Who We Are

Tom Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of H/Advisors Abernathy, where he is leading a growth strategy rooted in the firm’s powerful heritage as a trusted partner to leading organizations and executives in their most critical moments.

Carina Davidson serves as H/Advisors Abernathy’s President, based in the firm's New York office. Carina counsels companies of all sizes across a broad range of sectors on complex communications matters. She has significant expertise helping clients manage their reputations and develop strategies to reach their core audiences.

Peter Lee is the Chief Financial Officer of H/Advisors Abernathy, where he is responsible for all of the firm’s financial functions, including accounting, financial planning, forecasting, client accounting and various financial analyses and reporting. He also oversees and manages the firm’s information technology. His career spans more than 25 years of experience in financial management, business leadership and corporate strategy in various industries, including strategic communications, marketing and advertising, manufacturing, banking and logistics.

Mary Ann Hernandez leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Human Resources department and is responsible for talent acquisition at all levels, performance management, policy implementation, and staff culture and wellbeing initiatives for all of the firm’s offices.

Michael Hotra represents clients impacted by federal and state policy, politics and regulation, as well as policy-oriented shareholder proposals. He often works closely with a client’s legal counsel, government affairs representatives and leadership teams to develop public affairs strategies that mitigate risk, protect and enhance valuation and reputation and enable optimal business outcomes. He has specific expertise supporting clients undergoing investigations by federal and state governments, and has counseled several companies through DOJ, SEC, NLRB, GAO and agency-level investigations and merger reviews, as well as Congressional investigations and CEO-level oversight hearings. Mike has also counseled clients litigating and settling thousands of MDL cases initiated by state attorneys general.

Sydney Isaacs provides strategic communications counsel to companies during times of change, including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, crises and activist shareholder engagements. Sydney’s work supports companies’ valuations and reputations through a combination of financial communications and PR strategies. She has particularly deep experience advising companies across the energy sector, providing support to clients on communications related to their diverse efforts to participate in and respond to the energy transition. ​

As one of the country’s leading crisis management advisors, Rhonda Barnat has helped dozens of corporations and non-profits navigate some of their most defining moments. Rhonda is an expert in helping companies and non-profits move through an issue and return to normalcy with their reputations intact. She is often called upon to assemble specialized teams when a crisis befalls an institution, and a hallmark of her work is helping institutions form – and meet – business goals while navigating unexpected crises. In addition, she frequently works with institutions and their boards on crisis preparation, as well as specialized media and presentation training.

Eileen Cohen is a Senior Counselor at H/Advisors Abernathy, where she provides corporate governance and sustainability counsel to the firm’s clients.

Ellen DeSanctis serves as a Senior Counselor for H/Advisors Abernathy where she brings years of corporate experience in setting strategy and executing corporate communications programs in investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets engagement, stakeholder engagement, marketing and branding programs, internal communications and crisis communications. In her communications roles, Ellen brought a strong passion for working with and leading teams in providing functional expertise to transform and elevate the corporate communications function.

Carl Folta provides strategic communications counsel to companies and senior executives, drawing on his more than thirty-five years of leadership in the communications field, with particular expertise in the media and entertainment industries. He has a broad range of experience in high-stakes, high profile engagements involving financial communication and reputational challenges, including mergers and acquisitions, transactions, crisis communication, litigation and trial support, reputational management, corporate governance disputes and financial and investor relations programs.

Jim MacGregor advises corporate and nonprofit boards and managements on matters of governance, organizational positioning, crisis avoidance and management, investor relations, communications strategy, as well as issues that fall outside conventional definitions. 

Eric Bonach provides strategic communications counsel to companies involved in transformative and special situations, including mergers and acquisitions, SPAC transactions, shareholder activism defense, proxy contests, unsolicited takeovers and corporate crises. He also specializes in financial communications and reputation management, working closely with companies to develop and enhance their public and investor relations programs.

