Stanhope Partners
Founder + President
Bob’s the guy who asks the question that leads to the answer we need. It’s a unique gift and a valuable asset in our work together.
Robert Bellafiore brings 30 years of experience at senior levels of government, politics, journalism, public relations, public affairs and business.
Robert (Bob) Bellafiore is a communications pro who uses his 35+ years’ experience in journalism, government, advocacy, education and business to help clients solve their problems. He’s as comfortable working with Governors, CEOs, religious leaders, and university presidents as he is with parents, teachers, lawyers, non-profit leaders, academics and people with developmental disabilities.
A former state Capitol reporter for The Associated Press in New York, where his beats included Gov. Mario Cuomo, politics, education, economics, fiscal policy, courts and urban issues, Bob started Stanhope Partners in 2012 to “help good people who want to do the right thing the right way.”
Known as a skilled, effective and respected strategist and tactician, highly regarded among journalists, elected officials, colleagues and clients, Bob understands how smart messaging and timely communications with important stakeholders – through the news media and other vehicles – can strengthen an organization’s success.
Bob’s skills and knowledge of the public environment grow from a unique and successful career in journalism, government, business, K-12 and higher education, consulting, and non-profit management.
He’s a frequent commentator on New York and national politics for both print and broadcast outlets. His commentaries have been published in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and other major newspapers. City & State Magazine has named Bob one of New York’s 50 most influential people at the intersection of public relations and politics.
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In government, Bob served as New York Gov. George Pataki’s first press secretary and chief speech writer, Director of Special Projects, and later deputy chief of staff for policy and planning. He helped shepherd passage and implementation of major reforms, including New York’s Charter Schools Act, and played senior roles in Pataki’s two successful re-election campaigns.
In business, Bob was a senior partner and board director of Eric Mower and Associates,
one of the nation’s largest independent marketing, advertising and PR agencies, and later Vice President at National Heritage Academies, a $450 million multi-state charter school operator.
He is a former Trustee of the State University of New York, the nation’s largest comprehensive public university system, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of the Albany (NY) Diocese and as Board of Trustees Chairman for Troy (NY) Prep Charter Schools.
Bob was a founding board member of the Chicago-based National Association of Charter Schools Authorizers (NACSA) and also served on the board of the National Charter Schools Institute (Mt. Pleasant, MI).
A native of Queens, NY, Bob began his career as a journalist and covered New York State government and politics for The Associated Press in Albany, NY, where his beats included Gov. Mario Cuomo, politics, education, economics, fiscal policy, courts and urban issues.
He and his wife, Marilyn, live near Albany, NY and have two grown sons – Fr. Sam, a priest in the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese, and Robert Jr., a policy adviser in the U.S. Congress.
“
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.
– Groucho Marx
Bob’s career includes top-level responsibility for:
- Political and governmental communications, media strategy
- Advocacy strategy and execution
- Crisis management and communications
- Message development
- Stakeholder identification and outreach
- Policy development
- Public policy research and analysis
- Government and political journalism
- Coordinated issue campaigns
- Grassroots development
- Business development and strategy
- Passing and defeating legislation
- Conference and seminar content development
- Speechwriting and speechmaking
- Trade association communications and management
- Board Governance in businesses, non-profits, K-12 and public higher education
Experience + Education
2012-Present
2005-2018
Capital Tonight's ``Insiders``
Political Analyst/Commentator on NYS and National Politics, Policy and Strategy
2010-2011
National Heritage Academies
Vice President, Partner Services and Strategic Initiatives
2003-2010
Eric Mower and Associates
Senior Partner, Director of Public Affairs
1995-2003
Office of the Governor
Gov. George E. Pataki
Press Secretary; Deputy Secretary for Policy and Planning; Director of Special Projects
1999-2002
State Univ. of NY Charter Schools Institute
President
1991-1994
The Business Council of NYS, Inc.
Communications Director
1987-1991
The Associated Press
Political and Government Reporter
1983-1984
The Knickerbocker News
Editorial Clerk, Reporter, Chef’s Secrets Editor
Volunteer Service
2019-Present
Catholic Charities of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese
Board of Trustees
2017-Present
The Evangelist Newspaper
Board of Directors, Albany, NY
2012-Present
Troy (NY) Prep Charter Schools
Board of Trustees
2002-2009
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Member, National Education Advisory Council, Cooperstown, NY
Sampling of Op-Eds and Commentary
2019
“Charter Schools Don’t Have Eternal Bureaucratic Life.”
The Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2019
2019
“The War on Charters is a War to Deny Minority Opportunity.”
The New York Post, August 26, 201
2019
``The New York Union That Says Ni.”
The Wall Street Journal, April 8, 2019
2010
“2010: A Perfect Voter Storm.”
The New York Post, November 5, 2010
2006
“Marching into Albany: Advice for Spitzer.”
The New York Times, December 24, 2006
2003
“Dream Schools: Charters a beacon of hope.”
The New York Post, October 30, 2003
Education
1978-1982
The University at Albany
B.A., English, Journalism
Contact
Feel free to reach out!
Phone & Email
518.928.8471
bob@stanhope-ny.com