BIOS:

Jeff Simmons has more than three decades of experience in private and public sector communications, media, and journalism. Since joining Anat Gerstein, Inc. as Executive Vice President in 2012, Jeff has provided strategic communications and public relations services to nonprofits through New York City. He previously served as Senior Vice President for Communications at the Alliance for Downtown New York, the country’s largest Business Improvement District. Prior to that, he oversaw communications for New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. for eight years, and served as Campaign Advisor toThompson in 2009 and Campaign Manager in 2005, as well as serving as Communications Director for David Paterson in his campaign for New York State Lieutenant Governor.

Jeff spent 17 years as a journalist at New York 1 News, New York Daily News, New York Post, and The (Bergen) Record of Hackensack. His freelance writing has appeared in Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, Metrosource, The Advocate, and New Jersey Monthly Magazine, and regularly leads workshops on nonprofit communications. Jeff lives in Queens.

Celeste Katz Marston has spent 25 years reporting for newspapers, magazines, and radio and specializes in covering politics, elections, and voting rights.

She has been on staff at the New York Daily News, Newsweek, Conde Nast, and The Providence Journal, among others. She also has served as a freelance writer, producer, and host for outlets including Nieman Reports, NBC Asian America, Hearst Magazines, SiriusXM, and The Boston Globe. Celeste is a regular commentator on U.S. politics for Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio and the co-author of Is This Any Way To Vote? Vulnerable Voting Machines and the Mysterious Industry Behind Them (WhoWhatWhy, 2020.)

At WBAI, Celeste has co-hosted Driving Forces, contributed news reports to City Watch, and produced the series "New York In Crisis: WBAI's Coronavirus Diary," among other duties.

She holds a degree in International Relations from Brown University.