TEAM

We bring ideas to life

OUR TEAM

Anthony Hayes | Founder and President

THI founder Anthony Hayes has spent more than a decade in communications, event production management and political and legislative campaigns. He now serves as a trusted C-level advisor, helping leaders and organizations leverage their assets to complete major initiatives, break through the noisy media landscape, deliver events that receive global attention, and navigate the often-chaotic world of politics and government.

Mr. Hayes most recently served on Hillary For America’s national advance team where he specialized in crisis management and oversaw media logistics at 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, and their senior staffs by providing situational information in preparation for media availabilities, press conferences, off the record visits, and prime-time interviews that were coordinated and negotiated with national TV networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN, and NBC) and United States Secret Service.

As Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy at GMHC, Mr. Hayes directed strategy and implementation of all communications, advocacy and marketing for world’s first and nation’s leading HIV and AIDS service organization. He developed core messaging and ensured organizational brand alignment, as well as crafted and led implementation of city, state and federal policy, budget and legislative agendas. Mr. Hayes oversaw all media relations, speechwriting, events, creative services and social media, and acted as organization spokesperson.

As an appointed official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Mr. Hayes managed media and communications focusing on highly sensitive issues at the bi-state agency. The role included overseeing 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 1600 member police force. He served as a member of the executive office and advised top leadership on communications and related operations across the agency’s portfolio. Mr. Hayes managed all major events for the agency and was the point person on organizing visits by several Heads of State to the World Trade Center site. He managed strategic national media responses related to emergencies such as Superstorm Sandy, and public controversies including Bridgegate.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hayes has served as a strategic advisor in non-profit, for-profit and government agencies delivering consistent results. From being a key player in the national and New York State fight for marriage equality; to helping a global bank launch a new operating model for their employees; to introducing One World Trade Center to the world, Mr. Hayes is a proven leader who swiftly coordinates action at the highest level of organizations.

Lisa MacSpadden | Managing Director

Lisa MacSpadden is a veteran communications professional with decades of experience as a strategic advisor to elected and appointed officials, C-suite executives, board members, and senior leaders. She excels at navigating high pressure, politically sensitive, and confidential issues while demonstrating the utmost level of discretion and judgment.

A former news producer and reporter, Lisa has managed large-scale press operations in the public and private sectors, directed state-wide press on two presidential campaigns, and served as a senior liaison with the White House. Her expertise spans crisis management, messaging, media and public engagement, government relations, marketing, and website redesign in a range of fields including healthcare, education, housing, consumer affairs, transportation, real estate, and urban planning.

Lisa has held appointed posts as New York’s Deputy Secretary of State, Director of Media Relations at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Deputy Director of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Washington office, and as a Senior Executive Service member at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the Clinton Administration. She also served as Managing Director and Chief Communications Officer at a non-profit in New York, as Director of Public and Media Engagement at the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) in Washington, Senior Advisor to the CEO and Chairman of a physician-owned health care corporation in Arizona, Senior Consultant to the National Black MBA Association, Field Producer at two Academy Awards, and a Senior News Producer and Reporter in Phoenix.

Lisa is passionate about working hard, getting to the crux of an issue, and bringing home results. She cultivates key relationships to advance an organization’s mission and generate positive press. For decades, she has secured high-level exposure for executives through media interviews, opinion pieces, and high-profile public appearances. Coverage includes ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and others.

At the bi-state Port Authority, Lisa coordinated media, marketing, and government relations activities during the rebuilding of One World Trade Center, the annual 9/11 commemorations, Superstorm Sandy, and Bridgegate. At HUD, a Cabinet-level agency with 81 field offices and 8,000 employees, she served as a member of the Secretary’s senior team and facilitated national outreach on department initiatives. While at NCPC, Lisa served as senior liaison with the White House, elected officials, and external stakeholders on projects of national and historic significance and oversaw outreach on precedent setting security measures at federal agencies in the wake of September 11. She led the agency’s exchanges with international planning envoys and executed an award winning week-long conference for delegates from 15 capital cities around the globe. In the non-profit arena, Lisa managed outreach for a coalition co-chaired by Howard Schultz comprising 50 national leaders who partnered to drive change in the digital economy. She developed plenary and focus group sessions, managed the release of their collectively authored book, and promoted national research on the evolving landscape of the American job market.

A musical theater enthusiast, Lisa is married with two children and resides in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.

Michael Czaczkes | Senior Vice President

Michael Czaczkes has nearly nine years of public service experience in government and community relations, legislative affairs, and strategic communications. He has successfully worked with city, state and federal elected officials, community based organizations, and government leaders to pass legislation, win crucial funding, and expedite bureaucratic gridlock.

Callie Holtermann | Junior Associate

Callie Holtermann has wide-ranging public service experience working with campaigns, legislative offices, and community partnerships. She has conducted administrative work in fast-paced campaign settings and composed clear messages across different types of media in the domains of politics and music management.