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Our Team
Meet the Experts
Our team has the most combined experience in New England with lobbying and media relations experts in life sciences, climate tech, quantum technology, government procurement services, innovation economy, mobility, public safety, real estate, healthcare, and energy & utilities.
About Patrick
Patrick Bench is the Founder of Benchmark Strategies. In this role, he provides public affairs and lobbying counsel to clients. Patrick specializes in economic development and procurement advisory services.
Patrick founded Benchmark Strategies in 2014 after years of leadership in executive government offices, specializing in economic development and international affairs.
Prior to launching Benchmark Strategies, Patrick served for five years as a Vice President of Public Affairs at Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications. Preceding Rasky Baerlein, Patrick served for five years in economic development roles in Governor Mitt Romney’s and Governor Deval Patrick’s Administrations, primarily as the Director of Business Development for the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI).
Patrick is a Bachelor of Political Science graduate from Providence College, with a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University. He lives with his wife and daughters in Boston, Massachusetts.
Favorite vacation spot is Barranquilla, Colombia
As Executive Assistant, Kellie DiBona supports the CEO of Benchmark. She manages schedules, prepares briefing materials, coordinates meetings and travel, and ensures follow-through on key initiatives.
Kellie is a seasoned operations and executive support professional with extensive experience across venture capital, healthcare, and high-growth corporate environments. Before joining Benchmark, she was a Senior Analyst and Executive Assistant at Optum/United Healthcare, supporting senior leadership, managing complex contract and compliance processes, and driving efficiency across multiple departments.
She also spent over a decade at Greylock Partners, where she supported firm partners, coordinated high-priority initiatives, and helped shape internal operations during periods of rapid growth.
Known for her attention to detail, strong relationship-building skills, and ability to keep fast-moving teams organized, Kellie is a collaborative, solutions-focused team member. She lives in Lynnfield with her husband, and her two children are currently attending college out of state.
Fun Fact
Her favorite travel destinations are Bermuda and Africa.
About Brian
As Executive Vice President, Brian Domoretsky leads Benchmark’s Public Affairs practice – which provides lobbying, communications, and public sector consulting services to help clients drive new revenue and implement impactful government affairs strategies. His clients span a broad range of industries, including IT, Cybersecurity, AI, MedTech, Life Sciences, and Law Enforcement Technology
Brian joined Benchmark after serving eight years at the cabinet level for Governors Baker and Patrick. Most recently, he was an Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of Technology Services & Security (EOTSS). Before that, Brian managed $1.1B in annual state spending as Secretariat Chief Financial Officer for the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (EOPSS).
Brian is also a MA House of Representatives alum – beginning his career as Legislative Aide and Campaign Manager for the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation and later successfully managing House Judiciary Chair Michael S. Day’s 2014 campaign.
In between government service, Brian was Director of Communications & Development and a Wealth Management Advisor at Commonwealth Financial Group in Boston.
Brian received a BA in Economics from Boston College. He currently resides in Stoneham, MA.
Fun Fact
Brian is a mild-mannered professional by day and a rock guitarist by night.
About Susan
Susan Elsbree Krasker is Executive Vice President at Benchmark Strategies, where she leads the firm’s strategic communications and public relations practice. She serves as a trusted advisor to CEOs, founders, and senior leadership teams, helping organizations shape their public positioning, manage reputation, and communicate effectively with key stakeholders in complex and highly visible markets.
Susan specializes in executive positioning, corporate reputation strategy, media relations, and high-stakes communications, advising companies across sectors including clean-tech, technology, quantum computing, life sciences, mobility, and real estate. She works closely with leadership teams to translate complex business, innovation, and policy issues into clear narratives that strengthen credibility with investors, policymakers, customers, and the media.
Before joining Benchmark, Susan served for sixteen years as Director of Communications for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the City of Boston’s planning and economic development agency. In that role, she led communications strategy for many of the city’s most significant development and economic initiatives, working alongside government leaders, major institutions, and private sector partners to communicate projects that reshaped Boston’s innovation economy and waterfront districts.
