News

Washington, D.C. –ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications, is pleased to welcome three new associates to its growing team:

Ben Khoshbin: Khoshbin joined ROKK as a senior account executive in April 2022, bringing with him a dynamic understanding of public opinion research and its importance in crafting persuasive and resonant messaging. After honing his skills as the director of business development at Echelon Insights, Khoshbin will add a data driven approach to ROKK’s steadily growing repertoire of strategists.

Evelyn Swan: Swan joins the firm as an account executive after working her way up to deputy press secretary for Senator Angus King Jr. She has a versatile communications skillset and a keen understanding of the dynamics of Capitol Hill. Swan graduated from Thomas College in Waterville, ME, where she graduated with a bachelors of business in business management.

Sofia Casamassa: Casamassa joins as an associate account executive after graduating from American University, majoring in public relations and political science. With professional experience in communications and digital media, Casamassa will bring a pulse on current affairs and detailed understanding of communications fundamentals. 

“We are very pleased to welcome Ben, Evelyn and Sofia to the team at ROKK. It’s crucial that we continue to bring in associates with diverse perspectives, experiences and opinions to deliver the best strategic insights and execution for our clients,” said Partner Kristen Hawn. “We look forward to the contributions this group will make to our clients and their communications initiatives.”

These three new associates are the latest to join the growing ROKK team, which has welcomed 9 new hires in 2022 to keep up with its strategic expansion and measured growth. Over the past three years ROKK has been recognized with a variety of professional accolades including: PRovoke Agency of the Year finalist, The Reeds Agency of the Year finalist, SABRE awards finalists, inclusion in the Agency Elite 100 list, a Platinum dotCOMM award, an Innovation SABRE award, and most recently an Hermes Gold award. With a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities including digital and paid media and a creative studio, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to create change in Washington.

Well Respected Congressional  Reporter for The Hill Adds Extensive Media and 

Legislative Expertise to Bipartisan Firm 

Washington, D.C. –ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications, is pleased to welcome veteran congressional journalist Cristina Marcos to its team as a Senior Account Director.

A well-known presence to lawmakers and staff, Marcos reported on Congress over the span of 11 years. She spent most of that time covering the House of Representatives for The Hill, chronicling some of the most seismic moments in modern political history. Over the course of her career, Marcos developed a detailed understanding of the congressional process and the ability to explain complex policy issues to mass audiences.  She has a firm grasp on the intricacies of congressional leadership politics and the motivations of rank and file Democrats and Republicans. 

In addition to her time at The Hill, Marcos worked for CQ Roll Call and MSNBC’s daily edition of “Meet the Press.”

“Cristina’s extensive experience and perspective as a journalist will be a tremendous asset to our clients who look to our team for guidance on how best to communicate their stories in Washington and around the country,” said Co-founding Partner Ron Bonjean. 

“ROKK has established itself as a premier firm for organizations seeking counsel to advance their priorities across the political spectrum,” Marcos said. “After chronicling the legislative process for a decade as a journalist, I’m excited to help ROKK’s clients tell their stories and influence policy.”

Marcos’ addition to ROKK cements its position as a bipartisan firm that offers clients a unique perspective from both sides of the aisle. She is also the fifth journalist to join the firm’s ranks – an additional boon to clients trying to understand how best to engage with media in today’s 24 hour news cycle. 

ROKK has undergone a strategic expansion over the past three years which has resulted in triple-digit growth and a variety of professional accolades including: PRovoke Agency of the Year finalist, The Reeds Agency of the Year finalist, SABRE awards finalists, inclusion in the Agency Elite 100 list, a Platinum dotCOMM award, an Innovation SABRE award, and most recently an Hermes Gold award. With a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities including digital and paid media and a creative studio, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to create change in Washington.

Sinema Communications Director Brings Years of  Bipartisan Strategic Insight to Firm

Washington, D.C. – ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics, and communications, announced today that John LaBombard will be joining its executive leadership team as a Senior Vice President. LaBombard is an established strategist with 15 years of experience leading campaign and congressional communications efforts for U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill, Jon Tester and most recently, Kyrsten Sinema.

