The principals of Five Oaks Communications have nearly 50 years of business and professional experience. We are experts in all aspects of organizational communications, negotiation, and meeting facilitation.

        Armando Arrastia has a proven record of communicating effectively on behalf of high-profile organizations. He started his career in New York, as a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, operator of the World Trade Center, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports and several other major transportation facilities. In that capacity, he handled day-to-day media relations and promotional activities as well as crisis management issues.

         He left the Port Authority to become chief spokesman and director of public information of New Jersey Transit Corporation, one of the nation's largest providers of commuter bus and rail service, where he supervised the media relations function for three years. During the 12 years before starting Five Oaks, he was director of public information and director of publications and web services at the Kentucky Department of Education.

        Armando has demonstrated the ability to implement a wide range of communication and public involvement strategies resulting in positive media coverage and public understanding of complex and controversial issues. He managed the creation of a national top ten web site and has supervised the development of award-winning publications. He is a collaborative leader with the capacity to distill complicated matters into easily understood messages. He holds a Master of Arts in public policy analysis from Rutgers University and a Bachelor's degree with majors in journalism and government from Western Kentucky University. Armando also is fluent in Spanish.

        Marcia Anderson Arrastia holds a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers College of Law and is a member of both the New Jersey and Kentucky Bar Associations. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Morehead State University with majors in English and government.

        Before starting Five Oaks Communications, she spent 10 years in private law practice in New Jersey. Marcia has more than 20 years of experience in negotiating, drafting, planning, creative writing, and representing the interests of individuals and businesses. She is an outstanding strategist, planner and critical thinker who can prepare any client for the demands of public scrutiny.