Lisa Di Santo Grossman
Principal
Lisa Di Santo Grossman's extensive experience as a community leader and educator adds a critical dimension to Grossman Strategies' range of services. As an experienced teacher Lisa developed the communication and problem solving skills that are especially important to the creation and smooth implementation of a media or government relations program. She works closely with clients to assist them in understanding the Grossman Strategies' process while providing the creative leadership and support that are integral to successful programs.
During her tenure in the William Floyd School District on Long Island as a Social Studies teacher, Lisa had the opportunity to develop organizational expertise and important contacts in both the educational and community arenas. Appointed by the Suffolk County Executive, Lisa served on the county Anti-DWI Task Force, which helped formulate county policy, and testified before the County Legislature on pending bills. Under the auspices of the New York Secretary of State, Lisa was the Suffolk County coordinator for the Citizen Bee, sponsored by the nationally renowned Close Up Foundation.
As a past Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of the Bellport, Long Island area, Lisa played a leadership role in setting agency policy, fundraising, and government relations for the organization. Lisa helped direct the organization in its efforts to become an affiliate of the national Boys & Girls Club. She has also been involved with the Bellport-Hagerman-East Patchogue Alliance and the Bellport Area Community Action Committee.
Lisa currently serves on the board of directors of the Suffolk Community Council, an umbrella organization of community service groups dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Suffolk County. She also serves as Legislative Chair of the South Country Central School District Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Council.
Lisa holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta and a master's degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Mark J.
Grossman
Senior Consultant
Mark Grossman's background in both the public and private sectors positioned him for success when he founded Grossman Strategies in 1995. His involvement with government began in 1985, first as a candidate for public office, as a Democratic state committee member, as an elected delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, and as a state regional director in the Democratic presidential campaign. During this time, Mark was also employed in the private sector in various positions in television, advertising, and corporate communications.
He then served in county government
and, for then six years was New York Governor Mario Cuomo's Regional
Director on Long Island. During this time he built strong
ties to local governments, civic groups, educational institutions, organized
labor, and the business community. His advocacy on behalf of local residents
gave him a familiarity with government that serves his clients well across
the political spectrum. Mark later served as a deputy supervisor in the Town of Brookhaven, a municipality of 480,000 residents on Long Island. He is now the state Labor commssioner's Long Island Regional Representative, serving as the agency's point-person on workforce issues, organized labor affairs, business services, labor law enforcement, and constituent services.
Mark
was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the New York Institute of Technology
in the Communication Arts and Advertising Degree Programs, where he developed
a special course in "Media and Politics" in addition to teaching
advertising and production courses. He currently presents a seminar he
created, "Marketing to Government: The Art and Science of Political
Salesmanship," to a national audience.
Mark
was twice elected by overwhelming margins to the South Country School District
Board of Education, served as the Executive Director of the Suffolk County
Village Officials Association, and is on the Advisory Council of the Suffolk
affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of America, where he was board president
for four years. He was a founding board member of the Long Island Film & TV Foundation, an organization promoting movie and television production
on Long Island.