Chris Modrzejewski
Principal

Chris Modrzejewski is a highly experienced public affairs and government relations specialist, with expertise in developing and implementing political and communications strategies.  Chris has run numerous campaigns on behalf of some of the regions’ most high profile projects and initiatives.

For 10 years prior to founding M Strategic Communications, Chris was a Principal at Sage Advisors, one of the region’s top public affairs firms.  He oversaw complex issues and initiatives ranging from multibillion-dollar public financing deals to approval of the proposed Downtown Football Stadium and complicated labor matters.

Modrzejewski previously worked for Anschutz Entertainment Group AEG as the Vice President of Public Affairs.  As a leader of the AEG team, Chris was responsible for issues ranging from political and community affairs, business diversity, and charitable involvement for AEG and its 35 separate divisions, including the Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center.  Additionally, Chris directed the organization’s community and political outreach as well as entitlements for the 140-acre StubHub Center and downtown’s LA Live, the four million square foot Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District.

Prior to his private sector experiences, Modrzejewski worked for former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.  As Riordan’s Assistant Deputy Mayor and Director of Policy, Chris was responsible for the development and implementation of the Mayor’s policy initiatives for the more than 30 Departments within the City of Los Angeles.

Chris currently serves as an Executive Board Member for the Miguel Contreras Foundation.  Chris attended the University of California, Davis and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Denise, and their children, Skyler and Jack.

cm@m-consultants.net

Shannon Murphy
Principal

For more than 20 years, Shannon Murphy Castellani has managed large-scale political campaigns, public affairs, and communications efforts. 

 In 2013, Shannon co-founded M Strategic Communications (MSC), a highly respected and successful strategic communications and public affairs firm based in Los Angeles. With clients ranging from national sports teams to fast-growing tech companies, major real estate developments, non-profits, and organized labor, the firm specializes in tackling the region’s most complex and pressing issues.

Prior to founding MSC, Shannon worked as Deputy Controller for the City of Los Angeles. She previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to California Assembly Speakers John A. Pérez and Karen Bass and was Communications Director to Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn. In her roles for these elected leaders, Shannon served as a senior advisor specializing in media relations, message development, campaign strategy and crisis communications.

Shannon has also served as the Communications Director for LAUSD, the nation’s second largest school district, and worked alongside some of the most dynamic foundations in the world, including the Gates and Broad Foundations. She has a proven track record of managing advocacy efforts and providing executive-level public relations counsel.

Shannon began her career in the newsroom at KABC-TV, Los Angeles, where she coordinated newscasts and field produced segments for the news, entertainment, and sports departments.

Shannon graduated from the University of Southern California and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Journalism.  She currently serves on the board of the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and previously served on the board of the Community Coalition.

sm@m-consultants.net

Rebecca Liu Morales
Account Manager

Rebecca Liu Morales brings a wealth of federal, state and local communications and public affairs experience to M Strategic Communications. Before joining the firm, Morales worked at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) on planning, land use, and environmental issues for one of the top five busiest U.S. airports for both passenger and cargo traffic.

Prior to working at LAWA, Morales had several high profile positions in Los Angeles including having served as liaison to the Port of Los Angeles for Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino’s office where her portfolio focused on planning and transportation policy. Additionally, Morales worked for Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson and Councilmember Eric Garcetti. A campaign veteran, Morales has worked and volunteered on several successful local and statewide efforts including US Senator Barbara Boxer’s successful reelection campaign in 2010.

Morales holds degrees in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California and bachelor’s degree from University of San Francisco in Architecture.

rlm@m-consultants.net

Melanie Mendoza Ramirez
Senior Account Executive

Melanie Mendoza is a Senior Account Executive who brings professional expertise from both the nonprofit and private sectors in Los Angeles. She has lead statewide election campaigns, advocated for criminal justice reform in California and provided strategic communications and community outreach for many developments across Los Angeles.

Before joining the team at M Strategic Communications, Melanie held various roles in the non-profit sector, including serving with her husband as a Youth Minister at their church in Los Feliz, and a Program Administrator for Millennium Momentum Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to giving minority college students and young professionals leadership training and scholarships through education.

She is a recent Women’s Policy Institute Fellow focused around the expansion of pretrial services for nearly half of Los Angeles County’s jail population.

mm@m-consultants.net

Lisa Marroquin
Senior Account Executive

With a combined 7 years experience in public service, communications and organizing, Lisa has spent her career ensuring state and local governments are both accessible and accountable to the people they serve. She started her career as a labor organizer for the Service Employees International Union where she fought for economic justice for childcare providers. She then worked for Communities for a New California Education Fund where ran a civic engagement campaign that secured the passage of district election ballot measures in several Central Valley cities. Lisa spent a large part of her career working in the public sector, serving in both communications and legislative roles in the Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti. Most recently, she served as Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom where she worked on statewide public awareness campaigns distilling complex policy issues into messages that resonate with a diverse set of audiences.

lm@m-consultants.net