Stay ahead of change.

Pivot and lead with communications.

Bringing together the right combinations of ideas, communicators, and action, where and when it matters the most.

From idea to impact, we integrate capabilities in strategy, media and creative so clients can navigate the ever-changing landscape of managing risk, building reputation and leading with communications.

For Leaders

Our team collaborates with ambitious leadership teams at dynamic organizations on the move. We decode the complexity, communicate the greatest value to stakeholders, and find opportunities to advance, grow and protect your brand’s reputation and media relevance.

For Strategic Clarity

Our diverse perspectives backed by a solid track record ensures your brand serves as a beacon for where you want to go, and is central to building long-term trust and visibility in today’s communications era.

For Communications Agility

By combining our team's deep sector and stakeholder understanding with integrated communications capabilities for public affairs and advocacy, your organization can adapt swiftly to address challenges or move boldly toward new opportunities.

From industry brands to associations and advocacy groups, we're proud of our clients.

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01
We are communicators first and foremost.

We believe that the right idea – communicated with purpose – has the power to transform business and create momentum. That’s why we’ve built our business around smart, strategic communication solutions that propel your brand forward.

02
We solve your ‘now’ problems – and help you get to where you’re ultimately going.

We bring our integrated capabilities to solve short-term communication challenges and then leverage the learnings and successes to generate momentum towards your desired future.

03
We define a strategic trajectory and help you execute at your own speed.

We clarify the vision for leaders. We leverage the best opportunities for success, then project the sequence of orchestrated shifts and planned pivots needed to make the strategic journey.

04
We strive to achieve the greatest return on impact.

Our approach is anchored to one or more objective measures of success that align with the goals of your brand. We set and manage clear targets to deliver maximum impact where it matters the most.

05
We create narratives and interactions that sway perceptions, behaviors and choice.

We want to change what people see, feel, think and remember. We study the audience and take a story-led approach to engage stakeholders with the right interactions, at the right time and in the right places.

06
We inspire acts of leadership.

We create thought-leadership platforms, advise your brand on what’s next and what pivots to make to accelerate getting there. We deliver content, experiences, and interactions that drive brand and buzz, while building trust and credibility for brands and organizations on the move.

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Integrated communication capabilities for the uncertainty of what’s ahead.

01

Messaging Campaigns

Creative issue, brand and reputational campaigns to reach your audience where they are. Creating meaningful connections with audiences takes big ideas that can span channels and break through the clutter. We produce integrated campaigns, from editorial to social and paid, to do just that.

02

Integrated Media

Making a bold strategic move requires reaching the right people, in the right place, at the right time. Whether that means paid search and OTT/CTV, or earned and social media extensions, our strategy, planning and execution team makes it happen with powerful ideas, precise targeting and prominent partnerships.

03

Strategic Communications

Planning for impact. From uncovering crucial insights at the onset to finding new opportunities or addressing emerging risks, we ensure communication strategies are aligned to business objectives and clearly mapped out to deliver transformative results.

04

Creative, Content & Design

It’s about enticing the senses and delivering an exceptional experience that matters. We combine strategic and creative thinking to find new solutions to deliver transformative creative that captures imaginations and moves the needle on your brands communications challenges.

05

Thought Leadership

We turn creative strategy into smart ideas, create brand storytelling for communications campaigns and deliver content for thought leadership platforms. From bylined articles and podcasts to a multi-stakeholder campaign, our content strategies work in concert to create momentum while building credibility and trust.

06

Crisis Communications

The time to plan for a crisis is before it ever occurs. We offer a comprehensive suite of services from rapid-response strategies to strategic counsel and stakeholder engagement, ensuring clients are prepared for a potential crisis. Our crisis team is committed to developing tailored communication plans that ensure a swift and precise response during times of crisis. With a goal to safeguard your reputation, we provide custom solutions aligned with your brand's values—minimizing alarm, mitigating damage and expertly managing the recovery process.

07

Studio Production

Directors, producers, editors, photographers and you. Our production studio, Big Whig Media, delivers branded video, multimedia and audio content that brings your brand to life, boosting viewer engagement and creating the catalyst to propel and brand into the forefront with audiences.

Highlighting the company journey and our measured impact by the numbers.

24

Years in business

26

Fortune 500 brands

13

Federal agencies

16

Business coalitions

100+

Happy customers

5

Office pets

Leaders of today need senior communicators as strategic partners.

Built on deep sector knowledge and public relations expertise, we help clients across sectors breakdown today's communication challenges.

Healthcare

Transportation

Technology

International

Government

Cyber/National Security

Associations

Nonprofits

Don't just take our word for it. Hear what our clients have to say about us.

"I have admired Nahigian Strategies for years. Their uniqueness begins with their culture, runs through the quality of their talent, the care they give clients and the significance and outcomes of their work. Their people and products simply stand out!"

Tom L Harrison
Chairman Emeritus Omnicom Group Inc.

"When you are working with NS, you are working with family."

