Potomac Flacks

BREAKING: @ChamberFlack Fielder Moving to Switzerland

First reported in National Journal’s “Influence Alley”, J.P. Fielder (@ChamberFlack) is trading digs across from the White House for a spot across the street from Lake Geneva as one of the Chamber of Commerce's best known spinmeisters is leaving Big Business for Big Tobacco. The Chamber's senior director of communications is heading to Lausanne, Switzerland to work on global regulatory communications for Philip Morris International (PMI).

Fielder joined the Chamber in March 2008, and since that time he ran the media team, the international portfolio, president Tom Donohue's press and helped former SVP Bill Miller run its $50 million political program. At PMI, Fielder will be doing regulatory communication campaigns in every time zone.

"This is a chance to look beyond the Beltway and turn the telescope around and look out at the entire globe in the way I do communications," said Fielder. 

After four years at the Chamber, Fielder will say goodbye Feb. 16. Prior to joining the business lobby, he worked at the National Association of Manufacturers, PR Newswire and (little known fact) as an actual journalist with Tribune Broadcasting.

The coolest part about the move for him and fiancé Kelly DiNardo? 

"Being able to take Kelly to Paris in three hours on a train or being able to head out 40 minutes and be skiing in the French Alps," he said, noting that they were both just fitted for new skis. 

Not that he's rubbing it in. (National Journal’s “Influence Alley”)

JOB OF THE WEEK: American Association of Publishers, Director of Communications

The Association of American Publishers (AAP), the leading trade association for the US book publishing industry, is seeking a Director of Communications for a newly created position, to support and enhance the advocacy, representation and image of the industry.

In this role, the Director will join a recently-launched Communications department for the industry’s leading national trade association and have primary responsibility for developing and executing a 360° range of communications strategies on behalf of one or more AAP divisions including educational publishing.  Additionally, s/he will work with the Vice President on a number of internal and external communications for broader industry issues and initiatives.  The Director’s scope of responsibilities includes messaging, media relations, campaigns and the development of multimedia collateral materials.

The ideal candidate will have strong proactive strategic communications skills; a passion for publishing and education; nimble, compelling writing abilities; a track record of achieving high-impact results; and the desire to play a key role in growing a new communications operation.

Main duties:

- Initiate and produce integrated communications strategies to support regional/national advocacy efforts and to raise awareness of the value of educational and other publishing.

- Develop key positioning/messaging; produce a high volume of complementary written materials for diverse content platforms including white papers, brochures, one-sheets, member communications, web content and releases.  Work closely with other AAP staff on creating integrated multimedia materials related to policy and initiatives.

- Manage responsive and proactive media relations activities across print, broadcast, digital and social channels.  Responsible for achieving defined, measurable goals through conceiving, driving and securing targeted outreach; effectively managing incoming inquiries; and enterprising innovative opportunities.  Expand AAP’s reach into all appropriate social media channels.

- Produce, manage and expand content for assigned areas on the AAP public and member websites; serve as a core member of the AAP steering committee leading the expansion of the sites.

- Collaborate with AAP member companies to identify communications needs, generate deliverables to serve their interests and engage them in broader communications strategies and tactics.

- Provide advance and on-site PR support for various AAP industry events.

- Represent AAP senior leadership in meetings, conferences and other external settings. 

Required/Desired experience:

Required:  Minimum five years’ experience in communications full-time staff positions with progressively higher authority and growing scope of responsibility.

-Must be able to demonstrate history of leadership or primary involvement in corporate communications, reputation management, internal communications and/or public affairs.

-Must have significant, wide-reaching media relations experience as the lead media liaison for issues/projects at one or more organizations.  Portfolio must include placements that demonstrate:

1)     Track record of securing and managing coverage that provided fair exposure and voice to your organization’s position on issue(s), preferably around high-profile, sensitive and/or complex policy subjects

2)     Proactively generated feature and/or profile placements, ideally on topics/angles not commonly covered

3)     Results-based relationships with journalists in print, broadcast and digital media

4)     Experience as spokesperson

5)     Strategic use of social media to advance positions 

Trade association or advocacy organization and/or Capitol Hill experience all strongly preferred.

