Our Team

As a Senior Advisor, Andre develops media strategies for clients that attract national coverage and elevate their brand awareness.

He is an award-winning journalist, digital and television producer with more than 15 years of bringing captivating stories to audiences worldwide. As a Senior Correspondent and anchor for Black Entertainment Television (BET), he covers political and public affairs issues and produces documentaries and news specials for the iconic network.
A list of news specials and documentaries to his credit include:

• "Sasha and Malia: The First Black First Daughters"
• "Why We Must March: The 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington"
• "Congressman John Lewis: Last Man Standing"
• "Mandela: Prisoner to President"
• "Remembering Nipsey Hustle"

The Emmy-nominated reporter and producer have earned accolades and awards from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Pew Center for Civic Journalism. His reporting during the 2020 election cycle earned him the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Reporting.

In addition to a stellar career at BET, Andre has held positions in front and behind the camera at NBC News, Fox News, and CBS News.

He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland College Park.

Alanna Murrell is the Director of Public Affairs and Client Engagement at Cover, managing effective communications between senior management and other portfolio companies under Highland Poe, the holding company. She executes communication strategies for clients, oversees special projects, manages public affairs campaigns, and assists in business development and content creation.

Alanna is a multi-faceted communication expert with professional experience in public health policy, project management, marketing, technical and creative writing, editing, business development, content creation, and more.

Before joining Cover, Alanna held a policy project management position at Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI). She covered anti-tobacco laws, voting rights, climate change, water infrastructure issues, rare disease diversity, and more to elevate public health policy. Alanna managed various policy publications and organized webinars and panels involving members of congress, legislative staff members, celebrities, doctors, health advocates, and stakeholders. She assisted as a working group advisor for the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition and was co-chair on the Biden-Harris Administration Table for the Liberate Abortion Coalition. Alanna corresponded with the media, supported broadcasting and advertising efforts, and created impactful content to engage audiences and elevate messaging. She spoke publicly in webinars, panels, congressional briefings, and national public health conferences to educate, advocate, and mobilize for Black women’s health and social equity nationwide.

Before working with BWHI, she served as an Impact Strategy Community School Coordinator with United Way, assisting elementary school teachers during the pandemic to better engage students and assist families in the community. As a Marketing Coordinator for Brudis & Associates, Inc., she wrote and edited proposals while assisting executive staff in business development efforts, expanding business opportunities for the company.

As managing partner, Jarvis is responsible for the agency's vision and direction. He is recognized nationally for the strategic and crisis communications counsel given to global industry leaders, elected officials and celebrities on sensitive matters impacting their reputation and brand. For nearly 20 years, Jarvis was one of the most sought after federal government and public affairs consultants in Washington. Prior to his consulting career, he served as chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. of Tennessee, on the senior staff of former Clinton Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman and as a senior advisor to a number of U.S. and international political campaigns. Jarvis also served on the Biden/Harris 2020 National Finance Committee and the Biden for President Maryland Leadership Council. Jarvis serves on several nonprofit boards, and has been a guest lecturer at at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Howard University. He is a member of the American Chamber in Dubai and travels frequently to South America where he counsels business and government leaders. Jarvis is also a founding partner of the Washington Nationals and was the first Chairman of the Washington Nationals Baseball Academy. A native Texan and graduate of Prairie View A&M University, Jarvis lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife Stacey and their daughters Madeleine and Savannah. GUILTY PLEASURES: Acid Jazz. Hermes Ties. Johnnie Walker...Blue Label. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Texas Brisket.

Michael Lewellen has led a decorated career spanning more than four decades. Most recently, he was the first executive to hold the position of Vice President for Marketing and Communications at the University of Portland (UP) in its 123-year history.  He served the University from 2019 to 2024, and led the entities responsible for Marketing, Public Affairs, Internal Communications, Advertising, social media, Graphic Design, Video Production, Photography, Printing/Mailing Services and Portland magazine, the institution’s alumni publication.

Prior to joining UP, Lewellen served for seven years as Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Portland Trail Blazers, directing the NBA franchise’s corporate communications, business communications and public engagement strategies.  His role also included leadership of public and civic affairs, and media communications concerning Rip City Management, Moda Center, Rose Quarter and Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Lewellen's professional pedigree includes leadership positions with Nike, Turner Sports, Fox Sports Net, Black Entertainment Television, NBCUniversal and Heart of Florida United Way, and features specialties in media strategies, reputation management, sports and entertainment publicity, crisis response and brand communications.  A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Lewellen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalismfrom Arkansas State University and is an accredited public relations practitioner through both the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).  In 2020, the Oregon Chapter of PRSA honored Lewellen with the William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to public relations profession – the first-ever African-American practitioner to receive that recognition.

Locally, Lewellen was elected as the 2023 President of the University Club of Portland, the first African-American president in the 125-year history of the city’s leading private professional and social club.  He serves on the board of trustees of the Legacy Health Foundation; and is past chair of the board of directors for the Urban League of Portland, Oregon’s oldest Black nonprofit organization.  Lewellen is a married father of three children – Brandi, Elliott (deceased) and Ethan; and has four grandchildren.