Green Book Strategies can be your guide to getting inside, getting ahead, and getting things done in New York.
In the ultra-competitive world of New York politics, the path to success is often complex and challenging. Having a good idea, innovative project or principled cause just isn’t enough. That’s where we come in - bringing a unique brand of insider knowledge and influential relationships honed and harvested over nearly two decades at the highest levels of government, politics, media, and labor.
Jennifer Shafran
For the past fifteen years, Jenn has worked at the intersection of policy, politics, and public affairs, cultivating the deep relationships and institutional knowledge of City and State politics essential to navigating government.
Most recently, prior to founding Green Book Strategies, Jenn was a top advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President. She served as his Director of External Affairs and Communications, overseeing government relations and communications strategy, legislative and policy coordination, media planning, and engagement with elected officials, advocacy groups, issue-based constituencies, and labor unions.
Jenn's experience in government began as Community Liaison and Transportation Policy Analyst for NYS Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger, where she served as a policy advisor and community relations specialist for major infrastructure projects, such as the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access, and the citywide implementation of Select Bus Service. She also worked in the State Senate as Director of Digital Media and External Relations for the Senate Democratic Conference, where she helped develop and guide each Senator's digital media operations, as well as online communications for public hearings, community forums, and legislative efforts. Jenn enhanced her expertise in State regulatory processes through the workforce development, training, and employment initiatives she developed in her capacity as Downstate Press Secretary for the NYS Department of Labor. She has also managed a significant portfolio of government relations work in the private sector as Vice President for Government Affairs for Kasirer LLC, where she worked with corporate and nonprofit clients on legislative, procurement, and issue-based advocacy. Jenn earned a Juris Doctorate degree, with a concentration in Public Law, Regulation, and Government Affairs from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Austin Shafran
If you look at some of the biggest public policy efforts over the past fifteen years, you'll find that Austin played a significant role in getting them done. From working at the highest levels of local, State, and Federal government, to helping successfully manage nationally recognized political and issue-based campaigns, to his extensive experience leading strategic media relations and labor union initiatives, Austin is a multi-skilled veteran of NY politics and government. Austin started his career in public service as a Community Liaison to former U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman before going on to work as Communications Director for the NYC Council Finance Chair and Press Secretary for the NYS Senate Democratic Conference and its political arm, the NYS Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC).
He also worked for the Office of the New York State Governor as Deputy Commissioner for economic development and as a speechwriter and policy advisor, as well as going on to serve as Legislative Director for the NY Working Families Party. In the private sector, Austin helped lead winning communications and policy advocacy campaigns to raise the minimum wage, enact Paid Family Leave, develop NY’s first offshore wind project, and pass transformative social and criminal justice reforms, as well as national models for affordable housing, economic development and transportation programs. Austin has also served as a public affairs campaign and political strategist for some of the country’s most prominent labor unions, including the NY Hotel & Gaming Trades Council (HTC), UNITE HERE, 32BJ SEIU, IBEW Local 3, and Teamsters Local 237.
Jennifer and Austin Shafran don’t just share a house and two amazing children; they share a passion for politics, press, and public policy that can take your goals and make them a reality.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
• Government relations and legislative advocacy
• Media strategy, public relations, and crisis communications
• Issue-advocacy campaigns, corporate brand building, and labor union initiatives