Emily Baker, Founder + CEO

Emily Baker is a visionary executive and strategic advisor with over two decades of experience helping organizations navigate complex public affairs challenges and drive success. As the founder and CEO of Portman Square Group, Emily leverages her extensive networks and expertise to develop winning strategies for clients ranging from Fortune 100 firms to innovative nonprofits.

With a rare blend of high-level government, corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Emily brings unique insight to solving problems. She is adept at designing impactful outreach campaigns, managing crisis communications, and advising on policy issues. Emily's collaborative leadership and innovative thinking help clients cut through the noise and achieve their goals.

Prior to founding PSG, Emily was appointed by President Bush to lead the GSA's Northeast and Caribbean region, managing a $2B budget and high-profile projects like the U.N. Mission buildout. She served at the U.S. Dept of Commerce working on global trade and IP issues, and began her career under Governors Phil Batt and Haley Barbour.

A committed community leader, Emily serves on several prominent boards, educates the next generation as an adjunct professor, and was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar. Her strategic mind and passion for making an impact make her a trusted advisor to clients navigating an increasingly complex world.

AMY HOLLY, Principal

Amy joined Portman Square Group (PSG) in 2021 and actively contributes to client success in both the global intelligence and strategic communications practices. She leads and supports projects in business intelligence, due diligence, strategic communications, and crisis management. With a background in advanced research skills, writing, policy analysis, and public affairs, Amy brings extensive experience in complex due diligence, competitive intelligence, and multi-jurisdictional research to PSG’s clients.

Before joining PSG, Amy spent over a decade in healthcare policy and government relations, managing public-private partnership contracts for the northwest’s leading mental health and substance abuse treatment organization. As Director of Government Contracts and Public Affairs, she worked extensively on healthcare policy, regulatory compliance, and strategic positioning. She also spent 12 years lobbying on healthcare, energy, transportation, and retail policy issues at the Idaho State Legislature, developing a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, policy making, and stakeholder engagement.

Amy holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Political Science from Boise State University and speaks French. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho, serving on both the executive committee and as chair to the biomedical committee.

Gemma Gaudette, Senior Media Advisor

Gemma's vast experience as a News Anchor and Reporter has positioned her to be a skilled media trainer, content coach and producer. She helps executives and other spokespersons conduct better interviews and take on the media with poise and confidence, with messages that impact the audiences they are trying to reach.

Gemma’s work as a media trainer and coach comes after a distinguished two decades long career as a broadcast anchor and reporter in mid and major markets, including Tampa, Florida where she covered the Bush/Kerry Presidential race, interviewing both candidates. Gemma also covered NASA’s return to flight after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, as well as the devastation and aftermath of major hurricanes, including Katrina, Wilma, Rita, and Ivan.

As a former journalist Gemma understands what reporters and other interviewers are looking for and she knows how to deal with their tactics and share that insight with our clients. Gemma’s expertise also includes communications planning and strategy, content development and promotion, crisis communications, media and influencer relations, and message development.

As the Regional Communication Director for the University of Idaho, Gemma earned coverage for the UI in outlets including the Associated Press, NPR, New York Times, Inside Higher Ed, and The Chronicle for Higher Education.

Gemma, her husband, and two young sons live and play in Boise, Idaho. In her spare time she loves reading, traveling, and running.

Ingrid Finstuen, Senior Content Advisor

Over the past two decades, Ingrid Finstuen has gained extensive experience in writing and editing. Ingrid began her career at the Perseus Books Group, a publisher based in Boston and New York. In her time there, she helped shepherd nonfiction books from acquisition through publication, a process that involved developmentally editing authors' work, writing marketing copy, and collaborating across departments.  After leaving the East Coast to return to her native Northwest, Ingrid and her family opened a successful retail business where she wrote and edited all communications, including newsletters, web site content, technical content, and social media. In the years since having children and selling the business, Ingrid has continued writing and editing on a freelance basis, most recently serving as the project manager for an edited collection published by Oxford University Press. Through these varied professional settings Ingrid has delighted in a common thread: the opportunity to distill a message and craft it in a way that speaks clearly and cohesively to a particular audience.

Ingrid holds a master's degree in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and a bachelor's degree in English from Pacific Lutheran University. She lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, two sons, and basset hound. In her spare time, she enjoys playing games with her family, hiking, knitting, reading, and traveling.