Michael LaRosa

Michael LaRosa is a managing director at Penta (formerly Hamilton Place Strategies), where he provides strategic communications counsel to clients based on his over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of media, government, and politics. Penta is the world's first comprehensive stakeholder solutions firm. We work with our clients to define, inform, and strengthen decision-making and understanding between businesses and their stakeholders. Penta serves a majority of the Fortune 50 Companies and their associations

In the fall of 2022, Michael signed as an ABC News Political Contributor, where he provides analysis of Congress, campaigns, elections, and news of the day on ABC News platforms.

Prior to joining Penta, he served as Special Assistant to President Joseph R. Biden and Press Secretary to First Lady Jill Biden. He joined the White House on day one of the Biden-Harris administration, where he advised the First Lady on media relations and strategic communications. Michael planned all media/press strategy and was the chief advocate for the needs of the traveling press corps on the First Lady’s historic surprise visit to a war zone in western Ukraine and her events at the NATO, G-7, and G-20 Summits and the Summit of the Americas. He traveled with the First Lady to over 75 cities, 40 states, and 18 countries. Michael was traveling press secretary and chief spokesperson for Dr. Biden on the Biden-Harris Transition, the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign, and Joe Biden’s successful primary campaign for the Democratic Nomination.

Prior to joining the Biden Campaign, he led communications for the House Democratic Policy Communications Committee in the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Michael spent 7 years as a television producer for MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, the longest-running political talk shows on cable news.

Michael was a national high school All-American and Division I NCAA swimmer, competing in two U.S. Opens, four Big East Conference Championships, and still holds collegiate and high school records today. At Seton Hall, he was awarded the team MVP and selected by SHU Athletics Dept to be the Athlete Representative to the NCAA Leadership Conference. He was also inducted into his high school athlete hall of fame.

Born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, Michael holds a degree in political science from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, and a master’s degree in government from American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.