Michael LaRosa is a Partner at Ballard, referred to as "the most powerful" Strategic Services, Governmental, and Public Affairs firm in Washington, DC. Ballard Partners is composed of more than 50 full-time, bi-partisan professionals with substantial backgrounds in all levels of government – including former members of Congress, Ambassadors, and former top staff members from across the government. Ballard combines our knowledge with our public policy experience, integral intergovernmental relationships, and strategic partnerships to exceed clients’ goals.Michael is also a frequent commentator on Fox News, CNN, News Nation, MSNBC, and Newsmax and was an ABC News Political Contributor, providing analysis of Congress, campaigns, elections, and news of the day during the 2022 midterm election cycle.Prior to joining Ballard, he was Managing Director at Penta, a global public affairs firm. He previously served as Special Assistant to President Joe Biden and Press Secretary to First Lady Jill Biden. He joined the White House on day one of the Biden-Harris administration. He planned all media/press strategy and was the chief advocate for the needs of the traveling press corps on the First Lady’s historic surprise visit to a war zone in western Ukraine and her events at the NATO, G-7, and G-20 Summits and the Summit of the Americas. He traveled with the First Lady to over 75 cities, 40 states, and 18 countries. Michael was traveling press secretary and chief spokesperson for Dr. Biden on the Biden-Harris Transition, the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign, and Joe Biden’s successful primary campaign for the Democratic Nomination. Prior to joining the Biden Campaign, he led communications for the House Democratic Policy Communications Committee in the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Michael spent 7 years at NBC NEWS as a television producer for MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, one of the original and longest-running political talk shows on cable news.Michael was a national high school All-American and Division I NCAA swimmer, competing in two U.S. Opens, four Big East Conference Championships, and broke several college and high school records. He was inducted into the Easton Area High School Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, Michael holds a degree in political science from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and a master’s degree in government from American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.