WASHINGTON D.C. – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) today announced the addition of veteran health care communicator Michelle Baker as a public affairs partner. Baker brings decades of leadership experience across the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors to oversee the continued growth and development of the firm’s award-winning public affairs department.
“We are at an unprecedented point of growth and change in the public affairs industry and at FTP. To continue to make an impact in this complex policy environment, we must bring innovative thinking and creativity to deliver for clients while maintaining the agility and personal attention to our clients that makes FTP unique,” said FTP Founding Partner Jeff Forbes. “Michelle’s experience from the frontlines of large, traditional communications campaigns and agencies augments FTP’s advocacy and policy skillsets. With Michelle on board, we will continue to deliver sound policy strategy from the local to national level informed by full-service communications best practices and insights.”
“Michelle is a proven leader with both clients and staff,” said FTP Managing Partner Rob Mathias. “She brings remarkable experience, a sharp eye, and an extremely good nature. We are lucky to have her and are just as delighted that she is here.”
Prior to joining FTP, Baker was a chief of staff of health and executive vice president of corporate strategic initiatives at Ketchum and D.C. health practice lead at Weber Shandwick/Powell Tate. In these roles, she spearheaded global campaigns and programs in health, education, food, defense, tech, and other industries. Her broad health care experience includes leading corporate and public affairs work across health systems, biopharmaceutical companies, government agencies, payers, professional medical associations, and nonprofits. In addition, Michelle developed and led multiple coalitions and campaigns focused on today’s most pressing health challenges including addiction, mental health, heart disease, cancer, vaccinations, and emerging public health threats.
“I have had the chance to work with some of the leaders at FTP and seen firsthand how the team delivers for clients across many industries,” Baker said. “There is something special here and I am excited to lead this talented group at this crucial time of change. Professional, political, and personal interests increasingly intersect and sometimes conflict. It is important for clients to have bipartisan counsel that considers the full range of communications platforms available to make an impact.”
A long-term advocate for family caregiving and memory care, Michelle has been a board member of the Caregiver’s Action Network (CAN) for 10 years. She is also the chair of the Board of Trustees of Arts for the Aging (AFTA), focused on engaging older adults in multidisciplinary arts for health.
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About Forbes Tate Partners:
Forbes Tate Partners is a bipartisan, full-service public affairs consultancy specializing in government relations, grassroots advocacy, strategic communications, fundraising, and business development. The firm’s primary areas of specialty are the development and implementation of bipartisan lobbying and advocacy strategies related to tax, health care, natural resource management, trade, energy, telecommunications, outdoor recreation, appropriations, and agriculture. Jeff Forbes and Dan Tate, Jr. founded the firm in 2012.