Johanna Maska - CEO

Johanna Maska is an expert in engagement.

Johanna Maska is the CEO of Global Situation Room, Inc. She is a communications executive with expertise in crisis and risk. Maska served as White House Director of Press Advance for former President Barack Obama. She played a critical role on his first campaign and his first six years in office, overseeing the President’s image, traveling with him to almost every state, and to more than 40 countries.

Maska has also worked in the top level of media organizations. She is currently a political contributor for NewsNation, America's fastest growing cable news network.  She served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Los Angeles Times. She frequently appeared on Fox News, including as a host of Outnumbered. She’s a relied upon source by journalists and authored a number of thought-provoking editorials in a wide range of publications. 

Brett Bruen - President

Brett Bruen uses strategic communications strategies to influence the course of crisis and change.

Bruen was recently named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the nation's "most influential" voices on public affairs. As President of the Global Situation Room, his work focuses on helping clients, from Fortune 100 companies to some of the world's largest philanthropies, survive and thrive amidst the regularity of today’s risks. Bruen teaches Crisis Communications at Georgetown University and serves on boards at Harvard and University College Dublin. He was Director of Global Engagement at the White House and built a number of President Obama’s legacy international initiatives. His time in the American diplomatic service was largely spent on the frontlines of crises in the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Venezuela, and Iraq. He speaks fluent Spanish and French.

Ambassador Francisco Santos - Executive Vice President, Global Affairs

Ambassador Santos is a distinguished world leader & journalist

As a human rights advocate, former diplomat, politician and reporter, Ambassador Santos is a venerable promoter of democracy and human rights. He comes to GSR after having served as Vice President of Colombia and most recently, Ambassador to the United States. During his tenure, he led Colombia’s promotion of international trade, investment and tourism. He was also integral in implementing policies combating corruption, extortion and kidnapping. Prior to his political and diplomatic roles, Santos had a distinguished career in journalism and held several positions at El Tiempo, one of Colombia’s leading newspapers. He also worked at El País, Spain’s most prominent newspaper and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University

As Executive Vice President of Global Affairs, Santos work with GSR’s expanding portfolio of clients from around the world on their most Complex Communications® challenges.

Kat Maramba - Vice President, Media Engagement

Kat Maramba is a dedicated communications professional specializing in media engagement.

As Vice President of Media Engagement, she leads press outreach for Global Situation Room clients. Prior to joining GSR, she served as the executive communications manager for the National League of Cities, handling media engagement and brand management for the organization’s CEO and leading officers. Kat has worked on a wide range of issues for a variety of clients in the areas of technology, healthcare and nonprofits at Sunshine Sachs (now Sunshine Sachs, Morgan & Lylis) and Seven Letter (formerly Blue Engine Message & Media). She earned her M.A. in Public Communications from American University in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Christine Baratta - Director of News and Editorial Content

As Editorial Director, Christine oversees the production of GSR's award-winning podcasts, along with helping clients develop news strategies and stories. She leads a team of journalists, producers, and researchers who create some of the most popular public affairs shows in the world. Her extensive experience in media plays a key role in providing GSR's clients with unparalleled insights and support as they look to elevate their thought leadership across top-tier media.

Before joining GSR, Christine was an Executive Producer at Bloomberg, responsible for producing national political programming. Her job involved translating the tectonic shifts in American politics for a global business audience.  Previously, she served as Managing Editor for Bloomberg Television and Radio, planning and directing the network's daily coverage from Washington, DC. She has led communications strategy for various electoral and issue advocacy campaigns, including serving as the Communications Director for the Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry.

Madison Lazas - Senior Account Manager

Madison Lazas has an extraordinary knack for pinpointing problems and delivering strong, sustainable solutions.