LaBombard has served as a senior communications advisor on every significant Congressional debate over the past decade — leading strategic communications for issues ranging from McCaskill’s work with the Pentagon reforming wartime contracting and with college campuses curbing sexual violence, to Sinema’s work on aviation, telecommunications, and health care issues.

“John is a well-respected communicator in Washington and no stranger to bipartisanship,” said ROKK Co-founding Partner Ron Bonjean. “As someone with extensive communications experience and deep relationships on the Hill, he will bring valuable policy perspective to our clients and their initiatives.”

“We are excited to welcome John to the team. John has a successful track record of communicating in challenging political environments and his extensive work with ‘red state’ Democrats brings a unique perspective that will complement our existing team and deliver added strategic value for our clients,” said ROKK Partner Kristen Hawn.

“After 15 years working with red-state Democratic senators on the front lines of federal policy and politics, I’m thrilled to join the public affairs experts at ROKK Solutions,” said LaBombard. “Rodell, Ron, and Kristen have established a truly bipartisan team of strategic communicators and accomplished political veterans with senior-level insight from both parties — and I am eager to get to work and continue their proven track record of success for ROKK’s clients.”

ROKK has undergone a strategic expansion over the past three years which has resulted in triple-digit growth and a variety of professional accolades including: the Agency Elite 100 list, a Platinum dotCOMM award and recognition from PR News Platinum Awards. With a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities including digital and paid media and a creative studio, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to create change in Washington.

ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications is pleased to announce that it’s work with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) has been recognized as a finalist in the 2022 Innovation SABRE awards. These awards, part of the SABRE awards series from PRovoke Media, recognize campaigns that push boundaries and use innovative thinking and technology to deliver above and beyond for their clients and their cause. Finalists were selected from over 700 entries across 60 categories, and the winners will be announced at Innovation SABRE Awards — North America in February 2022.

For a complete list of finalists, click here.

Washington, D.C.–

ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications will have a community service partnership in 2022 with BeGreatDC, an expanding local non-profit.

BeGreatDC is a 501(c)(3) that uplifts and supports local marginalized groups through wellness, education, and community engagement initiatives. The organization focuses on creating service opportunities and other events that build a connection between those in need and those who have to give.  

“This partnership is an important opportunity for ROKK to give back to the community here in Washington and we are enthusiastic about building on our work together,” said Ron Bonjean, Co-founding Partner at ROKK Solutions. “BeGreatDC is a tremendous philanthropic organization that we were naturally drawn to because it is really making an inspiring difference in people’s lives.”

A DC public school community partner, BeGreatDC’s mission is to empower, educate, and engage the community while cultivating a unique culture of service and philanthropy. The organization’s programs include a quarterly GoGroceries activation that provides free groceries to one hundred families in need and their annual Laptops and Hotspots Drive that provides free laptops and internet access to DC students. ROKK Solutions was a sponsor of the 2021 Laptops and Hotspots Drive, and is currently participating in the annual Holiday Toy and Luggage Drive.

“We’re excited to work with ROKK Solutions in the coming year to advance some of our initiatives and programs in the community, ” said Rachael Payton, Founder and President of BeGreatDC. “A strong community needs strong collaboration for greater impact. Working with the energetic and passionate team at ROKK Solutions will give us the opportunity to help more of our DC neighbors in need.”

ROKK Solutions has recently undergone a strategic expansion, resulting in double-digit growth, a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities and various accolades including two years on the Agency Elite 100 list and recognition from PR News Platinum Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRES, PRovoke SABRE awards and the Bulldog PR awards. With in-house capabilities in digital and paid media, creative, crisis communications, social impact communications and more, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to build relationships and impact change in Washington.

ROKK’s new, groundbreaking study suggests that not only is there strong bipartisan support for corporate efforts to address environmental, social and governance challenges, but that the bipartisan appeal of these initiatives dramatically increases among Americans under the age of 45. The Well News interviewed study authors Lindsay Singleton and Dr. Tessa Recendes to learn more. Read the article here.

