Meet the Staff

 Hank Spring

Hank Spring draws on his two decades of experience as a senior executive in government, industry and professional services to counsel clients across the full range of public relations and marketing disciplines.

Before joining Gaffney Bennett Public Relations, Hank served as senior vice president and led the corporate practice at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/New York. His team provided media and investor relations, brand management, and crisis communications programs for global leaders in the financial services, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and legal markets.

Previously, Hank was a partner at Brunswick Group, an international financial communications firm, where he provided media relations, crisis management and strategic counsel on a range of transactions. From 1983 to 1997, Hank held a variety of management positions at Pitney Bowes, Inc. in Stamford, CT., including Executive Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. Before joining Pitney Bowes, Hank served as chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Stewart B. McKinney. He earned his B.A. from Fairfield University, and completed post-graduate executive training at the Wharton School.

 Patrick Kinney

Patrick Kinney has 15 years of experience designing integrated communications programs on behalf of some of the world's most respected brands. He joined Gaffney Bennett Public Relations from Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/New York, where he was a senior vice president in the Corporate Practice.

His responsibilities at Ogilvy PR included designing, implementing, and directing stakeholder communications, crisis communications, corporate branding, and public relations programs for a variety of clients. Among them were: Deloitte & Touche LLP, BP, and Qwest Communications. Prior to joining Ogilvy PR, Patrick served as a manager/public affairs for UST, Inc., a Fortune 500 consumer products company. During his seven-year tenure at UST, Inc., he was responsible for directing public affairs and cause-related marketing programs for the company's prime subsidiaries, which include the United States Smokeless Tobacco Company, the world's leading marketer of moist smokeless tobacco, and Stimson Lane Wine and Spirits, Ltd., a premium winery. From 1987 to 1990, Patrick served as legislative liaison to Governor William A. O'Neill, D-CT, coordinating the legislative agendas of more than 60 state agencies. Patrick earned his B.A. at Villanova University.

 Patrick McGloin

Patrick McGloin has spent the last decade providing communications, public policy and public opinion research services to clients at the local, state and national level.

Before joining Gaffney Bennett, Patrick ran an independent consulting firm, PFM Consulting. His experience includes grassroots advocacy, strategic communications, public opinion research and referendum and political campaign management.

Prior to starting his consulting firm, Patrick served as a project manager in public opinion research at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Survey Research and served as a policy aide for Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives Moira Lyons. Patrick also worked on the Washington staff of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and for Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 Presidential Campaign.

Patrick earned a bachelor’s degree in Politics from St. Anselm College and a master’s degree in Survey Research from the University of Connecticut.

 Justin May

Justin May brings a strong writing and communications background to Gaffney Bennett Public Relations.  A graduate of the University of Connecticut , Justin gained valuable experience through the University’s Writing Internship Program.  Justin served as “Visiting Writers Series Specialist” for the University’s Creative Writing Program and was a nonfiction editor for the Long River Review, UConn’s student-run literary and art journal.  Justin also taught creative writing at the Kent School Summer Writers Camp.

Justin has broadcast experience, as a producer and host of radio programs at both Emerson College ’s 88.9 WERS and UConn’s 91.7 WHUS.

 Nicole Laster

Nicole Laster joins Gaffney Bennett Public Relations with nearly five years of experience executing full-service PR campaigns for a diverse set of clients across various industries including healthcare, agriculture, aviation, technology and the non-profit and not-for-profit sectors. 
Nicole began her career in PR at Rosica Public Relations in Paramus, New Jersey, where she spent several years conducting media relations on behalf of consumer brands including Rollerblade and Telebrands, the “As Seen on TV” company, and non-profit organizations including United Way of Essex & West Hudson and Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey. 

Nicole later joined Cooney/Waters Group (CWG) in Manhattan, agency of record for sanofi pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group. While at CWG, Nicole gained extensive healthcare and pharmaceutical experience planning, implementing and reporting on national campaigns for the National Meningitis Association (NMA), the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), the National College Health Association (NCHA) and Moms on Meningitis (M.O.M.s).  Prior to joining GBPR, Nicole served as an account executive/media specialist at Maloney & Fox in Manhattan, a Waggener Edstrom company. At Maloney & Fox, Nicole conducted national and regional media outreach on behalf of PhotoWorks, owned by American Greetings, eMusic, the number two music download site behind iTunes, Starwood Hotels and Microsoft.