Principals

James F. Capalino, Chief Executive Officer One of New York’s premier urban problem-solving strategists, Jim’s background combines senior management roles in government, public relations, real estate, and construction management, with extensive public sector experience at senior levels of New York City government. Prior to establishing Capalino+Company he founded The Growth Strategy Group and served as COO of AJ Contracting, one of the nation’s largest minority owned contractors. He was named Commissioner of General Services, a 2,000+ employee, $750 million agency, at the age of 28. Jim sits on the boards of Safe Space and Friends of the Hudson River Park.  Read More…


Travis H. Terry, Chief Operating Officer Travis brings to Capalino+Company’s clients more than a decade of hands-on experience providing strategic advice to some of New York’s leading not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Since 2002, Travis has been a senior executive at Capalino+Company, becoming its Chief Operating Officer in 2006. In this position, Travis is responsible for the firm’s strategic planning and managing some of the firm’s major accounts including Time Warner Cable, Rudin Management, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of the Moving Image. His successes at Capalino+Company include raising hundreds of millions of dollars in public sector funding for various clients and advising Related Companies on its successfully rezoning of the West Side Railyards. Read More…


Mark P. Thompson, Senior Vice President Mark has spent more than three decades advising a wide variety of clients in New York, the United States and Eastern Europe. His clients have included not-for-profit and cultural institutions and private organizations in both advisory and transaction-oriented roles. Using his decades of experience working for and alongside government agencies, Mark assists his clients in accomplishing difficult, complicated projects, ranging from securing funding for not-for-profits to project managing new homes for cultural institutions to working with public agencies to helping clients navigate the complicated world of public approvals.  Read More…



George M. Fontas, Senior Vice President George oversees the firm’s efforts in public sector funding, legislative action and plays a key strategic role in our clients’ efforts to secure elected official and community support for major public projects and public policy initiatives.  During George’s six years at Capalino+Company he has earned a reputation as an innovative public policy and community relations strategist.  George’s work ranges from managing and advising on ULURP strategy, legislative policy advocacy, and budget lobbying.  During his tenure he has secured in excess of $55 million in public sector funding for various not-for-profit clients and successfully advised on land use projects such as: The Chelsea Market Rezoning, Thor Equities’ Coney Island Rezoning, Starrett Corporation’s citywide development projects, and Hampshire Hotels & Resorts’ Dream Hotel.  Read More…


Brooke Schafran, Vice President Brooke’s work focuses on resolving operational and regulatory issues, including permits and licensing, working to secure permits and approvals and shepherding projects through the City’s complex and myriad processes. In this role, she coordinates Clients’ teams (including project managers, attorneys, architects, expediters and others) to achieve quick, successful solutions. Among the public bodies she deals with are Community Boards, the Departments of Buildings, Environmental Protection, Consumer Affairs, Landmarks Preservation Commission, and Con Edison. In addition, Brooke guides our clients through the City’s and State’s Lobbying Compliance Requirements.  Read More…


Bob Dillon, Vice President Bob has over 25 years of experience in the advertising and television industries in New York, Los Angeles and Boston.  At Capalino+Company, Bob is advising clients on how to expand revenues by developing new business opportunities, and creating better branding and communications programs, particularly when transitioning to the digital world and new media.  Bob’s agency history includes account management for an array of high-profile clients at firms such as Hill Holiday Connors Cosmopulous, Saatchi & Saatchi/Compton, and Grey Entertainment & Media.  Read More…