In the Business of Building Trust

For more than two decades, Chris Bastardi has been in the throes of public affairs work in New York.

In 2008, Chris pivoted from traditional public affairs to crisis management when he became his own client. He was the whistleblower in dismantling an effort to suppress Black voters during the presidential election. That experience, and a corrupt-at-worst and dishonest-at-best investigation by authorities shaped his approach to high-stakes, high-visibility work — where the narrative must be controlled from the first moment.

His client roster has included some of the most consequential figures and cases in recent memory. He represented Bridget Kelly, scapegoat in the Bridgegate scandal. Bridget was prosecuted by Chris Christie's former staff in the U.S. Attorney's Office and ultimately saw her conviction overturned by the United States Supreme Court in a 9-0 decision. He also worked alongside Mary Trump on the release of her book Too Much and Never Enough, one of the most anticipated political books of the 2020 election.

On the entertainment side, Chris has managed communications and event logistics for the Academy Awards® and The GRAMMYs, as well as VAX LIVE — the global concert event designed to inspire vaccine confidence, broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

In the healthcare space, Chris has served four New York hospitals, including Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and The Hospital for Special Surgery. He has also managed crisis communications for the Westfield-Garden State Mall in the aftermath of an active shooter incident — a high-pressure, real-time situation requiring immediate and precise public messaging.

His infrastructure and real estate work includes Super Bowl campaigns and LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the consortium that transformed LaGuardia Airport into a world-class facility. He has extensive experience in litigation PR — helping clients shape public perception during active legal proceedings.

Chris holds a B.A. from Fordham University and an M.A. from New York University. He serves on the board of DanceNYC, the leading service organization for the dance field in New York City.

Nicholas Wimer joined Bastardi Associates shortly after its founding.

He is a former restaurant chef who runs his own catering company. Nick specializes in helping restaurants succeed and offers consulting services on everything from lighting and event planning to design, cuisine, and menu layout.

With chef experience at restaurants like J. Alexander's, Nick manages event planning for clients, whether they be on-site parties, business conferences, or receptions externally.

Nick takes his more than two decades of experience in hospitality and event management and specializes in turning complex, high-stakes logistics into smooth, memorable experiences.

Based in New York City, Nick continually sharpens his skills through online coursework in hospitality management and project management, and he enjoys roles where he can connect with people, untangle operational issues, and help teams deliver their best work.

His experience spans New York, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Miami.