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Bullpen Strategy Group Grows Its Roster With New Hires & Promotions

Five New Hires In Washington, Promotions For Four Team Members

Bullpen Strategy Group (BSG) today announced five new hires, adding senior communications, digital, and research talent, as well as four promotions for team members in the Washington and London offices. BSG has now grown to 52 team members across three offices in Washington, DC, Dallas, and London. Last week, Inc. Magazine recognized BSG on the 2023 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Joining the BSG team are:

George Hartmann – Vice President, Communications: George is a seasoned policy communicator with years of experience as a spokesman and communications advisor in the U.S. Senate. Most recently, George served as Deputy Communications Director at the Senate Budget Committee and is a veteran of the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Office of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Valerie Chicola – Senior Director, Communications: Before joining BSG, Valerie served as a Director at the public affairs and digital firm Targeted Victory, and previously served as Broadcast Communications Advisor for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and as Deputy Director of Media Affairs at the Republican National Committee.

Evan Gassman – Vice President, Digital: Prior to joining BSG, Evan supported digital campaigns at public affairs agencies including Social Driver, CRAFT | Media / Digital, and Clyde Group. Evan’s digital agency work has supported clients such as the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Honda, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

Alex Koch – Director, Research: As a lawyer, Alex brings to BSG a diverse background in law, research, policy, and communications. He previously served as an Associate at the management consulting and investment firm McKenna & Associates.

Ryan McDowell – Director, Research: Prior to joining BSG, Ryan served as a Director at America Rising Corp.

In addition, BSG announced four promotions: Ali Hiestand and Rob Simpson to Vice President in the DC office, Louis McMahon to Vice President in the London office, and George Basile to Senior Associate.

“We’re very excited to add these talented professionals to BSG’s roster, and to see our team continue to grow within the firm,” said BSG CEO Joe Pounder. “We’re building a deep bench and expanding our service offerings to drive results and value for our clients every day.”

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George Hartmann, Vice President – George is a seasoned policy communicator, with years of experience as a spokesman and communications advisor in the U.S. Senate. He has led and implemented media relations strategies for long-term legislative efforts in a range of policy areas from criminal justice reform to tax incentive reauthorization to health care. George has also coordinated public affairs campaigns around numerous congressional investigations and several high-profile federal nominations, including the confirmations of cabinet secretaries and four Supreme Court justices.

Most recently, he served as Deputy Communications Director at the Senate Budget Committee, and has served on the staffs of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees as well as in the Office of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. George has experience managing crises and providing strategic communications advice in the financial services and digital assets industry amid scrutiny from federal legal and regulatory agencies. He also served as research and special assistant to former Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. George is a graduate of Georgetown University.

Evan Gassman, Vice President – Evan brings over a decade of creative and digital strategy experience to Bullpen Strategy Group. He is responsible for ensuring all of BSG’s output stands out creatively and is consumable across digital platforms. His work has helped change the way clients think about educating and inspiring online audiences.

Prior to joining BSG, Evan worked in the digital agency space where he supported clients such as the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Honda, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Evan is a graduate of The Catholic University of America.

When Evan isn’t working to support BSG’s next award-winning campaign, he can be found in his Washington, DC home playing board games, rewatching classic b-movies, or organizing yet another brunch outing.

Valerie Chicola — Valerie brings several years of experience in government and politics. Prior to joining BSG, Valerie served as a Director at Targeted Victory, a Washington, D.C. based digital agency, where she managed the media rollout around a high-profile book tour and provided clients with campaign-style communications support.

Valerie has worked in both the House and Senate, most notably as Broadcast Communications Advisor for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Prior to her tenure on Capitol Hill, Valerie served as the Deputy Director of Media Affairs at the Republican National Committee, where she oversaw broadcast media bookings, managed and pitched key surrogates, and supported the White House during key confirmation hearings. During the 2016 cycle, Valerie also worked on the press team at the Republican State Leadership Committee, where she assisted with numerous state-level and down-ballot communications campaigns. Valerie is a graduate of Florida State University.

Alex Koch, Director — Alex brings a diverse background in law, research, corporate and legislative affairs, policy, and communications. Prior to joining the firm, Alex worked at a McKenna & Associates, a DC-based management consulting and investment firm. There he shared insights on strategy, market, competitor, and policy analysis, and execution. Alex also worked at Reuters in the firm’s antitrust, regulatory, and legislative affairs practices. Koch holds degrees from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and Marquette University.

Ryan McDowell, Director — Prior to joining BSG, Ryan served as a Director for America Rising Corporation. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Virginia, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Policy degrees. Ryan enjoys spending his free time watching UVA sports and exploring outdoor spaces.