Potomac Flacks

Jamestown Associates Names Jason Miller as Partner and Executive Vice President

Jamestown Associates, a nationally acclaimed, full-service political consulting and public affairs firm specializing in television/radio advertising, direct mail, and strategic communications, today announced that Jason Miller has joined the firm as a Partner and Executive Vice President.  Jason will be servicing clients across the country, and will manage Jamestown’s Washington, DC office, effective immediately.

Jason brings more than a decade of national political and press experience to Jamestown, having managed campaigns and shaped messages for successful House, Senate, and gubernatorial races in California, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Florida.  He also has worked as a staffer in both chambers of Capitol Hill, most recently as Chief of Staff to former Florida Congressman Ric Keller.

In the 2008 election cycle, Jason served as National Deputy Communications Director on the presidential campaign of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, where he oversaw the campaign’s rapid response and surrogate speaker efforts.

“Jason brings a unique background of winning campaigns and successful public affairs battles to Jamestown, and we’re excited to welcome him to our team,” said firm CEO Larry Weitzner.  “Not only does Jason have campaign expertise in more than a half-dozen states across the country, but his experience in the field of crisis communications will be an added asset for all of our clients.”

Most recently, Jason served as a Senior Vice President for a nationally recognized high-stakes communications firm, where he specialized in counseling companies, trade associations, and prominent individuals facing crisis and extreme scrutiny. He also helped clients design and implement successful high-stakes public affairs campaigns at both the state and federal levels. 

A native of Seattle, Washington, he graduated from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.  Jason lives in Washington, DC with his wife Kelly and their fifteen month-old daughter Sydney.

New Media Resolutions

I found out about an event that will be very helpful to PR professionals in the area. Gibraltar Associates is hosting "New Media Resolutions for 2010: A Look at Best Practices in Social Media for the Coming Year!" Trends for 2010 will discuss trends for 2010 and how social media can connect ideas, businesses - and event government agencies. 

Date/Time: February 4, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., check-in and breakfast starts at 8:30 a.m.

Location: The Hay Adams Hotel, John Hay Room, 800 16th Street, NW

Featured panelists:

• Bradley Peck, Senior Director of Communications, New Media, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Brent Colburn, Director of External Affairs and Communications, FEMA
• Pam Wickman, Vice President Corporate Affairs and Communications, Raytheon Company
• Sean Parker, Director of New Media, Washington Capitals
• Ricahrd Boly, Director of Office of eDiplomacy, Department of State
• Roxie Merritt, Director of Community Relations and New Media Policy, Department of Defense

Space is limited, so if you are interested, RSVP soon to [email protected] or call 202-534-1700.

Jason Young Leaves Glover Park, Joins Firm Started by Axelrod

 ASGK Public Strategies, the Chicago-based public affairs firm founded by David Axelrod, Eric Sedler and John Kupper, has named Jason Young as managing director and general manager of its Washington, D.C. office. Young most recently was at the Glover Park Group, where he built the firm's health communications practice. (PF Tipster)

Howard Wolfson to NY City Hall

 According to a late night story from the New York Post, "Howard Wolfson who helped craft and drive the message in Mayor Bloomber's re-election gid, is joining the mayor's City Hall team in a broad senior advisory role."

Wolfson will be joining as counselor to the mayor - including crafting policy and the mayor's agenda. 

Wolfson was a senior strategist for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. According to the New York Post, he will be leaving the Glover Park Group, where he has been associated with for several years. (NY Post). 

DeMint Hires Amanda Carpenter as Senior Communications Advisor

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, announced he has hired Washington Times reporter Amanda Carpenter as senior communications advisor and speechwriter.

Previously, Ms. Carpenter has worked for Townhall.com, Townhall Magazine and Human Events newspaper. She was also a weekly conservative writer for Glamour Magazine’s 2008 election blog. She graduated from Ball State University (Indiana) in 2005.

Business Software Alliance Hires Matt Reid

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the global trade association representing the software industry, announced today that Matt Reid has joined as Vice President (VP) of Communications. In this role, Reid will lead all facets of BSA's worldwide communications efforts including public affairs, media relations, and digital and internal communications.

Prior to joining BSA, Reid served for six years as Executive Vice President of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, where he founded and led the agency's Public Affairs and Social Innovation practices. Reid established and oversaw Waggener Edstrom's offices in both Brussels and Washington, DC, while overseeing accounts in a variety of other US and European offices. He also previously led the agency's Corporate practice.

Reid previously served as Vice President in the Corporate Communications Practice at Fleishman-Hillard and as Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs for the global communications agency GCI Group. Prior to that, he worked at two of California's leading political consulting firms, Clinton Reilly Campaigns and Terris & Jaye. During his 23-year career in communications, Reid has represented numerous high-profile clients, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft Corporation, MasterCard, Chevron, Starbucks, Lance Armstrong, General Motors, and others.

Birnbaum Joins BGR Public Relations

Former Washington Times managing editor Jeffrey Birnbaum is the new head of BGR Public Relations, the firm announced today. Birnbaum, also a former reporter and columnist for The Washington Post, started at the firm today.

The former heads of BGR PR, Michael Meehan and David DiMartino, the first two Democrats hired by BGR Group after the formerly all-Republican lobbying firm announced it would go bipartisan in late 2007, left the firm in August.

Birnbaum, 53, said he's "happy to have the chance to work with good people on very interesting projects...this is a chance for me to use all of the skills I have accumulated through the years and to try to do something different, fun and useful."

Birnbaum said he will continue to be a registered independent voter. (via Legal Times blog)

Special Olympics Hires Marketing & Development Officer

Special Olympics has announced Terry Richey as Chief Marketing and Development Officer, a new position for the organization.  Richey will oversee the non-profit’s global efforts in communications and fundraising strategy. Richey comes to Special Olympics from his former post as Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. 

Prior to Feeding America, Richey served as Chief Marketing, Membership, and Philanthropy Officer at The Nature Conservancy. Earlier in his career, Richey headed his own consulting firm where he introduced business growth and strategies for global corporations including General Mills, Hallmark, Kraft, Sara Lee and Sprint.  (PF Tipster)

 

Comella Signs on with Christie in New Jersey

Maria Comella, a longtime campaign hand, is going into governing -- taking over as communications director for New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R). Comella spent the 2008 cycle working for the presidential campaign of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and stayed on as press adviser to Giuliani through his decision not to run for higher office in 2010 in New York. In addition to her work for Giuliani, Comella served as an adviser to Christie during his successful defeat of Gov. Jon Corzine (D) last fall. "I clearly enjoy working for former U.S. Attorneys who aren't afraid of a challenge," said Comella of her new gig.  (via Washington Post's The Fix)

Sherrod Brown's CD Moving On

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that, "Joanne Kuebeler, communications director for Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), will leave her job next month to join the Washington office of Global Campaign for Education, an international organization that champions the rights of every child in the world to have an educations. Kuebler has spent the past six years working for Brown. No word on who will replace her." (Columbus Dispatch). 

On another note - I'm blogging from 34,000 feet in the air - thank you Virgin America!