Cornerstone Government Affairs, a leading bipartisan government relations, public affairs and consulting firm, announced today its expanded capabilities in the Northeast region of the United States with the opening of a Concord, New Hampshire office.
“Adding a twelfth state office is a significant milestone for the firm,” company President Campbell Kaufman said. “Just as we have with our Iowa office, another early presidential nominating and critical battleground state like New Hampshire enhances and complements the state work we’ll be doing in Concord.”
The office will initially include Marc Goldberg, former Chief of Staff for Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Mike Vlacich, former Senior Advisor to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Biden appointee at the U.S. Small Business Administration.
A communications expert with nearly two decades of experience, Goldberg will assist clients with their public affairs, strategic communications and government relations objectives. He joins Cornerstone after serving in Sen. Hassan’s office since 2016, where he managed a team of nearly 50 staffers across the D.C. office, five New Hampshire offices and a subcommittee office for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Previously, Goldberg also served as Sen. Hassan’s Campaign Manager as well as her Communications Director while she was Governor of New Hampshire. Goldberg was previously Press Secretary for former Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Communications Director for former Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL), among serving in other communications roles.
“It is an honor to join Cornerstone, which is widely recognized as one of the most effective government affairs firms in the country,” Goldberg said. “I am excited to leverage my experience winning tough policy and political battles to deliver results for Cornerstone’s clients in New Hampshire, D.C., and across the country.”
In addition to the public affairs, government management and communications expertise Goldberg brings to the New Hampshire office, clients in New Hampshire and beyond will benefit from Vlacich’s nearly 30 years of expertise and leadership at the state and federal level in public policy strategy, government management and political campaign success at the gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and presidential levels.
Most recently, Vlacich was appointed by President Biden to serve as the New England Regional Administrator at the Small Business Administration, where he worked closely with business, elected and government leaders at every level of government. He previously worked for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) as her Senior Advisor, Campaign Manager, and State Director, in addition to serving in various roles during her terms as Governor. Vlacich also held key roles for Sen. Hassan and New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, including as Director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development. Vlacich has extensive experience bridging government, non-profits and the private sectors throughout the Northeast and nation.
“I am excited to be joining Cornerstone’s extraordinary team and impressed by their commitment to providing exceptional and diverse services to their clients,” Vlacich said. “Cornerstone’s deep commitment to teamwork and tradition of integrity will be a perfect fit here in the Granite State and New England in meeting the needs of our business, higher education institutions, critical initiatives and non-profit sectors. I look forward to using my experience with every level of government, business, nonprofits and campaigns to help our clients successfully accomplish their goals.”
Vlacich also served as President and CEO the New Hampshire College and University Council and University System of New Hampshire Trustee, in addition to being an active member of the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, the New Hampshire EPSCoR Statewide Committee, the New Hampshire Small Business Development Council Advisory Committee, the New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council and the Governor’s Save Our Shipyard Commission. He’s been frequently cited as one of the most sought after business and political advisors in New Hampshire.
The opening of the New Hampshire office marks the significant expansion of the firm’s national footprint, adding to existing offices in Washington, D.C., Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.