Madison has deep knowledge and experience creating impactful integrated campaigns for national health, wellness and lifestyle brands. Before joining GSR, Madison worked as the account and media relations lead for Capwell Communications, a boutique PR firm in Southern California, developing results-driven influencer campaigns and media relations strategies. She previously served multiple roles at the global communications agency, Porter Novelli, mobilizing robust thought leadership plans for large pharmaceutical and biotech brands. Madison is an expert at relationship management, problem solving and campaign development. She also brings vast experience managing junior teams and budgets, and structuring internal processes for optimal firm performance.

Madison received her bachelor's degree in public relations from Louisiana State University.

Nieves Pérez - Chief Operations Manager 

Nieves Perez is an accomplished journalist who expertly navigates an increasingly complex planet.

 In her current role, she oversees office operations, along with organizing major events and relations with clients in Spain and Latin America.  Having interviewed leaders from the French Foreign Minister to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and the Taiwanese ambassador to Washington, her work as a journalist has played a critical role in explaining global events to a Spanish speaking audience.  She was recently US correspondent for a Spanish news outlet, with a focus on Asia and covered rapidly changing relations with China, North Korea and the broader IndoPacific region.  Nieves previously produced the top world affairs television and radio shows in Latin America.  She holds a Masters Degree in international affairs from the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao.  

Kasey Henderson - Senior Account Manager

Kasey Henderson is a connector, storyteller, and passionate advocate for humanitarian issues, gender equality, and reproductive rights.

Before joining GSR, Kasey was the advocacy and communications lead for A360, Population Services International’s (PSI) flagship adolescent contraceptive program operating in Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia. She previously coordinated the Self-Care Trailblazer Group, overseeing and developing advocacy strategies while growing the membership base of the coalition, and spent 2.5 years working with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health in Namibia. She brings experience developing and executing communications, media, and advocacy campaigns for NGOs and mission-driven projects in the U.S., Europe, and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Kasey received her bachelor’s degree in policy, planning, and development from the University of Southern California.

Jamal Hansberry - Account Supervisor

Jamal Hansberry is an account supervisor at Global Situation Room, working with clients to develop and execute strategic communications plans, engage diverse audiences, and drive meaningful impact. Previously, Jamal supported clients at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, focusing on the areas of Equality & Inclusion and LGBTQ+ Equality, and served as a marketing coordinator at Reavis Page Jump LLP, where he helped manage communications and highlight the firm’s pioneering anti-discrimination and sexual harassment prevention training program. He has also worked as a staff writer at theGrio, reporting on social justice issues and current events. Jamal received his bachelor’s degree in English from Morehouse College.

Mahnoor Haq - Senior Communications Associate

Mahnoor serves as our Communications Associate. Prior to this, she graduated from Georgetown University with her M.A. in Conflict Resolution with a geographical emphasis on South Asia and a concentration in Human Rights. During her time at Georgetown, Mahnoor became certified in Mediation by the Community Boards of San Francisco, worked at the Center for Social Justice as a Justice Graduate Intern, and served as a research intern for World Faiths Development Dialogue in Washington, D.C. In addition, Mahnoor has attended a number of events ranging from interfaith dialogues to student-led peace conferences, while completing her undergraduate degree in History with minors in Religion, Arabic, and the Middle East and North Africa region at Wofford College in South Carolina.

Genevieve Fortin - Communications Associate

Genevieve serves as a Communications Associate. Before her time at GSR, Genevieve worked as an intern for the Good Government Group, Price Hill Will, and as a legislative intern for the Cincinnati Mayor's Office. In April 2022, Genevieve graduated from the University of Cincinnati with degrees in Political Science and International Affairs, concentrating in Security and Development, along with certificates in PR and French Business.

Cole Beaty - Research Assistant

Cole serves as a Research Assistant. Before his time at GSR, Cole spent time as an Intern for the Brookings Institutions’ Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in Foreign Policy. Cole also has prior intern experience working for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as part of their Economics Program. In December of 2021, Cole graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, concentrating in Global and Strategic Studies.