Spilling the Beans: Meet Riley, our New Associate
We’re excited to introduce Riley Bean, our newest Associate! Riley is joining The Herald Group following roles in both the journalism and digital marketing industries. With a love of writing, media, and current events, Riley is ready to help clients build the right strategy to target the right people with the right message. On the weekends, you’ll almost always find Riley outside. Whether hiking, fishing, or hunting, he is an avid outdoorsman. We’re looking forward to the perspective and outside-the-box thinking Riley brings both professionally and personally.
We sat down with Riley for a quick Q&A to get to know him better.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I’m Riley, and I’m thrilled to be joining THG. I’m from New York City, but both of my parents are from Georgia, and they never let me forget it. While I was raised in Manhattan, my favorite places on earth are in the woods or on the ocean. I’m a bit of a history buff, and I’m fascinated by learning and understanding new cultures and religions. I’ve always had a passion for writing, storytelling, and nuanced narrative. Communications is all about knowing your audience, and I believe genuine curiosity and moderated empathy best achieve that.
What led you to a career in public affairs?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write and read the news, even thinking I would be a journalist while growing up. Following a stint as a digital producer in Charleston, I moved to New York to try and apply my love of writing to a career in digital marketing. While I learned a lot about how to lead eyes to content, there was less opportunity to write. Public affairs has been the perfect confluence of my interests, abilities, and experience, and I look forward to hitting the ground running.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned in your career?
Strong team member communication combined with a culture of transparency leads to the most successful businesses. I’ve learned that it works best to approach campaigns with an expedition mentality—like climbing a mountain. Some days you carry the heavier load, and others you’re the one needing a helping hand; ultimately, it’s about achieving the common goal.
How do you think communications is evolving in today’s media and political landscape?
Communications is evolving in a direction toward specificity and compartmentalization. Targeting is everything, and subcultures are permeating the country faster than ever before. It’s not just right and left—individuals pick 50 echo chambers and attempt to find the resonance between them. From pickleball lovers to catfish noodlers to transcendental yogis, everyone has numerous overlapping labels and identities. Executing a strategy that acknowledges this is the best way to convey a message and foster trust.
How do you hope to make an impact through your new role?
I hope to bring a can-do attitude to the office and apply knowledge I’ve learned elsewhere to help develop successful strategies.
Outside of work, where would we find you? What are you passionate about?
I love to hike, sail, and camp. Ideally, I’ll be camping in the Shenandoah National Park backcountry. Otherwise, if you see me in D.C., I’m either dancing at a concert, perusing a museum, or at a restaurant. I love ethnic food and international grocery stores, and I’m trying to become a better cook.
We’re thrilled to welcome Riley to the team—his creative thinking, collaborative spirit, and energy have already begun to make an impact. Be prepared for a hard-working colleague who loves fun facts and truly believes in no bad ideas during a brainstorm.