College degree required.

Key attributes/skills:

- Communications professional with proven experience in delivering high-impact results.  Ability to shape, sell through and execute longterm communications strategies that achieve goals across a breadth of disparate internal and external stakeholders requiring multiple tactics, elements and deadlines.  Able to see around corners.

- A powerful, competent and confident writer:  Must be able to synthesize complex information and then frame, write and edit compelling multiplatform materials on a variety of topics, in a variety of formats and a variety of “voices” on a rapid, first-take basis.  Previous experience as a beat journalist helpful.

- Strong self-starter with proactive, entrepreneurial approach to owning and growing a scope of responsibilities.  Able to identify communications opportunities within rapidly-moving broader AAP organization and effectively secure buy-in from staff and members.

- A confident problem solver who brings creative, viable solutions to complex situations.  Obsessive about detail, accuracy and follow-up.  Comfortable working under pressure, on deadline and in a SWAT capacity with breaking issues and crises.

- Brings a curiosity about best practices and new concepts in communications, displays a demonstrable learning curve about such opportunities and translates this knowledge into strategic action in the workplace.

- Must bring strong interest in publishing and, specifically, content being produced for the K-12 and higher education settings.

- Ability to appreciate and work through the unique nature of membership organizations.  The ideal person will effectively demonstrate the credibility, knowledge, skills-based self-assurance and delivered accomplishments to win the trust, endorsement and cooperation of staff, external contacts and AAP members.

- Ability to work with and help drive culture change.

- Willing to work occasional late hours and weekends.  Occasional out of town travel.

- This position is based at AAP headquarters in Washington, DC with a Monday-Friday workweek.  Telework is not possible with this opening. 

About AAP:

AAP is centrally located in a modern office facility in the Mount Vernon Square/Chinatown area, convenient to Metro and bus lines.  The building has an on-site gym (free to employees) and on-site garage (fee required).

AAP offers competitive salary commensurate with experience and skills and a full benefits package.  No relocation available.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter explaining your qualifications for this position, your resume and at least three (3) distinct writing samples to asporkin(at)publishers(dot)org . Include “Director, Communications Opening” in the Subject line.  Resumes received without cover letters and/or writing samples will be deleted.  Please, no phone calls.  Only those applicants who meet the position’s qualifications will be contacted for follow-up.   Full listing: http://publishers.org/careers/ (PF tipster)

Hill Vet Sumner Departs Rep. Whitfield’s Office for ANGA

Robert Sumner recently departed as Press Secretary for Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and on January 9 will begin serving as Director of Media Relations for America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA).

Sumner has significant communications experience, having served as Press Specialist in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (under Assistant USTR and now RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer), Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Associate Manager of Communications for the American Diabetes Association and formerly as a press intern for former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT).

Sumner is a 2005 graduate of Willamette University and a native of The Dalles, OR.  (PF tipster)

EXCLUSIVE: JOB OF THE WEEK: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Senior Manager, Media Relations

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is seeking a Senior Manager, Media Relations.

The Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. It includes hundreds of associations, thousands of local chambers, and more than 100 American Chambers of Commerce in 91 countries. Our members include businesses of all sizes and sectors—from large Fortune 500 companies to home-based, one-person operations.

The Senior Manager, Media Relations will play a central role in the U.S. Chamber’s day-to-day media outreach. This candidate should have a passion for news, an understanding of how to pitch a story, and the media contacts to land a pitch. This position requires accurate, concise writing about a variety of topics as well as meticulous copy editing skills under intense deadlines.

