Ryan McGeown-Conron Joins Benchmark Strategies as Senior Director of Public Affairs

Benchmark Strategies, Boston's leading public affairs and strategic communications firm, announced that Ryan McGeown-Conron has joined the firm as Senior Director of Public Affairs. McGeown-Conron brings nearly a decade of public policy experience to Benchmark, most recently in public health and healthcare policy for the Baker and Healey Administrations. As Senior Director of Public Affairs, he will lead public sector consulting engagements to help clients drive new revenue and implement impactful government affairs strategies across multiple industries including Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, MedTech, Life Sciences, and Law Enforcement Technology.

McGeown-Conron joins Benchmark from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where he served as Director of Legislative Affairs. In this capacity, he led legislative outreach for DPH Steward Healthcare Incident Command and previously spearheaded legislative and government affairs efforts for the Department's COVID-19 pandemic response, vaccine rollout, and vaccine equity initiative. His extensive experience in public health policy during critical state emergencies positions him to provide valuable insights to clients navigating complex regulatory environments. Earlier in his career, McGeown-Conron served as Legislative Aide to the current House Judiciary Chair, Michael S. Day, giving him comprehensive understanding of both legislative and executive branch operations.

McGeown-Conron expressed enthusiasm about joining Benchmark Strategies' fast-growing public affairs practice, stating he looks forward to contributing his expertise in legislative and regulatory strategy, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement to help the firm's clients navigate increasingly complex policy environments and deliver tangible, measurable impact toward their goals. His educational background includes a Master of Public Administration from UMass Boston and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics with minors in Political Science and History from Union College.

Patrick Bench, President of Benchmark Strategies, emphasized the significance of this appointment, noting that McGeown-Conron's deep legislative and executive agency experience in public health and healthcare policy further strengthens the team's capabilities and reach. Bench highlighted that McGeown-Conron possesses the practical and tactical insight to build strategies that work in real-world policy settings, which will benefit every client the firm serves. This hiring comes as Benchmark Strategies continues to expand its public affairs practice, leveraging experienced professionals who understand the intersection of policy, regulation, and business objectives across multiple sectors. The firm's growing expertise positions it to effectively assist clients in shaping narratives and advancing priorities in increasingly complex legislative and regulatory landscapes.