About us

After 25 years in public affairs, I was fortunate to build many lasting relationships, learned many valuable lessons and I hope, had a positive impact on the lives of the people I touched and the communities I helped to build. I love public service and now as a public affairs advisor, I am able to assemble a team of experts to help you advance your projects and priorities with government, media & industry.

I’ve had a storied and rewarding public service career. While I was in local government, I served in a variety of leadership roles in Asset Management, Development Services and Government Relations. Throughout my public sector career, I specialized in managing complex land use & infrastructure projects, building public-private partnerships, creating diverse A-teams and accelerating innovative process improvements to save millions in taxpayer dollars. As a recognized strategic communicator, I was a frequent spokesperson for my public agencies with countless community & professional groups, key government & political stakeholders and mainstream media outlets. I’ve been on live TV & radio programs, provided quotes to the New York Times & the Washington Post and wrote OpEd pieces for the local newspapers. I have hosted visiting foreign dignitaries from Chile to China and lobbied political leaders from Mayors to Members of Congress.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria in San Diego, CA

As a community activist, I am involved with and have founded multiple nonprofit organizations from California to Washington, DC dealing with political empowerment & minority voting rights to food insecurity and autism awareness. I have organized business & community advocacy forums with Members of Congress in the US Capitol Building and local forums from San Diego to Sacramento and Houston to the Washington, DC. I’ve created social media platforms, websites and blogs that have become the industry standard for effective communication, outreach and advocacy with policymakers, mainstream media and targeted stakeholders.

With US Senator Chuck Hagel in Washington, DC — US Senator Chuck Hagel in Washington, DC

As a registered federal lobbyist and a nonprofit leader, I worked with Fortune 100 companies like General Motors and Exxon-Mobil to advance economic diplomacy and business issues in Washington, DC and led a successful national grassroots campaign that resulted in regulatory relief from the US Administration to help entrepreneurs.

I currently serve on the Southern California Association of Government’s Digital Divide Task Force and the San Diego Association of Government’s Regional Digital Divide Task Force, and am the Executive Director of Murphy’s Produce with Purpose, a nonprofit food pantry. I have organized business & community advocacy forums with Members of Congress in the US Capitol Building and local forums from San Diego to Sacramento and Houston to the Washington, DC. I’ve created social media platforms, websites and blogs that have become the industry standard for effective communication, outreach and advocacy with policymakers, mainstream media and targeted stakeholders.

US Representative Scott Peters in San Diego, CA

I attended San Diego State University and have a BS in Finance & Master of Public Administration, and continue to mentor interns and young professionals with big dreams, worldwide. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at here.

Madison Tash, Associate Public Affairs Advisor

Madison grew up in a military home where she had the opportunity to live in six states and six years in Germany. Madison graduated from Wilson Hall School in Sumter, South Carolina. In the summer of 2021, she completed employment as a seasonal Public Safety Aid Booking Officer at the Ocean City Police Department where she acquired skills in high stress situational de-escalation and multiple problem-solving situations. Her experience with people from multiple backgrounds has inspired her to be a community leader in law enforcement and politics. She currently attends Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland and is studying to achieve her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a double minor in German and Law, Justice, and Advocacy. Madison is currently a Public Affairs Advisor and responsible for drafting Policy Briefs, co-producing the American School of Public Service Podcastsand serving clients in the startup, government innovation & ESG spaces with the Afshar Group, a public affairs advisory service based in San Diego, CA. You may reach Madison at Madison@AfsharGroup.com.

Makaeyla Zamora, Associate Public Affairs Advisor

Makaeyla was born in Houston, Texas but spent the last 5 years living in California, Kentucky, Costa Rica, Germany and Poland. She received her B.A.S in International Security and Intelligence from Bellevue University in November 2020. Much of her university work was focused on US security interests, including cyber and tech security. She hopes to continue work as a policy and research analyst and eventually join the foreign service. Makaeyla is currently a Public Affairs Advisor and responsible for drafting Policy Briefs, co-producing the USCanTec Podcastsand serving clients in the startup, government innovation & ESG spaces with the Afshar Group, a public affairs advisory service based in San Diego, CA. You may reach Makaeyla at Makaeyla@AfsharGroup.com or on LinkedIn.

Bianca Sorci, Associate Public Affairs Advisor

Bianca was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. From a very young age, Bianca was interested in politics and the inner workings of campaigns. She is currently a senior at Buffalo State College, with a major in Public Relations and Advertising and a minor in Public Administration. Following her graduation in May, Bianca plans on continuing her education in graduate school at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She will be studying to get her masters in Nonprofit Management. Bianca hopes to find a career that will allow a combination of her interests in government relations and public relations. Bianca is currently a Public Affairs Advisor and responsible for drafting Policy Briefs, co-producing the Politics 365 Podcasts and serving clients in the startup, government innovation & ESG spaces with the Afshar Group, a public affairs advisory service based in San Diego, CA. You may reach Bianca at Bianca@AfsharGroup.com. or on LinkedIn.

Cameron Whiteside, Associate Public Affairs Advisor

Cameron manages all of our social media & podcast website platforms. Cameron can be reached at Cameron@AfsharGroup.com or on LinkedIn.