He/she will be responsible for:

• Executing both short term and long term media campaigns to pro-actively build press awareness of issues and events, set and achieve attendance goals at events, and garner positive coverage.
• Extensive writing of press releases, media advisories, Op-Eds, and executive briefing documents.
• Broad rolodex of Washington media contacts, notably among Hill and policy reporters
• Working closely with various U.S. Chamber divisions, especially government affairs, to pro-actively pitch our lobbyists as premier experts to discuss business issues.
• Build an acute understanding of policy issues including their history, current activity, and future developments.
• Offer insight and understanding about leveraging new and emerging media technology to strengthen public awareness of key issues among target audiences.

Requirements

Ideal candidates would have:

• 5+ years experience in media relations, public relations or as a press secretary
• Political campaign, Capitol Hill or trade association experience is a plus
• BA or higher-level degree
• Experience with Vocus or similar technologies preferred
• Highly effective written and verbal communications skills
• Energetic, results-oriented mindset
• Ability to work across complex organization

TO APPLY: Visit here. (PF reporting)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Financial Services Institute, Online Communications Manager

The Financial Services Institute (FSI), the leading trade association for independent financial services firms and independent financial advisors, is hiring an Online Communications Manager for its Washington, D.C. office.

A strong candidate for this position will have 2-5 years of experience and a demonstrated ability to manage all aspects of a digitally-driven issue campaign. We are looking for a highly motivated self-starter, a creative thinker who can generate and execute on actionable ideas for high-level advocacy campaigns. He/she should be well organized and strategic and have a basic understanding of the legislative process. Knowledge of the financial services industry is a plus but not required. Candidate should excel in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment, in a rapidly growing organization. 

Specific duties and skills: 

• Advanced and thorough knowledge and use of all major social media platforms;
• Understanding of website CMS platforms a must, ability to write code a plus;
• A strong affinity for technology and knowledge of the process of deploying digital assets, including websites, social media campaigns, creating mass HTML e-mails and infographics;
• Excellent writing abilities with an ability to generate copy that can be widely disseminated and quoted from as is, with minimal editing;
• Basic understanding of politics and the daily news cycle;
• Basic understanding of media relations a plus, but not a requirement;
• Will be responsible for writing online copy, posting all press releases, advocacy updates and marketing materials online, writing and posting updates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social sites, and, most importantly, formulating and executing on an overall online strategy.

TO APPLY: Send resume and cover letter/email to FSI’s Managing Director, Communications & Media Relations Chris Paulitz at chris.paulitz@financialservices.org. Please, no phone calls. (PF tipster)

EXCLUSIVE: PF Contributor Rethmeier Named SVP of Public Affairs and Government Relations at US Travel Association

The U.S. Travel Association announced today that Blain Rethmeier (@BlainR) has been named Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations for the organization. He will lead lobbying, communications, grassroots and research activities for U.S. Travel, which represents the $1.8 trillion travel industry. Rethmeier joins U.S. Travel from the American Insurance Association (AIA), where he was Senior Vice President for Public Affairs. He succeeds Geoff Freeman, who was recently promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of U.S. Travel.

U.S. Travel continues to build momentum for industry initiatives. In 2010, President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act, which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the nation’s first-ever national travel promotion and communications program. This year, U.S. Travel launched a coalition to advocate for U.S. visa reform, leading to legislation currently before the House and Senate. And this month the Transportation Security Administration launched PreCheck, a trusted traveler program that mirrors many recommendations by a U.S. Travel blue-ribbon panel.

Rethmeier joined AIA in May 2007 from the White House, where he served as Special Assistant to the President for Communications and directed all aspects of public affairs for President Bush’s National Economic Council and Homeland Security Council.

Before joining the White House, Rethmeier served as Press Secretary for the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he helped manage the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Rethmeier also has experience at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as a Senior Public Affairs Specialist. He was also Communications Director for the House Government Reform Committee and served as Press Secretary to Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO). Rethmeier began his career in Washington working for Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA).

