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Howweengagewhen everyissuefeelspolitical
A LETTER FROM THE CEO
p g p p , pp y andpurpose.
Nine years ago, our firm doubled down on this very commitment by launching our Public Affairs and Strategic Communication team. We recognized a resounding need to help organizations across the country navigate difficult conversations with confidenceandease
Manyofthisteam’ssuccesses–andthesuccessesofallourteams–havebeenborn fromtheiracuteabilitytolisten,understand,empathizeandthentakeaction
Truly and fully understanding someone’s perspective can make even the most challenging conversations constructive It fosters a culture of collaboration, where ideas can be shared openly and solutions are shaped together And in moments of crisis,itcanbethedifferentiatorbetweensuccessandfailure.
Every time we pause, focus and listen with intention, we create an environment where respect is felt, communication is clear and collaboration is organic These moments add up They influence how we solve problems, how we support one anotherandhowourclientssucceed
My hope is that we will all leanintoactivelisteningasadailypractice. It’s a small habit–withapowerfulimpact.
Sincerely,
GeoffJ Gonella ChiefExecutiveOfficer
NINE YEARS OF IMPACT NINE YEARS OF IMPACT NINE YEARS OF IMPACT
Growth only matters if it makes you better for your clients That’sthefocusbehindhowwe’vebuiltourPublic Affairs&StrategicCommunicationsteam
Nearly nine years ago, we launched this practice to compliment Cornerstone’s bipartisan federal and state government relations services That bipartisan balance has shaped how our Public Affairs team approaches strategy,messagingandclientservice.
Itisabigreasonwhyourworkhasgrown.Leadingwith that perspective has helped us build trust, develop smarter strategies and navigate change across Washington, DC, state legislatures, technology and economictrends.
Overthelastnineyears,ourteamhasgrowntoinclude 22 professionals in Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington,D.C.
Asmoreissuesmovefromthelegislativearenaintothe public arena, that depth and the ability to connect policy, communications and stakeholder strategy mattermorethanever.
As we plan for the future, continuing to grow in that same bipartisan spirit will be essential It has been the bedrockofourfirm,anditoffersourclientscertaintyina partisanenvironmentthatisanythingbutpredictable
IN THE PRESS
LaurenVellaProvidesaDelaware LegislativePreview
Principal Lauren Vella sat down with the Five Dubs podcast to preview Delaware’s legislativesession Inthisepisode,hearLauren discuss the state’s leadership continuity, recent special sessions and the governor’s priorities as lawmakers return for the second yearofthetwo-yearsession.
DanielSmithHighlightsIncreasein CongressionalInvestigations
Principal Daniel Smith co-wrote an op-ed detailing how Congressional investigations of companies may intensify after midterms and the importance of proactive preparation for in-housecounselandcorporateleadership
LEARNMORE
HymaMooreSharesPredictions forthe2028DemocraticPrimary
Principal HymaMoore spokewithTheHillto discuss the 2028 Democratic primary and how the party is evaluating potential presidentialcandidates
“The best candidate is one who can incorporate both ideological lanes to win You’regoingtoneedalittlebitofboth”
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CORNERSTONE INSIGHTS
INSIDE THE ISSUE: DATA CENTERS
Data center development is accelerating nationwide as AI adoption surges and policymakers confront the realities of finite energy, water and workforce resources
Cornerstone’s bipartisan policy experts are answering your most pressing questions about how rapid growth is shaping federal policy, state legislation and local communitydynamics
Watchthewebinar
APPROPRIATIONS IN ACTION
Understanding the federal appropriations process can feel overwhelming, even for seasoned policy professionals To help, our team hosted a webinar to offer their insights into the history of the process and what’s to comeinFY27andbeyond
Watch thewebinar.
THE PAC ADVANTAGE
Cornerstone recently hosted a webinar on how Political Action Committees (PAC) are the gamechanger your organization may need Our team discussed why PACs are an essential part of a robust political strategy and how to get started before midterms
Watchthewebinar.
