BULLPEN STRATEGY GROUP EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM, ANNOUNCES NEW HIRES & PROMOTIONS
January 9, 2025 | Press ReleaseWASHINGTON, DC – Bullpen Strategy Group (BSG) today announced the expansion of its leadership team with the promotion of Michael Zona from Managing Director to Partner, and a series of new hires and Managing Directors at the firm.
New BSG partner Michael Zona joined the firm in 2021 from the U.S. Senate, where he served as Communications Director for the Senate Finance Committee majority as well as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Over the last four years, he has developed a robust strategic communications practice with clients including Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, and issue advocacy organizations across industries, including finance, technology, and telecom, as well as litigation support and government oversight engagements.
“We’re excited to kick off 2025 by promoting Michael Zona to partner,” said BSG CEO Joe Pounder. “Over the past four years at BSG, Michael has built a thriving strategic communications practice serving some of the leading corporations and advocacy groups in America, working on a range of high-stakes public affairs efforts. We’re very proud to see our team continue to grow professionally through new promotions and to expand our offerings with new hires, positioning BSG for a strong year ahead.”
In addition to Zona, the firm announced three promotions – Chris Martin and Carter Reese from Senior Vice President to Managing Director at BSG, and Robert Buckley from Senior Vice President to Managing Director at BSG subsidiary Look Ahead Strategies.
The firm further announced three new hires:
– Michael Akinyemi – Senior Financial Analyst: Michael is a seasoned finance professional with expertise in financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, accounting, and audit. Prior to joining BSG, he served in key roles at Big Four accounting firms and a private investment firm, where he led financial reporting processes, executed budgeting initiatives, and provided strategic insights that led to significant business growth across sectors.
– Caitlyn Harris – Graphic Designer: Caitlyn brings to BSG more than a decade of experience in branding, graphic design, and creative operations. She has worked on more than 350 initiatives – including for two presidential campaigns, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and corporate brands. Prior to joining BSG, she served as Creative Director at Downstreet Digital, and previously worked at DC-based firms including IMGE and Targeted Victory.
– Sam Tanenblatt – Technical Project Manager: Sam brings extensive experience in data-driven decision-making and strategic operations to BSG. In this role, he is responsible for developing, testing, and launching innovative tech products while ensuring their seamless integration into daily operations. Prior to joining BSG, Sam served as Business Operations Manager and Data Analyst at Wonder Cave, a political text message marketing company, where he utilized his analytical expertise to optimize operations, improve KPIs, and support scalable growth.
###