private sectors. She helps clients navigate the state political landscape and legislative process while providing guidance on effective advocacy, messaging, and stakeholder engagement strategies in achieving key policy objectives. Before returning to Washington, D.C., in 2015, Stephanie spent nearly a decade in her native battleground state working as a policy adviser and committee clerk in the Wisconsin legislature, and managed several state and federal political campaigns. This includes a successful 2008 legislative campaign in a district that is home to the historic Lambeau Field. She was also a member of Direct Impact's grassroots network and managed several successful on-the-ground advocacy programs.
A proud University of Wisconsin graduate, Stephanie began her career in the Capitol Hill office of former Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI).
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Public Affairs Strategist
Stephen is a public affairs strategist with 12 years of experience spanning Capitol Hill and national advocacy associations, advancing telecommunications, healthcare, and financial services policy. Before joining Direct Impact, Stephen worked with the Credit Union National Association guiding national rapid reaction programs, influencing consumer grassroots strategies, and supporting over 30 state associations on earned media and legislative engagement operations.
Stephen has directed multi-day, markets-moving press programs and coordinated with federal regulatory and legislative bodies, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions in his time with the American Society of Hematology, and he has managed personae for multiple public figures across the political spectrum including former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and retired Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle.
Stephen holds a master's degree in legislative affairs from the George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida.
Expertise
Stephen Fitzmaurice
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Managing Director
- Head of Finance for Direct Impact
Vince has served as the head of finance for Direct Impact since 2005. In that role, Vince is responsible for the office P&L, including quarterly budgeting and planning, and monthly WPP financial reporting. Additionally, Vince oversees Direct Impact's client contracting, client billing, accounts receivable, and revenue forecasting.
Zoe is an engaged, positive, and diligent project manager at Direct Impact. With five years of corporate public relations agency experience, she leads and implements strategic communications initiatives, media relations, and events across a wide range of corporate sectors. Zoe manages local strategies by ensuring client priorities are reflected and by supporting team execution. Having a strong background in consumer engagement, Zoe understands how to deliver impactful storytelling while shaping her clients' brand reputation at the grassroots level. Before joining Direct Impact, Zoe managed brand marketing and PR campaigns for Fortune 500 clients.
Zoe holds a B.A. in strategic communications and public relations from American University in Washington, D.C. She currently lives in the District.