Mike Mihalke is the founder of Meridian Strategies. Mike has led creative development and execution of media campaigns, corporate branding initiatives, crisis communications, and strategic consulting for national and international clients. He was the Communications Director for a United States Senator and prior to that Managing Partner of Brabender Cox Mihalke, a media, and public affairs agency that handled over $40 million in annual billings. His clients have included national and international corporate clients, trade associations, foreign governments, and political parties. He has been characterized by clients as “one of the most innovative public affairs strategists” in the country and his creative work has earned him a number of awards in industry competitions.

Robert Keefe

Robert Keefe is a seasoned veteran of Washington public relations and public affairs work. He worked as a top staffer in the Congress and as the Executive Director of the Democratic Party. He has been involved in the management of national political campaigns. He managed a major public affairs and lobbying firm in Washington. Over the years, he has worked extensively in international matters – having been involved in developing strategies and campaigns for numerous national governments. He has maintained relations with key American opinion leaders.

Khaled Saffuri

Khaled is Principal at Meridian Strategies, LLC.  Because of his unique combination of work experience in the United States and across the Middle Eastern region, Khaled provides international business and government clients with unparalleled strategic and public affairs consulting services.  He founded and ran one of the United States’ largest and most active public policy institutes focused on issues of importance to countries of the Middle East. In addition, Khaled has served in executive positions in organizations that promote democracy and free markets and facilitates international understanding.  In all these capacities, Khaled has focused his work on leading programs that foster better understanding and appreciation of Middle Eastern issues and governments through education and advocacy.  He has also been employed by two of the most prestigious Washington legal firms, Greenberg Traurig and Collier Shannon Scott.

John Powell

With better than a decade of experience , John Powell has accumulated a diverse skill set related to issue advocacy, including message development, strategic communications, media relations, coalition building, direct lobbying, grassroots support, and overall program management. Prior to joining Meridian Strategies, John served in high level positions in a gubernatorial campaign, CEO of The Seniors Coalition, one on the nation’s largest advocacy groups with nearly 3 million members and $12 million in annual budget and Partner in a top twenty lobbying firm.