TEAM
Our team brings experience across consulting, government, politics, nonprofits, media, technology, and the private sector - giving clients a breadth of insight few boutique firms can match. We’ve advised Fortune 100 companies, scaled startups, built civic engagement programs, raised millions for campaigns, and guided organizations through reputational and operational challenges.
Our backgrounds span law, finance, communications, journalism, and impact investing, allowing us to deliver results across industries. We’ve shaped strategy for leading brands in healthcare, energy, technology, and consumer markets; driven nonprofit growth in education and social impact; and elevated narratives in media, fashion, and philanthropy. From banks to universities, civil rights to public health, we’ve helped institutions and causes engage audiences worldwide.
For clients, our diverse perspectives translate into practical strategies, sharper storytelling, and solutions that stand up to real-world complexity. We know how to operate at the highest levels of business, politics, and community life and bring that experience to every engagement.
Timothy Merritt
Founder & Principal
Seasoned leader with nearly 20 years' experience across government, campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and global consulting.
Timothy Merritt brings nearly two decades of experience at the highest levels of government, campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and global consulting. He has served in senior operational and strategic roles with White House principals, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and multiple presidential campaigns, and led growth and organizational expansion as Chief Operating Officer of a California-based foundation. Most recently, Timothy directed global operations for Brunswick Group’s Digital Practice, where he built business intelligence systems, launched new market offerings, and guided organizational change across global offices. Throughout his career, Timothy has been trusted to deliver structure, clarity, and impact in complex, high-pressure environments - whether helping to raise millions for national campaigns, designing moments on the world stage for U.S. principals, or scaling nonprofits to double their reach. He founded Barbary Collective to bring this same discipline and creativity to businesses and organizations navigating growth, transformation, or reputational challenge. Timothy holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of North Texas. He has served on nonprofit and political boards, and remains active in LGBTQ+ professional and community networks. At Barbary Collective, he partners with clients to turn vision into momentum and ideas into measurable outcomes.
Emily Buczynski
Core Advisor
More than fifteen years' research experience using data to inform communications and business strategies.
Emily has spent the past fifteen years transforming complex questions into actionable insights through data. For over a decade at Brunswick Group, she led data-driven strategic communications initiatives, advising clients across the energy and resources value chain on public affairs, crisis response, financial communications, and corporate reputation. Before joining Brunswick in 2014, Emily honed her expertise at Public Opinion Strategies, where she supported federal and state-level political campaigns and trade associations with targeted research to inform messaging. She began her career in the Washington, D.C. office of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. A fifth-generation Texan, Emily holds a BA in Communications and Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio. Her roots in public service and passion for data-driven storytelling continue to guide her work at the intersection of strategy, research, and impact.
Scott Comer
Advisory Circle Member
Seasoned political operative who specializes in fundraising and event production.
Scott began his career as Special Assistant to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, managing the Governor's constituent casework and functioning as a liaison to state agencies. He subsequently joined Lt. Governor Anthony Brown’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign as Director of Constituency Engagement. He also served as the Democratic National Committee's Finance Chief of Staff & LGBT Finance Director for two years. Juggling both roles, Scott oversaw the day-to-day operations of the party's fundraising apparatus, managed Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Finance schedule, and collaborated with LGBT stakeholders to raise $4.3M for the committee. Scott then lent his expertise to the Los Angeles LGBT Center as Deputy Director of Major Gifts in 2018. After expanding the Center's Sustaining Donor program, Scott returned to Washington and the world of political consulting in February 2019. He began raising money for Senator Cory Booker's 2020 presidential campaign, down-ballot candidates, and advocacy organizations. Current and former clients include The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation, The Trust for the National Mall, Tutored by Teachers, and numerous civic leaders.
Aubrey Cunningham
Strategic Partner
Lawyer with expertise in civil rights, election law, campaign operations, and tech policy consulting.
