OUR TEAM

Brad founded Checkmate as a two-person shop in 2006 and has since grown the company into a full-service strategic communications firm offering a full range of marketing and media production services. Brad oversees all Checkmate productions and accounts. He specializes in generating ideas, formulating strategies, and creating and implementing strategic communications plans for Checkmate’s clients.

Brad has been the lead media consultant on a number of successful campaigns, including the campaign to win marriage equality in Rhode Island, the 2014 referendum campaign to defeat a Constitutional Convention, numerous statewide and mayoral campaigns, high-profile Senate and House races, as well as ad campaigns for clients including AARP, New England Institute of Technology, Providence Performing Arts Center, Sandy Hook Promise, Planned Parenthood, National Organization for Women and numerous labor unions throughout New England.

Brad attended Boston University and Arizona State University, with a degree in Communications from ASU’s Hugh Downs School of Communications. He lives in East Greenwich, RI with wife Andrea and kids Ruby, Georgia, and Otis. Before kids, he enjoyed traveling, reading, attending sporting events, and playing golf. He rarely does any of those activities anymore.

Before leading the successful effort to win marriage equality in Rhode Island, Ray served as a senior political advisor to several statewide and federal candidates and elected leaders including Congressman Jim Langevin, Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty and former senator and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Myrth York. In 2008 he was picked to be the state director for President Obama’s campaign in Rhode Island. Prior to that, Ray served six years in the General Assembly, representing the people of Coventry and West Greenwich in the 29th House District.

In 2013, he was featured in Campaigns and Elections magazine “The Influencers 500” – listing of top political operatives from across the country. A former news reporter and AmeriCorps* volunteer, Ray got into politics to help create the right kind of change. His focus at Checkmate is media messaging, digital strategies, grassroots advocacy and general consulting.

Ray studied history at Providence College, is an avid hiker and biker, and a lifelong Red Sox fan.

As Checkmate’s Multimedia Director, Adam handles everything on the moving image front, from video production and editing to motion graphics and animation to web design and development. He holds a degree in Communications from Northeastern University and graduated from Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts Advanced Web Design program.

Adam lives in North Kingstown with wife Cait and kids Maximus (3) and Maggie (1). He enjoys live music, fishing, skiing, sushi, and sleep, and feels that just 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night is not too much to ask.

Chris is the go-to-guy for policy research, social media strategy and last-minute creative pitches. He has worked as an educator, researcher and organizer spanning from rural Vermont, to New York City, to Boston and in his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Sociology from Bennington College and a Master’s degree in Anthropology and Education from Columbia University. On summer days you can find him at Narragansett Beach with a six pack of Del’s Shandy and a good book.

Lauren works with a wide range of Checkmate’s clients in various industries, helping develop strategic plans through research and analytics. With a keen eye for creative, Lauren helps with all TV and radio ad production. She also handles Checkmate’s social media monitoring. And unbeknownst to most, she is an up-and-coming voiceover talent who has landed minor parts in various Checkmate-produced radio ads.

She holds a degree in Communications from St. Anselm College and lives in North Attleboro, MA. She is an avid Boston sports fan.

Luis is in charge of keeping order in the office, handling all day-to-day operations. With a quick wit and killer sense of humor, he’s the office comedian, providing constant entertainment for the Checkmate team and Checkmate clients alike.

Luis holds a degree from New England Institute of Technology, is a Jiu-Jitsu master, and resides in Cranston, RI. He is currently working towards joining the Air Force.