OUR TEAM
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Erin McCann Ciani
PARTNER AND CO-FOUNDER
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M.E. Smith
PARTNER AND CO-FOUNDER
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CJ Keshap
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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Madi Butler
DIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS & OUTREACH
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Nina Krizman
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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Joey Quintana
POLITICAL, COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL ASSOCIATE
Erin McCann Ciani
PARTNER AND CO-FOUNDER
Erin is a founding partner of Elevate Strategic Consulting. She draws from a broad background in political and strategic communications, having served as a consultant for state and federal agencies, national PACs and NGOs, statewide political candidates and ballot initiatives, nonprofits and labor unions, and major, national and international corporations. Erin is a proven leader and natural relationship and coalition builder, having formed solid foundations in the press, political, consulting, and business communities across the state.
Erin has led her clients to numerous key political, legislative, and strategic wins and secured them front-page and leading statewide news coverage as well as national news coverage. Her strategic communications expertise has spanned everything from health care to education, to the legalization of cannabis and the decriminalization of natural medicines, to energy policy and environmental stewardship, to workforce development and building our economy, to strengthening government and protecting democracy, and more. She has also successfully led multiple clients through serious crisis communications situations.
Erin is constantly looking for new angles and new innovations with her clients and aiding them in rebranding, reimagining and refocusing to meet their goals. Erin’s clients describe her as creative, strategic, knowledgeable, and talented, as well as hard working and collaborative. Erin prides herself on building strong relationships with her clients and their teams, adjusting to their workstyles, and prioritizing their objectives.
Prior to her work as a highly respected and sought after communications consultant, Erin worked in communications for State Senate President Brandon Shaffer, The Colorado Department of Labor, the campaign to reelect then Governor John Hickenlooper, and as a Press Secretary for Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. As Press Secretary for Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, she played a key role in crafting messaging strategies for national initiatives around immigration, agriculture, energy, public lands, education, health care policy. She successfully strengthened the office’s communications and outreach efforts statewide and aided on the campaign for his successful re-election.
Erin graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s Degree in both Political Science and Psychology. Erin enjoys running, reading, finding reasons to visit her family and the beach, and spending time with her husband, son and dog Bodie.
M.E. Smith
PARTNER AND CO-FOUNDER
M.E. is a Co-Founder and Partner of Elevate Strategic Consulting. She has a deep background in getting big, strategic wins, developing and leading high-powered teams, and helping her clients creatively navigate the current political and social landscape. She has managed a presidential campaign and two US senate campaigns, as well as serving as senior leadership for multiple other successful statewide and federal races including gubernatorial and US congressional races. Additionally, having served in policy roles for two Colorado governors, she has a deep background in policy and understands the intricate way policies impact our communities.
Before founding Elevate Strategies, M.E. led the Colorado office for Strategies 360, where she led a team of eight who helped achieve major political and policy wins including nearly toppling Lauren Boebert and helping pass legislation lowering prescription drug costs and expanding access to affordable housing.
Before her time at Strategies 360, M.E. managed John Hickenlooper’s successful US Senate campaign, running a $44 M campaign even during the beginning of the covid epidemic. Sen. Hickenlooper won by 9.5 percent, the largest margin for a Colorado senate challenger in the last 40 years. Her campaign experience runs deep, with 20 years of experience in campaigns across the US including managing US Sen. Bob Casey’s 2018 campaign and multiple other statewide races. M.E. is known as a fixer, able to bring leadership and focus to deliver big results.
Additionally, M.E. also served as a policy director for then-Governor John Hickenlooper, specializing in environmental and energy policy. Before that, she was the senior policy advisor to Gov. Bill Ritter. In her time in the governor’s office, she worked on more than 300 bills, helped write State of the State speeches, and was a member of the governor’s cabinet and senior staff. She also served as Staff Council for the Western Governors Association, where she helped align cross-state, bipartisan efforts for priorities across the region including land conservation, energy transmission, and regional health care costs.
M.E. was born in Alaska and raised in Idaho but has called Colorado home for more than a decade. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from Tufts University and a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she completed her masters thesis on TABOR and the fiscal knot of Colorado. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, backpacking, and whitewater rafting.
CJ Keshap
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
CJ brings a passion for policy into every project she takes on as the Digital Communications Director for Elevate. In a digital age, she brings a new dimension to clients’ communications goals through creative collateral and tested tactics for reaching digital audiences.
Before joining Elevate, CJ was the Senior Associate of Communications at Strategies 360’s Colorado office. There she managed organic social media for successful political campaigns, nonprofits, government agencies, and more. She excelled at curating digital presences for controversial political campaigns and has worked with clients to communicate topics like racial equity, police funding, affordable housing, reproductive health care, water rights and more.
CJ also served as the Digital Communications Director for Attorney General Phil Weiser’s re-election campaign in 2022 where he won by 11 points.
With a background in science writing, CJ earned two bachelor's degrees in public relations and environmental studies from the University of Oregon. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, CJ is grateful to add Colorado to the list of many places she’s called home. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, video games and exploring nature with her dog, Harriet.
MADI BUTLER
DIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS & OUTREACH
Madi Butler is a seasoned campaign professional with experience in managing and directing successful political campaigns. With a background in political and community organizing, staff management, and strategic planning, Madi has worked on campaigns at all levels, from local, legislative, and municipal races to congressional and presidential races.
Before her time at Elevate, she managed the 2024 congressional race for Trisha Calvarese against Lauren Boebert in Colorado's Fourth District, helping oversee a $4 million budget. Before that, she managed the City-Wide Field Program for Mike Johnston's Denver mayoral race. Her expertise includes managing volunteer teams and relationships with stakeholders, as well as crafting and implementing community organizing and political programs. Madi's track record demonstrates a talent for exceeding expectations and driving impactful outreach across diverse political landscapes.
Originally born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Madi has called Colorado home for the past five years. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in political science and fell in love with community organizing after volunteering on Claire McCaskill's 2018 race during college. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her pet bunny, Daisy, and writing and playing music.
NINA KRIZMAN
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Before joining Elevate, Nina served as Communications Director for the Colorado Senate Democratic Caucus, where she led strategic communications efforts under three Senate Presidents. In that role, she led communications for a 23-member caucus, shaping its public narrative and advising lawmakers on messaging strategies for complex policy initiatives.
Nina was also part of the 2022 campaign team that helped elect a historic number of Democratic lawmakers and expand General Assembly Democratic majorities to their largest margins in Colorado history. Previously, she worked for The Impact Project, helping advance policies focused on protecting democracy and promoting economic fairness in states across the country.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Nina has called Denver home for more than a decade. When she’s not working, she can be found listening to podcasts, searching for the next cup of coffee, or trying to keep up with her dog, Birdie.
JOEY QUINTANA
POLITICAL, COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL ASSOCIATE
A passionate writer and natural connector, Joey brings experience from the State Capitol and the campaign trail to help clients sharpen their message, grow their digital presence, and build the relationships that move policy forward.
Joey's path into politics began with advocacy. Through his work with the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado, he helped champion legislation establishing school safety protocols that became known as Joey's Law. As a high school student, he interned in the office of Colorado State Senator Dylan Roberts, and he later returned to serve as the Senator's Senior Legislative Aide. Joey has also worked on statewide and congressional campaigns and in other legislative offices.
Born and raised in Colorado, Joey is proud to call Denver home. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess, exploring the Colorado outdoors, and spending time with his family.