Our Perspective
Whether you represent a company looking to influence office holders or a non-profit trying to spread your message, how your audience hears your message and perceives your approach can determine your level of success.
Audience alignment requires the personal attention of skilled consultants with experience in corporate headquarters and newsrooms, in campaign offices and State House halls.
We are the kind of consultants who keep the panoramic view in mind while working to execute the smallest task.
Because details matter, even from a distance.
Current Clients
AVANGRID
Casella Waste Systems
Central Maine Power
New England Clean Energy Connect
Penobscot Community Health Care
Poland Spring
Sazerac Company
Alex Serra
Principal
Alex Serra founded Serra Public Affairs in 2014, based on the need she saw in the Maine market for a firm that bridges the gap between the political and media worlds. Nine years later, the firm is the leading public affairs group in Maine, doing business across New England.
A former public affairs director in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, television news reporter and assignment desk editor, she advises clients on how to get the results they want through a comprehensive approach, individually crafted to their needs. Having held positions that required hiring firms in the region, Serra understands the needs of her clients from an inside perspective. Whether content creation, media engagement, the development of unique public affairs strategies or communicating with opinion leaders at the Maine State Capitol is called for, Serra works with each client to determine the right path to success for them and executes accordingly.
Serra serves as a board member on the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Smith College and the University of Maine School of Law, she is currently working towards an Advanced Certificate in Interreligious Engagement at Union Theological Seminary, part of Columbia University. Always interested in making room at the table for conversation, Serra hosts a podcast, Serra Speaks, that features some of Maine’s most influential political and news figures. Serra resides in Manchester with her husband Harry.
Ted Varipatis
Director of Communications & Media Relations
Ted Varipatis spent 25 years as a key player at the state's number one news station, with the last 10 years in a management role, determining daily news content, statewide and regional news coverage, both on air and online.
Ted is two-time Maine Association of Broadcasters award winner. Ted has an active social media presence with 3,000 followers on Twitter: @TVTEDDY. Ted, a lifelong Mainer, lives in South Portland with his wife, Beth, and two sons, Nicholas and Andrew.
Benjamin Coolidge Gagnon
Senior Account Manager
Prior to joining Serra Public Affairs in 2020, Ben Coolidge Gagnon worked on various statewide and local political campaigns across Maine. He served as the Finance Director for Governor Janet Mills’ 2018 campaign, and has also worked for former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling and the Maine Democratic Party.
Ben specializes in managing client projects, from events to shoots to State House lobbying, executing every detail with the greatest skill and attention.
A lifelong Mainer, he grew up in Durham and attended Brunswick High School. He is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.
Ben lives in Hallowell with his partner, Seth, and together they have a pug, Silas.
Ellie Espling
Director of Government Affairs & Client Relations
Prior to joining Serra Public Affairs, Ellie worked for U.S. Senator Susan Collins as her Augusta State Office Representative serving Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox and Somerset counties.
Ellie was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2010. She was elected by her peers twice to serve as the Assistant Republican Leader. In her tenure, she also served on the Inland, Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.
Ellie has served as the Republican National Committeewoman for Maine since 2016. She is also a founding leader of SHE Leads, a Maine Republican Party initiative whose mission is to identify, train and support Republican women to be political leaders.
Ellie holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine.
A mother of four, Ellie lives in Southern Maine.
Dana Connors
Strategic Consultant
Dana Connors served as president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce for nearly 30 years. MSSC is Maine’s most respected and influential pro-business advocacy organization which represents a diverse network of 5,000 businesses statewide, and Dana oversaw the association’s many activities including its advocacy efforts, economic & workforce development initiatives, international trade opportunities, and a wide variety of member services on behalf of the state’s business community.
Dana began his career as the city manager of Presque Isle. Hired in 1968, Dana was the youngest person to hold a city manager’s position in Maine up to that time and held that position for 16 years, an unusually long tenure for municipal government. He spent 11 years as commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation with the distinction of serving under two administrations. He was first appointed by Democrat Gov. Joseph Brennan in 1984 and was subsequently retained by Republican Gov. John McKernan.
