Trenton-based Taft Communications recently promoted three team members as the firm continues to expand both its Energy & Sustainability and Health Practice focus areas.
Taft promoted Jayne O’Connor to senior vice president and Meghan Bianco and Nicole Kirgan to director. O’Connor is the firm’s longtime lead for sustainability. In addition to their work on sustainability clients, Bianco oversees media relations, and Kirgan spearheads Taft’s policy communications work.
O’Connor and Bianco were recently recognized by ROI-NJ on its annual ROI Influencers: Women in Business list, which features top female influencers across the Garden State.
“Jayne, Meghan and Nicole each bring a unique skillset that enhances our ability to deliver on our clients’ strategic communications goals through meaningful campaigns that create impact,” Lindsey Pascarella, Taft chief client officer, said. “They have all played key roles in Taft’s growing impact on projects promoting clean energy. Our success is built on the ability to produce results for our clients, and their dedication to excellence is seen across the agency.”
Since joining Taft in 2015, O’Connor has overseen Taft’s sustainability practice, most notably with ReThink Energy NJ, which seeks to advance clean energy policies within the state. Prior to joining Taft, O’Connor worked as press secretary for Gov. Christie Whitman and held corporate communications roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Capital Health.
Bianco, entering her sixth year at Taft and now serving as director of media relations, has continued to provide guidance and execution on media strategy for multiple accounts, including Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and PosiGen. Throughout her career, Bianco has worked with clients in technology, education, real estate, health care, law, philanthropy and other fields.
Kirgan, who joined the firm in 2022, serves as director of policy and communications, a new position at Taft created to focus on the intersection between the two disciplines. Kirgan plays a key role in Taft’s work with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as well as other health and sustainability accounts. Prior to joining Taft, she served seven years in state government at the New Jersey Department of Health and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
