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Our Executive Team
Stephen Graves
President
With over 20 years of experience in technology and political strategy, Stephen has led major voter analysis and digital transformation projects, driving Gotham Polling’s innovative approach.
Stephen Graves
President
Stephen Graves brings over 20 years of senior level experience at
the intersection of technology, operations, and political strategy. As
Chair of Data and Technology at Gotham Government Relations, he
has led voter analysis research studies for clients that have had
major media coverage. As the Founder and CEO of CertifiedTrue,
Stephen developed cutting-edge blockchain technology for digital
verification, showcasing his expertise in innovative tech solutions.
His extensive background includes leading major digital
transformation projects at Bank of China and directing new product
and operational excellence initiatives at CA Technologies. Prior to
that he was project manager for the transition of NYC’s voting
system and helped manage election operations. In the political
arena, Stephen has been advisor to 2 foreign Prime Ministers,
Strategic Advisor to Pakistan’s Board of Investment, the First Vice
Chair of a county-level political party, and managed or advised on
over 15 political campaigns. Stephen earned an MBA from Edinburgh
Business School and holds PMP, PSM, ITIL and SAFe certifications.
His unique blend of tech-savvy, operational prowess, and deep
political insight drives Gotham Polling’s commitment to delivering
precision and strategic value to our clients.
David Schwartz
Chairman
A prominent trial attorney and lobbyist, David offers strategic legal and political insights, frequently appearing on networks like Fox News and CNN.
David Schwartz
Chairman
David Schwartz is an internationally recognized trial attorney and
has been recognized as a 10 years Super Lawyers, and a powerful
advocate in the realms of government relations and political
strategy. Serving also as President of Gotham Government
Relations, David combines his extensive legal expertise with a
decade-long record as one of New York’s top lobbyists. He is a
regular commentator on major networks such as Fox News, CNN,
and MSNBC, where he provides expert insight on high-profile legal
and political issues. David’s legal career is distinguished by his
handling of over 100 trials and thousands of cases, representing a
wide spectrum of clients, from large corporations to famous
individuals and has earned Super Lawyers list for eight consecutive
years and the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating. He has also served
on many boards at prestigious institutions, including: Metropolitan
Transportation Authority; New York Javits Center Convention
Center; The American Bar Association; NYS Commission on Judicial
Nomination; The NYS Bar Association; Brooklyn Bar Association;
Nassau County Bar Association; and the District Attorney Alumni
Association. David brings a deep understanding of legislative and
political landscapes, advocacy and media-savvy to Gotham
Polling’s clients.
Denny Salas
Executive Vice President
Denny brings extensive experience in government relations and political consulting, providing clients with actionable strategies from his Capitol Hill and Washington D.C. expertise.
Denny Salas
Executive Vice President
Denny Salas is an accomplished executive and political strategist
with a diverse background in government relations, lobbying, and
political consulting. Serving also as Senior VP at Gotham
Government Relations, Denny brings a wealth of experience in
legislative affairs and political advocacy, having earned numerous
accolades in NY’s City and State New York, including Who’s Who in
Government Relations, 40 under 40 and Top 100 Latino Power list. Prior to Gotham GR, he was a Capitol Hill Legislative Researcher, and Washington D.C. Political Consultant, where his clients included 10
US House of Representatives and a US Senator. Denny has also
successfully represented small business interests to federal
agencies and ran the national political action committee for the
recreational boating industry’s trade association. Denny currently
serves as Ethics Chair for a county level political party and on
boards of the NYPD’s 7th Precinct and the NYC Department of Youth
& Community Development. His unique blend of hands-on political
experience and strategic acumen help Gotham Polling provide
polling and analysis that make a tangible impact.
Our Research Team
Our research scientists specialize in public opinion, political psychology, and data analysis:
Brian W. Sullivan
PH.D.
Brian W. Sullivan
PH.D.
Brian W. Sullivan, Ph.D., is a leading expert in
public opinion and political psychology, with
a focus on anti-democratic beliefs and
misinformation. As an Evaluation Specialist for the U.S. Department of State, he excels
in survey design, data analysis, and
experimental methodology. His research is
widely published in top journals like Public
Opinion Quarterly and Political Research
Quarterly
Bobby McManus
PH.D.
Bobby McManus
PH.D.
Bobby McManus, Ph.D., is a skilled data analyst and UX researcher specializing in cognitive
psychology and emerging technologies like VR/AR, smart devices, and driver-assisted tech. He has led UX studies for Fortune 500
companies, providing data-driven insights that
improve product design and user satisfaction.
Dr. McManus's work is published in leading
cognitive and behavioral science journals.
Elizabeth Focella
PH.D.
Elizabeth Focella
PH.D.
Elizabeth Focella, Ph.D., is a seasoned
leader in analytics and client success, with
expertise in social psychology, behavior
change, and health. With over a decade of
experience, she has held key roles in both
academia and industry, including Senior
Manager of Analytics at Third Sector
Intelligence and Research Director at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Focella is
known for delivering actionable insights
through data-driven strategies and leading
high-performing teams.
Abe Barranca
PH.D. Candidate
Abe Barranca
PH.D. Candidate
Abe Barranca, Ph.D. Candidate, is a
seasoned data and social scientist with a
strong focus on community-driven problem-solving. He brings extensive experience in user research and analytics from roles such
as Senior User Researcher at DISCO and Senior Quantitative UX Researcher at Indeed. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in
Government at the University of Texas, Abe
specializes in policy diffusion, comparative
law, and urban politic.
Our Operations Team
Connie Chow
Senior Data Strategist
Connie Chow
Senior Data Strategist
Connie Chow is a seasoned expert in enterprise software development and data integration, with a strong background in CRM systems, data analytics and application development. With over 20 years of experience, she has coded and implemented scalable backend systems for businesses large and small, including extensive work in Python, Java, and REST APIs. Her expertise in data migration, machine learning integration, and system architecture design ensures seamless handling of large-scale data operations and real-time analytics. Connie spent 9 years at prestigious SAP Labs in Palo Alto, where she developed and deployed robust enterprise CRM solutions, supporting global clients with critical data-driven applications and consistently delivering high-quality results under tight timelines. Currently, she applies her technical proficiency to manage data systems, integrating data pipelines, automating processes, and building custom tools to support Gotham Polling's survey operations and analytics platforms. Connie has earned her Master’s in Applied Data Science at the University of San Diego and holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from UC San Diego.