About Us

At its core Nexus Strategies is the synthesis of strategic thinking and experience in public affairs, corporate communications, and political efforts. With more than three decades of combined experience at the highest levels of politics and government, the Nexus team excels at the combined art of message development, advocacy, and engagement – the keys to any successful effort. 

Our experience uncovered a simple truth and gave rise to the creation of Nexus Strategies: winning political solutions translate to the corporate arena and winning corporate solutions often translate to the political arena. The tangible service we provide is developing and applying those solutions effectively with a custom fit for the unique goals and challenges each client presents.

Nexus Strategies was created as a result of individual successes, and as a team we are synonymous with success. 

Whether your goal is an effective grasstops or grassroots outreach program, a corporate communications effort, a government or public affairs initiative, or a successful political campaign effort, Nexus Strategies can deliver a winning solution.

People (click each to expand)

Scott Falmlen, Partner

Since co-founding Nexus Strategies in 2007, Scott Falmlen has helped coordinate and execute strategic planning, communications, and outreach for political efforts, as well as public affairs projects in the health care, environmental, financial services, utilities, media, manufacturing, educational, and non-profit sectors. Falmlen has been active in public service, advising elected officials and policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels.

Falmlen serves in a senior leadership role in the campaigns of North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson.  He also serves as a senior advisor to former Governor Roy Cooper.  In 2020 and 2024, Falmlen served as the senior advisor to the Biden and Harris campaigns in North Carolina, coordinating with national campaign leadership on strategy, research, paid communications, and in-state travel by the President and Vice President. 

Over an almost forty year career, Falmlen has earned a reputation for attention to detail in designing and implementing customized plans for political campaigns, grasstops and grassroots advocacy, coalition building, internal and external communication strategies, and earned media development.

In its most recent rankings, Campaigns & Elections magazine named Falmlen one of the top ten political influencers in North Carolina.

Falmlen was the executive director of the North Carolina Democratic Party from 1999-2005 and the Florida Democratic Party from 1995-1999. Prior to 1995, Falmlen served as a senior advisor to Florida Governor Lawton Chiles and as chief of staff to the majority leader of the Florida Senate.

Falmlen serves as a member of the Centennial Authority, the governing body of the publicly owned Lenovo Center, home of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL franchise and the NC State University Men's Basketball team.

Scott Falmlen received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Minors in Business and History from Georgetown College.  He is married to Paul Fox III.

Morgan Jackson, Partner

A co-founder of Nexus Strategies, Morgan Jackson is a veteran of a number of high profile political and public policy efforts and possesses a vast network of relationships with national, state, and local elected officials, news, and policy makers.

During his career, Jackson has served in senior roles with presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional candidates, as well as advising Governors, US Senators, and Members of Congress.  A longtime advisor to Governor Josh Stein and former Governor Roy Cooper, he was instrumental in the historic 2016 campaign that resulted in the first defeat of an incumbent Governor in North Carolina history, Governor Cooper's re-election in 2020 and Governor Josh Stein’s overwhelming victory in the 2024 election. He continues to serve as Governor Stein’s Chief Political Advisor and serves in the same role for Attorney General Jeff Jackson. 

While politics has long been a passion for Jackson, his true specialty is public affairs and his years of experience and relationships provide valuable insight to clients seeking to navigate the often murky waters in Raleigh and Washington, DC. Jackson has successfully managed and implemented numerous campaigns, communications and advocacy efforts for leading Fortune 500 companies and trade associations in the areas of energy, finance, healthcare, aerospace, and agribusiness. From City Hall to the General Assembly to Congress and the White House, Jackson utilizes his extensive relationships and decades of experience and expertise in coalition building, campaign planning and execution to deliver the extra effort needed to succeed in today’s public affairs challenges.

Jackson brings a unique knowledge of the political landscape in North Carolina. He also has extensive experience dealing with national and state media and is frequently a named and unnamed source of information and commentary for numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Politico, The Raleigh News and Observer, The Charlotte Observer, as well as other North Carolina newspapers, television and radio news organizations.

Morgan Jackson received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. A proud Seahawk, he currently serves on the UNCW Foundation Board and is the past Chair of the UNCW Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Shawn, are the proud parents of Emsley and Colt.

 

Susanna Hailey Thomas, Associate

Susanna Hailey Thomas joined Nexus Strategies in 2018 after gaining a wide variety of political experience through her work in association advocacy. Susanna’s experience includes local, state and federal campaign management, grassroots and grasstops organizing, strategic planning, event planning, coalition building, and PAC fundraising and management.

Before joining Nexus, Susanna was the Political Operations Manager and Local Government Affairs Director for the North Carolina Association of REALTORS. She managed state and local campaigns, implemented new initiatives to mobilize association members, and monitored legislative proceedings. Susanna also has extensive experience in PAC management, fundraising, and compliance from her time spent as the Political and Grassroots Specialist with the Carolinas Credit Union League.

Susanna has called Raleigh home since the age of five and loves all that the City of Oaks has to offer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Affairs from Wake Forest University and is a proud Demon Deacon! Susanna and her husband Cameron are active members of Hayes Barton Baptist Church where they serve as Sunday school teachers. 

Vanessa Watson, Associate

 Vanessa Watson joined Nexus Strategies in 2021 after gaining experience in corporate communications, social media, and event coordination.

Before joining the Nexus team, Vanessa was the Director of Communications and Programs for The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro. In that role, she assisted in community engagement, major event production, media relations, and strategic planning.  Vanessa managed the production of Chapel Hill’s State of the Community Report and many non-profit fundraising events. She also oversaw the formation of the Black Business Alliance serving Chapel Hill’s Black Business community.

Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a proud North Carolinian and was raised in Johnston County.