Jeff Simmons has more than three decades of experience in private and public sector communications, media, and journalism. Well-networked in New York City, Jeff – who oversees the firm’s Arts & Culture practice area – hosts a weekly radio show, City Watch on WBAI 99.5 FM, and previously hosted a second show, Driving Forces, on the station. He also hosts the It’s in Queens podcast for the Queens Economic Development Corporation.
Accomplished at leading long- and short-term communication initiatives, Jeff has designed strategic public relations and constituent outreach campaigns, tackled crisis communications, and overseen free and paid media campaigns.
Jeff previously served as senior vice president for communications at the Alliance for Downtown New York, the country’s largest Business Improvement District, where he spearheaded the organization’s public relations and communications strategy to amplify the region’s recovery a decade after the September 11th attacks. Prior to that, he ran communications for New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., and served as campaign advisor to Thompson in 2009 and as his reelection campaign manager in 2005.
A born and bred journalist, Jeff spent 17 years as a reporter, working at The (Bergen) Record of Hackensack, New York Post, New York Daily News, and New York 1 News. A New Yorker for nearly two decades, Jeff lives in Queens. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @JackHite