Karina Byrne specializes in strategic communications counsel, issues management, crisis communication, change management, media relations and internal communications. She has decades of experience in global and federal enforcement actions, securities litigation, class action defense and employment law. Karina has advised financial services firms focused on wealth management, investment banking and asset management, as well as companies in the fintech, insurance, payments, technology, mining, industrials, infrastructure and pharmaceutical industries.

Tod has over 20 years of experience advising clients on complex and consequential public affairs and strategic communications matters. He has particular expertise across the technology, healthcare, consumer, and financial services sectors, and an exceptional track record helping clients navigate the dynamic regulatory environment. Throughout his career, he has led significant assignments as a senior communications counselor for multinationals, C-suite executives and governments in North America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Sheila Ennis counsels clients on all aspects of media and investor relations strategy development, with a particular focus on ever-changing disclosure expectations, regulatory compliance, litigation risk and evolving employee concerns. Sheila has broad transaction expertise, including M&A and IPOs. She provides sophisticated counsel in activism defense, business model transformations, major internal and external crises, management changes and other high-stakes moments.

Dana Gorman serves as the Head of Private Equity at H/Advisors Abernathy. He counsels GPs and portfolio companies on initiatives including reputation management, transactions, crises, public affairs, media relations and philanthropic endeavors. This involves the design and implementation of sophisticated and targeted communications plans related to both acute, high-consequence events and long-term business goals. He also has substantial experience communicating with a wide range of important constituencies, including employees, customers, government officials, limited partners and the media.

Blair Hennessy provides strategic communications counsel to executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors at both public and private clients across a variety of industries. With a focus on protecting and enhancing corporate reputation during critical events, she has experience advising clients on a wide range of communications matters, including both special situations, as well as long-term corporate positioning programs.

Michael Hotra represents clients impacted by federal and state policy, politics and regulation, as well as policy-oriented shareholder proposals. He often works closely with a client’s legal counsel, government affairs representatives and leadership teams to develop public affairs strategies that mitigate risk, protect and enhance valuation and reputation and enable optimal business outcomes. He has specific expertise supporting clients undergoing investigations by federal and state governments, and has counseled several companies through DOJ, SEC, NLRB, GAO and agency-level investigations and merger reviews, as well as Congressional investigations and CEO-level oversight hearings. Mike has also counseled clients litigating and settling thousands of MDL cases initiated by state attorneys general.

Sydney Isaacs provides strategic communications counsel to companies during times of change, including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, crises and activist shareholder engagements. Sydney’s work supports companies’ valuations and reputations through a combination of financial communications and PR strategies. She has particularly deep experience advising companies across the energy sector, providing support to clients on communications related to their diverse efforts to participate in and respond to the energy transition. ​

Shawn Pattison heads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Hedge Fund practice. Shawn counsels clients in the areas of media relations, crisis communications and reputation management. In addition, he specializes in building and protecting the reputations of firms and their managers through investor, media and public engagement.

Dan Scorpio is Head of M&A and Activism at H/Advisors Abernathy. He provides strategic communications and stakeholder engagement counsel to leadership teams and Boards of Directors regarding transactions, activism defense and governance matters. He is skilled in connecting communications strategies to business objectives and brings a highly effective cross-stakeholder approach to client engagements. Dan has significant media relations experience and is a leader in applying digital strategies to drive positive outcomes for clients in contested M&A, proxy contests and special situations.

Liz Sidoti provides strategic communications, reputation management and public affairs counsel – and brings an integrated campaign mentality – to global organizations, particularly those in crisis and transition. She uses her more than two decades of experience navigating politics and government, the media and highly regulated industries, as well as corporate and nonprofit sectors, to help executives solve complex challenges. Her wide-ranging experience includes litigation, regulatory, acquisitions, divestments, brand, marketing, issues management, executive and advocacy communications.

