Home - Look Ahead Strategies

Look Ahead Strategies is a highly specialized, full-service communications and research firm serving political, policy, and issue advocacy clients. Look Ahead’s experienced professionals have worked on more than 500 political campaigns, issue advocacy efforts, and policy debates across the United States.

Our Services

Strategic Communications

Breaking through today’s competitive media landscape requires an agile communications support system to deliver persuasive messages to targeted audiences. Look Ahead’s experienced communicators are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and tactics needed to build entire communications systems, craft messages, drive narratives, create headlines, respond rapidly, and shape the public debate every day. Our strategic communications services include:

Communications general consulting
Building communications infrastructure
Data-driven audience engagement
Media relations and story pitching

Rapid Response & Crisis Management

Look Ahead specializes in providing aggressive rapid response and crisis management services that are seamlessly integrated into our clients’ existing organizational structure. Our team will work hand in glove with an existing communications apparatus to identify earned media opportunities in real time and leverage them to advance their strategic objectives.

Risk identification and mitigation
Craft responses to incoming media requests
Set the record straight
Monitor public sentiments
Create compelling messaging
Media training for surrogates

Strategic Research

Arming our clients with data-driven research is critical to achieving their objectives. Look Ahead can compile comprehensive research reports on candidates, organizations, and issues, which can then be utilized for earned media, paid campaigns, digital content, and grassroots advocacy.

Candidate Research

Whether our clients need an expedited dive to identify a candidate’s key vulnerabilities or a full 90-day report, Look Ahead will deliver a quality research product tailored to their needs.

Candidate Research Data Book

Streamline the process of conducting research, testing potential messages, and approving content for paid advertising with the Look Ahead candidate research data book. In addition to identifying vulnerabilities, Look Ahead will partner with a reputable polling firm to assess which messages resonate best with voters in a particular state or district.

Issue Briefs, Lobbying Matrices & Public Records

Congressional Issue Briefing Reports

Understanding the landscape of where Congress stands on a particular issue – or a set of issues – is often an arduous, time-consuming process. We simplify that process by collaborating with our clients to develop policy matrixes, which can be overlayed onto sitting members of Congress profiles to give them crucial insights on how to spend their time and resources most effectively.

FOIA/Public Records

Look Ahead can develop a campaign of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state records requests focused on obtaining communications, documentation, schedules, and other public records that advance our clients’ missions.

Lobbying Matrix

Before launching a lobbying campaign, it is critical to develop profiles on targets, their background, and clearly define why it’s important. Look Ahead can streamline this process by building a comprehensive lobbying campaign matrix and work with our clients to accomplish their strategic goals.

Content Consulting

A successful campaign and advocacy effort needs great content, whether it’s for TV, digital ads, social media, radio, direct mail, communications, fundraising (small-dollar online and major donor) or door knocking. Look Ahead will work with your organization and vendors to create the compelling, modern content necessary to drive persuasive messages. Our capable content specialists are skilled in condensing complicated messages and conveying them in a visually appealing and easily digestible format to ensure a steady stream of compelling content.

Media Monitoring

Look Ahead offers always-on media monitoring services to provide “eyes and ears” on the public policy debate on a daily basis, giving our clients total informational awareness about their key issue targets and allowing them to quickly respond to events and news in real-time. Look Ahead’s unique console-based dashboard serves as a hub for news articles, tweets, and other commentary relevant to our clients’ objectives, and enables authorized users to log in and view all of this content in one convenient location.

General Consulting

Look Ahead can take point in overall project management coordinating efforts, working with various vendor teams to create an effective campaign or issue advocacy team. Winning is about ensuring that all tracks of your effort complement each other. This takes seeing the whole playing field, whether it’s a C3, C4, C6, campaign, or Super PAC.

FOIA/Public Records

Look Ahead can develop a campaign of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), state, and local records requests focused on obtaining communications, documentation, schedules, and other public records that advance our clients’ missions.

Submitting requests for public records
Assisting with FOIA, state, and local records appeals
Resolving FOIA, state, and local records disputes

Media Training and Booking

The experienced team at Look Ahead Strategies has prepped elected officials, political candidates, and other leaders for TV interviews, speeches, Congressional hearings, press conferences, and more. We’ve secured thousands of national and local print interviews and booked our clients on broadcast, digital, podcast, and radio programs.

Media Training Programs

Media training programs are tailored to your specific needs, whether you’re a spokesperson, public figure, or part of a communications team. These programs are led by seasoned media professionals who have extensive experience in journalism, public relations, and broadcast media. Their expertise ensures that you receive cutting-edge guidance and practical insights to enhance your media presence and performance.

Established Network

Our established network encompasses a wide range of media channels, including television, radio, print, podcasts, and more. With our extensive reach, we can help you identify the most suitable media outlets for your target audience, ensuring your message reaches the right people at the right time.

Team of Experts

Our team of experts will work closely with you to understand your campaign objectives and target demographics. Leveraging market research and industry insights, we will develop a strategic media plan tailored to your specific needs, maximizing the impact of your earned media efforts.