FEDERAL GRANTS OUTLOOK
In the first year of the Trump administration, the federal grant landscape underwent major changes. Between 2025 and 2026, there was a 33% drop in available opportunities. Our team is broke down how organizations can remain competitive in theprocessdespitethesechanges.Watchthewebinar.
CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS
GEORGIA PASSES PERMITTING REFORMS
TheGeorgiaResidentialLandDevelopment Council testified before the legislature on how home building timelines would improve with statewide permitting reforms. Thanks to their statements, the reforms passed and willaidlocalbusinessleadersastheylookto accelerate economic growth and land developmentacrossthestate.
PHA DRIVES AWARENESS FOR STATE BUDGET CHANGES TO IN-HOME CARE
Cornerstone Public Affairs supported the PennsylvaniaHomecareAssociation(PHA)by sustaining attention on the home care crisis with media across Pennsylvania and with state lawmakers Through ongoing advocacy and media outreach, Cornerstone helped elevate the crisis into a major priority in state budget negotiations
In addition to working with the Capitol press corps in Harrisburg, Cornerstone generated coveragestatewidethroughoutletsincluding
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the USA Today Network, The Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, PennLive, The Reading Eagle, LNP and The Erie Times‑News, as well as through legislator visitswithin‑homecarerecipientsandtargetedop‑eds.
SeePHA’srecentpresscoveragehere.
LAUNCHES PLATFORM
Our joint Public Affairs and Government Relations client RESPOND-US officially launched its advocacy organization in March RESPOND-US is poised to ensure the United States armed forces are medically ready to deliver coordinated, high-acuity trauma and emergency medical care seamlesslyacrossdomesticandoperationalsettings.
WHEN EVERY ISSUE WHEN EVERY ISSUE WHEN EVERY ISSUE
FEELS POLITICAL FEELS POLITICAL FEELS POLITICAL
ByBenSheidler,Principal,PublicAffairs&StrategicCommunications
Many organizations are operating in an environment of heightened political and social sensitivity The coming months will bring increased attention as the election approaches. At the same time, the underlying reality is that political and social scrutiny no longer turns on and off with the campaign calendar
Advocacyeffortsareincreasinglystructuredto provokecorporateengagementonissuesthat sit at the intersection of policy, social identity, and public sentiment These campaigns move quickly, compress nuance, and often frame silence as a position. As a result, organizations are pulled into debates they did not seek to enter and may not be prepared to navigate publicly
For leadership teams, this creates a familiar question:Doweneedtosaysomething?
The instinct to respond is understandable Silence can feel risky, and engagement can feel expected Yet in high-sensitivity environments, reaction is often the fastest way tolosecontrolofthenarrative.
THE CHALLENGE IS NOT WHETHER TO ENGAGE, BUT HOW TO EXERCISE JUDGEMENT WITHOUT BECOMING THE STORY.
Noteveryissuerequiresapublicstance Some issuesrequirepreparationevenifnostatement is ever made. Others demand engagement, but only when it advances an organization’s mission,valuesoroperatingreality Thehardest decisions tend to sit in the middle, where pressure is real but the strategic benefit of engagementisunclear.
Thisiswheremanyorganizationsmiscalculate
These pressures are not limited to external actors. Internal advocacy, media inquiry and stakeholder expectations often converge, creating moments where organizations feel compelled to respond before alignment and strategy are fully settled Teams conflate visibility with leadership, assume speed signals strength or allow external pressure to dictate internal decision-making. The result is often overcorrection,inconsistentmessagingor
SILENCE WITHOUT ALIGNMENT IS VULNERABILITY.
The strongest organizations approach highsensitivity moments with discipline They clarify decision rights early and align legal, communications, government affairs and operationalleadersaroundclearthresholdsfor engagement,whileensuringinternalteamsare prepared to address employee concerns consistently. They prepare messaging frameworks that allow for responsiveness without improvisation and recognize the difference between pressure to respond and the necessity to act That preparation often includesevaluatinglikelyscenariosinadvance, considering how different actions could be interpreted and what second- and third-order consequencesmightfollow
Local dynamics further complicate this environment. Issues that surface at the community level are increasingly framed through broader political narratives and take on symbolic meaning far beyond their facts Once that framing takes hold, correcting it becomessignificantlyharder.
