FEMA’s Jaclyn Rothenberg Joins Avoq as Senior Vice President
Bolstering Firm’s Communications, Crisis and Issue Management Capabilities
Washington D.C. — Avoq today announced that Jaclyn Rothenberg, a seasoned communications specialist with extensive government and private sector experience, has joined the firm as Senior Vice President. Rothenberg, who will work out of the firm’s New York office, joins Avoq after having recently served as Director of Public Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since July 2021.
“Jaclyn brings an amazing depth of knowledge to Avoq, having provided and mastered every facet of communications expertise in her nearly two decades of experience,” said CEO Nicole Cornish. “Jaclyn’s communications leadership at FEMA put her at the center of the most complex and important issues facing the country, while her work in the private sector showcases her ability to understand the needs of the business community and how to advance client agendas.”
Rothenberg is a public affairs, media relations, crisis communications strategist and experienced on-the-record spokesperson. She has advised C-suite executives, high-profile elected officials, and political leaders operating on national and local stages. At FEMA, Rothenberg led a team of nearly 40 professionals and guided the agency’s media and messaging strategies on key priorities of the administration such as disaster response and recovery, environmental issues, workforce readiness and equity.
Most recently, Rothenberg spearheaded FEMA’s messaging and media strategy dealing with Hurricanes Helene and Milton including combating misinformation campaigns. While at the agency, she oversaw the media and messaging approaches for dozens of disasters and led the communications efforts for the largest policy change at FEMA in the last 20 years, as well as a new collaboration with the NFL.
“Working in both government and the private sector has provided me with a unique perspective on today’s most complex business and policy challenges. I’m eager to leverage these experiences to help Avoq’s clients navigate this challenging landscape. Avoq’s track record of crafting insightful, data-driven public affairs strategies and positive results for their clients speaks for itself. I’m thrilled to join such a talented team and embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Rothenberg.
Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Rothenberg led the Georgia Communications Team for the 2020 Biden-Harris Campaign. She also previously served nearly five years in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Administration as a spokesperson and senior communications advisor. Prior to her time in New York City government, Jaclyn served on Hillary Clinton’s campaign as a press secretary in Western Pennsylvania and supported the advance team on various primary and general election events.
Rothenberg has counseled C-suite executives and fortune 500 leaders, having served as a Vice President at SKDKnickerbocker in New York City. She has also worked at Teneo and Burson (formerly known as Burson-Marsteller) in a communications capacity.
About Avoq
Avoq is an integrated firm that combines communications and advocacy to creatively shape narratives, manage brand reputation, influence national debates, and engage the audiences you need to reach. Avoq’s 200+ employees work from offices in Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Miami. Avoq is a portfolio company of Coral Tree Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on investments in the media, entertainment and communications sectors. Visit teamavoq.com to learn more.
