April 8, 2026

The Briefing Room: April Edition

Cornerstone’s Bipartisan Growth
Continues in 2026

By Matt Paul and Jimmy Centers, Co-founders of
Cornerstone’s Public Affairs team

Growth only matters if it makes you better for your clients. That’s the focus behind how we’re building our Public Affairs & Strategic Communications team in 2026.

Nearly nine years ago, when we joined Cornerstone, we represented a bipartisan partnership to complement Cornerstone’s bipartisan federal and state government relations services. That bipartisan balance has shaped how our Public Affairs team approaches strategy, messaging, and client service. It is a big reason our work has grown. Leading with that perspective has helped us build trust, develop smarter strategies, and navigate change across Washington, D.C., state legislatures, technology, and economic trends.

Over the last nine years, our team has grown to include 22 professionals in Georgia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, D.C. We’ve added a group of colleagues from across the political spectrum and business world who bring real experience navigating high-pressure moments, where policy, media, and public perception all collide. They strengthen our ability to help clients operate in that environment with clarity and confidence. That model remains central to how we grow.  As we continue expanding, maintaining a bipartisan Public Affairs team keeps us grounded, relevant, and prepared as political and economic landscapes shift.
Cassie Smedile joins as a senior leader with deep experience at the intersection of communications, public policy, and reputation. As former National Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee, and in senior roles at America Rising and Coign, she has advised organizations through fast-moving, high-stakes situations. Cassie adds immediate depth to how we help clients manage complex narratives and position themselves effectively in a polarized environment.

 

 
Sean Coit brings a complementary perspective shaped by experience across business, government, and sports. He founded Swivel Public Affairs, a Pennsylvania-based public affairs firm, held senior roles with Comcast Spectator and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). Sean has helped organizations navigate high-visibility decisions under scrutiny — and will support clients in shaping messaging, managing media, and engaging stakeholders with purpose.

We’ve also expanded our capabilities with the rising talent of Nick Dye, Sam Coffman, and Bianca Barrios — each bringing strong capabilities in research, stakeholder engagement, and communications execution. They strengthen the day-to-day engine that allows us to deliver thoughtful, responsive support across client teams.

Together, these additions reflect how we’re continuing to build: experienced senior professionals, subject matter experts, and strategic thinkers all focused on helping clients navigate increasingly complex public and policy environments.

As more issues move from the legislative arena into the public arena, that depth and the ability to connect policy, communications, and stakeholder strategy matter more than ever. As we plan for the future, continuing to grow the team in that same bipartisan spirit will be essential. It has been the bedrock of our firm for nearly 25 years, for our public affairs practice for nearly a decade, and it offers our clients certainty in a partisan environment that is anything but predictable.

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