Sharp, Resourceful, and Committed to Every Client's Success

We're hands-on strategists who roll up our sleeves, build real relationships, and do whatever it takes to help our clients succeed.

Our Team

What sets Berger Hirschberg Strategies apart is simple: our people. Our team is made up of seasoned fundraising professionals who have worked at the highest levels of democratic politics and nonprofit leadership. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We listen, we strategize, and we execute — bringing creativity, tenacity, and decades of hard-won expertise to help our clients achieve what others say can't be done.

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“Berger Hirschberg Strategies took the time to understand the communities i serve — the most diverse county in the nation — and helped me build a donor base that mirrored that diversity. BHS doesn't just raise money; they help you build the kind of broad-based support that sustains a career in public service.”

Melinda Katz
Queens District Attorney

Josh Arker
Associate Partner

Josh Arker is Associate Partner at Berger Hirschberg Strategies, where he has built his career over the past 12 years. Since joining the firm in 2014, Josh has advanced from Director of Special Projects to Vice ….

  • …. President of Client Relations before becoming Associate Partner in 2022.

    Currently, Josh leads major capital campaigns, including a multi-million initiative for a country music theater and community center in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His expertise spans prospect research, donor cultivation, and strategic fundraising across political, nonprofit, and cultural sectors.

    Before joining BH Strategies, Josh founded and led Red Dawn Trading and Full House Events, developing strong entrepreneurial and event management skills. His career began in the nonprofit sector as Events Manager for NYC 2000 - Mayor's Office for the Millennium, followed by the UJA-Federation of New York. This foundation in event production and nonprofit development has informed his strategic approach to relationship-driven fundraising and campaign management throughout his distinguished career. Currently, Josh leads major capital campaigns, including a multi-million initiative for a country music theater and community center in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His expertise spans prospect research, donor cultivation, and strategic fundraising across political, nonprofit, and cultural sectors.

    Before joining BH Strategies, Josh founded and led Red Dawn Trading and Full House Events, developing strong entrepreneurial and event management skills. His career began in the nonprofit sector as Events Manager for NYC 2000 - Mayor's Office for the Millennium, followed by the UJA-Federation of New York. This foundation in event production and nonprofit development has informed his strategic approach to relationship-driven fundraising and campaign management throughout his distinguished career.

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Caroline Bovair-Lopez
Vice President

Caroline Bovair-Lopez is a Vice President at Berger Hirschberg Strategies, where she works across political campaigns and nonprofit organizations and leads the majority of the DC office’s nonprofit work. ….

  • …. She joined BHS in 2019 and oversees development strategy for national nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and political campaigns, supporting fundraising programs from early growth through national scale. Prior to BHS, Caroline spent several years on Capitol Hill working for two Members of Congress in senior administrative and scheduling roles. Earlier in her career, she was part of the 2016 election cycle at American Bridge 21st Century, contributing to presidential and vice-presidential research and rapid-response efforts. She holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Applied Politics from American University’s School of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wittenberg University.

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Annie Weir
Associate Partner

Annie Weir is the Associate Partner for the City & State practice at Berger Hirschberg Strategies. Previously, Ms. Weir owned an independent political fundraising firm where she focused her work primarily on state ….

  • …. legislative races.

    Prior to that, Ms. Weir was Sponsorship Manager for the Clinton Global Initiative where her team secured over $26 million in sponsorship revenue and managed high-profile relationships among the foundation’s top donors. In 2008, she was Deputy Finance Director for Hillary Clinton for President in the campaign’s highest raising office. Ms. Weir has also held the positions of Finance Associate for Friends of Hillary and Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Senator Dianne Feinstein. 

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Drew Persinger
Vice President

Drew Persinger is a seasoned political strategist and fundraiser with more than a decade of experience supporting federal candidates, PACs, and independent expenditure organizations. ….

  • …. He began his career in Washington, D.C., raising funds for Members of Congress serving on the Agriculture and Financial Services Committees, as well as for Democratic caucuses and 501(c)(4) organizations.

    Drew later moved to New York City to join BHS, where he leads the firm’s federal client portfolio. In this role, he directs political and fundraising strategy for high-profile U.S. House, Senate, and gubernatorial campaigns, along with independent expenditures and joint fundraising committees —focused on delivering critical resources, elevating national profiles, and building effective coalitions.

    Focused on national fundraising operations, Drew builds and manages effective fundraising teams, maximizes digital programs, and develops targeted state and regional strategies. He advises candidates on pathways to victory, national messaging, and scaling campaigns to compete at the highest level.

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Zoe Reals
Deputy Finance Director

Zoe Reals is a Deputy Finance Director at Berger Hirschberg Strategies, having joined the firm in 2025. She began her political career in various roles with Democratic members of Congress, PACs, and nonprofit organizations, ….

  • …. supporting their fundraising and legislative priorities. In the spring and summer of 2024, she worked at Fulkerson Kennedy & Company, where she supported fundraising efforts for prominent Democratic Senators’ re-election campaigns. Prior to her time at Fulkerson Kennedy & Company, she interned in the district office of Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). Zoe graduated Cum Laude from Colgate University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy and Environmental Studies.

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Isabella Nave
National Finance Director

Isabella is a Philadelphia native and a graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Political Science and American Studies.

She began her career at Berger ….

  • …. Hirschberg Strategies as a fellow in 2024 and now serves as Deputy Finance Director for the Federal Department, primarily supporting Congressman Eric Swalwell (CA-14) and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-9). At BHS, Isabella has worked on more than ten congressional campaigns, bringing strong organizational skills, strategic insight, and energy to her work supporting national Democratic leaders. 

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Ben Miles
Deputy Finance Director

Ben Miles graduated from Trinity College with a degree in Political Science in 2022. Before joining Berger Hirschberg Strategies, he worked in nonprofit and state political fundraising at The Advance Group. ….

  • …. Ben began working at BHS in 2024. In his role as Deputy Finance Director for the City & State team, he has been part of many successful city and state campaigns. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing soccer and guitar.

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Patrick Varhue
Vice President, Campaign Finance Operations

Patrick Varhue is Vice President of Campaign Finance Operations at Berger Hirschberg Strategies Washington, DC office. Patrick joined BHS in 2021 and primarily leads ….

  • …. on the firm's Congressional clients: overseeing national fundraising events, securing individual meetings and managing client’s fundraising from PACs. He has also helped raise funds for Political Action Committees and nonprofit organizations.

    Patrick graduated from UMass Amherst with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He is originally from East Longmeadow, MA and is a proud advocate for Western Mass.

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Tucker Pellegrino
Director of Operations

A Delaware native, Tucker began his career as a Field Organizer for Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Congressional campaign in 2022, where he managed the campaign’s ….

  • …. canvassing and phone-banking operations throughout Morris County.

    Following his time at Mikie Sherrill for Congress, Tucker joined BHS in the fall of 2023.

    Tucker graduated from Manhattan College in 2022 with his B.A. in Political Science.

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