Who I Am

Why trust my judgment?

I've spent my career in high-pressure situations—first as a poker professional, then as a high-stakes communicator. Different rooms, same discipline.

Christian Stellakis

The Table

Where the skills were forged

For years, I played cards full-time—live, mid-stakes No Limit Hold'em. In poker terms, a grinder: disciplined, risk-aware, substance over flash. Up to 95% of players lose money in the long run, so thriving meant outthinking my opponents every session.

That's where I learned the things that matter most in my work now—how to act on incomplete information, how to read people's wants, needs, and intentions, and why good process matters more than short-term results.

Figure out what's really at stake, who's across the table, and what to say because of it.

Today, I'm Vice President of Public Affairs at J Strategies, Inc. I work alongside an expert team of experienced comms professionals, helping organizations navigate complex policy environments, engage the stakeholders who matter, and craft narratives that shift perception.

Before that, I led communications at the Commonwealth Foundation and ran national campaigns at The Herald Group for clients in America's most heavily regulated industries. I write about what carries over from the felt in an ongoing series, Lessons from the Felt.

The Record

My history

  • The Felt

    Professional Poker Player

    Full-time, live, mid-stakes No Limit Hold'em. A decade of reading people, managing risk, and staying disciplined when the money was real.

  • The Campaigns

    The Herald Group

    Ran national campaigns for clients in America's most heavily regulated industries—where every message faces organized opposition.

  • The Policy Arena

    Commonwealth Foundation

    Led communications for one of the country's most active state policy organizations.

  • Today

    Vice President of Public Affairs, J Strategies, Inc.

    Guiding organizations of all sizes through complex policy environments—engaging stakeholders, shaping narratives, and cutting through the noise.

Want my thinking on your side?

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