What We Do

We help believers and advocates use bold words to drive the results they need.

Our focus is well-integrated communications: elite media relations, world-class content, and smart digital strategy.

In other words, we tell true stories well. And we fight to win.

What We Do

Our Story

Abraham Lincoln's Statue

Pesch started in early 2019 with a simple goal: fix the inverse relationship between the quality of organizations’ stories and the ability to tell those stories.

Use those stories to drive outcomes that matter in the real world.

Place the op-eds, earn the retweets, win the awards, sure—but do it in a way that helps good groups with real results.

The thing is, Coca-Cola doesn’t have a better story than a Catholic archdiocese. Nike doesn’t have more to say than the leading Orthodox Christian aid organization.

There are plenty of great consumer brand firms and lots of political operators, but few high level communicators focused on cause and belief-based organizations. We started Pesch to fix that.

From the beginning, Pesch was built on a few big ideas:

  • Integrated Communications

    Don’t just jump into tactics like press pitching or a new social media platform because a competitor’s doing it or there’s some other near-term problem to solve.

    Consider the full mix of solutions and the problem at its most profound. Solutions are almost always stronger by combining elite media relations, smart digital strategy, and strong creative content.

  • Work with Leaders

    As we’ve grown, we have focused on partnering with the best. Both our partners and the clients we choose to serve are at the top of their game.

    We provide specialized services and opportunities to a select group. This keeps us sharp and forces us towards constant improvement.

  • Experienced Talent

    We don’t look for big names to win business or people who have suffered through a job on the Hill just to say they did.

    We find people who do the real work in important, intense, constructive environments, and we staff every client account with them. Our core team members are among the best in the business.

  • Washington Access - Rooted in America

    Everyone on our core team understands the power and influence structures in Washington, DC. We’ve worked with most of the city’s best-known institutions and we maintain a thriving office in the heart of downtown.

    But our respect for Washington is tempered by plenty of time living and working outside the Beltway. We think a healthy balance makes for stronger work.

Leadership

Kate Connolly

Kate Connolly

Director of Media Relations

Kate has deep experience working for mission-driven brands on the global stage.

Kate spent several years working as a communications leader at the Archdiocese of New York, where she managed media for over 200 events including appearances by Pope Francis, President Obama, Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, and the Governor and Mayor of New York City.

She also led communications for the $175 Million restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral, earning over 100 positive media stories.

After her work at the Archdiocese, Kate became Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where she built a top-performing communications team for the Trip Advisor-ranked #2 Museum in the world.

Kate has deep experience working for mission-driven brands on the global stage.

Kate spent several years working as a communications leader at the Archdiocese of New York, where she managed media for over 200 events including appearances by Pope Francis, President Obama, Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney, and the Governor and Mayor of New York City.

She also led communications for the $175 Million restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral, earning over 100 positive media stories.

After her work at the Archdiocese, Kate became Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where she built a top-performing communications team for the Trip Advisor-ranked #2 Museum in the world.

Hayden Steelman

Hayden Steelman

Director of Strategic Outreach

Hayden Steelman is a public affairs professional providing his clients with strategic counsel in designing and conducting public affairs and advocacy campaigns.

He specializes in campaign-style research and in integrating digital tactics with earned and placed media attention. He has overseen research, strategy development, and tactical implementation for several large for-profit companies and associations.

Hayden previously worked at Washington, DC-based DCI Group, where he represented clients on the local, state, national, and international levels. Hayden specializes in integrated strategies that provide tailored solutions to the unique issues faced by his clients.

His work for Pesch has focused on coalition building, including with several Hill offices on both the House and Senate side, and on internal communications programs for several large nonprofit organizations.

Hayden Steelman is a public affairs professional providing his clients with strategic counsel in designing and conducting public affairs and advocacy campaigns.

He specializes in campaign-style research and in integrating digital tactics with earned and placed media attention. He has overseen research, strategy development, and tactical implementation for several large for-profit companies and associations.

Hayden previously worked at Washington, DC-based DCI Group, where he represented clients on the local, state, national, and international levels. Hayden specializes in integrated strategies that provide tailored solutions to the unique issues faced by his clients.

His work for Pesch has focused on coalition building, including with several Hill offices on both the House and Senate side, and on internal communications programs for several large nonprofit organizations.