Alex Burrola
Fullerton,California
Summary
Dynamic senior-level public affairs and political campaign executive with extensive experience in leading teams spearheading impactful public affairs and communications initiatives that shape policy and engage stakeholders. Proven track record of achieving successful outcomes by uniting diverse interests around shared objectives. Expertise in strategic messaging and relationship building, driving collaboration to foster meaningful dialogue and influence decision-making. Experienced in leveraging insights and innovative strategies to navigate complex political landscapes and enhance organizational and policy visibility.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Vice President
Presidio Public Affairs
06.2022 - 07.2025
- Led the firm’s client services team as senior staff member. Focused on development of opportunities and contract renewal negotiations among private sector and trade associations networks, as well as public agencies. Represented the firm among industry associations and peers. Responsible for leading client teams on key government relations, communications, and public affairs projects.
- Managed projects among diverse clientele, including political campaigns, public sector lobbying, and non-profit communications and advocacy. Ensured deliverables were completed at the highest level of quality.
- Worked with the firm's CEO and leadership to identify business goals for the coming year, pipelines of business development, staffing needs, growth areas, and other opportunities critical to the growth and health of the firm.
- Led and directed junior staff on long-term and day-to-day client deliverables for high profile trade association work, including internal and external communications, legislative, and political projects.
- Collaborated on managing high profile public policy issues for industry association clients and their responses to local ballot initiatives which would have resulted in major increases to operational costs and loss of business.
- As part of statewide public affairs and political efforts, launched and built a coalition of small, local businesses to advocate on state legislation and local ordinances, created and executed a strategic political giving plan, and lobbied local governments against harmful workplace regulatory ordinances.
Associate Vice President
FSB Public Affairs
08.2012 - 06.2022
- As a senior FSBPA staff member in the firm’s Orange County office, was responsible for multiple ongoing Southern California-based and national client projects. Managed Orange County and Sacramento based staff, supervised office operations, and coordinates responses to marketing and new business opportunities with other FSBPA offices. As a member of the firm’s leadership team, advised the company’s President on client issues, staff, marketing, new business development, and operations.
- Acted as a team leader and senior manager on several key clients, directing staff on projects and ensuring day-to-day and ongoing client service needs and deadlines were met.
- Collaborated on creation of business and marketing strategies and goals for the company, including new business development and strategic growth opportunities that positioned the company as the premiere public affairs firm in California and nationwide.
- Identified opportunities to pursue corporate, trade association, and political business development opportunities with emphasis on elevating the firm's stature among peers and competitors.
- Mentored and guided junior staff to assist them in identifying their professional goals and how best to pursue and achieve them, developing and sharpening their public affairs and related skills in the process and creating professional growth plans and benchmarks.
- Represented the firm at local, regional, state, and national-scope events such as chambers of commerce, public affairs, and trade association meetings, conferences, etc., ensuring the company was a known presence, and encouraged junior staff to participate in similar and other organizations offering professional development and networking opportunities.
- Established a close and ongoing working relationship with local, regional, and state building trades to secure support for major client development projects involving energy, housing, hospitality, and tourism.
- Led grassroots and grass tops outreach and recruitment efforts on behalf of tourism related trade associations advocating for federal regulatory relief during and after the height of COVID-19.
- Managed key aspects of ballot initiative and independent expenditure campaigns, including direction for creative materials, messaging, strategic communications, social media, and managed vendor relations and budgets.
Account Executive
Cerrell Associates, Inc.
10.2010 - 04.2012
- Worked alongside middle managers and senior leaders in developing and implementing strategic public affairs programs for corporate, trade association and non-profit clients. Duties included content production, messaging themes, and design for campaign related copy, including press releases, columns, op-eds, and blog posts for clients' public facing and in-house use.
- Monitored and reported on local government agency activity on pending ordinances and legislation and items of interest to clients. Provided day-to-day client management and assessed campaign or issue progression against benchmarks and policy goals.
- Secured repeat high profile media opportunities for clients by building relationships with digital, print, radio, and television media in the Greater Los Angeles media market.
- Doubled advocacy coalition numbers among individuals and small businesses through targeted stakeholder outreach via in-person presentations, email campaigns and social media focusing on common concerns of interest.
- Raised client exposure and stakeholder support across key groups leveraging relationships with political contacts and networks to facilitate introductions, meetings, and endorsements for projects and campaigns.
Education
Certificate - Public Policy Making Academy
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA04.2014
Bachelor of Arts - History and Political Science
Whittier College
Whittier, CA05.1999
Skills
- Public Affairs Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Outreach/Relations
- Coalition Building/Management
- Message Development
- Content Creation/Management
- Multistate Projects
- Political Campaigns
- Community Outreach
- Media Relations
- Advocacy/Lobbying
Websites
Affiliations
- Member, American Association of Political Consultants
- Member, Orange County Public Affairs Association
- Member, Fullerton Transportation Commission, 2012-2014
- Board Member, North Orange County Chamber of Commerce, 2015-2021
Timeline
Senior Vice President
Presidio Public Affairs
06.2022 - 07.2025
Associate Vice President
FSB Public Affairs
08.2012 - 06.2022
Account Executive
Cerrell Associates, Inc.
10.2010 - 04.2012
Certificate - Public Policy Making Academy
University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Arts - History and Political Science
Whittier College
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