Confidential. Strategic. Relentless.

Susan Barnes

With more than three decades of proven expertise in crisis management, media strategy, and complex communications, Susan Barnes is known for bringing clarity and control to the most challenging situations. As Founder and Principal of Barnes Crisis Communications, she provides trusted counsel to executives, brands, and organizations navigating public scrutiny, litigation, and high-stakes issues.

Susan began her career in state and local government and nonprofit leadership before founding Barnes & Company in 2000, where she built a reputation for deftly handling land-use disputes, fundraising challenges, and emerging crises. Barnes Crisis Communications evolved from that foundation, focusing the firm’s deep experience on helping leaders and organizations prevent crises before they escalate and respond decisively when they do.

Susan believes in supporting local nonprofits by sharing her expertise with numerous nonprofits. She has served as a board member for numerous community nonprofits including the San Francisco Bay Trail, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (Luther Burbank Center for the Arts). and California Chapter of the American Association of Political Consultants.

Susan leads every engagement personally. Clients work directly with Susan and our senior strategists who bring decades of experience advising businesses, high-profile individuals, law firms, and nonprofits—quietly achieving outcomes that protect reputations and restore stability.

Cynthia Murray

Cynthia Murray brings five decades of proven leadership across government, business, and community development. After a successful technology sales career, Murray began a 15-year career in elected office serving on the Novato City Council and on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

After elected service, Murray became President and CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council, representing leading employers across the region. For more than 17 years, she guided regional policy on housing, education, transportation, and climate resilience. Cynthia’s decades of board service spans business, education, health, and economic development on boards such as Bay Area Council’s Economic Advisory Board, First 5 — Sonoma County, Sonoma County Business & Ag Consortium, Sonoma County Health Action Council, REAL Coalition, California Stewardship Network, the California Business Preschool Advisory Council and a Board Member of the Golden Gate Bridge and Transit District.

She currently serves on the New California Coalition Foundation Board and Dominican University’s Barowsky School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and Center for Global Innovation Board. Cynthia's leadership has been recognized with numerous awards for economic development, child advocacy, and housing reform.

As a key client advisor for Barnes Crisis Communications, Cynthia brings unmatched institutional knowledge, policy expertise, and a steady hand—helping clients navigate high-stakes issues where public trust, leadership, and communication intersect.

Jamey Blood

With a decade of experience working alongside Susan Barnes at Barnes & Company, Jamey Blood has built a reputation as the calm at the center of the storm. As Chief Project Manager, Social Media Director, and Community Liaison across multiple high-profile campaigns, she has helped clients navigate regulatory, reputational, and community-relations challenges with precision and poise.

At Barnes Crisis Communications, Jamey brings her deep experience in complex land-use issues, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement to help clients manage critical moments and protect public trust. Known for her unflappable professionalism and clear communication, Jamey blends strategic rigor with genuine empathy—keeping projects aligned, teams focused, and outcomes on course.

In addition to her communications work, Jamey is a licensed California real estate professional and certified Transaction Coordinator, lending a pragmatic, ground-level understanding of property, permitting, and community impact that strengthens every project she leads.

Strategic Partner: Flannel

Flannel is a creative studio that specializes in bringing clarity and steadiness to moments when communication matters most. For more than two decades, they’ve helped organizations navigate high-pressure situations with clear messaging, intuitive digital tools, and design that builds trust when people need it most. Flannel works closely with Barnes Crisis Communications and their clients to respond quickly, translate complex information into plain language, and create materials that support decisive, confident communication in any crisis. Learn More about Flannel