Senior Vice President

Stephan Marshall

Stephan Marshall serves as senior vice president of Connective Strategies Associates (CSA) since 2022, bringing over two decades of social justice work and strategy to the firm. He provides leadership to CSA clients, advising them on the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and corporate reputation and other account management duties.

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Stephan started his political and social justice life in his youth. At just 11 years old, Stephan was already deep in New York City politics, entrenched in the Reverend Al Sharpton’s 1997 mayoral campaign. He spent his youth and adult years civically engaged, traveling the span of the country to provide aide and deliver resources to the grieving families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Sean Bell, and Trayvon Martin, to name a few.

Stephan also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Reverend Al Sharpton and continues to respond to the marginalized and underserved, shedding light in dark places.  Stephan is a 2023 recipient of City and State’s 40 Under 40 recognition.

Director of Operations

Lashea Woodson

Lashea Woodson is a seasoned professional in the political arena, getting her first start at Connective Strategies Associates (CSA) as a canvasser at 15 years old. She is currently the director of operations where she is responsible for human resources, billing, training, data entry/bookkeeping, and overseeing field operations for the team. She leads with passion and executes with efficiency, bringing a strong structure to the firm.

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During her tenure at CSA, Lashea has been a field director and/or campaign manager for high-profile races such as Donovan Richards for Queens Borough President, Jeff Aubry for Assembly, and Katz for DA. She takes immense pride in the role she played in Melinda Katz’s successful, historic win, who became the first female district attorney in Queens.​

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Because of her stellar work, she now sits on the Queens District Attorney’s Office LGBTQ+ Advisory Council.

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Lashea is a 2022 recipient of City and State’s 40 Under 40 recognition and was honored by Gay City News with a 2023 Impact Award. She holds a degree in Sociology and Business Administration from the SUNY University at Albany with desires to become an attorney in the future.

Vice President - Faith Initiative 

Eric Figueroa

Pastor Eric Figueroa serves as vice president for the Faith-Based Initiatives at Connective Strategies. Prior to this role, Eric spent over a decade in the New York City public school system serving in various leadership capacities. Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Long Island University, C.W. He is currently the Co-Pastor of New Life Tabernacle in Brooklyn, where he works closely with his father, Archbishop Eric Figueroa.

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Eric is passionate about youth and young adult initiatives. In his spare time, he loves to travel, shop, and spend time with his family - his wife, Octavia, and their two beautiful children, Eric III and Elyn Olivia.

Creative and Data Director

Leslie Patterson

Leslie Patterson is a multi-faceted professional, utilizing her talents at Connective Strategies Associates (CSA) since 2019. As a Creative and Data Director at CSA, she focuses on strategic research and visual communications. Leslie aids clients in conducting comprehensive legislative and regulatory research, enabling them with a deeper comprehension of the intricacies and regulatory structures within their industries.

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Bringing clients’ visions to life, she creates award-winning designs for digital and print media. Most notably, Leslie’s creative work was awarded the 2023 Reed Awards for Best Website for State Legislative Campaign. 

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Leslie brings more than a decade of knowledge working in state and city government and political campaign organizing. In addition, she is an experienced property manager. In this arena, she has assisted businesses in navigating local licensing and compliance regulations.

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Outside of the office, Leslie enjoys spending quality time with her family and reinvesting in her island hometown, Jamaica.