Max Morgan is the founder and principal of Manhattan Strategies, an advisory firm obsessed with telling compelling visual stories for the world’s leading and emerging brands and voices. Over the past decade, Max has shaped some of this era’s most pivotal stories – from conceptualizing the future of work with AI, to advocating for infrastructure investment and raising the minimum wage, to championing innovation driving a clean energy future.

Combining data-driven insights with design-focused strategies, Max’s work has tested – and proven – that stakeholder action is primarily motivated by visual stimulation. With a background in higher education, technology, energy, finance, public infrastructure, and labor relations, Max integrates public affairs strategies with visual cognition principles to deliver transformative results for clients.

The New York Times has described Max’s work as “bold,” while Manhattan Strategies has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine, one of the fastest-growing agencies by ADWEEK, and a “Best in the United States” B2B service provider by Inc. Magazine. The firm has earned more than a dozen awards for its innovative visual communication framework across web, video, strategic communications, and marketing applications.

Under Max’s leadership, governments, nonprofits, and public and private organizations trust Manhattan Strategies for comprehensive marketing and communications strategy and execution. The firm's proprietary data and analytics engine, Manhattan Strategies Quant, generates actionable insights to drive campaign strategy, optimize performance, and contextualize results.

Before developing his visual communication framework, Max led strategic and digital communications in the public and private sectors. His career includes key roles supporting a current Fortune 100 tech CEO, a New York State Governor, and a statewide higher education system of colleges and universities. In these capacities, Max’s work has been instrumental to compelling action across a spectrum of constituencies, from investors to employees and voters to target customers.

Max is author of End of Words, announced in 2024, and holds a B.S. in economics and political science from the University at Albany and an M.P.A. with a concentration in public finance from New York University. He resides in New York with his wife, Maria.

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Audrey is the vice president of Manhattan Strategies and head of the firm’s New York City office. Audrey has spent the past 15 years in a front-row seat to the most pivotal shifts in political and corporate dynamics in a generation.

In her role, Audrey spearheads high-impact visual storytelling driving results for clients across industries with a focus on stakeholder strategy and engagement. This work includes New York-based and national advocacy campaigns in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election.

Prior to joining Manhattan Strategies, Audrey led corporate reputation programming for a global CPG brand, spearheading multi-million-dollar influence campaigns, opinion research and c-suite executive positioning. Previously, she drove public affairs for a Fortune 100 financial services company across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, shaping the political and regulatory environment on the state and federal level.

Prior to her time in the private sector, Audrey served in the House and Senate offices of then-U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly as the Director of Scheduling, responsible for the operations of the Senator’s office and a multi-state team supporting the Senator. Audrey also served on the ground in Indiana and Ohio during the Obama era that was defined by a fundamental transformation in how political campaigns win by leveraging digital media and visual communication.

Audrey earned her Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University in conflict studies and has a Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. She lives in New York City.

Alice is the Associate Director for Strategic Communications at Manhattan Strategies, leading the firm’s messaging and storytelling capabilities for clients and their executives across various industries.

Prior to joining the firm, Alice drove communications and change management activities during a major U.S. bank acquisition. She has also managed content partnerships and earned media initiatives for a prominent global business media brand, a popular consumer finance platform, a leading asset management firm and a top health, wellness, and sustainability publisher.

Alice began her career with an AmeriCorps VISTA year of service, supporting website and social media development for nearly 3,000 nonprofit organizations. She lives in New York City.

Serena is the Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives at Manhattan Strategies, bringing diverse expertise to the management of dynamic and robust website projects, brand conceptualizations and paid media campaigns. With a background in wireless technology, law, economic development, nonprofits, climate action, DEI as well as app and web development, she provides skilled and unique insights to clients from building a brand from scratch to giving an old website a 'face lift.' 

Serena has a B.A. in Business Administration with a Studio Art Minor from Millsaps College, and a MBA from Louisiana State University at Shreveport. She lives in New York City.

Meghan Shaffer is the Associate Director of Strategic Communications at Manhattan Strategies where she spearheads corporate communications strategy and brand trust, specializing in regulated industries.

Prior to her current role, Meghan served as a leadership advisor and campaign strategist for a Fortune 100 payments and financial services company, publicly-traded cosmetics and skincare brand, one of the world’s largest online retailers, a major U.S. life insurance provider and one of the top independent PR and marketing firms. This work included supporting major acquisitions and placing C-suite executives on global stages, from the mainstage of Cannes Lions to the open bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Earlier in her career, Meghan led executive communications and digital content strategy in support of a Fortune 100 technology company and held communications and marketing roles across publishing, professional services, design and media.

Meghan earned her Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross and lives in New York City.