Potomac Flacks

Pawlenty Campaign Communications Director Hauser Joins JDA Frontline

First reported in this morning’s Politico “Playbook,” Ann Marie Hauser has joined JDA Frontline as a Vice President of Public Affairs.  JDA Frontline is a public affairs firm with offices in Charleston, SC, and Washington, DC that specializes in designing and executing strategic communications, advertising and digital campaigns for business, non-profit and political organizations.

Hauser most recently served as communications director for the Tim Pawlenty for President campaign, running press operations from campaign headquarters in Minneapolis.  Prior to serving Governor Pawlenty, Hauser worked in corporate communications for JPMorgan Chase in New York City.

Hauser previously served as Communications Director for Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce and as Spokeswoman for International Affairs at the Department of Treasury.  Her campaign experience includes stints as a Regional Press Secretary at the Republican National Committee in the 2006 cycle and as Iowa Communications Director for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004.

Hauser is a graduate of Texas A&M University.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

Another Job of the Week - Seeking Communications Consultant

Seeking Communications Director!

Experienced, organized media relations expert sought to direct an aggressive on-the-ground earned media effort for a public affairs campaign in ten states. The DC-based position oversees and directs the state-based communications efforts of a national coalition and provides strategic support and guidance to in-state communications efforts, including but not limited to the creation of campaign materials, pitching local events, strategic planning of earned media events, leveraging high profile surrogates, media monitoring and tracking, calculation of impact metrics, and regular reporting of activities in verbal and written formats.

Successful candidates will have experience in coalition communications settings, the ability to motivate others, strong writing and communications skills, experience with media relations and an understanding of campaign environments.  The ability to work well under pressure and with tight deadlines is important. The position is a six month engagement and contract based only. (PF Tipster)

Interested parties should send resume, two writing samples and references to  Michelle@blueenginemedia.com.  No phone calls please.

 

Former Flack to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joanna Kuebler, Hangs a Shingle

First reported in Politico’s “Huddle”, Joanna Kuebler, a former top aide to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), has started JKueb Consulting LLC, a boutique communications strategy firm.

Kuebler served as Brown's Communications Director for six years, including directing the communications operation for his successful 2006 U.S. Senate campaign.

Most recently, she directed the Global Campaign for Education, U.S., a coalition of more than 30 organizations dedicated to ensuring access to quality education for all children. Her bio says she's "developed winning messages and campaign strategies in key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and California on issues including global trade, education, health care, clean energy, women's issues, and economic development."

Kuebler is a graduate of Millersville University (Pennsylvania) and a native of Los Angeles. (Politico’s “Huddle”)

Scott Circle Hires Hill, Non-Profit Vet Coppersmith at Senior Account Exec

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook,” Scott Circle Communications, which was founded by Laura Gross, has hired former Capitol Hill press secretary and non-profit communications manager, Sarah Coppersmith as a Senior Account Executive.  Previously in 2001, Coppersmith served as Communications Manager at the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA).  Prior to her work at PHA, from 2008-2011 Coppersmith worked as Press Secretary for Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ).  She is a graduate of Washington University of St. Louis (Politico’s “Playbook”)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Booz Allen Hamilton, Speechwriter (DC)

The Strategic Communications group at Booz Allen Hamilton is actively seeking an experienced Speechwriter to support a senior federal executive full time in the DC area.  We’re looking for someone with proven speech writing experiencing supporting flag officers, cabinet level executives, or Capitol Hill leadership.

Ideal candidate has 8+ years of communications experience with a specific focus on speech writing.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates can send their resume to me, David Haradon (Haradon_david@bah.com).  Additional information about careers at Booz Allen can be found at www.boozallen.com/careers.  This is an immediate opening and will close as soon as it’s filled.  No phone calls please. (PF tipster)

Glover Park Group Wins Top Award

The Glover Park Group won the presitgious 2011 Global SABRE for Outstanding Public Affairs Consultancy, hosted by The Holmes Report. According to The Holmes Report, "Washington, DC heavyweight Glover Park's ability to synthesize top-tier public affairs credentials with a formidable communications offering helped it prevail despite a highly-competitive shortlist."

Founded in 2001, the company now has offices ni New York, Los Angeles and Boulder, Co. (PF Tipster)

Roll Call Profiles Democrat Media Trainer Pendleton

Today Roll Call profiled, Seth Pendleton, who provides media training to a range of Democratic candidates and office holders and is the former Director of Training at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

From the piece:

…for all the money and spin involved in special elections, the outcome rests heavily on the quality of the candidates.  That’s why Democrats have called in Seth Pendleton for the party’s four recent special elections in New York and Pennsylvania, including last month’s upset in New York’s 26th district.

Helping candidates stay on message in debates, in interviews and on the stump is the crux of what he does, but Pendleton said the key to being a successful candidate is simply being authentic.

“Sometimes, yes, my job is to keep candidates from saying something that will blow up, that will make unintended headlines,” Pendleton said over lunch near his office in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown. “After that triage — of making sure they know what they should and shouldn’t say — it’s figuring out the things that they say are true to them.”

Media training is something Democrats and Republicans alike say is invaluable for candidates. Firms such as HDMK and Pendleton’s 4C Partners, which was formed two years ago by four former DCCC staffers, offer media training as part of their range of services to campaigns and clients. Both major parties’ national committees contract with firms to provide training for candidates and staff.

In Democrat Kathy Hochul’s victory last month in New York’s conservative 26th district, Pendleton and media consultant Jon Vogel, who also worked for Hochul, agreed the candidate started out with a lot to build from.

During their first conversation in training, Hochul explained to Pendleton that she was a “diner person” — that she made her campaign staff stop at every diner they drove by so she could just chat with folks.

“When you hear that, you know that this is a person that at the foundation level just likes people,” he said. “In the work I do, if they like people and they are comfortable talking about what inspires them and the things that are part of their personal narrative, that is a really hard combination to beat.”

Pendleton, who still lives in the Philly area, is a trained actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild and is credited in the 1994 movie “I.Q.” In 2004, he had a few months off from his master’s degree program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and decided to volunteer on Democrat Ginny Schrader’s open-seat campaign in Pennsylvania’s 8th district. It was there he met Brian Smoot, who would later become his partner at 4C Partners.  (Roll Call)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Hamilton Place Strategies, Media Relations Director

Hamilton Place Strategies, a consultancy based in Washington, D.C. that was co-founded by Bush administration alumni Tony Fratto and Taylor Griffin that offers strategic communications, policy advisory services, and crisis management, is looking to hire a Director for Media Relations.

Job Requirements:

* Bachelor's degree in related field. Experience in economic policy a plus.

* 4-6 years of communications experience with an agency, publicly-traded company, Washington industry association, or Hill/Administration experience

TO APPLY: Please send resume and cover letter to Stuart Siciliano – ssiciliano(at)hamiltonps.com. (PF tipster)

Research Vet Newton Leaves DCI Group, Hangs a Shingle

First reported in Politico’s “Playbook”, Ted Newton, an experience Republican research and communications veteran, today launched his own consulting firm, Gravity Strategic Communications.

Newton created the research department and served as Managing Director at DCI Group and has served at both the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).  In the 2008 cycle, Newton served as Research Director and Deputy Communications Director for the Mitt Romney for President campaign.

Newton says his firm will offer clients in-depth strategic guidance through research, policy analysis and messaging.

Newton is a 1999 graduate of Cornell University.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)