This experience at the intersection of business, government, and economic development gives Susan a distinctive perspective on how organizations can build influence, navigate complex policy environments, and position themselves for long-term growth.
Fun Fact
When I’m not at work, you’ll find me traveling. I live to travel.
About Colleen
As Vice President of Public Relations at Benchmark Strategies, Colleen leads strategic communications initiatives for a diverse portfolio of clients. With deep expertise in media relations, content creation, and integrated communication strategies, she shapes and executes comprehensive PR campaigns that enhance brand reputation and drive measurable results.
A skilled storyteller, Colleen draws on her relationships with reporters and editors at local, regional, and national publications to secure high-visibility coverage for clients. She collaborates across teams to develop effective communications strategies that leverage traditional media, digital platforms, and social media channels.
Before joining Benchmark, Colleen worked at a full-service consulting agency, where she successfully developed and implemented legislative and public affairs campaigns for a wide range of corporate and non-profit clients. Colleen holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature from Fairfield University and currently resides in the South End of Boston.
Fun Fact
Colleen recently completed her first marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and looks forward to her next.
About Abigail
As our Social Media Associate, Abigail Gutierrez works closely with clients to develop and execute effective social media strategies. She excels at crafting compelling, engaging content that effectively communicates client messages across multiple platforms. With a strong passion for content creation in both English and Spanish, Abigail is proud of her Salvadoran roots and remains deeply involved in the Latino community throughout New England.
Abigail’s expertise spans across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms. She is highly proficient in producing both short-form and long-form video content, as well as photography and videography for social graphics. She uses social media scheduling tools, AI, and analytics to optimize campaigns and track their performance.
Abigail resides on the North Shore of Massachusetts with her family.
Fun Fact
Abby once traveled to 10 different countries in Europe within 2 weeks!
About Kate
As Senior Associate of Public Relations, Kate supports the development of public relations campaigns and communications strategies for Benchmark’s thriving public relations practice. Her responsibilities include leading media outreach, overseeing the creation of media materials and written content, and facilitating client communications.
Kate is a board member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s City Awake network, as well as a member of the Women’s Foundation of Massachusetts’ Emerging Leaders Network and serves as a Volunteer Pitch Coach for Social Capital Inc.’s Annual Youth Grant Pitch Contest.
Before Benchmark, Kate previously was a Civic Fellow at the Close Up Foundation in Washington, D.C. and worked on the External Relations and Communications team at her alma mater. She has worked as a freelance journalist, published in outlets like The Boston Globe.
She graduated with degrees in journalism and in political science from the University of Rhode Island. Kate currently lives in Cambridge but is proudly from the Worcester area.
Fun Fact
Kate loves live music and has been to more than 100 concerts.
Malaika Lucien brings nearly a decade of experience across state government, political strategy, and public affairs to Benchmark Strategies. She most recently served as STEM Policy Director at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education, where she led the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council in partnership with its co-chairs, directed the Commonwealth’s statewide STEM strategy, managed the STEM Pipeline Fund and multiple competitive grant programs, and advised senior leadership on legislative and policy priorities impacting education and workforce development.
Prior to her work at the Executive Office of Education, Malaika served as Legislative Affairs Liaison in the Office of Governor Maura Healey, where she managed the legislative portfolio for the Executive Offices of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Public Safety and Security, MassDOT, MBTA, and Technology Services and Security, as well as for Chief Hoffer and the Office of Climate Innovation & Resilience. In this role, she coordinated legislative strategy, working closely with Cabinet officials and legislative leadership to advance the Administration’s priorities and advance policy implementation.
Her experience spans both the executive and political arenas, including serving as Deputy Political Director for the Healey-Driscoll gubernatorial campaign and holding senior roles in Boston municipal government and statewide campaigns. Across her career, Malaika has led high-stakes stakeholder engagement efforts, built durable relationships across branches of government, and developed strategic communications and policy initiatives to advance complex public sector priorities. Her cross-sector experience provides clients with practical insight into navigating Massachusetts government and advancing strategic public policy goals.