Aubrey joins the Collective as a seasoned consultant and litigator with expertise in the election law, civil rights, political and tech policy. She has led large-scale campaign operations departments and built voter protection programs for party committees and candidate campaigns alike. She also brings to the team regulatory interpretation and compliance experience, along with an array of subject matter expertise in the area of issue campaigns, voter protection, and civil rights. Aubrey lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys spending time with her garden, her dog, and her husband — usually in that order.
Thai Eileen
Core Advisor
Seasoned marketing and communications leader with 20+ years of experience building authentic brands and strategies across startups, government, global companies, and nonprofits.
Thai brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and brand strategy to her role as Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Sixth & Bryant. Her career is defined by one central theme: creating meaningful connections between organizations and their audiences, leaders and their communities, and brands and their stories. Before co-founding Sixth & Bryant, Thai served as Communications Director for the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where she transformed the school’s digital footprint through a redesigned website, launched a social media strategy that increased engagement by over 60 percent, and strengthened internal communications. She also expanded the reach of the school’s alumni magazine, enhancing its role as a bridge between the institution and its community. Thai began her public service career as Digital Director for the Pennsylvania Department of State before moving into the role of Communications Director for the Insurance Department, where she worked closely with the Insurance Commissioner and governor’s office. In her overall career, she has collaborated with startups, government agencies, global consumer goods companies, and Fortune 500 brands. Her portfolio also includes partnerships with professional athletes, television personalities, motivational speakers, and designers. Across these experiences, Thai has built authentic brand identities, designed resonant campaigns, and delivered strategies that thrive in both local and global markets. A proud graduate of Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, Thai also earned an M.S. in Digital Communications from Roosevelt University.
Tamika Hawkins Adu
Core Advisor
Communications strategist with a background in journalism and law, helping organizations, leaders, and brands tell their stories with clarity, purpose, and impact.
Tamika is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Sixth & Bryant. Previously, she was a Director in Brunswick Group’s Washington office, where she developed strategies and campaigns on issues ranging from social impact to litigation communications for some of the most recognizable global brands. Her clients have included McDonald’s, Merck, Pivotal Ventures, Prada, and UnitedHealthcare. In addition, she was an active member of the Public Affairs practice, where she conceptualized and executed thought leadership programming. Prior to Brunswick, Tamika was a senior member of Edelman’s Federal team. She is experienced in providing C-Suite and corporate counsel and spent several years in the firm’s International Affairs practice. She also served as a Federal Government attorney and began her career covering breaking news, general assignment stories, and education for the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, VA. She is a graduate of both Howard University’s School of Communications and School of Law, and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. She is a Member of the Maryland Bar.
Beatina James
Core Advisor
More than 15 years of partnership building, marketing & external relations, and fundraising.
With 18 years of experience in community building, civic innovation, and organizational development, Beatina has worked for notable organizations such as Obama for America, USAID, Goldman Sachs, and UCLA. In addition to her consulting work, Beatina is a Partner with Social Venture Partners (SVP), a global network of impact investors. Beatina has a B.A. in Spanish and Political Science from New York University and an M.B.A. from Cornell University, where she focused on entrepreneurship and impact investing. She is fluent in Spanish and German and holds dual citizenship from the U.S. & the E.U.
Christina Oriel
Core Advisor
Award-winning strategist blending storytelling, go-to-market expertise, and business operations.
Christina M. Oriel is an award-winning strategist and communications leader with a proven track record in go-to-market execution, business operations, and scaling mission-driven ventures. She partners with startups and thought leaders to bring bold ideas to life, turning vision into results through sharp storytelling, scalable operations, and a community-first approach. As a founding team member of a FinTech startup, Christina led go-to-market and communications strategy while building the operational foundation for scale. She helped launch cross-border financial products for consumers and enterprises, partnering with major banks and retail chains to fuel adoption and expand the company’s reach across markets. Christina began her career in journalism, specializing in community media and Asian American issues. She oversaw multiple weekly editions in key U.S. cities, a quarterly travel and investment magazine, and digital platforms reaching over one million monthly readers. Her reporting earned honors from the California Ethnic Media Awards, Plaridel Awards, and national fellowships recognizing newsroom leaders and trailblazing women in media. Her coverage of public health, the COVID-19 pandemic, and anti-Asian hate has been featured in The Guardian, NPR, and Kaiser Health News, and cited in academic research. Christina holds a B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs.
