Ryan Hughes is a senior-level public relations professional with over 12 years of experience delivering strategic communications solutions by leading account teams in providing media relations, corporate communications, crisis & litigation communications, issue advocacy campaigns, public affairs and reputation management programs.
Throughout his career, agency leadership and the clients he’s worked with have expressed their appreciation for his ability to quickly familiarize himself with the intricacies of their unique industries and lead in the development and execution of successful communications campaigns that further their strategic objectives.
While holding positions of leadership at leading public relations and strategic communications firms, Hughes has been responsible for managing account teams in driving strategic communications for clients from a diverse cross-sector of industries, including but not limited to those in public affairs, politics, philanthropy, entertainment & the media, policy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, national security and defense, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, financial services, technology and artificial intelligence, corporate and professional services, non-profits and education.
As Senior Account Executive at the bipartisan public affairs firm ROKK Solutions in Washington, D.C., Hughes managed high level media relations for clients in both the private and public sectors, with a particular focus on how to leverage their message with policymakers in Washington. In this capacity, Hughes has developed close working relationships with reporters and producers at the local, national and international level.
He joined ROKK Solutions from Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, where he oversaw public relations and strategic communications for multiple high-profile politically right-of-center accounts and served in a pivotal role handling conservative media relations for Governor Scott Walker's (R-WI) campaign for President, later managing key aspects of the surrogate booking operation for Governor John Kasich's (R-OH) campaign for President.
Earlier, he served in state government as Assistant to Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and as External Relations Coordinator for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Litigation & Crisis Communications
Protecting and defending an individual, company or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. These challenges can involve legal, ethical or financial standing.
Crisis Mitigation
Rapid Response
Social Listening
Reputation Management
Messaging Development
Organizational and Opposition Research
Content Creation
Media Relations
Litigation Communications
Media Relations
Mutually beneficial associations with journalists as a condition for reaching audiences with messages of news or features of interest (publicity). This includes includes both seeking publicity for an organization and responding to queries from journalists about the organization.
Reporter Education
Media Training
Media Monitoring
Earned Media Generation
Television and Radio Booking
Editorial Development
Press Meets
Strategic Communications
Communicating the best message, through the correct channels, to the right people, at the right time and using feedback from this process to stay focused on the organization's strategic objectives.
Strategic Planning
Brand Building
Message Amplification
Shareholder Mapping
Third-Party Outreach
Compelling Content
Event Planning
Executive Visibility
Thought Leadership