Akeem Anderson is a veteran digital strategist, counseling clients on integrated communications planning related to corporate reputation, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, labor, IPOs, shareholder activism, public affairs and employee communications. In addition to strategic advisory, Akeem specializes in digital insight development, campaign management and cross platform measurement. He has also led media relations and strategic communication efforts for healthcare, hospitality and CPG clients.

James Bourne helps clients develop and implement communications strategies that resonate with the audiences that matter most. He helps clients maintain credibility, articulate value and achieve results in high-stakes situations, particularly in challenging or dynamic business, policy or regulatory environments. He frequently supports clients with mergers & acquisitions, public affairs, litigation, executive transitions, shareholder activism and crisis preparedness and response.

Alexa Clements provides strategic communications counsel with the goal of maintaining confidence in the business during times of change or transformation, including M&A, activism and financial restructurings. She has helped her clients navigate challenging obstacles such as media leaks, employee and community pushback, regulatory constraints and shareholder opposition. Her extensive transaction experience spans both public and private markets, from hyperlocal to global organizations. She also helps strategically raise corporate/executive profiles, including ahead of the IPO process.

Sydney Gever helps lead Abernathy’s Hedge Fund practice, advising managers and their investor relations teams on media relations, investor communications and public positioning initiatives that advance and protect their firms’ reputations across market cycles. In addition to representing hedge funds and other asset managers, she provides strategic counsel to public and private corporations operating across a variety of industries, with particular expertise in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

S.Y. Lee provides strategic counsel on a range of communications matters, with a focus on crisis mitigation, public affairs, and corporate affairs. He specializes in guiding clients through complex situations with minimal reputational damage, maximum business continuity, and optimized outcomes with all stakeholders.

As the Creative Director at H/Advisors Abernathy, Lawrence brings design-driven thinking and creative development to elevate client brands and support communications initiatives through both printed and digital media. Integrating closely with clients’ established brands, he creates presentation decks, infographics and fact sheets, microsites and forward-thinking design pieces to transform complex ideas, information and concepts into compelling visual stories.

Amal Robleh-Gessel leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Research and Insights department and is responsible for transforming data and research into actionable insights to inform client counsel and strategy. Amal has extensive experience in managing large-scale data research projects and leveraging research to create data-driven narratives that underpin corporate messaging.

Abigail Ruck provides strategic communications counsel to clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, telecommunications, healthcare, alternative investments and utilities. In her role, she advises clients on a variety of strategic communications matters, including crisis management, litigation, transactions, executive transitions and public affairs. Abigail specializes in crisis preparation and response and has counseled public and private companies through several complex situations, such as data breaches, product recalls, misconduct allegations, lawsuits and facilities disasters.

Emma Prenn-Vasilakis supports publicly traded and privately held companies on complex strategic communications matters and has significant experience with crises and special situations, including reputation management, cybersecurity and litigation. She also assists clients with labor relations, corporate strategy and financial communications, including company milestones and transformations, mergers & acquisitions and shareholder activism. Emma has extensive media relations experience, having advised several clients through high-stakes situations and executed successful communications programs.

Deven Anand provides strategic communications counsel to clients, including leading hedge funds, private equity firms and their managers, as well as private and publicly traded companies across a variety of industries, including financial services, consumer goods and technology. He advises leadership teams and Boards of Directors during special situations, including transactions, fundraising announcements, activism defense and sensitive crisis matters and leads the development of clients’ long-term communications strategies.

Tierney Anderson helps companies and high-profile individuals effectively navigate complex communications challenges, including crisis management, litigation, and corporate reputation and positioning.

Mark Detlor provides strategic communications counsel to a range of clients facing complex reputational challenges, often with legal and regulatory implications. With expertise in public affairs and issues management, Mark helps clients navigate their relationships with stakeholders in Washington and beyond to support key business objectives and minimize the risks associated with public corporate activity. Mark’s experience includes media relations, crisis management, litigation support and corporate reputation management in the tech, health care, energy and aerospace and defense industries, as well as for consumer brands.

