BY DONNA LUCAS
They say the 20th anniversary gift is platinum – symbolizing endurance, strength and resilience. Those attributes certainly hold true as I think about Lucas Public Affairs and our 20-year milestone this spring.
Over the past two decades, the political and public affairs landscape has shifted dramatically due to the ebbs and flows of the economy, technological advances and the ripple effects of elections. We’ve aided clients in maneuvering through the unknowns of a global pandemic and economic downturn, stayed strong in our commitment to professional ethics and corporate responsibility and withstood the changing landscape of this business time and again.
Underscoring it all is a focus on giving. Giving the next generation of professionals an opportunity to rise. Giving one’s all to clients. Giving back to the community. It’s a strategy for success that I would challenge other business leaders to embrace.
I have worked at the intersection of public policy, politics and communications for nearly 40 years in both the private and public sectors. Leading multiple public affairs firms taught me how to build a business and a reputation for excellence. Serving a presidential candidate, two California governors and a state treasurer taught me that every decision impacts real people, every day. Those lessons were ingrained from the founding of our woman-owned, women-led firm, and they continue to power how we approach our work.
As a leading public affairs firm in the Capitol, we deliver expertise in navigating complex policy issues and the ever-changing media and communications market for our clients. It’s not just the ‘how’ and ‘what’ that help our clients succeed – it’s the ‘who’ and ‘why’ behind the work that matters. That is especially critical in this pivotal moment in California politics, with outcomes for governor, constitutional offices and more than half the Legislature set to have an unprecedented impact on the state. In an era of unknowns rocketing through the sky, the stability of a public affairs engine driven by skilled experts to get you to the finish line is key.
Over the years, my business partner Cassandra Pye and I have remained committed to elevating the next generation of leaders and practitioners. We are deeply proud of our team and have invested in ongoing training and promoting talent from within. We actively look for opportunities to elevate our staff to and place them in rooms with the leaders we work with and provide space to engage personally on the causes the firm supports.
At LPA, helping our clients succeed in California’s political and legislative landscape has meant harnessing the power of new and emerging digital and AI technologies, while keeping quality and strategy at the forefront. We actively support the next generation of public affairs leaders in efforts to seek training and utilize tools that can deliver results in thoughtful and meaningful ways. That doesn’t mean eliminating time-tested blueprints for success – it means augmenting with digital advancements to help us move the needle for clients and their causes.
Equally important is giving to the organizations committed to making Sacramento and California better, stronger and more equitable for all. Some might call it giving back – I call it participating. LPA is proud of our enduring relationships with organizations like the Public Policy Institute of California, St. John’s Program for Real Change, Street Soccer USA- Sacramento, and She Shares, a mentoring program for women. A bottom line that includes generosity – from funding to volunteering – reflects a company’s genuine commitment to the communities it serves.
LPA is fortunate to be supported in these efforts by our partnership with the Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC), a global public affairs leader headquartered in Washington, D.C. The 2024 acquisition has yielded broader access to creative and digital tools, strategy partners and deep policy expertise and relationships. It’s bolstered our capabilities and agility for the better.
As we mark LPA’s platinum anniversary, strength and resilience have defined our first 20 years – opening doors for emerging leaders, standing shoulder to shoulder with clients during moments of change and investing in communities throughout California. If there’s a lesson in reaching this milestone, it’s that lasting success is not built by taking, but by giving. That’s a legacy that will carry us into the next 20 years.