Our Team

Chris Applegate

Christopher Applegate is President and CEO of GrigsbyApplegate, LLC, a political consulting, fundraising and event planning firm. 

Chris maintains a client roster that includes top Senate and House races each cycle and has advised each of the major Party Committees. Since 2008, Chris has served as a senior political consultant to The Johnson Company, the family office of Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV. Before being appointed Ambassador, Woody and Chris were responsible for raising more than $800 million for the Republican Party and Republican efforts. Ambassador Johnson and Chris led fundraising efforts in the Tri-State area for Trump/Pence Victory 2016, Trump/Pence Transition, and the 58th Presidential Inauguration. In 2012, he and Woody raised more than $79 million for Governor Romney and RNC Victory in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2010, Chris raised more than $7 million in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex for Governor Rick Perry’s winning gubernatorial campaign. He has also served as a senior development advisor for Autism Speaks and the Lupus Research Alliance.

Prior to founding GrigsbyApplegate, Chris was the Deputy Finance Director for Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential race from 2006-2008. Chris led a record-breaking team that consistently exceeded quarterly goals and outraised all other Republican presidential campaigns. 

Involved in Republican politics and fundraising for the last 23 years, Chris has had the opportunity to work with numerous US Presidents, Governors, Senators, Congressmen and the national business community as a finance consultant to the RNC, RGA, NRSC, NRCC, New York’s The Monday Meeting and ran the DC office of Century Strategies.

Caitlin Collins

Caitlin Collins is the President of E Street Strategies and has nearly a decade in political experience. She most recently served as West Regional Finance Director at the RNC raising over $100 million for the 2020 cycle. Prior to her role at the RNC, Caitlin served as Finance Director to then-Governor Rick Scott’s successful campaign for Senate in 2018 which raised $25 million in 8 months and an additional $1.5 million for the Florida recount efforts. 

Caitlin has been on the finance teams for numerous national campaigns, including presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional races. She has extensive experience managing ambitious fundraising and finance operations. Prior to her time in fundraising, she was part of the political team of multiple statewide campaigns in Pennsylvania and worked for a political and government affairs consulting firm.

Taylor Lioce

Taylor Lioce is the Owner of Eleventh Street Strategies, a political fundraising firm based in Washington, D.C., she founded in December 2020. Previously she served as Northeast and Florida Regional Finance Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Trump Victory during the 2020 Presidential and 2018 Midterm election cycles. She is responsible for the highest regional raise of the Presidential cycle, raising more than $300 million and serving as the main point of contact for more than 700 high-level investors.

Prior to this role, Taylor was an integral member of the 58th Presidential Inauguration Committee, which raised more than $100 million, and the 2016 Trump/Pence Transition fundraising team. She also served as the Midwest Deputy Regional Finance Director of the RNC during the 2016 Presidential cycle. 

Taylor got her start in political fundraising as an intern at The McIntosh Company in Dallas, TX, while attending Southern Methodist University, where she earned a B.A. in Communications and minors in Political Science and Advertising. She attended on full scholarship as a Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt Leadership Scholar. Born and raised in Huntsville, AL, she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Brandi Marks

2020 marked Brandi’s fifteenth year as an industry-leading finance consultant. As Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Full House Events LLC, Brandi has provided expertise to campaigns, corporations, non-profits, academic institutions, and government entities looking to achieve a wide range of institutional advancement goals.

With a background in fundraising and development, Brandi understands the intricacies of political giving and philanthropy from the perspective of both the donor/sponsor and the recipient relying on their support.

Brandi’s longstanding relationships in the Tri-State area, Florida and nationwide have been cultivated over decades and include donors with ideologies and objectives that reflect the diversity of center-right and conservative thought. Among her roster of contacts are many of New York’s most prominent business and civic leaders.

Highlights of Brandi’s fundraising, development and strategic consulting career include successful efforts on behalf of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Republican National Committee (RNC), United States Senators, Representatives and hopefuls, and four Presidential races. She was tapped by top cable television providers to introduce targeted, addressable on-air and digital advertising to campaigns and consultants in key markets and served as the Director of Donor Relations during the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden. Brandi was subsequently hired to advise St. Paul, Minnesota and Tampa, Florida’s host committees to develop donor programs and provide expertise in working with the highest level donors and stakeholders.

From producing the re-opening of the Statue of Liberty’s Crown to assisting the Lower Manhattan Development Commission in the aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks to building partnerships in support of Federal Hall National Memorial, Brandi and her team of professionals are committed to projects that promote and acknowledge public service and pride in American values.

Brandi is thrilled to collaborate with a small team of top-tier fundraisers nationwide as part of the Crowned Eagle Consulting Group. This unique consortium provides donors a seamless experience in pursuit of their giving objectives and offers candidates and organizations a turnkey approach to engaging the nation’s most prominent benefactors as well as those new to the political landscape.  

Alli Papa

Alli Papa is the President and CEO of Sky View Capital, LLC and has over 8 years of experience in major donor fundraising. Most recently, Alli served as the Midwest Regional Finance Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Trump Victory, raising more than $80 million for the 2020 cycle. She managed all major donor fundraising and events, working directly with high level donors, raisers, and top surrogates. 

Alli spent the 2014 and 2016 cycles at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), where she aided in direct NRCC fundraising and leadership events with the Speaker of the House and Majority Leader. She was event lead on the annual NRCC March Dinner in 2015 and 2016, exceeding fundraising goals each year. In addition, she advised Congressional Candidates and vulnerable Members on finance plan development to achieve fundraising goals. 

Prior to her time in fundraising, Alli worked at a foreign policy think tank and on Capitol Hill. Alli attended University of Richmond and currently resides in Washington, DC.