Emilee Hanson is a Vice President within H/Advisors Abernathy’s Research and Insights department, where she is responsible for transforming data and research into actionable insights to inform client counsel and strategy.

Lisa Pham assists clients with strategic communications and reputation management across a range of business announcements, including M&A, restructuring, IPOs and crises. In her role, she helps develop communications strategies and messaging that help her clients achieve their larger organizational goals and business objectives, while considering different stakeholders’ concerns.

Caroline Roseman provides strategic counsel to public and private companies across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, alternative investments, retail, and consumer goods. In her role, she works closely with leadership teams and Boards of Directors to develop targeted communications materials that address key stakeholders’ needs and preserve corporate valuation during pivotal corporate milestones, including mergers and acquisitions, executive transitions, shareholder activism and sensitive crisis matters.

Jesse Rachelle provides strategic communications and public affairs counsel to both public and private companies spanning a variety of industries, including financial services, health care, consumer goods, technology and energy. With a particular focus on protecting corporate reputation, Jesse frequently counsels leadership teams and boards of directors on long-term communications and public affairs strategies, tailored crisis preparation and management plans and bespoke special situations communications.

Mallory Griffin provides strategic communications counsel to a variety of clients, including hedge funds, private equity firms, companies pursuing M&A and companies engaged in active litigation. Mallory brings strong research, monitoring and drafting support to every client engagement.

Annie Han works with a diverse array of public and private companies, providing strategic counsel and reputation management across the firm’s practice areas. She specializes in litigation, crisis, and public affairs work and has extensive experience in profile raising, M&A, ESG, and activism. Her day-to-day media relations work and strategic planning have helped ensure clients are prepared and well-informed of any notable legal, policy, or industry developments.

Anika Sanghvi provides strategic communications counsel and ongoing support to clients across the firm’s various practice areas including M&A, private equity and shareholder activism. She has experience spanning a range of industries including technology, financial services, energy, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

Trevor Davis provides strategic communications support to clients across the firm’s practice areas. In his role, he conducts media monitoring, engages in research and analysis, and works with colleagues to develop effective client counsel and messaging strategies.

Conor Robbins provides strategic communications support to a variety of clients across different sectors, assisting them with their brand positioning and reputation management. Conor’s specialties include media and trend monitoring, intensive research, and message counseling in response to the developing issues that clients may be facing.

India Robinson provides strategic communications support to clients across various industries and practice areas. In her role, India provides research and monitoring support to inform clients’ communications strategies. She is an experienced researcher with expertise in SEO, digital, and social media trends and prior experience in activism and social justice campaigns.

Franco Tambunting provides strategic communications counsel to clients, including leading private equity firms, hedge funds and their managers, as well as private and publicly traded companies across a variety of industries including consumer goods, financial services, and industrials. He supports leadership teams during special situations, including shareholder activism defense, M&A, and fundraising activity including IPOs, as well as day-to-day media and investor relations, to help companies achieve their business objectives while protecting their corporate reputation.

Robert G. Weathers provides support to an array of clients across the firm’s strategic communications engagements. He leverages data-based insights to help design and execute clients’ communication strategies and crafts tailored messages for internal and external audiences. He frequently assists clients with high-profile assignments in litigation, M&A, IR, media relations, public affairs, cybersecurity, and product recalls.

Virginia Angle provides strategic communications support to a diverse portfolio of clients across various sectors. With a focus on brand positioning and reputation management, Virginia specializes in media monitoring, in-depth research, and message curation for both private and public clients.

Sabrina Cabarcos provides strategic communications counsel to several clients across the firm’s practice areas. As an Associate, Sabrina supports in research and analysis, media monitoring, and message curation for both public and private companies across a wide range of industries. 

Lauren DeGennaro provides strategic communications counsel to a variety of clients across industries and practice areas. In her role, she utilizes her research and analysis skills to curate messaging for clients as they engage in brand positioning, reputation management, and crisis response.

