Video camera recording a media interview or presentation in a room with a woman sitting in front of a bookshelf, blurred in the background.

About

Message Drivers offers strategic communications and public affairs services to businesses, trade associations, nonprofits, and NGOs.

We help advocates strengthen their communications to move critical audiences on the issues that matter most.

Our Founder

Justin Hakes has served for over two decades in advocacy communications, including in senior roles at several of the country’s leading trade associations.

He has led a unique mix of teams to help organizations large and small to build their visibility and achieve their public policy and reputational goals.

Justin’s expertise spans strategic communications, public affairs, and executive thought leadership.

Photo of Justin Hakes

Services

We specialize in comprehensive communications campaigns, media relations, reputation and crisis management, message development, and digital media strategy. We advance our partners’ issue advocacy by uniting all key communications tools together in an overall strategy.

  • White arrow painted on a blue brick wall, pointing to the right.

    Strategic Campaigns

    Comprehensive communications campaigns on reputation management, as well as federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals, key audience mapping, and influence strategy

  • Close-up of a microphone on a stage with a blurred audience in the background.

    Media Relations

    Proactive and reactive outreach to and relationship building with reporters at national, regional, local, and specialty news outlets

  • Three crumpled yellow paper balls on a green speech messaging bubble shape, surrounded by yellow lined paper sheets.

    Messaging

    Strategic writing, including news releases, opinion pieces, talking points, one-pagers and other messaging tools  

  • Red flag on a silver pole against a blue sky.

    Crisis Management

    Forming pre-event strategy, navigating crises, and after-action evaluation

  • A person holding a smartphone with colorful bokeh lights reflecting off the screen in a dark setting.

    Digital Media Strategy

    Guiding strategy for blogs, online grassroots campaigns, video production, and social media

Our work

We have worked in the trenches advancing advocacy communications in some of the toughest public policy battles in Washington, DC, and state capitals around the country. Examples of our past work include:

Enacting a landmark federal law

Front of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., with a blue sky and some clouds in the background, featuring white neoclassical architecture with columns, stairs, and statues.

Successful communications campaign supporting enactment of the bipartisan SECURE Act 1.0. The law enables small businesses to join to provide retirement plans for their employees.

Wildfire tragedy response

Construction worker in yellow helmet and safety vest working on wooden framing of a building at a construction site under a blue sky.

Navigating the homeowners insurance industry’s response to the January 2025 California wildfires tragedy through thought leadership commentary.

Protecting secret ballots at work

Secret ballot box with a checklist paper on top featuring three options, the first with a checked box, on a colorful, gradient background.

Defeat of a proposal to eliminate secret ballots in workplace votes over whether to unionize. Led communications campaign by country’s largest business trade association.

Supporting accurate credit reporting

A dartboard with a dart hitting the bullseye in the center.

Multi-year communications campaign to educate policymakers and the public on the importance of accurate credit reporting to consumers and the American economy.

Protecting choice for retirement savers

A small plant with green leaves growing out of a pile of coins on a plain surface.

Preserved retirement income options for middle-income savers in Massachusetts by using communications to redefine public perception of regulatory proposal.

Contact Us

Ready to drive your message and move your audience? We can help. Contact us and let’s go!