OUR TEAM
Meet the people behind Clear Point Communications
Our experience fuels our success. Founding partners Peter Shelly and Charlie Lyons have decades of experience in government, media, and public affairs. Peter has been as an award-winning journalist, internet entrepreneur and communications consultant in Pennsylvania. Charlie has years of public service experience, most recently as the Pennsylvania State Director for U.S. Senator Bob Casey. New partners Danielle Gross and John Neurohr have a wealth of experience with traditional and digital communications strategy and issue campaign management.
CHARLIE LYONS
Partner & Co-Founder
Charlie Lyons has been a co-owner since 2011. Prior to joining the firm, he was State Director for U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr., where he oversaw the Senator’s state operations and served as a senior advisor. He also served as the Senator’s Transition Director, managing the startup of his Senate office. His prior government experience includes service as a senior aide to the Governor of Pennsylvania, where he served as Policy Director, Executive Assistant, and ultimately, Chief of Staff to the Governor. Over his career, he also has been a consultant to state and local governments, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and businesses throughout the country. Early in his career, he was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington. He has also staffed or consulted with numerous statewide and congressional campaigns. Charlie graduated with a BS from the University of Scranton and from George Washington University School of Law.
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PETER SHELLY
Partner & Co-Founder
Peter founded our predecessor firm, Shelly Communications, in 2007. Peter has helped to develop and lead successful statewide campaigns involving basic and higher education, taxation policies, privatization of state services, gaming, transportation, and the clean energy sector. In 1999, Peter launched Capitolwire.com, an internet-based state government news and information service. Under Peter’s leadership Capitolwire expanded from Harrisburg to four other state capitals. A native of Philadelphia, Peter began his career with the Philadelphia Inquirer Neighbors section and came to Harrisburg to cover the Statehouse for the Harrisburg Patriot News, and then the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Peter has won numerous awards including a Keystone State Press Award and a Spotlight award from the Society of Professional Journalists.
DANIELLE GROSS
Partner
Danielle Gross joined Clear Point in November 2017 as Director of Communications. She is a regular political contributor to ABC27 and PCN. Before joining Clear Point, Danielle served as Director of Public Affairs with the PA Commission for Community Colleges for three years. Previously, Danielle was a communications professional at two Harrisburg public affairs firms, serving as a Senior Account Executive. Danielle serves on her church council and also served on the Marketing Committee at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank from 2009 - 2016. Danielle graduated with a BA from Shippensburg University and a Masters of Public Administration from Kent State University.
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JOHN NEUROHR
Partner
Before becoming a Partner, John Neurohr was Director of Engagement and Client Services at Clear Point, having most recently served as the Communications Director at the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. John has years of experience creating and executing strategic communications and outreach plans at the local, state, and national levels, including stints as National Communications Director for America Votes and ProgressNow. Previous to that, he was Strategic Communications Manager at Center for American Progress, where his portfolio included issues like the environment, clean energy, and education. He is a board member of the New Pennsylvania Project, the New Pennsylvania Project Education Fund, and co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania. In 2021, he was named as one of Pennsylvania’s “forty under 40” by City & State Magazine.
John graduated with a BS from Ithaca College, a MPS from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, and a Master's Certificate from Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management.
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GINA PELUSI
Director of Digital Communications
Gina Pelusi joined the Clear Point team in March 2021 as Director of Digital Communications, bringing 15 years of experience in digital marketing and communications to the firm. Gina most recently worked at DICK'S Sporting Goods, where she held several roles over six years with the company, including leading integrated brand and digital marketing campaigns for The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and the Field & Stream brand. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Gina is passionate about issue advocacy and started her career at the Washingtonpost.com in digital advertising focused on political campaigns and advocacy. She is a gun violence prevention advocate and a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. In addition, she’s a Senior Survivor Fellow with Everytown for Gun Safety, advocating for gun safety at the local, state, and federal level. Gina graduated with a BA in Communications from Virginia Tech.
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FAITH CURRAN
Director of Operations
Faith helped launch the precursor to Clear Point, Shelly Communications, in 2007 and has played several roles in the last 15 years working with media, developing grassroots and grasstops networks across the state, writing and editing. As Operations Director she manages the firm’s workflow and finances. She worked extensively for clients in clean energy and climate, healthcare and the delivery of human services and basic education. Faith previously had a lengthy career as a development professional. She worked for Hospice of Central PA (HCP) overseeing a broad range of the agency’s development and communications activities. She also worked for the American Cancer Society as Executive Director in Cumberland and Perry counties and began her career with the American Red Cross in Philadelphia. Faith lives in New Cumberland and is Chairperson of the Planning Commission. Faith graduated from Penn State University.
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OUR ORIGIN
Pete Shelly founded Shelly Communications in 2006, and he and Charlie Lyons joined forces in 2011 to launch ShellyLyons Public Affairs & Communications with the goal of building on their distinct skill sets and networks. Before founding Shelly Communications, Pete had been a statehouse reporter for The Patriot-News and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before he started www.capitolwire.com, the state’s first internet-based news service, which was ultimately purchased by the Associated Press. Charlie had served as State Director for U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania, for 4+ years. In that role, Charlie oversaw the Senator’s state operations, managing outreach and constituent service efforts through seven regional offices across Pennsylvania. Lyons was a senior advisor to the Senator, particularly on issues with significant impact on Pennsylvania and on economic development, infrastructure, and community projects.
The firm has grown and evolved over the years and now has a staff of seven professionals, with offices in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Clear Point Communications provides communications and advocacy services, including message development, paid digital and social media, earned media, and crisis communications.