Renowned for her extensive network and sharp grasp of California’s always-evolving business, policy and public opinion landscapes, Fiona Hutton built one of the largest and most successful independent public affairs agencies on the West Coast. As CEO, she leads a team of top-tier advisors and specialists known for thriving in complex, high-stakes engagements that tackle California’s toughest issues. A seasoned strategist and natural connector, Fiona’s tenacious and partnership-driven approach to advising clients has become FHA’s trademark. The agency’s track record of results, much sought-after issue expertise and reputation for best-in-class work has fueled consistent growth and attracted an impressive roster of blue-chip clients across every major industry. Under Fiona’s leadership, FHA consistently ranks on PR Week’s Top 10 U.S. Public Affairs Agencies and has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as both a Disruptor and one of its Fastest Growing Companies in the region. Fiona herself is regularly named to Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 most influential figures in California politics and frequently appears as a business entrepreneur and political commentator in statewide and national media.
Affiliations
California Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors; Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Board of Directors; Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Mayor Appointed Commissioner; previously served on the boards of Open California/Capitol Weekly, Valley Industry & Commerce Association, Sacramento Press Club, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the prestigious Page Society.
With over a decade of tenure at FHA, Dagny Ellenberg has designed and led programs that shape how the agency operates today – from embedding with clients and treating their issues like our own to building sophisticated, multi-pronged campaigns that consistently deliver wins. With experience in healthcare, climate resilience and energy, her deep issue expertise is matched by a network of statewide relationships that clients rely on and regularly tap into. Dagny’s sharp focus on performance and commitment to excellence is her trademark, and that same focus guides her leadership of FHA’s team and operations. As Managing Partner, she oversees company policies, people management and recruitment, talent development and mentorship strategies that drive growth for individuals and the agency and evolves FHA’s model to deliver the exceptional client service that sets it apart from competitors.
A seasoned public affairs strategist with more than 20 years of experience, Rebecca Nicholas oversees high-stakes communications programs of statewide importance. From large infrastructure to highly localized initiatives, Rebecca has secured environmental approvals, permitting and advanced construction of major transportation, water, climate resilience and natural resources projects. An expert facilitator, Rebecca’s ability to navigate deeply divisive issues to find common ground, build working relationships and produce reasonable solutions is highly sought after. Her clients rely on her for impactful storytelling, proactive positioning on priority issues and insight into California’s nuanced regulatory landscape. Located steps from California’s State Capitol in Sacramento, Rebecca ensures FHA’s clients are consistently tapped into state leaders and policy-makers’ priorities.
Affiliations
PRSA, California Capitol Chapter, Board of Directors; Association of Women in Water, Energy and the Environment, Sacramento Planning Committee, Sacramento Press Club
As FHA’s corporate communications specialist, Amanda Haig has an accomplished track record of helping organizations increase their visibility, protect their reputation and advance core business objectives, especially within California’s unique political and public opinion environment. She provides counsel on corporate positioning, stakeholder engagement, and issues management, designing campaigns that deepen influence at key junctures ranging from policy battles to restructurings. Having worked across the healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and food and beverage industries, Amanda collaborates closely with clients to understand internal dynamics and align strategies directly with key priorities – an approach that drives value far beyond the scope of traditional communications. Her background also includes work in Washington, D.C., where she contributed to high-impact public affairs campaigns on the national stage.
Affiliations
Valley Industry & Commerce Association, Government Affairs Committee
Alice M. Walton is a veteran strategic communications professional, known for her deep expertise and tenacity in guiding clients through complex regulatory and legislative landscapes. Her ability to thrive under pressure and deliver clarity in high-stakes environments developed during her time as a political reporter for the Los Angeles Times, City News Service and Southern California Public Radio/KPCC. Alice brings a journalist’s precision and storytelling instincts to strategic campaigns, securing impactful media coverage nationally and across California’s many media markets. She served on the Board of Directors for the Greater L.A. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for 12 years, including two stints as president. Through every engagement, Alice demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing client goals and creating lasting, meaningful change.
Affiliations
Women Communicators of Austin, Board of Directors; Leadership Austin Emerge Class of 2021
FHA's Vice President of Finance & Operations, Crystal Bay, has more than 15 years of experience driving financial strategy, leadership across cross-functional teams and key operational improvements for organizations in diverse industries. With a strong history of improving financial controls and implementing sophisticated forecasting models to inform critical decisions, Crystal combines data-driven insights and a hands-on approach to managing client contracting and budgets, ensuring legal and tax compliance, administering employee benefits, implementing new technology and driving financial analysis to support sustainable growth for the team and agency.