The award-winning agency continues to grow its workforce and expand its integrated suite of capabilities

Washington, D.C.–ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications, is pleased to welcome Capitol Hill communicator Jake Wilkins to the firm as an Account Director.

Wilkins is a well-known communications strategist in Washington and was most recently the communications director for US Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). He has previously held roles with the North Dakota Republican Party, the US Department of Agriculture and the Republican National Committee, as well as worked on several national political campaigns.

“It is an honor to be joining ROKK Solutions,” said Wilkins. “The firm’s leaders have put together one of Washington, DC’s premier public affairs agencies. I am excited to be a part of such an elite operation and to put my talents toward helping organizations achieve their goals.”

“We are pleased to welcome Jake to the ROKK team,” said Ron Bonjean, Co-Founding Partner. “Jake is a dynamic, approachable communicator and is popular among his former colleagues on Capitol Hill. He brings a nuanced, strategic understanding of the key issues affecting businesses across the country as we look to midterm elections in 2022, as well as strong positive relationships with the national media.”  

ROKK also welcomed two additional new team members:

Erickson Foster – Joining the team as a Multimedia Designer, Foster brings a wide range of expertise in visual storytelling and experience across sectors including private industry, military, politics and government.

John Fisher – ROKK’s newest Account Executive, Fisher comes from the NBC News’ communications and public relations team, where he worked around-the-clock national campaign coverage, five Presidential debates and a town hall with a sitting President.

“As ROKK continues to grow, it is imperative that we deliver on what is most important for our clients – teams with diverse viewpoints and experiences, a wide range of skill sets and the ability to take on everything from hyper-targeted media relations campaigns to multi-million dollar digital advertising initiatives. Jake, Erickson and John are welcome additions to the team, and we are excited to work with them,” said ROKK Partner Kristen Hawn.

ROKK has undergone a strategic expansion over the past 36 months which has resulted in double-digit growth, a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities and many accolades including; two years on the Agency Elite 100 list, a Platinum dotCOMM award and recognition from PR News Platinum Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRES, PRovoke SABRE awards and the Bulldog PR awards. With in-house capabilities in digital and paid media, creative, crisis communications, social impact communications and more, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to build relationships and create change in Washington.

Washington, D.C. –ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications has added Michelle Anderson to its senior leadership team as Head of Marketing and Development.

Anderson has been a senior advisor for ROKK since April 2020, leading the strategic marketing efforts for the firm. Her newly created role will align with ROKK’s next phase of growth, as she oversees marketing, business development and talent and culture for the growing agency. 

“Michelle has been a fantastic addition to the team, and we are happy to have her talents at ROKK full-time,” said Co-Founding Partner Rodell Mollineau. “As we move into the next phase of our growth, delivering the best thinking and strategic execution for our clients means having someone focused not just on bringing in new business, but on talent and culture initiatives. Michelle’s background and personality are a great fit for this critical role at ROKK.”

Anderson brings over 15 years of strategic integrated marketing expertise, with a focus on business growth and development. Before joining Spectrum Science to build their internal marketing function, she spent six years at Capital One where she focused on small business credit card marketing, including building and launching the SPARK business card. Her experiences in financial services and healthcare also include time spent at T. Rowe Price, where she focused on advisor marketing. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with dual concentrations in International Marketing and International Management from the Kogod School of Business at American University. 

“It’s exciting to work with an agency that has invested so much in their people and in building their in-house capabilities,” said Anderson. “ROKK has both the strategic thinking and the tactical execution skills to handle multi-million dollar digital campaigns, viral media campaigns, sensitive crisis initiatives and everything in between. I’m looking forward to contributing to this next phase of their growth.”

ROKK has undergone a strategic expansion over the past 36 months, resulting in double-digit growth, a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities and various accolades including two years on the Agency Elite 100 list and recognition from PR News Platinum Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRES, PRovoke SABRE awards and the Bulldog PR awards. With in-house capabilities in digital and paid media, creative, crisis communications, social impact communications and more, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to build relationships and impact change in Washington.

