The Way We Work : Cassandra Pye
A glimpse into the daily life of Lucas Public Affairs President Cassandra Pye
BY Jeff Wilser PHOTO BY Wes Davis
Biotech . Health care . Electric vehicles . Higher education . Name an industry in Sacramento and there ’ s a good chance you can find Lucas Public Affairs working behind the scenes . When Gov . Gavin Newsom created a task force to help citizens prevent and prepare for Alzheimer ’ s disease , for example , he turned to LPA for communication strategy .
“ We work on all of the major issues of the day ,” says Cassandra Pye , the firm ’ s president . “ For pretty much any and every public policy , the firm is somehow involved .” Pye is a longtime political and communication strategist — and former deputy chief of staff to Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger — who , along with CEO Donna Lucas , leads a team of 33 employees that helps shape the capital ’ s agenda .
This is how she does it .
7AM - Devours news before leaving the bed — The New York Times , Sacramento Bee , Los Angeles Times . News is her industry ’ s lifeblood ; she spends an hour immersed in it . She also reads a Bible devotion every morning as “ It grounds and strengthens me and goes to the core of who I am .”
8AM - Coffee , black . Eats a small breakfast of yogurt and berries . Preps for the day .
Cassandra Pye , president of Lucas Public Affairs , in her colorful , playful office .
8:30AM - “ Meetings start in full force .” A mix of client calls , internal meetings and board sessions . Roughly one-third of Pye ’ s time is still client-facing , as “ most
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