Our Team

Daniel is the Managing Partner of Amplifire Strategies. He has built his career at the intersection of communications, politics, government, corporate campaigns, and media strategy. He also has in-depth experience managing paid digital media strategies and their integration with communications and traditional earned media.

Daniel takes a campaign-inspired approach to serve the strategic communications needs of clients across various sectors. His corporate and business interest communications experience includes work for energy companies, small business groups, health care providers, developers, manufacturers, and trade associations. On the nonprofit side, his communications experience includes policy and issue advocacy for health care, the tech sector, organized labor, and early childhood learning.  

Prior to co-founding Amplifire and joining Remington Road Group, Daniel was the State Director for a large-scale political and issue advocacy organization in Ohio, and served as Communications Director to senior members of the U.S. House of Representatives – including Congressman Frank Pallone, the atop Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Daniel has also been a spokesman and advisor for U.S. Senate and U.S. House campaigns across the country. Previously, he was part of a government affairs firm in D.C. focused on agriculture and energy policy.

Tom is a Partner at Amplifire Strategies and leads the firm’s paid media and digital strategy practice. He has deep and broad experience working in government, non-profits, campaigns, and Fortune 500 companies.

Before joining Amplifire, Tom served in the Biden Administration at the Pentagon as the Director of Digital Media for the United States Department of Defense. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Tom was responsible for campaign planning, activation, and content strategy at a leading, politically-inspired corporate reputation and strategy firm in Washington, DC. During the 2020 election cycle, he worked for one of the nation’s largest political organizations, where he led digital advertising campaigns that spent over $40 million. Before that, Tom led digital efforts for a major statewide issue advocacy and political organization in Ohio. There, he managed and executed a $500,000+ digital advertising budget; implemented new, innovative strategies to organize and communicate with voters online; and directed, edited and produced a documentary.

Tom began his career working on Capitol Hill for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. – the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Professional Affiliations

American Clean Power Association

• • Member, Local Affairs Committee

New Jersey State Society

Recovery Advocacy Project

• • Mentor, Class of 2024 Run for Recovery Candidates

Rutgers Club of Washington, D.C.

John has worked for some of Ohio’s most influential leaders, both in Washington, DC and Columbus. His expertise includes crisis communications and management, a subject he taught as an Adjunct Professor at Ohio University.

John has a diverse range of management, policy and strategic communications experiences at all levels of government, having served as Chief of Staff to Ted Strickland when he was Governor of Ohio, among other leadership roles in politics and government.

He is also a Principal at the Remington Road Group, a prominent Columbus-based consulting firm, where he has worked to help start-up businesses get off the ground, counsels established corporations, and is deeply involved in advocacy on behalf of organized labor.

Nicole is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of executive leadership, communications, and advocacy experience.  She is skilled in helping businesses, organizations, governments, and political entities define their objectives and to develop and execute the necessary strategies to meet their goals and exceed expectations.

Recognized as a collaborative and intentional leader, she started her career working in national and state political campaigns, which led to her becoming a senior advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico, concentrating on economic development and federal affairs.  From there, she redirected her energy to helping companies and nonprofits fuel growth through strategic communications and partnerships.

Nicole most recently co-founded an innovative company where she directed the national messaging and marketing strategies and partnerships that led hundreds of thousands of hard-working adults to pursue their dreams of higher education.

She believes success depends on authentically connecting with others and she enthusiastically engages with organizations to drive results.

Olivia Ugino, a two-time Emmy Award winner, has a dynamic background in television and multimedia journalism. With a passion for storytelling and a keen understanding of media dynamics, Olivia applies her experience and expertise to serve Amplifire’s clients.

Prior to joining Amplire, Olivia reported on local news, politics, government, business, and breaking stories for television stations across the country.

Most recently, she was a journalist for 10TV in Columbus, OH where she honed skills as storyteller, creating tightly written news stories on tight deadlines for multiple platforms, and distilled complex information into engaging narratives.

Olivia was previously a political and investigative reporter for the NBC affiliate in Richmond, VA. She also reported for the ABC affiliate in Syracuse, NY, where she was also the sole producer and anchor of a one-hour weekend morning news program. She began her career at the CBS affiliate in Watertown, NY.

Olivia majored in Journalism and Political Science at SUNY Oswego. She lives in New Albany and is an avid cook, traveler, and runner.

Before joining Amplifire as a Digital Associate, AJ executed digital and social media programs for state and federal elected officials and candidates. He puts this experience and his knowledge and curiosity of internet culture and digital tactics to use for Amplifire’s clients.

Most recently, he was the Digital Director for the Young Democrats of Maryland. Previously, he held the prestigious digital fellowship in the office of U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and worked in digital communications for Maryland State House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis.

Ben is a multimedia creative with a deep love for storytelling and building impactful connections through video and design. He specializes in transforming complex ideas into compelling visuals that engage audiences and deliver results for clients in energy and beyond.

Before joining Amplifire, Ben produced video content for the National Hockey League. In addition to his work with the NHL, Ben partnered with startups in sports and entertainment, leading efforts to build brands, develop content strategies, and design impactful websites.

Ben’s creative foundation stems from his studies in corporate communications at Arcadia University and film at Bond University in Australia, where he honed his storytelling and production skills. While earning his master’s degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University, he gained hands-on experience as a Sports Information Director, merging creativity with strategy to enhance athletic media coverage.

A Pennsylvania native, Ben brings a versatile skill set and a deep passion for storytelling to his role at Amplifire, helping clients craft visuals that inspire and connect with their audiences.