Alliances
Energy drives the nation’s economy, and energy policy continues atop the national agenda. Energy stakeholders, however, frequently fail to communicate effectively with target audiences. Corporations, trade groups and coalitions often speak in industry or policy jargon that leaves them disconnected from the groups they’re trying to influence.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Lighthouse offers clients a special capability to communicate effectively with key audiences through its strategic alliance with Purple Strategies, a leading public affairs firm.
The folks at Purple know how important effective messaging and communications are to successful outcomes. They know that in our fast-moving, high information society, public attitudes are constantly shifting in ways difficult to predict – and even more difficult to influence. For corporations, trade associations and coalitions, it’s more important than ever to respond strategically and communicate values that are aligned with society’s expectations.
From designing a comprehensive message strategy to opinion research, integrated advertising, media relations and grassroots outreach, Purple provides a unique perspective on public affairs and the highest level of service and expertise. Indeed, the extensive public affairs offerings of Purple, combined with the energy policy and political strengths of Lighthouse, provide a seamless approach to achieving strategic objectives in the dynamic energy field.
Principal Bios
Alex Castellanos
With more than two decades of political and private sector consulting experience in the US and around the globe, Alex has developed communications strategies and campaigns for Fortune 100 Companies, served as media consultant to five U.S. presidential campaigns, helped elect eight U.S. senators and six governors. More…
Fortune Magazine singled out Castellanos as a “new-style media master.” In 2007, GQ Magazine called Castellanos one of the 50 Most Influential People in D.C. Castellanos brings a wealth of campaign strategy, public opinion research and communications experience to corporate and public policy campaigns. He is a member of CNN’s “Best Political Team on Television”.
A native of Havana, Cuba, Castellanos is fluent in Spanish and English. His parents, refugees who fled Castro’s Cuba in 1961, came to this country with one suitcase, two children and eleven dollars. A Morehead and National Merit Scholar at the University of North Carolina, Castellanos has lectured domestically and internationally, with venues ranging from Harvard University to the United States Army Communication School.
Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon is an attorney and co-founder of Purple Strategies, LLC. He got his start in politics on the Senate and political staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and has worked on dozens of Senate, Gubernatorial and Mayoral campaigns across the country. McMahon has served in senior roles in three presidential campaigns, and produced the advertising in support of then Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic National Committee in the 2008 presidential campaign. More…
For the past twelve years, McMahon’s principal focus has been on providing comprehensive reputation, brand image, crisis management and issue advocacy campaigns to companies and industries operating in challenging environments. He and his colleagues have also handled numerous initiative and referendum campaigns on a wide range of subjects, and helped develop litigation communication strategies for major companies facing significant litigation threats.
Steve McMahon appears regularly as a political commentator on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews and Andrea Mitchell Reports. During the past three campaign seasons, McMahon was a frequent commentator on the NBC Evening News, ABC World News Tonight, The Today Show, CNN, and FOX NEWS. McMahon is married to Cynthia Alksne, a former federal prosecutor and MSNBC legal analyst. The couple has four daughters.
Bruce Haynes
Bruce has over 15 years experience in political and public affairs campaigns, specializing in industry image and corporate reputation advertising. More…
An expert in strategy and message development, Haynes has most recently directed message and advertising efforts to manage the corporate image of a leading pharmaceutical company, and crafted a several hundred million dollar campaign on behalf of a major cable network in a dispute with a cable programmer.
Previously, Haynes private sector work has included leading efforts to successfully reposition large trade associations, manage positive legislative outcomes in issue areas such as telecommunications, energy, legal reform and health care, including overseeing the paid media effort for Citizens for Better Medicare, the largest issue advocacy campaign of its kind.
On the political front, Haynes has advised large federal government agencies on public affairs campaigns, served as media consultant to the Republican National Committee’s 2008 US Presidential independent expenditure campaign and, prior to joining Purple, he served as Chief-of-Staff to South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis and as staff counsel to two-term South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell.
