The   Praetorian   Cohort

Matt Shupe

Principal

Matt Shupe founded Praetorian Public Relations in 2013 with no money, few industry relationships, and one client. Now Shupe and Praetorian Public Relations are among the country’s most sought-after consultants for strategic communications, crisis management, political campaigns, advertising, social media, and branding.

The American Association of Political Consultants named Shupe 40 under 40 in the United States, AroundTheCapitol.com named him one of the top five communications professionals in California, and he contributed to Praetorian Public Relations winning AAPC’s Pollie Awards for the first ever best use of AI, digital web video for issue advocacy, and Facebook in the country.

Shupe frequently teaches public relations, crisis management, social media, AI, and digital advertising to elected officials and professionals throughout the United States and internationally.

Shupe has been quoted over 4,500 times in nearly every news outlet in the United States over the last ten years as a spokesperson or expert, and is occasionally a guest on Fox Business.

He doesn’t just handle chaotic, no-notice, short-timeline, high-impact projects—he thrives on them. Friends list him as their emergency contact when traveling internationally because they know he will move heaven and earth to help in a crisis. He brings that same ethos to every client.

Shupe earned Bachelor’s Degrees from California State University, Fresno in Mass Communication and Journalism with emphasis in Public Relations, and Political Science. He splits his time between Sacramento, Calif. and Washington D.C. His hobbies are traveling, road trips, paddle boarding, stand-up comedy, history, shooting, and movies. He has never been married and doesn’t have any children.

One of California’s top Republican political consultants

Top Republican strategist in California

One of California’s most connected Republican communications strategists

Trevor Lewis

Managing Director

Trevor Lewis is a dynamic professional who has made significant contributions to Praetorian Public Relations since joining the team in 2019.

Prior to joining the company, Lewis had established himself as an entrepreneur and digital marketing expert, founding a number of successful companies in California’s Central Valley. Additionally, he served as a District Director for a state legislator and was instrumental in multiple successful political campaigns.

Drawing upon his extensive experience in business and marketing, Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge to the Praetorian Public Relations team. His expertise in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business strategy have helped numerous clients achieve remarkable growth in sales, with some even exceeding 300%.

With an eye for innovation and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies, Lewis has demonstrated a keen ability to deliver results for his clients.

Lewis earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Fresno Pacific University. In addition to his work at Praetorian Public Relations, Lewis is a mentor, sharing his expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs and marketers.

Praetorian Public Relations is fast and responsive when it matters most. After I was seriously injured by Antifa, the team rapidly deployed to Portland to help me in person. That is the kind of response you need in this industry.

Daytona Everett

Public Relations Director

Daytona Everett joined Praetorian Public Relations in 2022 after working as a National News Anchor at Fox Corporation, where she anchored major stories including the 2020 election, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the global coronavirus pandemic.

For the past four years, Daytona has served as Director of Public Relations at Praetorian PR, leading strategic communications and national media relations for nonprofits, political campaigns, law firms, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. She specializes in securing national media coverage, developing compelling messaging, navigating fast-moving news cycles, and preparing clients for high-profile interviews.

Daytona began her career in broadcast journalism, working as an investigative reporter and anchor at KOMU-TV and later as an evening anchor and reporter at KMIR-TV in Palm Springs. Her reporting on California politics, breaking news, and major wildfires was featured nationally.

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Daytona brings extensive experience in national media relations, strategic messaging, digital and social media, media training, public speaking, and communications consulting.

Thank you Praetorian Public Relations for yet ANOTHER professionally organized and well-attended presser, this one on very short notice during COVID drama.

Brandon Ballard

Creative Director

Brandon Ballard joined Praetorian Public Relations in 2026, bringing more than a decade of experience producing compelling visual stories for national brands, Fortune 500 companies, and public leaders. As a filmmaker and creative director, Brandon specializes in transforming complex ideas into engaging content that informs, inspires, and drives action.

Brandon began his career producing documentary and digital content for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), contributing to acclaimed series including UFC Embedded, a Webby Award-winning production, and Road to the Octagon. He later worked on programming for Food Network, Travel Channel, TruTV, and other national television networks before expanding into commercial and corporate filmmaking.

As Creative Director for a nationally recognized creative agency, Brandon led the production of investor and consumer-facing campaigns for many Fortune 500 companies, creating IPO roadshow films, conference media, commercials, executive communications, and brand storytelling designed to engage audiences and support business growth.

After relocating to Northern California in 2017, Brandon focused on using storytelling to strengthen local communities. He founded regional marketing platforms to support local businesses while producing campaigns and advocacy projects for political candidates, public officials, businesses, and community organizations throughout California. His work has helped clients communicate effectively with voters, stakeholders, government agencies, and the public.

At Praetorian Public Relations, Brandon combines cinematic storytelling with strategic communications to help clients connect with audiences, build credibility, and amplify their message on a national stage.

Agriculture is full of complicated issues that don’t fit into a thirty-second soundbite. Praetorian Public Relations helped us build a campaign that combined documentary storytelling, content creators, strategic communications, and outreach from California to Washington, D.C. They understood both the policy and the people behind it, and that’s a rare combination.

Ian Eckstein

Digital Marketing Strategist

Ian Eckstein is a seasoned professional in the field of SEO and digital media production, with over a decade of experience in the industry. He has been involved with Praetorian Public Relations since the company’s inception in 2013, and has been instrumental in driving the company’s success through his expertise in online marketing strategies.

Ian’s keen eye for design and passion for innovation have been pivotal in the development of dozens of websites from the ground up. Many of the websites currently managed by Ian generate millions of organic (non-ad) hits per month and tens of thousands of leads.

In one recent campaign for an established company, Ian’s skills led to an astounding 800% increase in inbound leads after just six months.

Beyond his work at Praetorian Public Relations, Ian is a recognized industry leader and serves as a mentor to up-and-coming SEO professionals. He holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing, which has provided him with a solid foundation in the principles of effective digital marketing.

The website itself was made possible by the tireless efforts of Matt Shupe, Ian Eckstein, and Morgan Murtaugh. Even though the website just went live, many people have already donated in the past 48 hours, raising nearly $20,000.