Isabella Destounis provides strategic communications counsel to a variety of clients across different sectors, assisting them with reputation and brand management. In her role, she specializes in research analysis, media monitoring and developing effective messaging strategies. Prior to joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Isabella contributed to dynamic PR initiatives, fostered relationships with the media and managed databases for a boutique agency based in Miami, Florida.

Sam Jefferson provides strategic communications counsel to clients toin a variety of different industries. In his role, he specializes in media monitoring, research and analysis, and message curation to inform communication strategies. Prior to joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Sam worked as a Reporting Intern for Vermont Public and has experience writing for several different news outlets.

Marney Jones provides strategic communications counsel to clients across a variety of industries and practice areas. Her role specializes in research, media monitoring, sentiment analysis and collaborating across the firm to curate messaging for clients. Prior to joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Marney worked at an Indianapolis-based public relations agency specializing in communications for B2B SaaS companies. 

Erika Sykes provides strategic communications support to numerous clients across the firm’s practice areas. Erika specializes in media monitoring, research and analysis, and message curation for both public and private companies. Prior to joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Erika worked in recruiting for a higher education system and supported digital press efforts for a congressional committee. She has experience coordinating robust events and designing messages to reach key stakeholders across digital and traditional media outlets.

Sofia Wolf provides strategic communications support across the firm’s practice areas, assisting clients facing reputational needs such as corporate crises, shareholder activism and litigation. Her responsibilities include client research, coverage analysis, and media communications, as well as message positioning and long-term profile raising for both public and private companies across a wide range of industries. 

Yingying Zhao provides strategic communications expertise to a wide array of clients across different sectors, assisting them with reputation and brand management. In her role, she specializes in research and analysis, media monitoring and developing effective messaging strategies. Prior to joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Yingying worked in product strategy and has experience in social media marketing. 

Amal Robleh-Gessel leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Research and Insights department and is responsible for transforming data and research into actionable insights to inform client counsel and strategy. Amal has extensive experience in managing large-scale data research projects and leveraging research to create data-driven narratives that underpin corporate messaging.

Emilee Hanson is a Vice President within H/Advisors Abernathy’s Research and Insights department, where she is responsible for transforming data and research into actionable insights to inform client counsel and strategy.

Akeem Anderson is a veteran digital strategist, counseling clients on integrated communications planning related to corporate reputation, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, labor, IPOs, shareholder activism, public affairs and employee communications. In addition to strategic advisory, Akeem specializes in digital insight development, campaign management and cross platform measurement. He has also led media relations and strategic communication efforts for healthcare, hospitality and CPG clients.

India Robinson provides strategic communications support to clients across various industries and practice areas. In her role, India provides research and monitoring support to inform clients’ communications strategies. She is an experienced researcher with expertise in SEO, digital, and social media trends and prior experience in activism and social justice campaigns.

As the Creative Director at H/Advisors Abernathy, Lawrence brings design-driven thinking and creative development to elevate client brands and support communications initiatives through both printed and digital media. Integrating closely with clients’ established brands, he creates presentation decks, infographics and fact sheets, microsites and forward-thinking design pieces to transform complex ideas, information and concepts into compelling visual stories.

Trishala Parmar is a creative professional dedicated to transforming ideas into visual stories that resonate. In her current role, she is responsible for crafting high-quality visual materials that support both client needs and internal marketing strategies. She designs materials for corporate communications, ensuring complex business messages are translated into clean, impactful designs.

Peter Lee is the Chief Financial Officer of H/Advisors Abernathy, where he is responsible for all of the firm’s financial functions, including accounting, financial planning, forecasting, client accounting and various financial analyses and reporting. He also oversees and manages the firm’s information technology. His career spans more than 25 years of experience in financial management, business leadership and corporate strategy in various industries, including strategic communications, marketing and advertising, manufacturing, banking and logistics.