Chris Krece
Senior Vice President, Congressional Relations and Communications at National Association of Chain Drug Stores

". . . the best PR firm i've worked with in Washington DC"

Mark Ruge
Partner, K&L Gates
say hi
say hi
to the
to the
team
team

Our team brings together creativity, innovation and experience to drive your brand forward.

Keith Nahigian

In 2000, Keith realized his vision for a multidimensional communications strategy firm that not only focused on the public relations needs for clients but also designed growth strategies for companies and organizations ranging from small start-up businesses and nonprofits to multinational corporations.

Keith believes that every organization has a story to tell. When the story is told well and strategically, that organization will be better equipped to reach its goals.

A 27-year veteran with top-level experience advising, designing, and managing some of the largest campaigns in US history, Keith has worked for governors, members of Congress, and served in the White House under the first Bush Administration. His work has taken him around the world to dozens of countries and almost every state in the nation. Among other roles, Keith has served as Special Assistant to the Vice President of the United States, Special Assistant to the Governor of New Jersey, consultant to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), consultant with top-secret security clearance to national security agencies, and campaign manager to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in the 2012 presidential campaign.

Among his many career achievements, Keith has worked for six presidential campaigns, managed the messaging priorities for HHS at the request of the Secretary, and orchestrated both the Medicare Part D prescription drug enrollment campaign and the HHS Prevention and Value Driven campaign.

Keith has significant experience working with the media and has been a frequent source of commentary for national news outlets, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, Fox News, NPR, and others.

Keith is married to his wife Courtney and holds a B.A. in History from the College of Wooster.

Fun Fact: Keith went to college on a music scholarship to play the Scottish drums.

Keith Nahigian
Keith Nahigian
President
Danielle Hagen

Danielle Hagen is a media and communications strategist that has extensive experience in designing and implementing award-winning media relations programs for local, regional and national public relations campaigns.

Leading Nahigian Strategies’ communications division, Danielle has served as an advisor and spokeswoman for private and public sector clients, and elected officials.

Danielle has vast experience in the consumer product, safety, healthcare, political, hospitality, tourism, and technology industries, and has counseled top-tier Fortune 100 brands. Her client work has been featured in media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, and Washington Post, to name a few.

In addition to her public relations career, Danielle taught public relations and effective public speaking at the University of Cincinnati, where she also earned her B.A. and M.A. in communications. Danielle was honored in 2014 by the University of Cincinnati as one of 50 Communications Champions to graduate from the institution. Washington Women in Public Relations named Danielle as their 2014 Emerging Leader — an award given to PR practitioners under 30 who are making significant advancements in the public relations field.

She currently is a national instructor for Elect Her — the only program in the country that encourages and trains college women to run for student government and future political office.

Fun Fact: Cilantro is Danielle's kryptonite.

Danielle Hagen
Danielle Hagen
Executive Vice President
Ken Nahigian

Ken has spent more than two decades working at the highest levels of national policy and communications. He serves as the policy translator for the firm’s communications strategies to ensure that complex issues in areas such as healthcare, transportation, technology, homeland security, and many others, are understandable and actionable for clients’ intended audience(s).

Prior to joining the firm, Ken served as Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee where he served under then-Chairman Ted Stevens of Alaska. Ken also served under Committee Chairman John McCain. Ken joined the Committee after serving as an attorney in the Issues and Appeals Division of the law firm Jones Day, and also as Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald Ivers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims.

Ken is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and Capital Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He is a proud-native of Cleveland, Ohio, and he is married with two teenage children.

Ken Nahigian
Ken Nahigian
Executive Vice President, Policy & Communications
Kara Brooks

Kara brings 25 years of experience in media, crisis communications, public relations, public policy, messaging and strategic communications to the Nahigian Strategies team. She has held senior-level communications roles for top politicians, CEOs, and nonprofits with a record of generating big ideas and delivering solutions and results.

Prior to joining the firm, Kara served as Vice President of Communications and Content at SHRM, the world’s largest HR trade association, and led external and internal communications, executive communications, social media, and multimedia production teams. She provided strategic vision and leadership for SHRM’s communication efforts to strengthen the brand and reputation, and ensured the communications closely aligned with business objectives and the organization’s overarching messages.

Kara’s work has taken her to dozens of countries and almost every state. Serving on the senior leadership team in the Office of the Second Lady of the United States at the White House as the Communications Director and Chief Spokesperson, Kara was the speechwriter and media relations expert in the office.

She also served on the Executive leadership team for Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his press secretary and spokesperson, making her the first Black person to hold this role in the state of Indiana. During her career in the Governor’s office, Kara elevated his profile and work on economic and education initiatives in Indiana, which resulted in local and national attention. In 2013, the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis presented Kara with an “Emerging Leaders” award.

Kara’s enormous depth of media knowledge stems from 13 years as an award-winning TV Journalist.

Committed to making a difference, Kara has served as a volunteer throughout her life. She is a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacey Leadership and Development Program (LEAD) and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Kara received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University and a master’s degree of business administration (MBA) from Purdue University Krannert School of Management.