Malaika earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Loyola University New Orleans and studied at École Supérieure du Commerce Extérieure in Paris, France. Malaika is the daughter of Haitian immigrants and was raised in Hingham, Massachusetts. She now resides in Boston, Massachusetts.
Fun Fact
In her spare time, Malaika enjoys tackling complex jigsaw puzzles; her largest completed puzzle to date was 3,000 pieces.
About Annie
As the Director of Communications at Benchmark Strategies, Annie thoughtfully develops and implements comprehensive communications plans for a wide range of clients. She offers strategic counsel on building brand visibility and strengthening media relationships on a local and national scale.
Annie is a skilled communicator with a strong background in public affairs storytelling. She leverages trusted media relationships to secure meaningful media coverage and manages complex news moments with clarity and composure. She greatly enjoys bringing her clients’ stories to life and finding the right opportunities to elevate their voice.
Before joining Benchmark, Annie worked at a public relations and integrated marketing communication agency, focusing on public affairs communications for high-level clients. Annie holds a B.A. in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She resides in South Boston and frequently makes trips to see her family on Cape Cod.
Fun Fact
Annie has run the Falmouth Road Race six times and is excited to do it again with her family this summer!
About Ryan
Ryan McGeown-Conron brings nearly a decade of public policy and government affairs experience to Benchmark Strategies, with a focus on healthcare and public health policy. He joins Benchmark after serving as Director of Legislative Affairs at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), where he led the Department’s legislative agenda and served as Legislative Liaison for its Incident Command during such pivotal moments as the COVID-19 pandemic response, statewide vaccine rollout, and the Steward Health Care System bankruptcy.
Earlier in his career, Ryan was Legislative Director to House Judiciary Chair Michael S. Day, where he oversaw legislative affairs, constituent services, and policy development on a wide range of issues. His experience across both executive and legislative branches gives him practical insight into navigating complex policy environments and delivering tangible results for clients.
Ryan earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from UMass Boston and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with minors in Political Science and History from Union College. He currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife.
Fun Fact
Ryan came into the world with six fingers on each hand, but sadly, he’s now down to the standard issue five.
Brian joins Benchmark after working for over three years on the Policy and Research team at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. As Senior Manager of Government Relations, Brian was responsible for providing expert analysis for relevant legislation and public policy proposals impacting the Chamber’s 1,200 members. Brian interfaced with employers to form policy positions, respond to policy inquiries, and coordinate outreach strategies to elected officials as well as develop and distribute policy testimony representing the Chamber’s public policy positions.
Brian previously worked as a Policy Analyst for Minority Leader Brad Jones in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Under this role, Brian was responsible for legislative affairs in the issue areas of Housing, Transportation, Financial Services, Election Laws, Capital Expenses, and Redistricting.
Brian earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Northeastern University, a Masters Degree in Political Science at the University of New Hampshire, and earned his BA at Saint Anselm College.
Brian lives in Boston with his wife.
Fun Fact
My first ever job was as a Martial Arts Instructor.
About Lauren
As Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Lauren focuses on state and municipal government relations and executive branch engagement.
Before joining Benchmark, Lauren served as Director of Government Partnerships at Bird, where she managed more than 100 city relationships across 20 states and drove millions of dollars in revenue. In that role, she was instrumental in securing local contracts, strengthening messaging, and advising on policy strategy. She previously served as Director of Programs and Government Relations at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
Lauren is also an alumna of the Massachusetts State House, where she began her career as a Legislative Aide to State Representative Rhonda Nyman. She later served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, working in a nonpartisan capacity with all elected women in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate. During her tenure, the Caucus successfully advanced one of the most ambitious equal pay laws in the country.
Lauren holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont and an M.A. in Magazine Journalism from Kingston University London. She currently serves on the External Advisory Board for UMass Boston’s Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy and lives in Quincy with her husband.