Clara Karger is a senior communications and public affairs leader with deep experience navigating Los Angeles’s fast-paced political, media and public opinion landscape. Previously serving as Press Secretary to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Clara is known for shaping effective narratives, managing risk, and advancing organizational priorities under intense public scrutiny- and building effective working relationships with national, state, and regional journalists. She has a proven track record in providing strategic counsel on messaging and media relations during highly-visible moments, including new housing and economic development initiatives, emergency response, budgets, litigation and other complex citywide efforts. Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Clara was vice president of public affairs for the Central City Association — one of Los Angeles' most respected and active business advocacy organizations.
Affiliations
Coro Southern California, California Women's List
Evan’s ability to craft clear, compelling messaging around even the most nuanced issues, helps advance projects in California’s most complex and highly regulated industries. With a background in natural resources, public and investor-owned utilities, water and energy development, Evan builds diverse coalitions of support, launches statewide newsletters that reach hundreds of stakeholders and oversees the development of policy platforms, issue briefs, fact sheets, infographics and social content. An expert at becoming an expert, Evan’s commitment to learning the policy landscape and key players that impact each of his clients embody FHA’s substance over surface ethos that clients have come to expect and rely on.
Specializing in thought leadership, media relations and reputation management, Melanie combines key relationships and industry expertise to elevate organizations and their leaders around the issues that matter most. A skilled project manager, she builds industry-leading programs that integrate earned media strategies with speaking engagements, podcasts and owned content to produce measurable results for clients in healthcare and public safety. From interviews with top reporters to keynotes on nationally renowned stages, Melanie’s relentless approach and thoughtful planning ensures clients breakthrough to demonstrate their impact and strengthen their profile here in California and beyond.
Jordan Burns blends her experience in the public and private sector to help clients tell compelling stories and build meaningful relationships. She leads communications planning, stakeholder engagement and outreach strategies, with a focus on bilingual outreach that ensures inclusive, effective engagement. With a strong background in media relations, Jordan knows how to plan and execute press events, coach spokespeople, land earned coverage and build social strategies that enhance traditional media. She also guides clients through crisis situations – supporting trainings to prepare teams in advance and offering real-time counsel when challenges do arise. Her work spans a range of issues including environmental policy, healthcare, education, land-use and economic development. Whether she’s helping clients navigate complex projects or elevate their regional impact, Jordan brings a thoughtful approach to every engagement.
Affiliations
Regional Advisory Council for LAist, Los Angeles’ largest NPR station
An experienced campaign professional, Julia Connolly helps lead FHA’s clients through the twist and turns of Los Angeles’ political and policy world. She brings extensive cross-sector relationships to the table – enabling her to facilitate meaningful engagement between stakeholders that drive client’s initiatives in the highly competitive region. She executes outreach strategies, leads the production of print and digital assets and engages local media to land stories and shape press coverage. In addition, she brings a background in grassroots organizing for competitive Congressional campaigns throughout Southern California, with extensive experience mobilizing field operations and volunteer engagement for broad coalitions. She is an alumnus of Coro Southern California’s Women in Leadership Program, a highly-regarded leadership development program for professional women in Southern California.
Affiliations
Coro Southern California; Women In Leadership Cohort 10
Max supports multi-faceted public affairs campaigns with a focus on media relations and thought leadership execution. With a keen eye for media trends, knowledge of California’s policy landscape and diverse reporter relationships, Max carefully tracks industry coverage, provides expert analysis for clients and identifies opportunities to land stories and secure speaking engagements at the state and national level. He regularly develops fact sheets, newsletters and persuasive media materials and is known for building sophisticated media and stakeholder engagement trackers that demonstrate outcomes and arm the team with metrics.
Affiliations
PRSA Los Angeles, Emerging Professionals Committee
Chloe Park helps clients advance policy and public-facing communications goals through sharp message development, stakeholder engagement and digital advocacy. She contributes to campaigns across the water, land use and energy sectors—distilling nuanced topics into influential strategies. Chloe has played a key role in supporting communications for investor-owned water utilities in both agency and in-house settings in particular – driving effective earned media, generating content and coordinating community engagement efforts that leverage her knowledge of the state’s media and regulatory landscapes. Her background also includes internal communications - ensuring alignment across platforms.
