Actum Continues on Path of Accelerated Growth with Acquisition of Green Book Strategies
The addition of veteran strategists Jennifer and Austin Shafran reinforces firm’s reach across the New York City and State public affairs landscape
New York, NY (May 2, 2025) – Actum LLC, a global consultancy firm, today announced the acquisition of Green Book Strategies, led by New York political veterans Jennifer and Austin Shafran. With nearly two decades of experience delivering campaign and public affairs victories across the state, their addition reinforces Actum’s mission of delivering best-in-class outcomes through best-in-class talent.
“Jennifer and Austin have an impressive track record and reputation in the New York City and State public affairs and advocacy world,” said Michael McKeon, Partner at Actum. “In today’s complex and fluid political environment, we know that clients need more than just access. They require smart strategy, disciplined execution, and trusted counsel. Green Book Strategies exemplify this ethos, and their addition further underscores our commitment to assembling the strongest team possible to meet this moment.”
Jennifer and Austin Shafran have worked together at the intersection of policy, advocacy and public communications for nearly two decades. They have advised leading labor unions, advocacy coalitions, and private sector clients across a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues – including affordable housing, civil rights protections, and economic/infrastructure and technology development – at both the state and city levels. Prior to co-founding Green Book Strategies, Jennifer served as Director of Communications and External Affairs to then-Brooklyn Borough President, and now-NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, and held senior leadership positions with NYS Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger and the NYS Department of Labor. Austin served as Press Secretary for the NYS Senate, Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs at Empire State Development (ESD), Senior Media Strategist and Speechwriter in the Cuomo Administration and Legislative Director for the NY Working Families Party (WFP).
“We’ve had the opportunity to work with Actum over the past few years and could not be more thrilled to join forces to bring our battle-tested expertise to their already world-class team,” said Jennifer and Austin Shafran, Co-Founders of Green Book Strategies. “Actum’s record of delivering measurable and memorable outcomes for their clients aligns with our passion to develop unique solutions to winning complex and competitive public affairs, legislative and political campaigns. We look forward to diving into our work with Actum in this next chapter.”
About Actum
Actum is a global consulting firm, built to deliver highly meaningful and measurable outcomes for our clients around the world. Our capabilities in strategy, management, execution, communications, government relations, storytelling and narrative development, digital and social media, advocacy mobilization, special groups, political consulting, public opinion research and data, are all best in class, because our people are best in class. For our clients, we provide seasoned and experienced advisors and partners, from the highest levels of government, media, business, advocacy, politics, technology, and special groups, who will lead teams of subject matter experts to deliver exceptional, measurable value and outcomes.
About Green Book Strategies
Jennifer and Austin Shafran have worked together at the intersection of policy, advocacy and public communications for nearly two decades. Known for representing major labor unions such as the New York Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC) and 32BJ SEIU, they have served as leading strategists behind both unions’ most recent key, high-profile legislative victories, including the “Safe Hotels Act” and the “Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act” (HACPA).
They have also had noteworthy successes at both the State and City levels in the realms of affordable housing, civil rights protections, economic/infrastructure and technology development, education and environmental protection, including advocacy around carbon reduction initiatives and NYC’s first-ever mandate to transition its fleet to Zero-Emission Vehicles, working with the Sierra Club. Jennifer and Austin also serve as lobbyists and labor strategists for Queens Future, the joint venture between the New York Mets and Hard Rock International to win one of three casino licenses being issued in the downstate area.
Prior to founding Green Book Strategies (named for the Official Directory of the City of New York, first published in 1918), a graduate of Cardozo School of Law, Jennifer served as Director of Communications and External Affairs to then-Brooklyn Borough President, and now-NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, as well as holding senior leadership positions with NYS Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger and the NYS Department of Labor. Serving in numerous roles across NYS and NYC government and politics, Austin served as Press Secretary for the NYS Senate, Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs at Empire State Development (ESD), Senior Media Strategist and Speechwriter in the Cuomo Administration and Legislative Director for the NY Working Families Party (WFP).
