WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bullpen Strategy Group (BSG) today announced five new hires and 13 promotions across its Communications, Research & Analysis, and Media Intelligence practices, including a new leader for BSG subsidiary Kyber Research. This is the largest slate of promotions in the history of the firm, which now has nearly 60 professionals working across three offices in Washington, DC, Dallas, and London.
BSG’s new hires include:
- Ene Cloninger joins BSG as Executive Assistant to Founder and CEO, Joe Pounder. Most recently, Ene worked for Cradlepoint, an Ericsson subsidiary, where she supported the company’s Chief Product Officer.
- Asher Marr joins BSG as a Senior Associate in the Communications Practice. Asher most recently served as Media Relations Coordinator at the Republican National Committee.
- David Nelson joins BSG as a Director in the Media Intelligence Practice. A Captain in the Alaska Army National Guard and a two-term member of the Alaska State Legislature, David previously worked in defense contracting and the U.S. Senate.
- Ella Pounder joins BSG as an Associate in the Media Intelligence Practice. She recently graduated on an accelerated track from Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Bram Rawlings joins BSG subsidiary Look Ahead Strategies as an Associate. He most recently served as a research intern at the Institute of World Politics.
BSG further announced that Julia Portela has been promoted to lead the firm’s public records and FOIA subsidiary, Kyber Research. Julia is a seasoned research expert with more than a decade of experience in public affairs and political consulting.
BSG’s new promotions include:
- In our Communications practice, George Hartmann and Joe Gierut have been promoted to Senior Vice President, Madeleine Lefranc to Director, and James Roberts to Senior Associate.
- In our Research & Analysis practice, Alex Koch has been promoted to Senior Vice President, and William Hekman to Director.
- In the Media Intelligence practice, Rhiannon Glover and Andrew Ochoa have been promoted to Vice President, and Henrietta Hill, Philip Holmes, Jake Holzapfel,and Olly Meadows to Senior Associate.
“This year’s set of new hires and promotions exemplify our commitment to investing in BSG’s people to expand service areas and better serve our clients,” said BSG Founder and CEO Joe Pounder. “We’re proud of their continued professional development, and look forward to a strong second half of 2026.”
About Bullpen Strategy Group
Bullpen Strategy Group (BSG)is a strategic advisory firm that helps clients solve problems, grow, and manage risk. We provide critical insights to inform our clients’ strategies and deliver solutions including strategic counsel and communications, research and analysis, media intelligence, and AI-powered technology. BSG’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, leading law firms, major industry associations, and national coalitions. Our team of more than 50 professionals works across offices in Washington, DC, Dallas, and London.
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