Lee Alexander Queza
Strategic Partner
Creative leader with over 20 years of experience driving strategic growth through innovative design & marketing.
Lee Queza is a seasoned executive creative and marketing leader with over two decades of experience in shaping effective go to market strategies for diverse organizations. Having held roles as Vice President of Marketing & Creative, Executive Creative Director, and Director of Branding, Lee's focus has been on aligning creative vision with strategic business objectives to drive sustainable growth. He is recognized for his aptitude in building and guiding high-performing teams, fostering innovation, and integrating advanced methodologies, including AI, to optimize creative and marketing operations. Throughout his career, Lee has demonstrated a consistent capacity to navigate complex business landscapes and deliver measurable results. His leadership contributed to significant milestones, including guiding two startups through successful acquisitions by MTV Networks and Microsoft. His experience spans a comprehensive client roster, from industry leaders like Amex, ATT, Denon, Google, Intuit, Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, Samsung, TruGreen, Vizio, and Walmart to emerging ventures, effectively serving B2B, B2C, and D2C markets.
Dan Rummel
Strategic Partner
Seasoned product & technology leader helping scaling teams and guiding prototypes to platforms
Dan Rummel is a technology leader and strategic partner who helps organizations navigate complex growth challenges and emerging technology landscapes. With a career spanning from NASA satellite missions to healthcare innovation, he brings a unique perspective on building scalable technology platforms and high-performing engineering teams across diverse industries. His technical foundation was forged at NASA, where he developed mission-critical flight dynamics software for the THEMIS mission and coordinated spacecraft maneuver operations. This aerospace precision has informed his approach to building reliable, scalable systems throughout his career. At One Medical, he played a key role in scaling the engineering organization from roughly 20 engineers to a product team of over 300 through the company's IPO journey, leading internal platform systems including EHR development and overseeing new services encompassing behavioral health, pediatrics, and remote care initiatives. With extensive ground-floor startup experience, Dan has built multiple companies from zero to one, developing entire technology platforms, scaling diverse engineering teams, and navigating the fundraising process through various growth stages. This journey has culminated in building deep experience with cutting-edge AI and modern development tools. Dan specializes in product development strategy, engineering team design and scaling, building inclusive technology cultures, and strategic technology decision-making frameworks. He helps leaders assess emerging technologies, establish development processes, and create hiring practices that drive sustainable growth. Dan now partners with technology leaders and organizations seeking to accelerate growth, establish engineering excellence, and navigate the complexities of digital transformation in highly regulated industries while maintaining operational excellence.
Guy Selden
Strategic Partner
Political Fundraiser with 20 years of experience working with political campaigns, PACs, and party committees.
Guy is a driven, results-oriented fundraising professional with 20 years of experience in political fundraising and campaign finance management. Currently, he works with several clients on their political and fundraising strategies. From 2012 to 2024, he served as the National Finance Director for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, overseeing various fundraising initiatives, including her re-election account, Leadership PAC, and Victory Fund. As a fundraising consultant, Guy specializes in creating and implementing all aspects of a candidate or organization’s funding streams. He has extensive experience raising contributions from high-net-worth individuals across the nation and within the PAC community. He also works with clients on their digital and direct mail programs. In addition to managing their fundraising strategy, Guy assists clients in navigating national and state politics, managing their political relationships with external stakeholders, and helping them “get in the door” with key political contacts. Previous clients include the Democratic National Committee, the Michigan Democratic Party, Obama for America 2008, the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009, and several candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.