Page 46 - BusinessWest April 27, 2026

Evan Garber
Architect of Political Strategy,
Anthony L. Cignoli & Associates:
Age 26
ents when he took a keen interest in one
As a child, Evan Garber surprised his par-
of President Obama’s State of the Union
speeches. And he never lost his interest in
the political sphere, even when he enrolled at
UMass Amherst thinking he might be a teacher
someday, like both his mother and father.
But he shifted gears in graduate school,
earning a master’s degree in public policy
and getting connected to Tony Cignoli for
an internship. And he found a real passion
for the work being done at that business,
governmental, and political consultancy —
and he’s been there ever since, eventually
becoming the youngest vice president in the
firm’s history.
“I love the variety of impact we have. If
I was working a desk job in a cubicle doing
the same repetitive tasks every day, I
would explode,” he said. “I love a variety
of challenges, new things that come in
every single day, whether it’s working
with Hollywood clients like Ed Begley Jr. or
doing pro bono work for a local nonprofit,
or working with international clients like
Eastman, or political campaigns in Georgia and South
Carolina.”
Equally gratifying is seeing the community impact of
some of that work. For example, Garber helped secure
state and federal funding for the ongoing, multi-million-
dollar renovation of Easthampton’s Old Town Hall for the
CitySpace performing arts project.
“They’re constructing an elevator shaft and making
the whole building accessible for arts programming, and
driving past that every day is so cool,” he said. “ It’s a
concrete example of the work we do. I’ve always been
engaged with local communities — how we can solve our
big issues?”
Active in the local theater scene, Garber has also taken
on numerous community volunteer roles over the years,
like his work with the Manhan Rail Trail Committee,
with which he oversaw a MassTrails grant for repaving,
organized and completed a trail map update, and has
worked with MassBike to implement bike valet at
community events.
“I moved to Easthampton after grad school, and
now I’m on the rail trail all the time. So I asked,
how can I give back to this?” he said. “Especially
after COVID, a lot of these nonprofits and municipal
boards don’t have as many people on them, so it’s
really good for young people like me to join these
things — anything I can do to give back to organizations that
have given so much to me.”
—Joseph Bednar
Congratulations Evan Garber!
Every now and then, in this tough and
ever-changing profession, a new player
comes along with everything it takes.
Thank you.
You’re essential to our team, game after game.
A. L. Cignoli Company
Public, Media, Political and Government Relations, Corporate Crisis Management
The Game Has Changed. We Play To Win. For You
A24 2026
Business W est