Simone Jackenthal is a Director at Breakwater Strategy. She brings a passion for strategic communications, crisis support, and reputation management. Simone has substantial experience leading and executing public relations, public affairs, and other strategic communications campaigns for high–profile clients in highly regulated sectors. Her work includes media relations, thought leadership, crisis management, internal and external communications strategies. Simone’s experience spans several industries including political advocacy, technology, consumer products, health, nutrition, fintech, fashion, entertainment, and crypto, among others.

Most recently, Simone was a Director at Trident DMG where she largely advised clients on crisis communications and reputation management. She organized strategic communications campaigns for clients across various sectors, advised Fortune 500 companies on media trainings, and recommended approaches to C–suite executives for crisis mitigation. Simone led various funding announcements for technology startups, securing media coverage in top–tier national outlets, local media, and trades. She also coordinated with legal teams when necessary to create cohesive media strategies for clients engaged in litigation.

Previously, Simone served as an Associate at Weber Shandwick where she supported the Public Affairs team with government relations, marketing, internal communications, media relations, and social media. In this role, Simone organized events on the Hill to engage various clients with Members of Congress, drafted press releases for distribution, and secured media coverage with reporters. She also assisted with health and nutrition clients and supported the paid media and digital advertising team.

Simone earned a Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communications from The George Washington University. Her published thesis focuses on media framing effects of the Black Lives Matter movement, and she currently lives in Potomac, Maryland with her wife and two dogs.

As an Associate Director on the Research and Insights team, Jin works on all things research, from custom quantitative survey development to qualitative focus group execution and beyond. He is particularly passionate about public opinion research and considering viewpoints that challenge his own opinions.   

Before joining the Breakwater team, Jin was a Director at Accelerant Research, where he led the quantitative research function and designed custom market research surveys for clients to help them better understand their brand perceptions. Prior to that, Jin worked with fellow Breakwater team member Ben Williams at High Lantern Group, where he gained an appreciation for strategic communications and the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Asheville, NC office.  

Jin is a graduate of the UNC Chapel Hill, where he majored in Economics and Psychology and minored in Business Administration. As a Chapel Hill native and UNC-alum, Jin remains a die-hard Tar Heel fan, and is known for annoying his co-workers with his hot takes and bold claims about all things Carolina sports.

Caryn Leahy is a Managing Director at Breakwater Strategy. A passionate, trusted client leader, Caryn is in a state of flow when helping clients creatively solve problems and navigate complex, challenging, and rapidly evolving situations. At Breakwater, she leads results-driven corporate reputation, public affairs, and issues campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge leaders in tech, food, healthcare and more. She leverages her background in broadcast journalism to help clients develop, sharpen, and amplify their voices with the power of earned media. 

Most recently, Caryn was a Vice President at Ketchum where she oversaw comprehensive communications programs, including strategic planning, earned media, digital and third-party partnership strategies to move key stakeholders and the general public. In this role, she managed multimillion-dollar budgets and acted as a rapid-response public affairs, issues and crisis counselor for clients across all 14 Ketchum sectors in the agency’s global network. 

Previously, Caryn served as Senior Director at Rational 360, a full-service public affairs firm, and was an associate producer for Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Caryn received her Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Bates College. 

When Caryn isn’t supporting her clients through a crisis or challenge, she’s probably spending time with friends and family or running on one of the DMV’s finest trails. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband Kevin and son Julian. 

Ben is a Senior Associate at Breakwater Strategy, where he supports client teams in developing strategic communications and media recommendations. Based out of Washington D.C., he is a strategic communications professional with strong experience in research, writing, and media outreach.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Ben worked as an Associate The Fratelli Group, where he helped to develop and implement communications strategies for a variety of clients, including prominent business coalitions, trade groups, and a climate finance nonprofit. He conducted in-depth policy and sector research, coordinated press outreach and interview opportunities, and assisted with social media strategy, monitoring, and content creation.

Ben graduated from Carleton College, where he majored in political science and international relations with a focus in leadership, peace, and security. During his time at Carleton, he was a member of the varsity football team, served as the editor of a satire publication, and studied abroad at the London School of Economics and Sevilla, Spain. His undergraduate thesis was an analysis of the intersection of sport, nationalism, and racism in Europe through a qualitative study about racism and foreign-born players in the English Premier League.

Hailing from Portland, Maine, Ben can be found loudly cheering for the Patriots and other New England sports teams, reviewing movies on Letterboxd, and cooking in his free time.

Kate is an Associate Director at Breakwater Strategy based in Washington, D.C. She works closely with the team to assist in all client needs, including drafting messaging, coordinating communications campaigns, researching client-specific policy and media opportunities, and providing additional support as needed.