Although officially hired by the Chamber in the fall of 1994, Dana served as Governor Angus King’s transition team director. The Maine Chamber Board of Directors was pleased to “loan” Dana to the new governor-elect in order to assist in the selection of key cabinet and administration appointments as well as insure a smooth transition process.
As the leader of the state’s largest and most diverse business association, Dana dedicated his energy to achieving goals that will enhance prosperity for all Maine people. In 1995 he founded Maine and Company; the organization is the state’s premiere entity for business attraction to the state. To foster international trade relationships, Dana accompanied Governor Angus King on his trade mission to Japan in the fall of 1998. He also successfully led the campaign for a wider turnpike, was appointed by Democrat Gov. John Baldacci to sit on the Dirigo Health Agency Board as well as taking a prominent role in many state initiatives from healthcare to energy and tax reform to transportation issues.
A Maine Native, Dana received his B.A. in Public Management from the University of Maine. In 2014 he was inducted to the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, and most notably, in 2015 awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maine, Orono. He has served on several boards including two that were Governor-appointed: the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and the State of Maine Governor’s Business Roundtable for Early Childhood Development. Other boards Dana has served on include: Maine Economic Research Institute, Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Maine and Company.
Dana has received numerous awards for service and leadership to the state of Maine including:
Awarded Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maine, Orono, his almamater, in 2015.
Inductee to the Junior Achievement 2014 Maine Business Hall of Fame
The 2012 Distinguished Maine Policy Fellow from the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, University of Maine;
The Maine Development Foundation’s Leadership for Maine’s Economic Future Award;
The nationally-recognized Paul Harris Service Award from the Presque Isle Rotary International Club;
The Maine Public Administrator of the Year Award from the American Society for Public Administration;
The Major Achievements in Construction Award from the Associated General Contractors; and,
The Outstanding Community Service on Behalf of Eastport Business Development Award from the city of Eastport, Maine.
2022 MDF President’s Award in recognition of his longtime partnership in MDF’s work, and his dedication to equitable, sustainable economic development.
Educate Maine’s 2022 Weston L. Bonney Education Leadership Award for being a courageous leader and champion for education in Maine.
2022 Tributes in the Congressional Record were presented by Sen. Collins and representatives for Sen. Angus King
2022 Legislative Sentiment presented by Senator Troy Jackson
George J. Mitchell Award presented by NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn
Brett Plymale
Director of Photography
A New England Emmy award winning videographer, Brett’s passion and motivation is first and foremost storytelling. Brett’s work with our clients ranges from social media campaigns to live event streams to
internal training videos.
Sarah Szwajkos
Photographer
Sarah Szwajkos is a commercial & fine art photographer. Her work has been exhibited & published nationally.
Sarah’s work for clients focuses on architecture & interiors, luxury real estate, & lifestyle photography. A visual storyteller, Sarah enjoys working with Serra Public Affairs’ clients to highlight their contributions to Maine’s economy and community around the state.
The Maine Arts Commission has awarded Sarah numerous grants to support her fine art projects.
Sarah graduated from Smith College with a double major in Italian Language & Literature and Studio Art. She has been fortunate to study & travel abroad extensively, and enjoys meeting & working with people from diverse backgrounds.
She lives in Midcoast Maine, and enjoys exploring Maine’s coast and trails with only an iPhone when not on assignment.
Jennifer Muller
Graphic Designer
Jennifer Muller is an award winning graphic designer with over 25 years of editorial, logo design and creative direction experience. Her work has been noted and awarded by The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP), The James Beard Awards, The Type Directors Club, The Society of Publication Designers, Graphis magazine. Epicurious and the New York Times. She has been lucky enough to work with clients she loves ranging from small businesses to publishing companies.
Jennifer graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and settled in Maine 17 years ago.
Live Feed
For your information and convenience, Serra Public Affairs is pleased to present links to LIVE video of activities in the Maine Legislature.
Contact
160 Capitol St., Suite 2
Augusta, ME 04330
Alex Serra
207.458.0148
alex@serrapublicaffairs.com
Ted Varipatis
207.415.6182
ted@serrapublicaffairs.com
Ben Gagnon
207.522.9404
ben@serrapublicaffairs.com
Ellie Espling
207.212.0684
ellie@serrapublicaffairs.com