our Team

Building a Workplace Where Every Perspective Drives Success

We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where all employees can participate and contribute to the business' successes and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. From this foundation, we are able to produce the highest quality work and apply our diverse perspectives in service to our clients every day. We all do our part to contribute -we support our clients, support our teams, and support the company.

Michael Law
CEO & Founder

Michael Law is a public affairs campaign strategist, crisis management counselor and expert corporate communicator. He has more than 25 years of experience counseling governments, public and private companies, non-profit organizations and trade associations, particularly in times of complex regulatory challenges, organizational change or crisis.

Michael is deeply engaged in the areas of environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility, helping brands and businesses understand the evolving interests and needs of stakeholders in the face of global population growth, climate change and new environmental policy. He also has a decade of experience counseling businesses on issues related to water and energy policy, mining and land reclamation and environmental activism.

Tricia Aarts Law has broad expertise in political advocacy, ally development and regulatory affairs, with a focus on transportation and environmental infrastructure, working in both the private sector and the United States Congress.

As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under the leadership of Chairman Bud Shuster, Tricia built and maintained political alliances with public-sector organizations, trade associations and individuals to leverage support for the committee's key legislative initiatives.

In the private sector, Tricia directed congressional and federal agency relations for aviation and aerospace clients seeking to enter new markets, certify or gain industry acceptance for new technologies, and obtain federal R&D support or airworthiness certificates. She also worked for several years at Fleishman-Hillard and Burson-Marsteller public affairs representing transportation and technology clients.

She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in Political Science.

Leslie Capstraw is an accomplished marketing and operations executive with a prodigious degree of experience driving business solutions for marketers, establishing client trust and building high performing teams.

Leslie brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role. Prior to joining Summit, Capstraw was President/Strategic Adviser with online education firm Genius Produced, establishing operating procedures and standards of performance to meet the organization’s vision, steer staff accountability and deliver excellence for clients. Before that she was Chief Operating Officer for boutique consulting firm China Luxury Advisors. Leslie also spent three years with Weber Shandwick as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of its Los Angeles office, driving market growth and providing senior executive counsel to clients including ResMed, Verizon Digital Media Services and GM among others.

Earlier in her career, Leslie spent 14 years with Ogilvy, most recently as Executive Vice President, Los Angeles Office head. During her time with Ogilvy, which included four years in Hong Kong, Capstraw worked on clients including LG Electronics and the American Chemistry Council. Her expertise in reputation management, branding, content strategy and customer engagement has earned several industry awards.

As Chief Operating Officer, she is accountable for building operational excellence across the entire firm while maintaining Summit’s unique culture and dedication to high quality work.

Sebastian Desio serves as Summit Strategy Group's Chief Financial Officer, helping to manage the firm's financial growth and implement the company's vision to provide the highest quality talent to serve the needs of our clients. He brings more than two decades of experience as a financial leader and advisor, working in the public relations and marketing service industries, where he led the regional finance and operations at top agencies within Omnicom (Ketchum) and WPP (Ogilvy) during periods of rapid expansion. Sebastian provides financial leadership and structured discipline to insure growth is managed smoothly, operations are compliant, and clients continue to receive the highest quality services.

Steve Burns is a veteran public affairs and political leader, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the government, non-profit and private sectors. He began his career on Capitol Hill as staff to a Committee Chairman, before launching into ten years of trade and development work at the Asia Foundation and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council. After focusing on energy development in the Asia Pacific, he joined Enron Corporation and later Chevron Corporation, spending over 14 years in senior policy and public affairs positions. After leaving the energy sector Steve brought his experience to serve as a public affairs and crisis expert at Burson-Marsteller and Mercury Public Affairs. He is an expert in California political issues, being named three years in succession as one of the “Top 100 Power Brokers” in California politics. Steve lives in Sacramento, California.

Before joining Summit, Ryan worked in communications at AECOM, one of the world’s premiere integrated infrastructure firms; managed crisis and media relations at Apollo Education Group and University of Phoenix; helped lead communications with the launch of California Forward in 2008; and served in the press offices of State Assembly Speakers Robert M. Hertzberg and Herb Wesson. Earlier in his career, Rauzon was with Ogilvy Public Relations and Dewey Square Group, where he worked on statewide ballot initiatives and public affairs campaigns. He began his career in news media, as a producer with CBS News, NBC affiliates in Arizona, NPR member stations, and with Capitol Television News Service in Sacramento.

Talia is a Vice President of ESG Consulting Services at Summit with 10+ years of varied professional experiences in environmental science, sustainability, and corporate communication.

Before joining Summit Strategy Group, Talia worked as an environmental scientist on an Alaska Native-owned island in the Bering Sea, a wildlife biologist covering California military lands, the sustainability manager of the largest U.S hops company, and in water management for the Washington Department of Ecology before finally settling into ESG consulting. In her role as an ESG consultant, Talia has advised clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and startups to trade organizations, government agencies, and NGOs.

Talia received a B.S. in Environmental Science and Wildlife Studies from Northeastern University and a Master of Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara where she specialized in Corporate Environmental Management. While ready to help clients around the world, Talia lives with her husband and spoiled Bernese Mountain Dog in Fort Collins, CO.

Camille Fordy, Vice President at Summit Strategy Group, specializes in ESG consulting and sustainability strategy. She co-leads the ESG Consulting Practice, advising clients on sustainability strategies, reporting, and risk management.

With prior agency experience as Vice President of ESG, Camille has a proven track record in developing and implementing ESG strategies for blue-chip companies across various sectors. Her corporate sustainability background, including her work at Ben & Jerry’s, and early career in public policy and government roles in Washington, D.C., provide a unique blend of expertise in her ESG work.

Camille holds an MBA in Sustainable Innovation and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Vermont. As a skilled professional, she is dedicated to helping clients achieve their ESG and sustainability goals through impactful strategies and programs.

Erica Swerdlow, serves as Managing Director for agency growth and strategy. She has 30+ years of experience building agencies, leading teams and executing successful, award-winning PR and communications programs for clients across a variety of industries. Her relationship first philosophy is proven successful by her long-standing success and collaboration with employees, teams, clients, partners and agencies.

Her prior experience includes serving as CEO for Wye Communications, a Stagwell company focused on communications for transportation, financial, technology and hospitality industries. In 2021, Wyecomm merged into partner agency KWT Global where she led new business and key accounts.

Erica has also served as Executive Vice President at Burson Marsteller, heading global new business and the Midwest market leading key accounts for companies such as Discover Financial, TGI Fridays and Hormel Foods.

From 2000 – 2010, Erica served as Executive Vice President at Porter Novelli leading B2B and B2C accounts including Monster.com, McDonald's and Cars.com.

In 1993, Erica founded, EBS Public Relations, the largest high-tech PR firm in the Midwest serving technology and growth companies with PR and communication needs. EBS was acquired in 2000 by Omnicom.

Erica has been recognized with a Sliver Anvil, PCC Trumpet Awards and a Top Women in PR honor. She remains passionate about leveraging communications to solve business and societal challenges.

Pioneers & Pathfinders