JUSTIN SAYFIE

Justin Sayfie is a government relations consultant, digital entrepreneur and attorney. Justin previously served as the spokesman and a top policy advisor for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In 2018, he was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as a Commissioner on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, where he previously served in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2007-2009. In this role, Justin participates in the selection of White House Fellows and oversee the nation’s top leadership development program. Additionally, in 2005, Justin was appointed by U.S. Senator Mel Martinez as Chairman of the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District of Florida, where he led the initial nominating process for Federal Judges and U.S. Attorneys in South Florida.

He appears regularly as a political commentator on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Justin has also published Florida’s leading political news site and mobile app, Sayfie Review, since 2002.

In 2007, Justin served as a delegate for the American Council on Germany’s Young Leader Conference in Berlin and Munich, and in 2008 he served as a delegate in the American Swiss Foundation’s Young Leader’s Conference in Geneva. He remains active in both organizations.

Sayfie received his bachelor’s degree in American Government from Georgetown University, and his juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami.

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ADAM GOODMAN

Adam Goodman, one of the nation’s best-known media consultants, has been producing award-winning television, radio and strategic messaging for corporate, advocacy and candidate campaigns for four decades. Adam serves as a strategic communications consultant for Ballard Media Group’s clients domestically and abroad.

Adam, a frequent national TV commentator and widely-published columnist, was honored by being selected as the first Edward R. Murrow Fellow at Tufts University’s prestigious Fletcher School. He was also recently named, for the second time, as one of Florida’s “500 Most Influential Business Leaders” by Florida Trend. Dubbed a “media icon” by the Tampa Bay Times, Goodman has also worked with screen and television celebrities on behalf of issues and causes, from Robert De Niro and James Earl Jones to Katie Couric and Bob Barker.

Prior to joining the Ballard Media Group, Adam was President of The Victory Group, Inc. In that role, he created and produced media for corporate, institutional and academic clients including Hard Rock, The Walton Family Foundation, the National Football League, Mazda’s Road to Indy, Bacardi, PhRMA, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the University of South Florida, and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In addition to his corporate media work, Adam worked on more than 200 winning federal, state and local races in 46 states. In Florida, his winning clients included five Senate Presidents, three House Speakers, eight Members of Congress, dozens of legislators, and several Florida Cabinet officials including former Florida Attorney General (and Ballard Partner) Pam Bondi.

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TODD JOSKO

Todd Josko brings to Ballard Partners over 20 years of experience in state and municipal government relations, public affairs, strategic communications and political strategies.

As founder and president of a Tampa-based public affairs firm that he led for 15 years, Todd has helped Fortune 500 companies and trade associations successfully resolve governmental and regulatory challenges, particularly on issues affecting growth, transportation, economic development and water quality.

Todd formally held a senior level position with an international strategic communications firm and has advised many national, state and local Republican candidates. He served as the Florida West Coast Field Director for Jeb Bush’s successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign, Florida West Coast Field Director for Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential run, and as a legislative assistant within the Florida House of Representatives.

Todd holds a Master of Science degree in Political Science from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Florida.

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ANA CRUZ

Ana Currently manages Ballard Partners’ Tampa Bay practice. She brings over 20 years of experience in lobbying, strategic communications, strategic partnerships, media relations, crisis management, grassroots coalition building and political consulting. During her career, Ana has represented a wide array of clients throughout Central Florida in both the private and public sectors and has successfully advocated for several high profile national and Florida-based clients in development, civil engineering and infrastructure, food and beverage and technology industries.

Prior to entering into the lobbying sector, Ana worked in the Florida House and U.S. Senate, served as the Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party, served as Hillary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 Florida campaign spokesperson and advisor, and has successfully run numerous judicial, local and state legislative races. She recently served on the DNC’s Convention Platform Committee as a representative for Joe Biden.

Ana was twice named Florida’s Top 100 Most Influential by Florida Politics Magazine, she serves on the Board of The Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Board, the Athena Society, the 51st Superbowl Committee and is an active mentor to Hispanic Youth. She and her partner, Jane are Tampa natives and have two college aged children. They are avid art collectors and enjoy fishing, cooking, traveling and spending time with their family.

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KATIE B. KARDELL

Katie B. Kardell serves as Director of Media for Ballard Partners.

Prior to joining Ballard Partners, she served on the external affairs team at the George W. Bush Presidential Center as a communications manager, where she focused on social media, media relations, marketing and advertising, and community relations. During her time at the Bush Center, Katie also oversaw communications for the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program.

Originally from Tallahassee, Katie graduated with a Bachelors in Journalism and a Master’s in Advertising from Southern Methodist University. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and daughter. 

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MICHAEL LaROSA

Michael LaRosa joined Ballard Partners, one of the top government relations firms in the United States, as a partner in its Washington, DC office in September of 2023. LaRosa previously served as a Managing Director at the global public affairs firm Penta Group. Prior to Penta, Michael served in the White House as Press Secretary to the First Lady and Special Assistant to the President. He was First Lady Jill Biden’s chief spokesperson, advising her on media relations and strategic communications. In his role as the primary traveling press secretary, he traveled to over seventy-five cities, thirty-five states, fifteen countries, and six continents with Dr. Biden. Michael was the first openly-LGBTQ commissioned Press Secretary to a U.S. First Lady.

During his time in the White House, LaRosa planned the media strategy for the First Lady’s events on multi-country tours of eastern Europe, South and Central America, Africa, the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, the G-7 summit in Cornwall, the G-20 Summit in Rome, the NATO conference in Madrid, and the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. He also led and executed the communications strategy for the First Lady’s secret and historic visit to Ukraine, the highest profile visit from a Biden Administration official at the time. It was the first visit by a U.S. First Lady to an active war zone without the security of a “green zone,” monitored and protected by U.S. troops. The First Lady’s successful trip marked a consequential moment in the war, drawing Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, into public view for the first time since the Russian invasion and celebrating a bilateral meeting between the spouses of our two countries.

When LaRosa left the White House, First Lady Jill Biden told CNN, “For nearly three years, from the campaign to the White House, Michael has brought an encyclopedic knowledge of politics and media to my team as my spokesperson and adviser. On a small team, loyalty and friendship are lifelong.”

Before joining the President and First Lady, LaRosa was Dr. Biden’s Chief Spokesperson for the Inauguration, the Biden-Harris Transition Team, the Biden-Harris Campaign, and Joe Biden’s successful campaign for the Presidential nomination during the 2020 Democratic Primaries. LaRosa also led communications on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for the Ranking Member, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and the House Democratic Policy Communications Committee in the Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Michael spent seven years as a television producer for one the original and longest running political talk shows on cable news, MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.
LaRosa grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania and earned his undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey and his master’s degree from American University in Washington, DC.

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