Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez

Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, Principal and co-founder of Synergy Public Affairs has been a leader in intergovernmental and community relations for more than 25 years. Her professional experience includes senior government appointments in Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington DC., private sector innovation in housing and energy efficiency, advocacy leadership on numerous challenging policy issues, and fundraising and community engagement on  political campaigns. 

She understands the grass-tops and the grassroots and has been recognized for her strategic expertise in outreach, community involvement and marketing.  An effective communicator, she maintains a cadre of key relationships across California and in Washington DC, among political and community stakeholders, elected officials, policy makers and partner organizations.  

Nancy led the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls from 2014 -2018. With stabilized funding and innovative initiatives; Working with the 17 Commission members, Nancy developed strategic partnerships and focused on initiatives seeking to change the lives of California’s women and girls. Signature successes included the California Pay Equity Task Force and an expansive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) portfolio including Million Women Mentors-CA and Engaging Girls in STEM. These initiatives received national and state recognition. 

A visionary bridge builder and connector Nancy led the Office of Government Affairs for the City and County of San Francisco for Governor Gavin Newsom when he was Mayor. Nancy is a change-agent who regularly participated in key local and regional planning, environment, energy, housing, infrastructure and transportation decisions.  She represented San Francisco on the Association of Bay Area Governments and played a key role in the Doyle Drive reconstruction and the Treasure Island transfer to San Francisco.  In the private sector, overseeing the Consulting Division of an energy efficiency company, she focused on USDOE and utility contracts, policy innovation and new business development.  

Earlier in her career she held Presidential appointments in the Clinton Administration where she worked directly for Andrew Cuomo at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, DC as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations. She held a similar position at the US Department of Labor.   She has developed and managed federally funded programs, built and directed national and state coalitions, designed effective advocacy and communications strategies and served as chief spokesperson on a variety of initiatives. 

In addition to her government and private sector experience, Kirshner-Rodriguez advocated for Americans for Gun Safety and spent close to a decade as an official with the National Democratic Party. She served as Chief of Staff to the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee and also served as a senior member of Barbara Boxer’s first US Senate campaign in California.  

A committed civic leader, Kirshner-Rodriguez was President of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women where she worked to create the internationally recognized Cities for CEDAW Campaign and championed local initiatives to reduce domestic violence and human trafficking; improve gender equality and advance girls’ services. She served eight years as the Board Treasurer of Emerge America and also on the Metro Leadership of the Jewish Community Relations Council.  She currently serves on the National Leadership Council of Futures without Violence, on the Board of Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation and on the Board of the National Council of Jewish Women in San Francisco.

Kirshner-Rodriguez graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. She received the Alumnae Medal of Honor for her years of service to the college. She resides in San Rafael, CA with her husband Sam, daughter Kira and dog Kona.

Teddy Gray King

Identified as a 2016 Woman of Power by San Francisco Magazine, Teddy King possesses the unique skills of a smart businesswoman and passionate public servant. She has incorporated both into her successful career: as a local elected official, with substantial regional responsibilities, Teddy loves pulling thoughts and ideas together to craft useful, forward-thinking policy. As a pragmatic public affairs consultant, Teddy King can share her no-nonsense style and deep knowledge with her clients.

Teddy’s work in Government spans two decades and includes time as a senior staffer to a member of Congress, as chief of staff to a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and as senior staff at San Francisco’s Transportation Agency. In the East Bay, Teddy serves as the elected Vice Mayor of Piedmont where she was previously an appointed commissioner in both Parks and Recreation. She is an active member of the League of California Cities, and actively participates in the League’s Latino/a Caucus and Women’s Caucus.

For several years she served as a member of the Alameda County Transportation Commission where she regularly collaborated with Alameda County Supervisors, mayors and city council members from all parts of the county to craft sound transportation planning and programs that serve the East Bay.

Teddy King’s varied political career makes her comfortable from city halls to the United States Capitol; from supporting communities left behind to promoting housing and transportation opportunities throughout California.

As a public affairs consultant, with roots in San Francisco’s Latino community, Teddy has worked to develop strong bonds with varied constituencies. During her years consulting for private enterprises and non-profit agencies, Teddy managed to build stable coalitions that brought about change for UCSF physicians seeking better pay at San Francisco General Hospital, federal support for San Francisco’s only Spanish language homeownership program and a proposed cleaner, more efficient electrical power plant.

Teddy is a proud graduate of San Francisco’s Convent of the Sacred Heart High School and the University of California, Berkeley. She’s an avid Cal Bear and has three cubs at home.