Take your communications to new heights.
The New Heights team offers backgrounds in all aspects of communications, campaigns, advocacy, and management, bringing an integrated approach to our work. Whether it’s running an advocacy campaign to eliminate the death penalty (we’ve done that), devising and implementing the strategy to win billions for public transit (yep, also us), or telling the stories of #MeToo victims in national outlets (you got it), we’re your team.
We got our start on presidential campaigns, so we believe that the rules of the trail apply to anyone seeking to deliver an impactful message: Tell stories, not policy prescriptions. Define yourself before others define you. And remember, the toughest fights are often the ones most worth winning.
#Squad
Aurora Matthews
Vice PresidentAurora Matthews is an award-winning writer and communications and public affairs strategist. As Vice President at New Heights Communications she brings more than ten yea
Christy Setzer
PresidentChristy Setzer is the President and Founder of New Heights Communications, a Washington, DC public affairs firm that provides strategic and communications counsel to mis
Danielle Strasburger
AssociateDanielle Strasburger is an Associate at New Heights Communications with a background in grassroots organizing and progressive non-profits. After graduating from Harvard m
Eissa Saeed
Director of Digital ContentEissa Saeed serves as the Director of Digital Content at New Heights. As a writer and media strategist, he brings seven years of experience...
Ian Moor
AssociateIan Moor is an Associate at New Heights who joined the team in 2019. He specializes in helping clients communicate the right message for...
Josh Cohen
PrincipalJosh Cohen, Principal at New Heights Communications, is an award-winning political consultant who has worked at the intersection of policy, politics, advocacy, communicat
Jaime Horn
PrincipalJaime Horn is a Principal with New Heights, where she brings over 20 years of experience in communications, international development and politics. Among highlights of..
Louie Tan Vital
Senior AssociateLouie Tan Vital is a Filipina progressive communications professional with extensive experience at the intersection of media and grassroots organizing, legislative advoca
Miko Zeldes-Roth
FellowMiko Zeldes-Roth is a Fellow at New Heights Communications. Miko comes to New Heights with a background in political research and grassroots progressive and...
Oscar Portillo Meza
AssociateOscar Portillo Meza joined New Heights as an Associate in 2021. He comes to New Heights after years supporting political campaigns and voter advocacy...
Ritvika Chandra
Digital AdvisorComing into her 4th election cycle, Ritvika Chandra has nearly a decade of experience as a digital consultant. She is laser-focused on using her...
Veronica Hughes
Business ManagerVeronica Hughes is an experienced professional in the areas of organizational management including accounting, creating processes, working with boards and payroll/benefit
Solace Duncan
RememberingSolace Duncan was a Senior Associate at New Heights. She was inspired to champion important causes during an international campaign to promote couple’s HIV counseling.
Advancing justice is never easy, but at New Heights, we know that “we all do better, when we all do better.”
Skills, Etc.
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Public Affairs & Issue Advocacy
New Heights drives smart, tough public affairs campaigns by promoting issue advocacy that moves lawmakers, allies and the media to action. Learn More
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Media Relations
Whether you need coverage in the New York Times, the tiniest of local outlets, or all of the above, we’ll craft a strategy to get you the headlines you want— and avoid those you don’t. Learn More
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Strategic and Crisis Communications
When opponents attack, an internal crisis occurs or there’s a dramatic shift in your organization, New Heights is here to create a strategic communications plan—and to help you implement it. Learn More
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Digital Services
We know how to tell stories online in compelling, creative and persuasive ways. Our digital services include social network management, ad placement and development, graphic design and web development.
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Litigation Communications
When you need progress in the courtroom instead of Congress, New Heights knows how to move the dial.
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Media Training
Even the best message requires excellent delivery. At New Heights, we’re not just media trainers; we also interview guests ourselves. From conducting hundreds of national media interviews, we know exactly what to do when the cameras are on– and what mistakes to avoid. We’ll help you ace your interview, every time. Learn More
Our clients are on a mission to change the world and need communications systems that can keep up with them. New Heights is up for the challenge.
We’ll make sure you’re reaching the right audiences and leveraging the best digital and traditional communications tools to tell your stories. We’ll advise on the best strategy, provide capacity when your teams are strapped, and be a true partner along the way.
Collaborators & Co-Conspirators
Praise
While 2020 was VIA Metropolitan Transit's first ballot initiative in 16 years, Josh, Ian and CFTE were able to provide the collective insight and institutional knowledge from campaigns across the country they've been involved with in recent years. Their input enhanced our polling, messaging and approach in ways we never could have on our own. CFTE was an invaluable member of our team and a key element of our overwhelming success at the ballot box.
Kelton Morgan,
Chief Strategist, Vote Yes For Transit (San Antonio, TX)Sometimes projects fall in your lap and you have zero time to complete them, this just happened to me. I had very little runway to create a brand new 15-minute keynote presentation that I had been invited to speak at a national conference. I was referred to Christy and she helped me out in a pinch. She created a rockstar speech for me that I can repurpose time and time again for other speeches. Her professionalism was top notch, her ideas on point, and she was an excellent communicator of the status of the project. I'd definitely use New Heights Communications again.
Dana Marlowe,
Founder and Executive Director, I Support The GirlsI have had the great pleasure to work with Christy and her team on a number of occasions over the years. As a seasoned communications professional myself, I know what it takes to get the job done and it's always such a relief when I'm able to hire Christy because I know she'll do all the worrying and work for me and get fantastic results. She is as fun as she is professional, delivers ahead of deadline and comes from a fantastic place of, "yes." And, her strategic political and communications advice is always on point. Christy and her team are gems.
Joanna Kuebler,
Vice President, Communications, Women’s Refugee CommissionNew Heights Communications are the dream team! I've had the pleasure of working closely with Aurora on the distribution of our film A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story last year, and most recently with the both of them on a female entrepreneurship summit in Houston. They were thoughtful and prompt with absolutely everything - preparing the press release, securing local and national press, and working directly with our speakers to coordinate interviews. We can't wait to work with them again!
Jessica Chou,
Producer, WOMEN RISINGNot only do Christy and Aurora offer thoughtful guidance and ideas, they can actually execute. That's worth saying again: they do the work. As the communications director at a small non-profit, I don't always have enough staff in the trenches. New Heights brings the reinforcements!
Nicky Coolberth Lauricella,
Communications Director, National Skills CoalitionOur Take
How I’m Prepping for My Election Night TV Appearance (And How You Can, Too)
About a week ago, I got a call from a senior talent producer for CNBC, asking me if I’d be part of their Election Night coverage. I’d do all-night analysis as one of a six-person panel (three Democrats, three Republicans), from 7 PM ET until we have a new President-elect. I was ecstatic. For political […]
3 Strategies for Breaking Through When the Only News is Spelled T-R-U-M-P
We run a progressive communications firm, so trust us when we say that our clients are often affected by President Trump– and rarely in positive ways. But nearly every advocacy organization in Washington, regardless of political leanings or policy aims, has had its communications irrevocably altered by the new Commander-in-Chief. That’s because our reality show […]
A Big News Story Is Breaking
Should Your Organization Hold Off On Communicating Back in the olden days of media relations, when we faxed our press releases and used carrier pigeons with far greater frequency, any time a national news story blanketed cable, we held off on sending out our releases or pitching press. Didn’t matter if the subject had little […]