Benchmark Strategies Bolsters Team with Public Health Policy Expert

Benchmark Strategies, Boston's premier public affairs and strategic communications firm, has significantly strengthened its leadership team with the strategic appointment of Ryan McGeown-Conron as Senior Director of Public Affairs. This high-profile hiring brings nearly a decade of distinguished public policy experience to the firm, with McGeown-Conron's most recent work focusing on critical public health and healthcare policy initiatives under both the Baker and Healey Administrations. His role will involve leading public sector consulting engagements designed to help clients drive new revenue streams and implement impactful government affairs strategies across diverse industries including Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, MedTech, Life Sciences, and Law Enforcement Technology.

McGeown-Conron joins Benchmark Strategies directly from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where he served as Director of Legislative Affairs and played pivotal roles in high-stakes situations including the Steward Healthcare Incident Command and the state's comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response. His extensive background includes spearheading legislative and government affairs efforts for Massachusetts' vaccine rollout and vaccine equity initiative, demonstrating his capacity to navigate complex public health crises. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable legislative experience as an aide to House Judiciary Chair Michael S. Day, providing him with deep insights into the legislative process and government operations that will benefit Benchmark's diverse client portfolio.

The addition of McGeown-Conron represents a strategic expansion of Benchmark Strategies' capabilities in navigating increasingly complex policy environments. As McGeown-Conron himself noted, he looks forward to contributing his expertise in legislative and regulatory strategy, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement to help clients achieve tangible, measurable impact toward their goals. Benchmark President Patrick Bench emphasized that McGeown-Conron's practical and tactical insight will benefit every client the firm serves, particularly given his real-world experience in high-pressure policy settings. This appointment underscores Benchmark's commitment to providing exceptional public affairs consulting across multiple sectors, including Fortune 500 companies, technology innovators, and nonprofit organizations.