Washington, D.C.- ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics and communications has welcomed Genevieve Wilkins to its executive leadership team as Senior Vice President of Creative.

With over 20 years of experience in design and creative direction, Wilkins has worked for creative  powerhouses including Grey Advertising and Arnold Worldwide. No stranger to public affairs, Wilkins has served as Managing Director of Creative at DCI Group for the past 8 years.  She brings an ambitious creative vision for expanding ROKK’s creative capabilities into platforms including video, mobile, and emerging social channels.  

“Genevieve’s passion for creative and it’s ability to drive successful client outcomes is contagious,” said Rodell Mollineau, Co-founding Partner at ROKK. “We have seen that strategic, well-executed creative is key to powerful campaigns, and we are excited to partner with Genevieve to deliver even more of that for our clients.”

The ROKK creative team has a disciplined focus on integrated campaign creative, especially in digital channels. With Wilkins at the helm, the firm is poised to grow its capabilities in line with her vision of a team of highly creative visual storytellers.

“ROKK is going through an exciting phase of growth, and the work they are doing is truly inspiring,” said Wilkins. “I am confident that having an innovative, best-in-class creative team will be an asset for both ROKK’s existing clients and new clients who are looking for strategic public affairs thinking paired with hard-hitting tactical executions.”

Wilkins earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her portfolio includes work with brands including, but not limited to, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Swissotel, Verizon, DoorDash, and Exxon. Her work has been recognized by the Communicator Awards, the Hermes Awards, and the International dotCOMM Awards, among others. 

ROKK has undergone a strategic expansion over the past 36 months which has resulted in double digit growth, a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities, and a suite of accolades including two years on the Agency Elite 100 list and recognition from PR News Platinum Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRES, PRovoke SABRE awards, and the Bulldog PR awards. With in-house capabilities in digital and paid media, creative, crisis communications, social impact communications and more, ROKK is a sought-after agency for Fortune 100 organizations, nonprofits and associations looking to build relationships and impact change in Washington.

Washington, D.C. – ROKK Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm at the nexus of policy, politics, and communications, has partnered with IMPACT ROI to launch STAR (Social Threat Analysis & Response), a proprietary program for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and other top-tier businesses to assess and respond to social threats in the marketplace.  

A majority of Americans now expect companies to lead on the social issues that matter most to them. With incidents of social justice, equity, and activism occurring almost daily, these social threats comprise a new level of enterprise risk. The STAR program focuses on identifying the specific social threats that may require a response from an organization as they evolve, and guides decision-makers through a rigorous framework for determining if, when, and how to respond. The framework is custom-built, providing a tailored approach for each organization’s unique circumstances.

“Organizations need to be consistent in living and communicating their values,” said ROKK Co-founding Partner Rodell Mollineau. “The STAR framework is built to facilitate objective decision-making in highly matrixed organizations, driving consistent and proactive action if and when it makes sense. It’s an essential tool not just for public affairs, but across government relations, diversity, equity & inclusion, marketing and even finance functions.”

“Businesses that are managing social risks well have seen significant increases in their financial performance, from increases in share price and productivity to reductions in turnover,” said Steve Rochlin, CEO of IMPACT ROI, referencing findings from his firm’s Project ROI Research Series. “We are at a transformative moment for businesses, and STAR provides senior leadership the decisive counsel it needs to act in a financially-forward way.”

ROKK Solutions and IMPACT ROI are long-time partners, with Rochlin serving as the strategic advisor to ROKK’s Social Impact Communications practice. ROKK has undergone a tactical expansion over the past 36 months resulting in double-digit growth and a 360-degree integrated suite of capabilities designed to service the evolving needs of clients in the public affairs marketplace. The agency has been recognized as a Public Affairs Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media, a Small Agency of the Year by PR News, and is on the 2020 Agency Elite 100 list from PR News. For more information on STAR, please visit rokksolutions.com/star.