Rethmeier is a native of Colorado. (PF tipster)

 

JOB OF THE WEEK: US-China Business Council, Publications Editor / Website Manager

The US-China Business Council (USCBC) is seeking an experienced Publications Editor and Website Manager for a full-time position, available immediately.

USCBC is a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of roughly 240 American companies that do business with China. Founded in 1973, USCBC has provided unmatched information, advisory, advocacy, and program services to its membership for nearly four decades. Through its offices in Washington, DC; Beijing; and Shanghai, USCBC is uniquely positioned to serve its members' interests in the United States and China.

Primary Responsibilities:

·         Maintaining and overseeing USCBC's two main websites, www.uschina.org and www.chinabusinessreview.com

·         Working with USCBC's outside webhost, programmer and design vendor as well as USCBC staff to update USCBC's websites

·         Maintaining, maximizing and adapting USCBC content for websites, social media networks, syndication partners, and blogs

·         Assist with the writing and editing of China Market Intelligence, USCBC's biweekly e-newsletter

·         Writing, fact-checking, copyediting, and proofreading articles, data spreads, and columns for the China Business Review (CBR, www.chinabusinessreview.com), the magazine of the USCBC

·         Conducting research on topics of concern to U.S. businesses in China as needed

Qualifications:

·         Excellent command of English grammar and spelling; editing experience preferred

·         Experience maintaining websites, working with outside vendors, and social media platforms

·         Relevant experience working with digital publication and communication platforms

·         Proven writing and editing skills

·         Understanding of SEO and CMS

·         Ability to communicate clear, detailed instructions orally and in writing

·         Good online research skills and excellent attention to detail

·         Relevant exposure to and interest in, economics, statistics, global trade, business, and US-China relations and commercial activities

·         Ability to work independently

·         Energy and enthusiasm for communications, business, media, and publications

·         Bachelor's degree required

·         2-3 years of experience

·         Reading and speaking knowledge of Mandarin a plus

·         US permanent work authorization (US citizen or lawful permanent resident)

TO APPLY: Send resume, cover letter, salary expectations, and a brief writing sample by email to mross@uschina.org with the subject line "Publications Editor and Website Manager”.  No phone calls, please. (PF tipster)

Matt Lavoie Leaves the Hill

After six years on the Hill, Matt Lavoie, communications director for Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) will be starting a new job on Monday. He will be the director of media relations for the National Association of Manufacturers. He's celebrating his new job during happy hour at Cap Lounge tomorrow night. (PF Tipster)

Schatz Joins Nat'l Retail Federation

Stephen Schatz has joined National Retail Federation as senior director of media relations. Schatz served on Capitol Hill, in The White House and, most recently, as media relations director at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Working under new Senior Vice President Tita Freeman, Schatz will be responsible for cultivating and growing NRF’s relationships with lobbying, business and economic reporters, ensuring the retail industry’s voice is represented in Washigton. 

NRF recently launced a $10 million dollar campaign to promote its views on key policy issues. (PF Tipster)

JOB OF THE WEEK: American Hospital Association, Senior Associate Director of Media Relations

The American Hospitals Association (@ahahospitals) is seeking a Senior Associate Director of Media Relations.

In this role, he/she will create and implement a variety of media relations and communication strategies in support of the Association's efforts in advocacy and representation. The incumbent is part of a collaborative team working with all departments of the AHA to enhance public awareness of the AHA, its members and positions.

Requirements:

1. Serve as a spokesperson on behalf of the Association's members.

2. Prepare AHA senior staff, board members, and members for media interviews.

3. Maintain and contribute to AHA's social media tools, i.e., Twitter, YouTube.

4. Build and maintain relationships with national, regional and state reporters and works with state association public relations executives to support major media issues and initiatives.

5. Manage projects and issue areas with independence. Also manages pressroom and all media activities surround AHA Annual Meetings. Candidate will be responsible for planning and implementing association media events.

TO APPLY: Click here. (PF tipster)