A results-oriented and creative strategist, with more than thirty years’ experience creating specialized and innovative public affairs campaigns for a wide range of corporate and association-related interests, John is passionate about building impactful campaigns from the ground up. And he deeply values client relationships, many of whom he has had since 2004 when Schmidt PA was founded.

As President of Schmidt Public Affairs, John is a hands-on manager, who thrives on developing efficient and impactful public affairs strategies alongside his clients. He likes to “get his hands dirty” when working with clients, participating at every level of campaign development.

John has spearheaded many award-winning public affairs initiatives, including grassroots, grasstops and earned media campaigns. His expertise in Medicare, Medicaid, tort reform, HIT, staffing issues, quality programs, regulatory and reimbursement reform and crises situations has resulted in billions of dollars in restored or new funding for his clients. His expansive knowledge of obscure health care policies and issues are at the backbone of his success.

John’s extensive experience in legislative and public policy issues related to government reimbursement programs, health care and provider issues, quality, branding and crises, has garnered numerous top national awards over several decades from the public relations industry, including the top public affairs campaign in the country for three consecutive years.

Before founding Schmidt Public Affairs in early 2004, John was Senior Vice President for Edelman Public Relations’ Healthcare and Sciences practice. His other roles prior included Group Manager for Ketchum Public Relations’ Public Affairs practice, and Vice President of Ruder Finn.

John is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A in Journalism/Advertising and serves on the UNC Hussman School of Media & Journalism Advisory Board, as well as the UNC Board of Visitors. He spends his free time cooking, watching Tar Heel basketball and lacrosse, gardening and working out at Orangetheory. John is married with three children and two dogs. He resides in Alexandria, Virginia and Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

During her 15 years at Schmidt Public Affairs, Ellen has played a variety of roles to support the firm’s steady growth and well-rounded client roster. As the lead on many of our firm’s longest held relationships, she manages all elements of client accounts to meet the public affairs, policy, and advocacy goals of health care companies, coalitions, and associations. She enjoys working collaboratively with our health care clients and the firm’s talented team of professionals to craft comprehensive public affairs campaigns that play to the strengths of each client based on their needs, assets, and resources. Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.

When she is not playing mom to Belle and Bruno, her two adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, she loves spending time in the kitchen and traveling to new places.

With over a decade of experience in digital advocacy, Kristen has dedicated themselves to developing strategies that bring complicated issues to life online. Their concentrated focus in digital media and keen eye for emerging trends help to translate our clients’ ideas into digestible, shareable content that supports their organizational goals. As a graduate of the Florida State University College of Communication & Information’s Public Relations program, Kristen is a fervent believer in integrating every element of an organization’s communications – from talking points to tweets – in order to find success.

When they do log off, you can find Kristen testing out new recipes in the kitchen, enjoying long walks around their neighborhood, and spending time with their cats Olive and Nori.

With experiences on Capitol Hill, a large trade association and even policy work in a couple of state capitols, Sarah profoundly understands how to develop and craft messages that resonate with policymakers and advocates alike. She has developed and run several successful grassroots campaigns and takes particular pride in connecting with advocates and inspiring their continued participation in the democratic process.

While a voracious reader of both fiction and non-, when she's not reading or writing for SPA, Sarah enjoys cooking, a good workout, or the occasional escape to her native Northern Michigan.

Lights, camera, action. Just as he harnesses his creativity behind the camera, Bryan excels at lining up all the details just right to create rich, remarkable stories for our clients. An exceptional writer, Bryan is our go-to guy for making memorable messages, whether they be the op-eds you read in a national newspaper or the latest blog post on your company website. With a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & Political Science from American University, Bryan has been proud to call the District home for over a decade.

When he isn’t focused on making an impact inside the Beltway, you’ll catch him shooting street photography, playing with his cats, or sampling fried food in far-flung corners of the globe.

With killer attention to detail, McKenzie is our editing assassin, making sure that our work is as sharp as the instruments of her tradecraft. Whether it’s a blog post or an op-ed, McKenzie loves to do the background research, organize the facts, and plan her attack before nailing the subject matter with her pointed writing talents. Displaying her true passion for healthcare advocacy, through her work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Children’s Miracle Network, she and SPA have become the perfect match. Through her love for world travel, she has grasped the understanding and importance of a diverse perspective when developing products for our multi-disciplined clientele. McKenzie graduated from The George Washington University and has made DC her base of operations. When she isn’t exploring the city with friends, you can find her cozied at home with her dog and a novel in her hand.

With over three years of experience in public relations, Megan has crafted messages and executed public affairs campaigns for clients across healthcare, government, and philanthropy. Whether for an op-ed or social media post, Megan enjoys collaborating with clients and colleagues to bring personal perspectives to complex health policy topics.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Megan graduated from The George Washington University and happily calls DC her new home. When she’s not in the office, you can find Megan traveling or searching for great local restaurants and bookstores.

