Who We Are
Your mission will be our mission.
We created the Ford & Ford Group to help you make the world a better place, and we’ve got the experience, passion and know-how to get it done.
Good ideas need a good strategy, hard work, and energy to come to life and that’s exactly what you get when you work with us.
Phil Ford
Founder & CEO (he/him)
Phil Ford (he/him) is a visionary entrepreneur and passionate advocate for social justice and equity in South Carolina. As the Founder and CEO of The Ford & Ford Group, a prominent nonprofit and political consulting firm based in the heart of South Carolina, Phil has dedicated his career to catalyzing positive change in his home state.
With a deep-seated commitment to making South Carolina a more just and equitable place for all its residents, Phil Ford established The Ford & Ford Group as a platform to drive impactful policy changes, elevate underrepresented voices, and foster a more inclusive political landscape. Under his leadership, the firm has become a driving force in advancing many causes and promoting equitable policies throughout the state.
Phil’s unwavering dedication to social justice has earned him a reputation as a tireless advocate for change. He has worked endlessly to build coalitions, forge strategic partnerships, and develop innovative advocacy campaigns that resonate with South Carolinians from all walks of life. His ability to bridge divides and find common ground among diverse stakeholders has been instrumental in driving forward his mission of building a better South Carolina. With his leadership, South Carolina has banned school lunch debt shaming, increased access to healthcare, and increased access to healthy school meals and physical activity for students across the state. Through his work, Phil has secured over $15 million dollars in grants for his community.
In addition to his work with The Ford & Ford Group, Phil is an active member of various community organizations, such as the Orangeburg-Calhoun Free Medical Clinic, the SPCA, and the Alzheimer’s Association, and initiatives that share his vision for a more equitable South Carolina. He continues to inspire others through his dedication, leadership, and unyielding commitment to the pursuit of justice.
Sarah A. Ford
(she/her)
Sarah A. Ford (she/her) has served as Legal Director at the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network since 2017 where she leads a team of attorneys and advocates to provide direct legal services to South Carolina crime victims.
A life-long South Carolinian, Sarah attended Columbia College where she was Class President, graduating in 2004, with a B.A. in History and Political Science. Following graduation, Sarah taught with Teach for America in Charlotte, North Carolina before beginning law school.
Sarah graduated from Charleston School of Law in December 2007, where she was a member of Moot Court Board and President of Women in Law. She is a former prosecutor with a focus on crimes against women and children.
Sarah routinely lectures on victims’ rights issues, including Using Technology to Serve Crime Victims, Victims’ Rights Enforcement, and Navigating the Criminal Process.
Sarah is also involved in a number of community projects and organizations, including serving as President of Junior Service League of Orangeburg and Catch the Vision International, where she serves on the Haiti mission team.
Emily Mayer
(she/her)
Emily Mayer joined The Ford & Ford Group in 2022 as Senior Manager, bringing with her a deep commitment to education, advocacy, and community engagement. A former special education teacher, Emily holds a master’s degree in education policy and has long been a champion for equitable public education and inclusive community initiatives.
In her role at The Ford & Ford Group, Emily leads efforts in legislative strategy, community outreach, and day-to-day operations. Her background as an educator, combined with hands-on experience navigating the legislative process, allows her to bring both empathy and strategic insight to her work. Emily’s ability to bridge policy and practice makes her an invaluable asset to the team and the communities they serve.
Emily has served in numerous volunteer roles across South Carolina and remains an outspoken advocate on issues ranging from disability rights to public education reform. During the 2022 election cycle, she worked full-time on the Lisa Ellis for State Superintendent campaign, underscoring her dedication to strengthening public schools and education policy statewide.
Emily lives in Bluffton, South Carolina with her husband, Phil, their daughters, Charlotte and Eliana, and their dog, Cameron. The Mayer family is excited to welcome their third child this fall.
Lauren Everett
(they/them)
Lauren Everett (they/them) is 2020 graduate of Claflin University with a B.A. in Political Science. They began their political journey in St. Louis, MO, where they were born and raised.
They were a Teen Advocate for Sexual Health and engaged in a number of other community projects through the Youth On The Rise program between 2014 and 2016. They moved to South Carolina in Fall 2016 to attend Claflin.
Lauren’s campaign experience started in Orangeburg as a volunteer on the Hillary Clinton Campaign. They continued to be an active community member throughout their college career by volunteering on local campaigns, and interning with Emerge South Carolina and Eat Smart Move More SC. Lauren is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Annika Krovi
(she/her)
Annika Krovi is rising Sophomore at Harvard University studying Government and Global Health/Health Policy. She previously served as the Chair of the High School Democrats of America and was elected as the youngest member of the Democratic National Committee in 2023.
She has experience working on political campaigns and Democratic strategy groups, as well as within public health organizations. As an alumna of J. L. Mann High School in Greenville, SC, she’s passionate about supporting candidates and ideas that push South Carolina forward.
Peyton White
(he/him)
Peyton White is a student, advocate, and International Baccalaureate scholar from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. Peyton is a Freshman at Harvard University, aspiring to concentrate in Government and Economics. At Harvard he is a member of the Army ROTC program, the Harvard Political Review, and the Harvard College Democrats. As a former Student Body President, one of SC’s first Tedx youth speakers, and 62nd Speaker of the U.S. Senate Youth Program, Peyton championed nationally recognized policy reforms, youth-led advocacy, and educational equity.
Patrice Snow
(she/her)
With over ten years of experience in strategic communications, political, and marketing roles, Patrice Snow is a passionate and versatile communications and marketing professional who creates and executes effective communication strategies for social impact. Most recently, she was the Director of Marketing and Communications at Student Freedom Initiative, a national nonprofit organization that provides innovative solutions for students of color pursuing STEM education and careers.
In her previous positions, she demonstrated her ability to manage and deliver successful communication campaigns for various audiences and platforms, including web, social media, earned media, events, and collateral. One of the largest campaigns was the media strategy in response to the Bowen Turner rape cases that became a national news and social media story for weeks. She has also leveraged her skills in public policy, grant writing, digital strategy, graphics, web content writing, and SEO to support the goals and missions of the organizations she worked with. Some of her notable achievements include integrating a strategic media plan for former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s TogetherFund PAC, pitching to numerous national and regional media outlets, and providing crisis communications and issues management for DC Vote.
Patrice is driven by her passion for public policy and politics, nonprofit organizations and corporate social responsibility, and aspires to create positive social change through effective communication strategies and public policy leadership.
Erika Mach
(she/her)
Erika Mach brings diverse experience in communications, marketing, and advocacy, including in her most recent role at Planned Parenthood Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. As an External Affairs Executive with over 20 years of experience, her passion for creating community impact is notable through her previous roles where she championed programs, resources, and legislative solutions tailored at empowering women and girls of all identities across rural and urban communities.
With a keen focus on amplifying voices often marginalized, Erika has been instrumental in driving initiatives aimed at bridging gaps in access to essential services and opportunities. Her collaborative efforts have not only expanded the reach of vital resources, but have also paved the way for inclusive solutions that foster equity and empowerment.
People we've worked with
Phillip means what he says and I have never worked with someone so dedicated to their discipline than him.