Prior to Breakwater, Kate worked at Allison+Partners on the Global Reputation Risk + Public Affairs team. In this role she specialized in supporting clients through proactive and reactive crisis and reputation management, in addition to designing and executing national, state, and local level public affairs campaigns. Her work included conducting media landscape monitoring and analysis, background research, message development, and proactive and reactive media outreach. She brings a breadth of experience working for some of the biggest brands across various industries, including consumer tech, commercial real estate, health and health tech, nonprofit and government agencies, defense, aerospace and more.

Kate graduated with honors from East Carolina University with Bachelor of Science in Communication, concentrating in public relations and media studies. She is currently working towards a Master of Science in Strategic Communication from Columbia University. In her free time, she can typically be found exploring new restaurants in DC, cheering on the Capitals, or visiting parks around the DMV with her dog Nox.

Bryn is a Senior Associate on the Research and Insights team, where she supports quantitative and qualitative research and analysis that powers client solutions.

Prior to joining Breakwater, Bryn served as a Research Associate in the Executive Office of the President, where she vetted individuals and organizations seeking presidential engagement, tracked global media trends, and fact-checked high-level communications materials. Working alongside policy, national security, and communications professionals, she developed expertise in delivering precise messaging and identifying strategic opportunities on complex policy matters.

Bryn graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She was awarded a competitive research fellowship from the Lampert Institute for Civic and Global Affairs and spent time as a visiting student in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. Her senior thesis examined the role of mediator states like the US in peace settlements in Sudan and South Sudan.

Research is at the heart of Bryn’s work. She has a passion for uncovering insights that drive informed decision-making and crafting compelling narratives based on rigorous analysis.

A Pittsburgh native and long-suffering Pirates fan now based in D.C., Bryn enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring local flea markets and vintage shops in her free time.

Jack is an Associate at Breakwater based in Washington, D.C., where he works across client teams on communications advisory, executive positioning, and policy research. Before joining Breakwater, Jack reported for the Santa Barbara Independent, investigating and covering criminal and civil proceedings in Santa Barbara County as part of a newsroom committed to independent local journalism.

Jack graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in History of Public Policy and Law, earning Distinction for his senior thesis on the politicization of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Roberts. At UCSB, he served as an Editor of the Undergraduate Law Journal and Vice President of both his fraternity and the university’s chapter of Best Buddies International, an organization dedicated to ending the isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Outside the office, Jack lives and dies with his beloved Philadelphia sports teams – likely with a cheesesteak in hand – or is untangling his fly-line on a riverbank.

Chelsea Magnant is a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy, where she brings deep expertise in risk analysis and public policy to the complex challenges facing organizations at the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and regulation.

Chelsea joined Breakwater from Brunswick Group, where she advised leading technology companies on AI, geopolitical risk, and the policy and communications dynamics shaping the industry. Before that, Chelsea spent five years at Google across its geopolitical risk, global affairs strategy, and public policy functions. She advised senior leaders on how to navigate a rapidly shifting regulatory and geopolitical landscape—including leading scenario planning to help the company successfully transition into a more regulated state—and engaged directly with governments on technology policy challenges and opportunities.

Prior to her time in the private sector, Chelsea spent nearly a decade at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she produced geopolitical analysis for senior U.S. government leaders on emerging threats and regional instability, with a focus on Latin America.

In addition to her client work, Chelsea teaches a graduate course on emerging technologies and the developing world at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and a B.A. from Emory University.

As a Vice President at Breakwater Strategy, Lydie works with a range of clients across industries including tech, financial services, education, media and entertainment on strategic communications challenges and initiatives. 

Since 2019, Lydie has worked on Breakwater Strategy’s strategic communications accounts, supporting clients in crisis and reputation management, corporate and executive communications, and media campaigns. Her work includes conducting media landscape analysis, background research, content analysis, message development and proactive media outreach. As just the second employee at Breakwater, she plays a central role both in overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations and in safeguarding its culture. 

Prior to Breakwater, Lydie worked as a Strategic Communications Associate at FGS Global (legacy Glover Park Group) where she supported client teams with background research, media monitoring and client deliverables. 

Originally from North Carolina and currently based out of Raleigh, Lydie is a graduate from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She can typically be found reading the latest book between commercial breaks of UNC Basketball games or walking around the triangle with her dog Mack. 

Lauren Nixon is an Associate at Breakwater Strategy, where she combines her expertise in journalistic writing and strategic communication to support clients through media analysis and research. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she grew up, Lauren is passionate about exploring the intersection of advocacy and communication across various industries and mediums.

Prior to her return to California in June 2025, Lauren earned both her BA and MA degrees from George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs in Washington, DC. During her studies, she held multiple policy and communications-focused roles at organizations including the Smithsonian Institution and an affordable housing trade association, as well as at several PR agencies. Most recently, she served as a communications fellow at Scott Circle Communications, a boutique PR agency serving nonprofit and mission-driven clients.

In her free time, Lauren can be found playing with her two dogs, enjoying good food with her best friends, attending pilates classes, reading historical fiction novels, and dancing to her favorite music.