Trusted Advisors in PR Consulting and Public Affairs
Our team has a combined 7 decades of experience advising public officials and advising organizations who need to interact with public officials and government bodies.
We understand the people and processes that can help ensure your success or prevent you from achieving your goals. We are experts at our craft and dedicated to your success.
Andrew Hitt, Esq
Managing Director and President
Andrew Hitt has spent 20 years advising public officials and those interacting with public officials. He began his career at the Wisconsin Supreme Court as the first law clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice Annette K. Zielger. He worked for a short time at a litigation boutique in Milwaukee before joining the District Attorney’s office prosecuting felony gun and drug cases. When Governor Scott Walker was elected, he was named Deputy Legal Counsel and subsequently became the Governor’s Senior Advisor before being appointed to the Governor’s cabinet as the Assistant Deputy Secretary at the Department of Health Services and then the Department of Administration.
After leaving the administration, he spent nearly 10 years at Michael Best & Michael Best Strategies as an attorney, government relations and communications consultant, and also growing Strategies’ consulting business, eventually becoming its Chief Operating Officer helping to lead a nationwide expansion of the consulting arm. During this time, Andrew substantially grew his political experience being selected for numerous roles and eventually became Chairman of the Republican Party in Wisconsin where he navigated a tumultuous time in Wisconsin politics. Most recently, he has begun a project at the Institute for Reforming Government focused on developing a Center for Leadership Excellence.
During his 20 years of advising, Andrew has helped public officials navigate government crises, guided organizations of every size–from small non-profits to as large as Fortune 20–through public policy fights, and has led at the highest levels of politics. He has participated in hundreds of interviews from local news, to the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, to appearing on Fox News, Fox Business, Front Line and 60 Minutes to name just a few.
Andrew is a Medical Microbiology and Immunology graduate of UW-Madison. He received his law degree from Marquette Law School and his MBA from George Washington University. Andrew and his wife, a successful physician, have three children. He plays a very active role in their lives as a soccer coach, school board member, and helps fuel the horse-showing passion of two of his children.
Ben Voelkel
Principal, On the Rail Advisors LLC
The higher the stakes, the more you need someone who has been battle tested at the highest levels, and Ben Voelkel has been through some of the biggest fights of the last decade-plus. Ben has more than 15 years of experience advising senior leaders in businesses and politics on how to communicate their messages persuasively and effectively. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he spent 9 years in Washington, DC where he worked at a top public affairs firm that advised Fortune 500 clients and held senior communication roles in the offices of Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (TX) and Senator Ron Johnson. Ben is a veteran of 8 statewide campaigns, including three winning U.S. Senate campaigns and his own run for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor.
Alesha Guenther
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Alesha advises organizations and policy leaders on how to communicate effectively when the stakes are high. An attorney by training, she focuses on messaging, crisis and litigation communications, media strategy, marketing, and complex public affairs challenges.
She previously worked as the Marketing and Communications Director for the Institute for Reforming Government and as an Associate at Michael Best Strategies, where she led media strategy, research, and integrated communications efforts supporting policy and public affairs initiatives. Earlier, she served as Communications and Research Director and spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, overseeing message development, rapid response, and policy and opposition research. She has advised several political campaigns on communications and research strategy.
Alesha earned her law degree from Marquette University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism (strategic communications and reporting) and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Rachel Goodle
Writer, Director of Account Management
Ever since she can remember, Rachel has had a love for words. In both high school and college, she was part of the school newspaper, working her way up to editor for both publications. Her passion for the English language and crafting words in order to convey just the right message led her to graduate with her bachelor’s in English Language Arts in just two years. Rachel has dedicated eight years to sharing her love of writing with others through editing their work to achieve its highest potential and greatest reach. Whether writing or editing, working with words has been a reflection of her strong belief that when language is carefully constructed, its impact can be limitless.
Liberty Wood
Researcher, Account Manager
Libby partners closely with clients and the OTR team to understand client goals, manage complex projects, and deliver measurable impact. Known for responsiveness, attention to detail, and sound judgment, she serves as a trusted coordinator and steady point of contact across campaigns.