Mary Ann Hernandez leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Human Resources department and is responsible for talent acquisition at all levels, performance management, policy implementation, and staff culture and wellbeing initiatives for all of the firm’s offices.

Devendra Lalji leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Information Technology department and is responsible for managing, implementing and leading IT Strategy across the organization.

Edwin Nazario has been a member of H/Advisors Abernathy for over 30 years. As Director of Client Services, Eddie facilitates protocols with building management and upper management and oversees administrative functions for client events, among other managerial responsibilities.

Nelson N. Abreu is a member of H/Advisors Abernathy’s Finance Department and assists with the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable operations. He also prepares daily journal entries and monthly reconciliation reports.

Ernesto Aguilar provides administrative support to H/Advisors Abernathy’s New York office, including managing expenses, making travel arrangements, booking conference rooms and organizing catering, among other administrative functions.

Maria Benvenuti co-leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Talent Development department and is responsible for managing several internal operations, including staffing, learning and development, as well as the firm’s mentorship program. Maria works closely alongside the rest of the firm’s Operations team to ensure all internal business functions run smoothly and efficiently. Maria also co-leads the firm’s DE&I Council and is responsible for both overseeing its Culture and Governance workstreams and providing strategic counsel to the leadership team.

Lawrence Braylock serves as an Senior Network Support Specialist at H/Advisors Abernathy, where he helps oversee the firm’s technology function. In his role, Lawrence provides cross-office helpdesk support, ensures the protection of client data and manages the devices and applications for staff members.

Alicia Dewar is the Director of Client Accounting and is responsible for the firm’s day-to-day client billing operations, including planning, organizing and coordinating monthly invoices. She also oversees billing procedures and handles client-related inquiries.

Andres Doran is a member of H/Advisors Abernathy’s Finance department, where he is responsible for the firm’s Accounts Payable operations. In his role, he produces the firm’s internal monthly operating report, monitors receivables, maintains the fixed asset inventory and also assists with budgets and revenue forecasts. Andres joined Abernathy in July of 2007 after relocating to New York from Tucson, Arizona.

Mia Figueroa is H/Advisors Abernathy’s West Coast Office Manager and oversees the daily business operations of the firm’s Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

Carl Garris has worked at H/Advisors Abernathy for over 27 years. As a Client Services Specialist, Carl is responsible for monitoring office supplies, sorting and distributing mail to employees, operating office equipment, including printers, copiers, fax machines and multimedia instruments, and working with common word processing and spreadsheet databases.

Angela Gonzalez-Rodriguez leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Marketing department, overseeing the firm’s marketing strategy and corporate brand. A seasoned strategic communications and integrated marketing advisor, she draws from over fifteen years of world-class experience in media, international relations, public affairs and corporate communications to ensure alignment of marketing and business goals to support growth.

Jazmin Martorell works in our Human Resources team at H/Advisors Abernathy. Her responsibilities encompass talent acquisition, record-keeping in our CRM database, assisting team members with HR processes, and participating in the DE&I council. In this role, she helps foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, implementing initiatives to make every voice heard and valued while building a stronger, more inclusive future for H/Advisors Abernathy.

Josh Pak leads H/Advisors Abernathy’s Finance department and is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, developing an annual budget and quarterly forecasts, and reporting all financial metrics to Havas, which include monthly financial results, tax filing requirements and other financial information. Josh is also responsible for managing the annual audit and ensuring that the firm’s financial statements and procedures meet audit standards.

Jessica Santos supports H/Advisors Abernathy’s Human Resources department and is responsible for managing recruitment and onboarding, among other administrative duties. She also helps spearhead the firm’s staff meeting entertainment on a bi-weekly basis.

Ravi Tulsi is a member of H/Advisors Abernathy’s Finance department, where he is responsible for preparing and managing financial schedules, journal entries, cash forecasts, monthly accruals, management fees, trademark fees, tax provisions and the monthly consolidation package for Havas. He also assists with month-end close.