New Leadership Announcement

New Leaders

Yesterday, Mary Patrick, who has been with JT for forty years, shared that she will be retiring as CEO on June 30.  Today, we are pleased to announce that Jessica Smith has been named CEO and Managing Partner, and Lauren Foley, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, effective July 1. Jessica and Lauren bring a strong, forward-thinking approach to leadership with a focus on building and maintaining strong client relationships, fostering creativity in business development, ensuring staff growth, and, where appropriate, achieving operational efficiencies.

Jessica started her JT career as an intern in 2000 and gained significant experience in various roles across JT’s service areas. During her JT career, she has led integrated communications strategies and public policy campaigns on behalf of corporate, non-profit, foundation and government clients. She is a skilled crisis communications professional, helping clients navigate complex issues, as well as media and public scrutiny. She will focus on firm growth and remain client focused.

 Lauren will continue to foster JT’s collaborative and close-knit company culture, work with staff to identify new strategies and technologies to effectively serve client needs in an increasingly complex public environment and manage JT’s operational systems. Since 2004, Lauren has been dedicated to finding innovative approaches to traditional communications strategies, helping clients maximize visual storytelling and launching JT’s video and stage production departments.

We will remain active, providing strategic counsel to the firm’s clients and continuing robust civic engagement, but also looking forward to welcoming and supporting the next generation of JT leadership.

 JT understands how dramatically the public affairs, media and political landscape is changing.  This requires fresh thinking, creative strategies and younger talent who understand the importance of both grassroots approaches and technological advancements—and can mesh both into effective strategic gameplans for JT’s clients. Our motto remains “never confuse effort with results.”

 We will certainly miss Mary, but she has done a brilliant job and is handing over a firm well-positioned to succeed and thrive moving forward. We have complete confidence in Jessica and Lauren and their ability to lead the firm we started to a bright future, in collaboration with JT’s team of seasoned, battle-tested strategists and talented, creative and energetic young professionals.