As an Account Coordinator at Fiona Hutton & Associates, Paulina Lopez supports key accounts across sectors including energy, natural resources, and public safety. She contributes to strategic communications through media relations, community engagement, and content development—building targeted media lists, supporting stakeholder outreach, and crafting materials that reflect each client’s point of view and priorities. Known for her attention to detail and collaborative approach, Paulina helps keep FHA’s clients ahead of key developments and equipped with the tools essential to success.
At FHA, Isabel contributes to media relations efforts, issue monitoring and coalition support across healthcare, energy and natural resources engagements, bringing precision and a substance-first mindset to every client effort. Isabel previously worked in the District Office of Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), supporting legislative affairs and constituent communications. Prior to that, she supported journalist Jessica Yellin at News Not Noise, researching and producing accessible political content for digital audiences. She is pursuing her B.A. in Political Science with a minor in History at UCLA.
As Executive Assistant at FHA, Matthew Gearhart excels in leadership support, culture and marketing – directly supporting the agency’s Founder/CEO and partners. With a talent for fostering collaboration, enhancing employee engagement, and orchestrating impactful team trainings and events, he contributes to a thriving, positive workplace culture – cascading the values and expectations of senior leadership throughout the agency. Matthew coordinates FHA’s thought leadership programming, sponsorships, community investments and event participation. He is responsible for day-to-day executive support, coordinating and prepping client meetings, new business presentations and internal gatherings and educational workshops.
With more than 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Ariana brings an understanding of fast-paced, high-demand environments to her role. As FHA’s Office Manager, Ariana is FHA’s operational ambassador to clients, colleagues, vendors and external partners. She manages complex schedules, organizes meetings and events, and serves as a daily bridge to the outside world. Within FHA, Ariana ensures the team is equipped with the best technology, equipment and resources, and focused on operational efficiency. Her strengths include developing scalable systems, managing workplace operations, and producing clear, effective business correspondence.
Madison brings over a decade of experience in legislative, ballot measure, and issue campaigns across California. She specializes in developing public affairs strategies that unite coalitions, shape policy outcomes, and deliver results through compelling communications, stakeholder engagement, and disciplined project management. A veteran of many high-profile projects, Madison keeps all the trains running on time, while also adapting quickly to shifting political dynamics to keep client objectives on track, expertly navigating California’s political landscape to turn strategy into impact.
Katie Koziara is a trusted public affairs strategist specializing in media relations, executive communications and high-stakes policy positioning. She previously served as Senior Director of Public Affairs for the pharmaceutical industry’s leading trade association in Washington, D.C., where she led executive communications strategy and national campaigns shaping conversations around the cost and value of medicines, patient access, and regulatory reform. Before that, Katie managed digital strategy for a nonprofit focused on presidential transitions and federal leadership, strengthening institutional storytelling at the highest levels of government. Located in Washington D.C. she brings a sharp perspective honed from years working around the Hill and a strategic, trust-building approach to media, visibility and stakeholder engagement.
Poonam Narewatt is a PhD candidate in Political Science at UCLA, with expertise in global policy, communications, and complex governance issues. Before entering academia, she spent nearly seven years in L.A. City Hall, in hands-on roles spanning scheduling, policy, and executive leadership. She led major communications efforts, including the mayor’s State of the City addresses during the pandemic, and helped shape initiatives on police reform and anti-poverty programs. Poonam brings a tenacious, multi-dimensional approach grounded in local politics. Her work has taken her to over 10 countries and into rooms with Heads of State, but her focus has always been on delivering results—whether navigating local budgets or international forums. A San Francisco native, she holds a Master’s in International Affairs from UC San Diego and a BA in Political Science and English from Whittier College.
Rich Venn is a seasoned communications and public affairs executive with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex regulatory, legal and reputational challenges. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs for California’s largest oil and natural gas producer and its carbon management subsidiary, where he led enterprise communications, executive engagement, ESG positioning and community investment strategy. He partners with clients to align legal, policy and operational strategy with clear, credible communications that build momentum and protect long-term trust. Rich has led programs across the energy, water, infrastructure and technology sectors, advising executive teams during litigation, regulatory proceedings and high-profile public policy debates.