Digital Services

Your digital communications, outreach, and advocacy are often the first point of contact a target audience has with your organization. Look Ahead Strategies’ digital team combines the precision of political campaign digital efforts with content-centric strategies to cut through the noise and shape your narrative.

Social Media Management

LAS Digital offers full-service social media management for multiple channels, including development of content calendars to ensure your accounts are generating engagement and getting more followers.

Launch and maintain social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Develop content calendars to maximize channel growth and audience reach.

Paid Media Advertising

Policy changes from Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other platforms are drastically reducing your ability to use paid advertising for issue advocacy. Yet it’s more critical than ever before to reach your target audiences with these channels. LAS Digital can ensure you are compliant with every advertising platform and work to quickly launch an advertising campaign to help put you in a position to win in the policy battle arena.

Email Marketing

Anyone can send out an email, but you need experts to ensure your message gets delivered first and then acted upon. LAS Digital starts with the three fundamentals of email deliverability: infrastructure, authentication, and reputation so your communications don’t end up in spam.

Next, we focus on creating email content that is optimized for action and achieving your organization’s goals.
Correctly set up your email marketing program according to industry best practices to ensure deliverability and inbox placement.
Manage email marketing programs that drive actions like fundraising, advocacy, or content sharing.

Donor Investment Advisory

Senior Look Ahead leadership will provide strategy development, investment guidance, and due diligence to individuals and political action committees pursuing political giving strategies.

About Us

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Kyle Reliford

Managing Director

Since 2001, Kyle Reliford has conducted thousands of political and corporate research projects throughout the U.S. and abroad. From 2017 to 2022, he served in executive positions at America Rising, where he oversaw field research and special projects. Prior to 2017, Reliford served as a senior research consultant to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and he directed the research operations at two firms, in addition to running his own firm. He currently resides in Missouri with his wife and two children.

Chris Martin

Managing Director

Chris Martin is a Managing Director at Look Ahead Strategies. Before joining the Look Ahead team, Chris provided communications consulting services for Political Action Committees and served as Director of Rapid Response for the House Republican Conference. In addition to his experience on Capitol Hill, Chris was a Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee and Communications Director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Chris is a native of Brooksville, Florida and received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida.

Robert Buckley

Managing Director

Robert Buckley is a Managing Director at Look Ahead Strategies. With over a decade of experience in political research, Robert has researched candidates at every level, including Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, and state legislative races across the country. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from UCLA, and is a proud California native. Prior to joining Look Ahead, Robert served as Managing Director at America Rising, overseeing all House research during the 2022 and 2020 cycles.

Hooff Cooksey

Senior Vice President

Hooff Cooksey is a Senior Vice President at Look Ahead Strategies and has worked in the political and public affairs spaces for over a decade. During that time, he served in advisory and managerial roles for top tier presidential, gubernatorial, Senate, and House races across the country. In 2018, Hooff managed Governor Kim Reynolds’ successful bid for Governor of Iowa, making her the first female elected to the position. Hooff also advised a number of Senate battleground campaigns while at the NRSC before forming his own firm with a focus on political, independent expenditure, and public affairs projects. Hooff is a native of Alexandria, VA and received his B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin. He is an Officer in the United States Navy Reserves.

Julia Portela

Vice President

Julia Portela is a Vice President at Look Ahead Strategies, where she specializes in political research. Julia led research efforts in gubernatorial, state, and local races during the 2022 and 2020 cycles, and worked on U.S. Senate races during the 2018 and 2016 cycles. Before joining Look Ahead, Julia was a Managing Director at America Rising Corporation, where she led a team of researchers and worked with federal, state, and local campaigns throughout the country providing research and rapid response consulting since 2015. Julia has also worked for the House Committee on Homeland Security, and on several political campaigns throughout Southern California. Julia is a San Diego native and earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.

Joe Gierut

Vice President

Joe Gierut is a Vice President at Look Ahead Strategies. Before joining Look Ahead, he served on Capitol Hill in communications capacities for Rep. John Faso and Sen. Todd Young, in addition to leading communications operations for a national Super PAC. In 2016, Joe worked on the communications team for Todd Young’s victorious U.S. Senate campaign. Joe earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Dayton and a Master’s Degree from American University. He is a native of the Chicago suburbs.

Jared Wheeler

Vice President

Jared Wheeler is a Vice President at Look Ahead Strategies. Jared is a political researcher who has specialized in quality control and creativity efforts on political races across the spectrum to ensure clients receive the best research products available on the market. Jared previously served as a Managing Director at America Rising, Deputy Research Director at the Republican National Committee, worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and VA Victory.

Patrick Wheat

Senior Director

Patrick Wheat is a Senior Director at Look Ahead Strategies, where he specializes in state research. With a background in both political and economic analysis, Patrick has served as a Research Director for State Research at America Rising and as a Research Analyst with the National Republican Senate Committee. He also worked as an Analyst with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Patrick is a native of Lansing, MI and received his B.A. in International Relations from the University of Georgia.

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Services Interested In:

Media Relations

Strategic Communications

Rapid Response & Crisis Management

Strategic Research

Issue Briefs, Lobbying Matrixes & Public Records

Content Consulting

Media Monitoring

Campaign & Issue Advocacy General Consulting

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