BIO

Monica McCafferty is a communications and public affairs executive with 20 years of professional experience. She currently sits on the Forbes Communications Council, has guest lectured on crisis communications at the University of Colorado at Denver, and was named a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner in 2016.

Her career spans industries and roles in the agency, corporate, and non-profit settings. Her clients depend on her to improve their relationships with the press, policymakers, and the communities they operate in.

Monica launched MCM Strategies in 2017. In this role, she parlays her expertise in PR and public affairs by working with regulated companies — a key focus and area of expertise includes the cannabis industry. In cannabis, she has worked to get private operators state-licensed and currently advocates for federal policy reforms like rescheduling, state legalization in medical states, while also overseeing communications for a cannabis and hemp trade association.

In her earlier years, Monica served as spokesperson for one of Planned Parenthood’s largest affiliates for nearly five years. At Planned Parenthood, she guided the organization through heated public debates, tense bill hearings, statewide ballot campaigns, and educated and persuaded the public about sensitive issues or pieces of legislation while messaging to Planned Parenthood’s base and activist communities.

Other clients she has offered crisis counsel or brand management guidance to include Xerox, Comcast, Sun Microsystems (acquired by Oracle), Quest Communications (now CenturyLink), Roche Pharmaceuticals, End-of-Life-Choices, in addition to managing numerous, high-profile political and ballot campaigns.

Her international work includes spearheading the launch of a Kazakhstan think tank, featuring former Prime Minister Tony Blair and General Wesley Clark (United States Army, ret.). She also worked in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on a rebranding and economic development initiative.

Her hybrid skill set plays to today’s communications era where consumers expect companies to take public stands on matters of political or societal importance. She has also worked with top consumer brands including the global ski destination of Vail, Colorado, and the common household cleaning product line of OxiClean and Kaboom 

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Atlantic, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, Guardian, Newsweek, NBC, CNBC, ABC, NPR, Associated Press, Forbes, Financial Times, Investor's Business Daily, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, CNET, Computerworld, Hill, Huffington Post, SKI, Freeskier, Outside, SELF, Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Marie Claire, Travel + Leisure, among others.

Monica currently resides in Colorado and works with international and national clients. She “unplugs” by hitting the slopes, hiking, running, horseback riding, or finding time to get to the ocean. Guilty pleasures include watching old seasons of Entourage, The Sopranos, and perusing fashion magazines. “Great loves” include her dog, coffee, and her identical twin sister. Her favorite non-profits are First Descents, Colorado Horse Rescue, and American Wild Horse Conservation.