ProActive Communications | public affairs, public relations & digital media

Expertise

Team

Mark Serrano
President

Mark's Bio

Mark Serrano is a leading policy strategist, public affairs and digital public relations expert, Internet entrepreneur, and regular media commentator and blogger. He founded ProActive Communications in 1996, which has distinguished itself as an effective business and public policy advocate and strategic communications resource to Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, and non-profit organizations. Serrano founded ProActive Communications with an emphasis on a verifiable return on investment and quality client services, and personally designs and directs successful issues advocacy, crisis communications, and public relations programs.

Matt Bennett
Senior Director

Matt's Bio

Matt Bennett has a decade of strategic communications and public relations experience, designing and implementing strategic communications and PR programs for multiple accounts. Previously, he held positions with the Campaign Media Analysis Group, the regional office of Congressman Sam Farr, and the media relations office of the Canadian Embassy to the United States. Bennett has a master’s degree in international policy studies and a bachelor¹s degree in international relations.

Catherine Pepper
Director

Catherine's Bio

Catherine Pepper maximizes public understanding and builds broad-based support for client policy priorities on state, national and international stages. Previously, she was director of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee inside the Republican State Leadership Committee, a clerk at BGR Group (previously Barbour Griffith & Rogers), and scheduler for U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Pepper is a University of Texas at Austin alumna and earned her master’s degree from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

John Gordon
Director

John's Bio

John Gordon is a seasoned public affairs professional who leads issues campaign accounts that are integral to the business objectives of corporate clients. Previously, He has been involved in over 300 political campaigns, most recently having led coalition-building and social media programs for the 2010 reelection of U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA). Gordon earned an undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego, and a master’s degree at The Johns Hopkins University.

Steve McMillan
Production Director

Steve's Bio

Steve McMillan has led ProActive’s video production team for ten years. He has a knack for assembling creative team members whose diverse talents and energy merge to create dramatic and effective videos for a wide variety of needs in both corporate and broadcast applications. Previously, McMillan has produced hundreds of broadcast commercials and corporate videos for a variety of industries. He maintains active television production credits on regional cable TV networks.

Ryan Farnes
Production Manager

Ryan's Bio

Ryan Farnes directs the planning and execution of all video projects for ProActive accounts. He also manages major web and print design projects. Farnes has ten years of experience producing documentary-style videos, and previously served as a production assistant, producing videos and live events at Washington, DC-based think tanks, the National Press Club, and on Capitol Hill. He earned a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Brigham Young University.

Lanaé Gomez-Evans
Creative Design Manager

Lanaé's Bio

Lanaé Gomez-Evans manages graphic and web design initiatives for all ProActive accounts. She has 14 years of experience with web, print, and multimedia design, and earned a degree in Web Design and Multimedia from the Arts Institute of New York. Gomez-Evans is a self-diagnosed tech addict and can be found blogging and coding into the wee hours of the night.

Samra Khawaja
Social Media Assistant

Samra's Bio

Samra Khawaja is responsible for the daily management of client online and social media platforms, as well as writing and editing support for all client accounts. She has interned previously for CNN, WTVR- CBS 6 in Richmond, VA, and others. Khawaja earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and minors in Political Science and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University.