THROUGH COHERENCE, NOT VOLUME.
As political attention intensifies in the months ahead, organizations will continue to face pressure to respond to issues at the intersection of business, policy and public sentiment The goal is not to avoid engagement altogether, nor is it to comment on everything. It is to engage deliberately, with clarity about when speaking serves strategy andwhenrestraintpreservesit
In a high-sensitivity environment, the most effective communications strategies are not reactive. They are prepared, aligned and groundedinjudgment.
This article first appeared in the February edition of The Briefing Room, our Public Affairs and Strategic Communication e-newsletter If you want to be first to receive news from The Briefing Room,pleasesubscribehere.
CORNERSTONE ACCOLADES
PrincipalandDirector|Washington,D.C.
Congratulations to Chris Hodgson on being named to the Board of Trustees for Save the Children US Chris will work alongside national leaderstoadvocateforcommunitiesacrossAmericawithagoalof ensuringeverychildhasthechancetothrive.
Readmorehere.
Principal|Washington,DC
Congratulations to Patrick “Pat” Flood on being selected by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) as a 2026 Award Recipient Pat, who spent 20 years in the US Air Force, was awarded the Colonel Paul W Arcari Meritorious Service Award for his dedication to advancing the quality of life for service members and their families during his tenure as National Security Advisor to Rep. DonBacon(R-NE).
Readmorehere.
ANTHONY “LAZER” LAZARSKI
Principal|Washington,DC
Anothy“Lazer”LazarskiwasnamedoneofNineDefenseLobbyiststo watch by Punchbowl News. He was recognized for having decades of experience as a service member, Hill staffer and now lobbyist. Congratulations,Lazer! Readmorehere.
CORNERSTONE NAMED TOP LOBBYING FIRM BY BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT
CornerstoneGovernmentAffairswasrecognizedasaTopLobbyingFirmbyBloomberg Government Bloombergevaluatedfirmsbasedongrowthinrevenue,averagerevenue perclient,short-andlong-termcustomerretentionratesaswellasrevenueper registeredlobbyist
“Wearethrilledtobeacknowledgedasatop-performinglobbyingfirmonceagain,” saidGeoffGonella,ChiefExecutiveOfficer “Cornerstonepridesitselfonaproventeam approachandthedepthofexperience,expertiseandcapabilitiesthatwebringtothe table.We’regratefultoserveastrustedpartnersandadvisorstoorganizations navigatingthecomplexitiesoftoday’spoliticallandscape.”
Readmorehere.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Cornerstoneisdedicatedtoservingthecommunitiesinwhichweliveandwork. Tocaptureourfirm’sinvolvementinourlocalcommunities,wearepleasedto presentour2025CommunityImpactStatement Since2002, Cornerstonehas contributed tolocalandnational causes.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
Cornerstoneengagesincharitablegivingtosupportvarious organizationsandprogramsimportanttoourteammembers.
In2025,thefirmcontributedjustover toalmost throughourcharitablegivingprogramanddonations
EMPLOYEE-DIRECTED SUPPORT & VOLUNTEERISM
Cornerstone'sCommunityEngagementProgramprovides eachemployeewith tosupport non-profitorganizationsandcharitiesoftheirchoosing.
Throughthisprogram,ouremployee-ownerssupporta broadsetofnationalorganizations,causesandinitiatives, includinghomelessness,education,foodinsecurity, disasterrelief,medicalresearch,veteran’sbenefits,public health,animalrescueandmore.
Cornerstoneencouragesitsemployee-ownerstobeactive intheircommunitiesandserveinleadershipandvolunteer positions.Ourteammembershavecollectivelydedicated thousandsofhoursinvestinginthecommunitieswherewe liveandwork.
MARCH 14
CongratulationstoJimmy Peacockandhiswife Katherineontheirnuptials!
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
