About | The Plunkett Group

About

What We Do

There’s a story behind every organization, every executive and every product. Our mission is aimed at bringing business plans, value creation roadmaps, executive skill sets and product attributes to life. We work closely with each of our clients to develop the right messaging supported by communications strategies that are practical, targeted and measurable.

Our team’s exceptional track record in building long-term relationships with our clients and their constituents is directly attributable to our results-driven approach and culture of creativity, integrity and dedication to our profession. As an independent firm, everything we do is centered on delivering the best advice and service to our clients, so they can focus on pursuing their goals and growing their businesses.

Our Senior Team

Chris Plunkett

Founding Partner

Mike Smargiassi

Founding Partner

Scott Cianciulli

Partner

Brad Edwards

Principal

Giovanni “Sonny” Garcia

Chief Financial Officer

Ryan Golden

Assistant Vice President

Dante Keeler

Assistant Vice President

Jennifer Gery-Egan

Strategic Advisor

CHRIS PLUNKETT

Founding Partner

Chris Plunkett has helped hundreds of management teams tell their stories, engage with their audiences and achieve their communications goals. His expertise spans messaging and communications plan development in support of new company launches, IPOs and restructuring programs; communicating complex transactions; simplifying growth strategies and addressing major issues. From blue chip, household names and global organizations, to start-up enterprises and companies in distress, Chris serves as a trusted advisor to executives on the front lines. His diverse industry experience spans media & entertainment, technology, business & financial services, retail & apparel, industrial products and real estate. Chris co-manages the firm’s disclosure workshops, executive training seminars, and branding & messaging analysis products. He also plays a lead role in directing the firm’s executive visibility and thought leadership programs. After beginning his career in corporate relations and financial services at a boutique investment bank, Chris went on to hold account management and leadership positions at several Manhattan-based PR agencies. He studied Speech Communications and Public Relations at Rowan University and New York University.

Mike Smargiassi

Founding Partner

Mike Smargiassi has over two decades of experience in counseling companies, organizations and executives on communicating with their key audiences including investors, reporters, employees, government agencies, and consumers. He has developed and managed hundreds of communications programs that have built awareness, clarified misperceptions, elevated executives and achieved business results. Mike’s industry expertise spans technology, financial services, media & entertainment, telecommunications, consumer products, industrial manufacturing, hospitality, aerospace & defense and local government. A wide range of clients have relied on Mike for guidance, messaging development and program execution spanning corporate branding, quarterly financial communications, crisis situations, bankruptcies, earnings misses, restructurings, facilities shut-downs and B2B communications. Beginning his career in the Municipal Bond and Fixed Income Departments of Bloomberg Financial Markets, Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The College of New Jersey.

Scott Cianciulli

Partner

Scott Cianciulli has over 17 years of experience in serving as a strategic communications advisor and partner to a broad range of corporations, professional organizations, and entrepreneurs. He has managed a portfolio of client relationships spanning a range of industries including retail & consumer, technology, business services, media & entertainment, consumer products and real estate, among other verticals. Areas of expertise include program planning, message development, CEO / executive media tours, executive coaching, new product and service launches, social media strategy and issues management campaigns. The main goal throughout Scott’s engagements is to align PR strategy with his clients’ business and personal objectives by targeting the audiences that matter. By differentiating a company’s message and focusing on impact, Scott aims to drive positive, informed coverage that prompts action by current and prospective customers. He is a graduate of Marist College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations, with a Business cognate.

Brad Edwards

Principal

Brad Edwards works closely with clients to develop and execute communications programs that are designed to effectively convey their investment merits and growth strategies, shape opinion and achieve business objectives. Leveraging his 20+ years of investor relations experience, Brad has implemented effective financial communications programs for clients across a myriad of sectors including industrial products, media & entertainment, education, pharmaceutical, and technology. His areas of expertise span program development and execution, message development, expectations management, crisis and special situation communications, presentation development, and in-depth industry research and quantitative analysis. Brad also plays a primary role in orchestrating the firm’s quarterly earnings platform through messaging, financial writing, Q&A development, disclosure counsel and infrastructure support. Mr. Edwards received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Connecticut College and completed the Fordham University MBA program with a dual concentration in Finance and Marketing.

Giovanni Garcia

Chief Financial Officer

Giovanni “Sonny” Garcia supervises the firm’s accounting, finance, and IT functions. He’s also in charge of human resources including employee onboarding, compensation, and benefits, as well as staff training and development. He leads employee recruitment and has been instrumental in helping to develop the firm’s positive culture. Sonny previously spent over two decades as head of financial management and employee relations for one of the nation’s most successful mid-sized independent PR agencies. Previously, he held accountant and auditor positions at New York City-based financial services organizations. Sonny graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Accounting.

Ryan Golden

Assistant Vice President

Ryan serves a diverse group of the firm’s PR clients, contributing to content development, media targeting and pitching and social media management, among other responsibilities. He previously participated in internships at Thomson Reuters, The New York Giants and NBC Sports’ programming department where he worked on a variety of projects including the American Century Golf Tournament and the National Dog Show. Ryan is a graduate of Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business where he majored in Business Management with a minor in Sports Management and Leadership.

Dante Keeler

Assistant Vice President

Dante manages a variety of the firm’s PR accounts across distinct business fields with an emphasis on social media engagement, media targeting and pitching, and content development. He previously served as an Associate Editor for Cision PRWeb, where he supported clients from the fintech, legal, healthcare and venture capital sectors. Earlier, Dante gained PR experience at Rokk Solutions, a bipartisan public affairs firm based in Washington, DC, where he supported accounts for political figures, governments, trade organizations, and advocacy groups. Dante graduated from Boston College’s Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences with a major in English and a concentration in Creative Writing.

Jennifer Gery-Egan

Strategic Advisor

Jennifer Gery-Egan has over two decades of experience helping corporations and nonprofits communicate strategically. Her diverse portfolio of clients have included companies in the media and advertising, entertainment, publishing, financial services and education industries. She has also helped advance the missions of cancer research, health and wellness, and substance use prevention foundations through well-executed communications programs.

Areas of Jennifer’s expertise include designing and executing communications plans, media relations and training, content and message development, donor communications and issues management campaigns. She has been successful at cultivating relationships through persuasive communications to help clients achieve their business objectives. A trusted advisor to senior leadership, Jennifer has provided counsel on crisis situations and managed publicity for transactions such as IPOs and mergers as well as product and film launches. Jennifer earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.