Fun Fact: Kara met The Pope at The Vatican.

Kara Brooks
Kara Brooks
Vice President, Communications
Andres Mancini

Andres brings creative thinking with marketing agility to help clients achieve their greatest ambitions. With over 25 years of experience spanning strategy, branding and marketing, he's worked with Fortune 500 brands, government, business coalitions, non-profits and start-ups to grow through communications and creative.

At Nahigian Strategies, he leads the strategy and creative process to create strategic vision, compelling stories, visual innovation, and emotional resonance—crafting campaigns that captivate minds, evoke emotions, and drive decisive action for our clients.

Andres is committed to the problem, not just the project, collaborating with clients to interpret opaque communication challenges and delivering powerful brand ideas, clear positioning and focused messaging that engage and motivate target audiences. In his role, Andres inspires, works collaboratively with, and nurtures a multi-disciplinary team of creative talent to keep our clients connected with audiences.

Andres earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and had the privilege to lead brand and creative strategy for iconic institutions like the U.S. Army, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and DC’s Metrorail; world-changing organizations like UNCF, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and World Food Programme (WFP); and growth-minded enterprises like AMEX, Boeing, Capital One and Stryker.

Fun Fact: Andres is a drummer-guitarist-singer who has performed on some of the most famous and not-so-famous stages of the DMV.

Andres Mancini
Andres Mancini
Vice President, Brand and Creative Strategy
Patrick Bergamasco

Patrick has more than 24 years of television production experience from sunny Florida to the halls of power in Washington with prominent networks like ABC News and Telemundo. He leads Big Whig Media as Executive Producer for all productions and client relations.

He is skilled in maintaining project milestones as well as anticipating potential risks, challenges and opportunities to support the Big Whig Media team and its clients. Patrick has developed, produced and directed several National campaigns this year in partnership with the Nahigian Strategies team including remote productions all over the USA and Puerto Rico.

Patrick graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Geography, with a minor in Foreign Languages and Literature. He is multilingual and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

Fun Fact: Patrick is a great Salsa dancer.

Patrick Bergamasco
Patrick Bergamasco
Director, Operations and Broadcast Production
Durin Hendricks

Durin is an experienced media and communications professional. As an Account Associate at Nahigian Strategies, Durin has developed and implemented strategies for earned media campaigns, public policy thought leadership, Corporate Social Responsibility, grassroots communication and more.

Durin has navigated diverse client needs in the cybersecurity, maritime, pharmaceutical, MedTech and entertainment sectors with publicly traded and private companies, trade associations and patient advocacy groups.

Prior to agency life, they worked with media outlets and non-profits including Voice of America, D.C. Witness, WGRE, and the Center for Education Reform. Durin’s mini-documentary “Changemaker” on the life of civil rights lawyer and Washington powerbroker Vernon Jordan won first place for In-Depth Reporting in the IASB’s radio category in 2022

Hailing from the great state of Indiana, Durin graduated Cum Lauda from DePauw University with a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science and learned from the best in the beltway at the Washington Media Institute. They are a proud member of the DePauw Media Fellows Program, Sigma Nu Fraternity, and the Phi Alpha Theta and Order of Omega honors societies.

Fun Fact: Durin collects crystals.

Durin Hendricks
Durin Hendricks
Senior Account Manager
Lizzy Donahue

Lizzy is a strategic communications professional with experience helping tell the stories of clients across various sectors, including healthcare, cybersecurity, technology, maritime, foreign policy and entertainment.

In her role as an Assistant Account Associate at Nahigian Strategies, Lizzy has spearheaded marketing and public relations initiatives by crafting inventive earned media, public policy and social media strategies. She works to achieve client goals by collaborating closely with senior team members and clients to proactively drive effective and integrated campaigns.  

Lizzy is from Cohasset, Massachusetts and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in digital marketing from American University in Washington DC.

Fun Fact: Lizzy was in a Wes Anderson film.

Lizzy Donahue
Lizzy Donahue
Assistant Account Associate
Andy Derr

Andy has worked in the special event industry based in the Washington, DC area for over 30 years.

Throughout his career, Andy has held many key roles in the event production industry, including audio engineer, lighting designer, technical director, video engineer, camera operator, rigger, forklift operator, aerial lift operator, production manager and now Director of Technology and Innovation for Big Whig Media.

Andy’s considerable expertise and wide range of skills have earned him the nickname “The Swiss Army Knife of Special Event Production."

Fun Fact: Andy has played a role in every inauguration since Clinton's first.

Andy Derr
Andy Derr
Director of Technology and Innovation
Joseph Machak

Joey has worked in production all across the DMV for the last 12 years. Joey came to Big Whig Media after stops at Discovery, Monumental Sports and the IMF.

He wears many hats for BWM, including producer, editor, and project manager. Additionally, Joey keeps an eye on the future of Big Whig Media - developing long-term client relationships and managing our content archive.

Joey graduated Cum Laude from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, and a minor in Theater.


Joseph Machak
Joseph Machak
Video Production Project Manager
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