James Conway comes to ROKK with a decade of knowledge working on the Hill, managing political campaigns and most recently B2B technology agency experience. His work in media relations, public affairs and campaign management has led to features in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Reuters as well as flipping swing districts and breaking political fundraising records. 

James recently served as an Account Manager at an agency where he led public relations, thought leadership and social media for companies in the technology sector with a focus on quantum computing, generative AI and semiconducting chips. 

James started his career working on the Hill for Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). A native Virginian, James recently moved back to Washington, DC from Denver.

As Senior Account Director, Laura brings to ROKK a wealth of knowledge from spending more than seven years working in U.S. Congress. During this time, she wore many hats, most notably as communications director for a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference. 

During her time as communications director, Laura ran a communications shop where she was responsible for creating robust communications strategies, developing crisis communications plans, managing digital platforms, maintaining media relations with local, national and international media outlets and distilling complex issues into digestible content in English and Spanish. Laura also served as the lead point of contact for the Congressional Hispanic Conference, facilitating all cross-functional communications and collaborative messaging. More recently, Laura led multicultural communications campaigns for one of the largest Fortune 500 companies – helping them reach Hispanic communities through purpose-driven initiatives and amplifying the brand’s presence through strategic, earned-first media relations. 

Laura was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to the United States with her family when she was nine. She grew up in Miami, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in communications and master’s in public administration. Laura also holds a certificate in Public Policy from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tanika Pradhan brings her impressive depth of knowledge, can-do attitude, creative problem solving skills and strategic outlook to everything she does as Senior Account Director. Leading diverse high-performing clients, she has orchestrated acclaimed campaigns and legislative victories on their behalf, including the Honoring the PACT Act. Tanika has had her clients featured in outlets like CNN, USA Today, Forbes and many more. PRNEWS recognized her as a “Rising Star” at their 2023 Top Women Awards.

Tanika is a thought leader in the corporate social responsibility space, working alongside the Chair of ROKK’s Social Impact practice to pursue ESG-related projects and execute research in tandem with Penn State University. Tanika was integral in the development and execution of two comprehensive research reports, “Across the Aisle: Unlocking the Bipartisan Power of ESG” and “Navigating ESG in the New Congress.” 

As a key member of ROKK Solutions’ first DEI-focused communications team, she conducted a complete overhaul of a Fortune 100 company’s ‘Inclusive Diversity & Equity Communications’ guidelines – helping to ensure the organization was building a respectful and welcoming corporate culture for all. She’s also a leader on ROKK’s Social Threat Analysis and Response (STAR) team, helping major Fortune 500 corporations set up decision-making systems for internal and external responses when threats arise. She has led industry-wide webinars on strategically planning for social crises.

Tanika also has a strong passion for leveraging data to inform communications strategies and is a huge advocate of data-driven campaigns. Tanika has conducted several webinars and authored thought leadership on the benefits of combining the two, especially to achieve superior media relations outcomes.

Tanika comes to ROKK from her time at Weber Shandwick where she was a part of the social impact and analytics teams. Originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, Tanika was only 5 when she left for boarding school in India. She moved to the United States after graduating high school. Her experience living and working in three different countries has given her a uniquely global perspective on her work at ROKK. 

Michaela (Mickey) Sundermann comes to ROKK with nearly seven years of Hill, campaign and agency experience. She’s passionate about using tried and true political communication tools and applying that to clients to reach their goals.

Mickey recently served as the Communications Director to Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) reelection campaign and has extensive communications experience working for both House and Senate Republicans. This includes serving as the committee press secretary for House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), digital director for the office of Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and digital director for Senator Josh Hawley’s election campaign.

She has had clients featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Associated Press and appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “The Way I Heard It” and C-SPAN. Mickey also has successfully managed the book launches and media tours for two New York Times Best Sellers.

As a Senior Account Director, she oversees the day-to-day management of clients and projects at ROKK. She uses her experience to leverage local and national press coverage, as well as balancing digital and traditional media, to win the day for her clients.  

Mickey earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Iowa State University. Loyal. Forever. True.

Trinna is an accomplished and detail-oriented office administrator, she brings a wealth of experience in office administration, operations, leadership, finance management, event logistics and employee relations. Throughout her career, Trinna has been a strong advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity.

As the Senior Office Manager, Trinna is committed to maintaining a high standard of excellence in all aspects of office operations ensuring efficiency and productivity. She will maintain the smooth daily functioning of the firm, overseeing administrative staff and contributing to ROKK’s mission of promoting a positive and collaborative work environment. 

Erickson has a deeply rooted passion for creativity from as far back as he can remember. His inspiration stems from his life-long quest to learn from all areas of design to include architecture, product design, fashion and more.

With experience across many sectors, including federal, military, private and political, Erickson has proven his ability to adapt his aesthetic to the clients’ specific needs. He strongly believes that design should be more than just a “pretty face” and brings a sense of storytelling and clarity to his work.

Gabrielle brings a combination of creativity and logical analysis to the table at ROKK. As a recent graduate of Tulane University Law School, she leverages these skills to find the best solutions for her clients’ challenges. 

As Senior Account Executive, Gabrielle develops and executes communications to help her clients achieve their strategic goals whether that’s through social media engagement or media relations. 

Prior to joining ROKK, Gabrielle spent time in courtrooms and law offices honing her research and writing skills during law school. She is also a graduate of Florida State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on editing, writing and media.

Destinee is an enthusiastic brand communications professional with a grounded understanding of the opportunities and hurdles faced by today’s businesses and organizations.

As a ROKK Account Director, Destinee brings expertise in public affairs, brand development and strategic messaging. With experience across government, non-profit, tech, consumer product, healthcare and financial services industries, she knows how to nurture cross-functional teams and craft authentic and impactful narratives that lift brands to new heights.

Destinee recently worked for a multinational public relations and communications firm, helping clients amplify brand presence, bolster reputation and engage diverse audiences. Before this, she worked on the Hill for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, where she developed key messaging for the Senator and enhanced his name recognition across the state of Maryland.

Destinee is a Georgia native and a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in English.

Dalena is a passionate storyteller. She recognizes the power of strategic communication to create personal narratives on behalf of an individual, government entity or corporation. She is passionate about the intersection of strategic communications, digital marketing, politics and business.

Drawing from her experience in local and state affairs, Dalena has engaged in political campaigns and partnered with a wide array of clients seeking strategic grassroots communications. Her expertise has facilitated connections between clients spanning various industries and local stakeholders, all achieved through meticulously tailored communication approaches.

Her portfolio includes diverse clientele, ranging from financial services and pharmacy store chains to automotive companies, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions.

Dalena studied public relations and political science at the University of Florida. Go Gators!

Abbey is a detail-oriented and conscientious communicator. Previously serving as deputy communications director for Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) and communications director for Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), she knows how to cultivate strong relationships with reporters and media outlets at local, state and national levels.

Preparing C-suite executives for high-profile appearances and media engagements is her expertise. She’s the one to call in a crisis to craft impactful speeches, press releases and op-eds that deliver results for her clients.

She holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Bachelor of Arts in media and journalism from the University of South Dakota. She is an engaging combination of Midwest meticulousness and D.C. drive.