2025 Walk to Washington: The Zita Group Brings Back Their Beer And Wine Reception After A Five-Year Hiatus

February 10, 2025

We’re still buzzing from all the good conversations and memories from our 2025 Beer and Wine Reception last Thursday, February 6. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for a lively evening to reconnect with NJ’s top decision-makers and meet the 2025 gubernatorial candidates over a stellar selection of craft beverages curated by the Brewers Guild of New Jersey.

Kendall Murphy, JD and Gubernatorial Candidate Jack Ciattarelli (R) — Kendall Murphy and Gubernatorial Candidate Jack Ciattarelli (R)

The Legacy of NJ’s Walk to Washington

For over 80 years, the Walk to Washington has been NJ’s premier networking-on-the-go tradition, bringing top minds together to discuss the future of New Jersey. The walk refers to these leaders moving through the aisles, meeting, mingling and exchanging ideas. This year, the 2025 gubernatorial candidates joined the trip to our nation’s capital.

Celebrating TZG’s Beer and Wine Reception: A Long Tradition

Since 2011, we’ve been proud to host the Beer & Wine Reception, bringing people together with craft brews and even better conversations. This year, the reception was hosted at Omni Shoreham Hotel for the first time and featured a cocktail reception instead of a traditional sit-down dinner.

A huge thank you to our 2025 sponsors: The Brewers Guild of New Jersey, RELX, PMI U.S., NJAA, NRG, Neste, T-Mobile and IFA. We’re grateful to bring this annual tradition back and can’t wait to do it again next year!

Craig Coughlin and Trish Zita — Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) and Trish Zita

Some of Our Favorite Moments

Matt Chris Beth and Trish on the Train — Christopher Hughes, Matthew McDermott, Trish Zita and Beth Dohm

Eric. Congresswoman McIver — Eric Orlando, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ 10th District)) and Jonathan Pushman, NJ School Board Association

Eric. Senator Mike Testa. George Coutros Sanofi — Eric Orlando, Senator Mike Testa (R-1), George Coutros, Sanofi

Trish. Eric. and Congressman Herb Conaway — Congressman Herb Conaway (D-NJ 3rd District), Trish Zita and Eric Orlando

Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis (D-16), Kendall Murphy, Drulis’ Chief of Staff Devin Mulroy

Beth. Assemblyman Chris Tully. and Lauren Neill from TMobile — Lauren Neill, T Mobile, Assemblyman Chris Tully (D-38) and Beth Dohm

Trish. Beth. and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill — Trish Zita, Congresswoman and Gubernatorial Candidate Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ 11th District) and Beth Dohm

Newark Mayor and Gubernatorial Candidate Ras Baraka Chris and Karlito Almeda

Matt and Gubernatorial Candidate Sean Spiller — Gubernatorial Candidate Sean Spiller and Matthew McDermott

Chris and Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio — Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio (R-23) and Christopher Hughes

Trish Zita and Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D- NJ 9th District)

Trish and Governor Murphy — Trish Zita and Governor Phil Murphy

Trish Assemblywoman PeterPaul and Mercer County Commissioner Sam Frisby — Trish Zita, Assemblywoman Luann Peterpaul (D-11) and Mercer County Commissioner Sam Frisby

Monmouth County Sherrif and Republican Chairman Shaun Golden and Matthew McDermott

Matt with Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin — Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin and Matthew McDermott

Matt with Monmouth County Commissioner Nick DiRocco — Monmouth County Commissioner Nick DiRocco and Matthew McDermott

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) and Trish Zita

Beth and State Senator Declan OScanlon — Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) and Beth Dohm

Ken Murphy and Asm. Wayne DeAngelo — Kendall Murphy and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14)

Beth and Senate Minority Leader Bucco — Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco (R-25) and Beth Dohm

Karlito and Speaker Coughlin — Assemby Speaker Craig Coughlin and Karlito Almeda

Eric Chris — Christopher Hughes, Senator and Gubernatorial Candidate Jon Bramnick (R-21) and Eric Orlando

Trish Zita, Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D- NJ 9th District) and Eric Orlando

Matthew McDermott,
Public Affairs Consultant Jeanette Hoffman and
Senator and Gubernatorial Candidate Jon Bramnick (R-21)

NJIT Chief of Public and Community Affairs Angela Garretson, Senator Renee Burgess (D-28) and Trish Zita

Beth and Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Spadea — Beth Dohm and Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Spadea

Trish, Gubernatorial Candidate Seve Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald — Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Sweeney, Trish Zita and and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-6)

Matt with State Senator Troy Singleton — Matthew McDermott and Senator Troy Singleton (D-7)

Matt with NJ Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez — NJ Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn Suarez and Matthew McDermott

Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-35) and Matthew McDermott

About The Zita Group

The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.

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Beth Dohm, Congressman Herb Conaway (D- NJ 3rd District), Trish Zita, Christopher Hughes, JD and Eric Orlando — Beth Dohm, Congressman Herb Conaway (D- NJ 3rd District), Trish Zita, Christopher Hughes and Eric Orlando

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