Areas of Expertise:
Stephanie Waties is a Senior Director in APCO’s Washington headquarters. She counsels Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and coalitions on opportunities at the intersection of corporate reputation and public affairs.
Credibility is earned – not given, not assumed, not improvised.
Stephanie leads integrated campaigns that advance clients’ business objectives, policy priorities and license to operate. She specializes in translating complex policy issues into clear, compelling narratives for audiences including customers, investors, employees and reporters.
With a career dedicated to guiding organizations through significant periods of growth and transformation, Stephanie has experience across highly regulated sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, higher education, healthcare and technology. She is skilled in risk mitigation and crisis response, having directed incident communications teams across four time zones during major corporate and operational crises.
Stephanie previously led APCO’s Transportation and Infrastructure practice, where she successfully defended clients’ positions in the marketplace by overcoming regional policy concerns and strengthening relationships with local communities. A seasoned agency professional, she has also held key positions at Beltway consultancies Widmeyer Communications, Finn Partners and LSG.
Recognized by Business Insider and the Public Relations Society of America, Stephanie’s work has earned her industry accolades and the trust of leading organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from American University’s School of Public Affairs.