Experienced and creative communications operative seeking employment in the private sector after 16 year career focused primarily on political communications.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Owner/Principal
D'Amico Strategy & Communications, LLC
02.2017 - 03.2022
Founded and managed communications, research, and strategy consulting business, growing revenue to over $400,000 in first year.
Managed day-to-day business operations
Advised 60+ organizational clients in public and private sector on communications (paid and earned) and investigative research.
Working with private sector clients, successfully oversaw press strategy to assist clients with government contracts and successfully appeal lost bids.
Experienced with crisis communications, working for clients facing embarrassing earned media controversies.
Appeared on CNN and Vice News to discuss presidential politics.
Put together realistic budgets for clients based upon costs and fees for successfully operating their desired initiatives.
Conducted investigative research on behalf of clients, supervising larger team of researchers. Provided research dossiers to clients paired with press and public communication strategies.
Coached 16 political candidates for political debates, campaign appearances, and other events that required specialized media training.
Oversaw business budget planning and administration, accounting functions, purchasing and bi-weekly payroll to handle financial needs.
Trained and coached new and existing employees to boost staff productivity.
Authored op-eds and industry publications related to the use of investigative research in political communications.
SENIOR ADVISOR/RESEARCH DIRECTOR
American Bridge 21st Century
Washington, DC
11.2012 - 01.2017
Responsible for crafting actionable communications strategies from team’s investigative research including reporter outreach, paid communication, and earned media events.
Established communications and research programs in 2 Presidential elections, over 30 Senate elections, and over 120 congressional elections.
Delegated to speak to reporters and external stakeholders on key pieces of news or strategy
Recruited, interviewed and 43 employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
Increased diversity of team that varied in size from 15-25 completing research to present to press. Female representation in department grew from 10% to 50%.
Responsible for supervising $1.5 million dollar annual departmental budget.
Led organization's 2014 cycle preparation for 2016 election.
Conceptualized, researched, and oversaw editing of monograph focusing on backgrounds of 2016 GOP Presidential contenders, available on Amazon.
PRESIDENTIAL TEAM LEAD
American Bridge 21st Century
Washington, DC
06.2011 - 11.2012
Led 6 person team communicating and researching information related to GOP candidates for 2012 Republican nomination.
Conducted due diligence, public record, legal, and news research as part of investigations.
Continuously checked products for quality assurance according to strict guidelines.
Coached team members in techniques necessary to complete job tasks.
Operated successful parody @FireMeElmo social media account that generated significant earned media coverage.
Developed monthly and daily production output plans to deliver information to communications and leadership team.
DEPUTY RESEARCH DIRECTOR
National Labor Table State Battlegrounds Initiative
Washington, DC
02.2011 - 06.2011
Established strategic goals for research and communications for 7 state campaigns focused on labor rights. t.
Established connections with local teams, external stakeholders, allowing on-the-ground developments to inform research and vice versa.
Built institution's research portfolio in accordance with long-term strategic plan.
Analyzed findings and reports from contract researchers in program and interpreted for supervisory staff.
Produced reports of findings and gave presentations of results.
RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Strickland For Governor
Columbus, Ohio
04.2010 - 11.2010
Planned or directed research and investigations for one of top gubernatorial campaign targets in 2010.
Provided research for paid media campaign that swung polling approximately 9% over 4 weeks.
Taught staff, students and new employees income generation methods through varying external channels.
Innovated several investigative techniques to locate materials related to candidate publications, business connections, and historic activities.
Maintained budget guidelines, approved all expenses and submitted timely financial reports for 3 person team.
Coordinated team of volunteer researchers assisting campaign.
CAMPAIGN MANAGER/CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON
Zeitz For Congress
12.2007 - 11.2008
Served as campaign manager and spokesperson for congressional election in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District.
Responsible for managing fundraising activities. Raised over $500,000 in spite of non-targeted status by state and national political parties.
Networked among donors and conducted fundraising to generate money for campaign
Grew fundraising efforts by investigating opponent's archived controversial statements.
Managed campaign budget, arranged leases of 3 campaign offices.
Supervised media, polling, and strategic consultants.
Developed policy positions and wrote public statements outlining stances
Performed staff evaluations and addressed areas for improvement
Worked with traditional media to obtain coverage of key events
Created grassroots campaign initiatives mobilizing volunteer support
CAMPAIGN MANAGER/CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON
Jay Donahue For Delegate
04.2007 - 11.2007
Served as campaign manager and spokesperson for House of Delegates campaign in Virginia.
Responsible for managing fundraising activities. Raised over $300,000,
Utilized new telephone communications tactic to grow campaign support, leading to it achieving "targeted" status from party caucus.
Networked among donors and conducted fundraising to generate money for campaign
Grew fundraising efforts by investigating opponent's archived controversial statements.
Supervised media, polling, and strategic consultants.
Developed policy positions and wrote public statements outlining stances
Worked with traditional media to obtain coverage of key events
DEPUTY RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Jim Webb For Senate
06.2006 - 11.2006
Served as entry-level researcher for vital 2006 Virginia U.S. Senate Campaign.
Performed investigations that led to campaign's communication being featured on major television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show, boosting campaign's profile.
Created plans and communicated deadlines to complete projects on time
Part of team that broke then-Senator George Allen’s use of an obscure racial slur. Footage was first political viral video on YouTube, quickly reaching 1 million YouTube views in 24 hours.
Education
M.P.S - Political Management
George Washington University, The
Washington, DC
09.2005 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
09.2001 - 05.2005
Skills
Communications Strategy
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Timeline
Owner/Principal
D'Amico Strategy & Communications, LLC
02.2017 - 03.2022
SENIOR ADVISOR/RESEARCH DIRECTOR
American Bridge 21st Century
11.2012 - 01.2017
PRESIDENTIAL TEAM LEAD
American Bridge 21st Century
06.2011 - 11.2012
DEPUTY RESEARCH DIRECTOR
National Labor Table State Battlegrounds Initiative