TEAM
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OUR TEAM
Anthony Hayes | Founder and President
Anthony Hayes has spent more than 20 years working in communications, crisis, and issue management. In 2017 he founded The Hayes Initiative (THI), an award-winning premiere public affairs firm providing expertise at the crossroads of communications, government relations, and stakeholder management. Anthony has led THI to year-over-year growth and seven-figure revenues by serving clients across industries including AirBNB, Google, City Football Group, the National 9/11 Museum, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clinton Global Initiatives, The Related Companies, and Blade by establishing a team of trusted and knowledgeable advisors who know that the right connections, preparation, and a defined mission will translate to action and deliver tangible results. In 2022, THI was named PR Agency of the Year by the Stevie Business Awards and a finalist for PRWeek’s Best Boutique Agency award. Most recently, THI was named to PR News’ 2025 Agency Elite list, and has been included on City & State’s Political PR Power list for the past two years.
Anthony’s extensive experience working with industries from tech to non-profit to political campaigns, and his hands-on collaborations with organizations ranging from small businesses to multi-million dollar companies, have earned him multiple recognitions as an LGBT executive by Crain’s and City and State. He and the THI team have established a one-stop shop that helps leaders and organizations execute major initiatives, secure media coverage, deliver events that receive global attention, and navigate the complexities of politics and government. Since founding THI, Anthony has led the public affairs and media relations for a number of high-profile projects, including the 9/11 20th anniversary commemoration, the announcement of the settlement that effectively nullified the discriminatory aspects of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, the announcement and groundbreaking for New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, and he supported press advance on the historic Harris Walz campaign. During the pandemic, THI provided pro-bono services to small businesses, in particular New York City restaurants, to help them navigate crisis communications and government relations, while also organizing and lobbying for sidewalk cafes and PPP loans.
Prior to founding THI, Anthony served on Hillary For America’s national advance team where he specialized in crisis management and oversaw media logistics for economic, security, and social policy speeches; town halls; and rallies in dozens of states. He regularly briefed Secretary Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Senators Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, as well as their senior staff, in preparation for media appearances, press conferences, off-the-record visits, and prime-time interviews. Much of this work required close coordination with national TV networks and the United States Secret Service. Anthony also worked closely with Secretary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton on their book tour for The Book of Gutsy Women.
As Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy at GMHC, Anthony directed the strategy and implementation of all communications, advocacy, and marketing for the world’s first and the nation’s leading HIV and AIDS service organization. Before that, Anthony was an appointed official managing media and communications for highly sensitive issues at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He oversaw all communications for 5 airports, 6 bi-state crossings, PATH commuter rail, 2 high-traffic bus terminals, the largest East Coast seaport operation, the 16-acre World Trade Center site, and a 1,600-member police force. Anthony served as a member of the executive office and advised top leadership on communications and related operations across the agency’s portfolio, and he managed strategic national media responses related to emergencies such as Superstorm Sandy and public controversies including Bridgegate.
From his integral role in the national and New York State fight for marriage equality, to helping repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, to launching the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s first Employee Resource Group (ERG), Anthony has worked throughout his career to build inclusivity into the structure of organizations. He is proud to have built a nationally-respected, award-winning company that embodies those same inclusive values.
Anthony grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and moved to New York City in 1998, where he has spent a great deal of his professional career. He received his BA from The New School in Manhattan. Anthony recently returned to Oklahoma and now splits his time between the place he grew up and his adopted home, New York City.
Taína Borrero | Senior Vice President
Taína Borrero’s nearly 20 years’ experience in government relations, communications, nonprofit development, event strategy and execution, and business development help differentiate The Hayes Initiative (THI) as a sought-after cross-sector resource for top-tier public affairs service.
At THI, Taína has provided public affairs support to clients including the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the New York State Department of Labor, Nuvalence, Google, and The New York City Football Club. She also leads public affairs efforts for Blade Urban Air Mobility, and served as THI’s senior advisor on Latino Strategy & Outreach to the NY State Democratic Party. Most recently, she worked closely on the election campaign for the first female Governor of the State of New York.
Taína’s experience earned her recognition as one of City and State’s 2023 Above & Beyond Women, City and State’s 2022 Albany 40 under 40, Crain’s New York’s Notable 2022 Hispanic Leaders as well as one of PoliticsNY’s 2022 Power Players Rising.
Prior to joining THI, Taína served as Director of Business Development – Political/Government at MediaCo (HOT 97 and WBLS), where she led the execution of more than half a dozen virtual town halls featuring on-air talent, elected officials, and civic leaders. These town halls generated more than 1 million impressions on YouTube, more than 150,000 impressions on Facebook, and more than $150,000 in new revenue from sponsorships. Before that, Taína was Vice President, Strategy & Business Development at leading lobbyist firm Kasirer LLC. She also spent more than five years leading fundraising efforts for Teach For America-New York, where she served as Interim VP and Managing Director of Development. Taína started her career in the New York City press office of then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her work experience also includes a variety of roles in communications, external affairs, and government affairs at Hunter College, the New York City Department of Education under then-Mayor Bloomberg’s administration, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
A native New Yorker who grew up at the intersection of politics and media, Taína is a graduate of Princeton University (MPA), Hunter College (BA), and Baruch College Campus High School. She lives on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she is an active member of her community. Taína is currently serving her third appointed term on Manhattan Community Board 8, where she co-chairs the Youth, Education & Libraries committee as well as the Rules & By-Laws Committee. She is an active member of The Lexington Democratic Club which was the first Reform Club, serving as a model for the movement that came to dominate Democratic politics in Manhattan. Taína serves on the Board of the ERA Coalition and Fund for Women’s Equality.
Jeffry Pennock | Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Jeffry Pennock recently brought his 15 years’ of experience in political campaigns, government, and the nonprofit sector to the award-winning Hayes Initiative. Jeffry’s expertise across industries allows him to support THI’s wide range of high-profile cross-sector clients and bridge the gap between communications, government relations, and stakeholder management — overlapping buckets that often require multiple specialists. Jeffry manages daily client deliverables around media, communications, government relations, and community relations, providing a single point of contact, firsthand knowledge, and problem-solving.
Jeffry joined THI most recently from Women in Need, Inc. (Win), where he served as Associate Vice President of Development. At Win, Jeffry cultivated multiple seven-figure gifts—the largest in the organization’s history—and executed a reboot of the major donor, individual giving, and direct mail fundraising campaigns. Prior to his time at Win, Jeffry was the Director of Development at the Empire State Pride Agenda, where he directed the political advocacy organization’s fundraising operations.
Jeffry has served in a variety of roles in government and political campaigns across the nation. In 2014, he was the Finance Director for the New York Attorney General’s reelection campaign. Before that, he held posts on multiple California political campaigns, including Kamala Harris’ race for Attorney General. From 2011 to 2013, he served in Harris’s executive office at the California Department of Justice. In Florida, Jeffry led the field campaign for Kendrick Meek’s bid for U.S. Senate and worked with the Public Interest Research Group on a canvassing operation for the Human Rights Campaign. In Texas, he worked in multiple roles on Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Jeffry is a graduate of The University of Texas Medical Branch (Ph.D.) and The University of Miami (BS). He lives in New York City.