Nancy Heffernan brings to clients her broad range of experience managing complex issues campaigns and developing and executing strategic communications and public affairs programs.
About Nancy
With a background in journalism, political campaign consulting and two decades of working with an international PR firm, Nancy’s big-picture ability and media relations credentials make her an ideal senior strategist at Lucas Public Affairs.
Nancy specializes in message and strategy development, media relations, writing, crisis and litigation communications, stakeholder outreach, and meeting facilitation and training. As the firm’s lead media trainer, she conducts hands-on training for clients in all sectors who need assistance in presenting and maneuvering through the news media jungle to get their messages across effectively.
Prior to joining LPA, Nancy had her own consultancy focused primarily on litigation communications, community relations and media relations and training. Before that, Nancy served as co-managing director and senior counselor to the Sacramento office of APCO Worldwide working on projects at the regional, national and global levels. She also was a partner and director of public relations for a Sacramento-based political consulting and public affairs firm serving as spokesperson on statewide initiative and candidate campaigns. She also served as media relations consultant to the California Democratic Party chair and deputy to the press secretary at the state party convention.
During her years as a journalist, Nancy was a senior editor of the California Journal, covering California government and politics, and worked in the Capitol bureaus of the Los Angeles Times, Riverside Press-Enterprise and Gannet News Service/USA Today covering State Legislature beats. Her ability to “think like a reporter,” coupled with her solid relationships with members of the media and decades leading media relations for clients, make her an asset on highly strategic projects.
Nancy studied Journalism and Government at California State University, Sacramento. She is an avid San Francisco Giants fan and lifelong Special Olympics supporter. Nancy grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area before coming to Sacramento to work and raise her three daughters.
Community and Civic Involvement
- Board member, Eskaton