Rebecca made her way out east from California when the dinosaurs roamed the earth – or so it feels like that to her. From broadcast journalism in the Bay area across the continent to Capitol Hill, Rebecca traveled from a journalistic foundation to the art of coaching members of Congress on speaking to the media and served as press secretary for a few. When she began her family, life on the Hill seemed a bit too hectic so she landed in the world of public affairs with a focus on healthcare policy. She prefers clients who help people live healthier lives and finds gratification in garnering media stories that feature the good works of health care professionals, the policies needed to support them and patient stories that tell the real impact on individuals when access and quality are threatened. She enjoys working with seasoned reporters who respect the English language and refrain from using trendy phrases their public relations brethren strain to circulate in today’s parlance. Rebecca cherishes her three children, husband, and dog, loves to travel and looks forward to the next good book.

Mackenzie’s passion for world travel has endowed her with a rich appreciation for diverse perspectives, which she skillfully incorporates into her work for our clients. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, she has earned Bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and Cellular & Molecular Biology from The George Washington University, and now proudly calls DC her home.

Her range of experience, including roles on Capitol Hill, at the Smithsonian Institution, and in grassroots policy, has equipped Mackenzie with the expertise to craft compelling messages and public affairs campaigns for a range of clients. When she’s not at the office, Mackenzie is often found exploring DC’s culinary scene, hunting for new reads in local bookstores, or experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen.

Veronica has been overseeing client billing and day-to-day accounting for Schmidt Public Affairs for over twelve years. Accounting wasn't always a passion of hers, but it was the perfect opportunity to keep her foot in the professional world when she became a first-time mom back in 2009. She strives to work seamlessly with the Schmidt team to ensure reliable monthly invoicing and administrative support, and to be someone they can rely on to handle their client relationships with courtesy and professionalism. When she is not on her laptop, she spends her free time with her husband and three awesome kids, her very large extended family and the family dog, Holly.

Stephanie Kapalka has been a member of Schmidt Public Affairs’ editorial team since 2004, following her tenure with Edelman where she worked on John’s team. Stephanie has broad experience helping clients achieve health policy and advocacy goals through earned media. Her opposite editorials and letters to the editor, penned on behalf of clients, are frequently published inside the beltway and in large metropolitan daily newspapers nationwide.

A 2002 graduate from the School of Journalism at the University of Mississippi, Stephanie later earned a B.S. in Nursing from George Mason University, and has worked as a critical care nurse for more than a decade. Her unique clinical perspective caring for patients and working alongside providers allows her to create understandable, relatable and impactful editorial content for our clients.

Ava brings ample experience working in healthcare marketing and communications spanning cross-industry from regulatory/clinical affairs to medical technologies and AI. A Northern California native born and raised in Petaluma, just north of San Francisco, Ava’s roots are strong in community impact and influenced by Bay Area tech innovation. Her academic journey took her from the sunny coastlines of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she graduated from the Honors Program in Communication Studies, to the historic landscape of DC to earn her Master’s in Communication, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown University.

Ava has a passion for integrating the sociotechnical nuances of healthcare into effective messaging and storytelling across various media channels. Through meticulous editing, cutting-edge communications practices, and digital creativity, Ava is proud to contribute to the impactful work of public affairs in bringing light to the intricacies and complexities of health policy that affect patients and diverse stakeholders. Outside of the office, Ava enjoys museum hopping, yoga, and exploring the DMV restaurant by restaurant.

Kathryn brings a wide range of experience in public affairs and communications to her role at Schmidt Public Affairs. She provides writing and editing support for the team, and oversees office management, and benefits and compensation.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Journalism, Kathryn's career began on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to Congressman Howard Coble. After leaving the Hill, Kathryn joined Eli Lilly and Company, where she spent four years as a senior associate in public affairs. At Lilly, Kathryn managed key corporate sponsorships and philanthropic initiatives, including partnerships with Race for the Cure and other community-focused and women’s health campaigns. She also collaborated with senior leadership in the DC office on healthcare policy issues, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutical coverage under Medicaid and Medicare, as well as mental health and women’s health advocacy.

Kathryn lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her three children and two dogs. An avid sports fan, she enjoys watching Alabama football, the Washington Commanders, and all UNC teams. In her free time, Kathryn loves being outdoors, exercising, reading historical fiction, and spending time with family and friends.

Kay serves as the Senior Human Resources Consultant for Schmidt Public Affairs, bringing more than 30 years of executive experience in the healthcare, manufacturing, and mortgage industries. Educated in boarding school in the UK, her British roots shine through in her exceptional writing skills, particularly in crafting handbooks, office policies, and job descriptions. With her extensive expertise in the “human side of business,” Kay is an invaluable resource to the Schmidt PA team offering insights and strategies in performance management, coaching and recruiting that enhance organizational culture and operations.

In her spare time, you’ll find Kay on the pickleball court with her Alexandria community players, or engaging in a competitive Rummikub game with friends.