Read has managed coalitions and campaigns on some of the most contentious issues at the intersection of government and business.
His crisis assignments included directing communications for the World Bank Group Staff Association during the 2007 World Bank presidential crisis; and assignment to Kyiv, Ukraine as liaison to western news media in the 2006 parliamentary elections.
A former U.S. Senate communications director, and reporter and editor for the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Dallas Observer, he worked on the international desk of United Press International during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
A 1987 graduate of Duke University (A.B. History), his multimedia production and economic development practice does business in Washington as WIT Americas, LLC, reached at rsm (at) witstrategy.com.
CURRICULUM VITAE:
WIT Americas, LLC (Partner) 2003-present
An Economic Development and Public Affairs Consulting firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pa., and New York.
Services include marketing and public affairs counsel on interactive advertising, campaign planning, video, print and web media production, event management, community outreach and guerrilla marketing, and government contract management
Responsibilities at WIT include day to day operations, client service, over-all budget and new business development.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CASES
Crisis Manager April to June, 2007
World Bank Group Staff Association
Western Media Liaison in Kiev, Ukraine February to April, 2006
Davis-Manafort (for Party of Regions)
Earned Media Manager, 2004-5
Yes On 4 (2004 Florida Ballot Initiative)
Event Manager, 2002-2006
U.S. Small Business Association "National Small Business Week"
Event Manager, 2001-2003
U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Recruitment Conference, Washington, D.C.
Emergency Preparedness Counselor, 2002
D.C. Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
Campaign to Defeat 209 (California Ballot Initiative)
Spokesperson for $3 million campaign to defend affirmative action in California
Counselor to Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania 1993-1994
Pennsylvania Acting Governor Mark Singel - Managed day-to-day research on voting records, financial contributions and business and personal histories based on public record in multicandidate primary field, and authored and edited research reports. Developed rapid response protocol and tactics in earned media and paid television advertising
Other campaigns:
Richard Kessel for Nassau County Executive, Merrick, N.Y. Press Secretary 1993
Steve Orlins for Congress, Hicksville, N.Y. Press Secretary 1992
Bob Kerrey for President, Deputy Press Secretary 1992
Richard Gephardt for President, Press Assistant 1987-88
PUBLIC SERVICE
Communications Director
U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) 1995 –1996
Spokesperson and Counselor to Senator on broad menu of policy issues including school reconstruction funding, women’s pensions, public education spending, entitlement programs and tax policy
PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST, 1987-1991
1990-1 – United Press International, Foreign Desk Overnight Editor, Washington
1988-89 - The Dallas Observer, Staff Reporter, Dallas
1988 – The Associated Press, Correspondent, Dallas
1987 - United Press International, Correspondent, St. Louis
PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROFESSIONAL CAREER (pre-WIT)
Group 360, LLC (Partner) 2002
Co-founder of government relations/public relations consulting firm focused on Washington, D.C. municipal market
Rasky/Baerlein Group (Vice President) 2000-2001
Operated Washington office of Boston-based public affairs firm with large healthcare, technology, entertainment, and state government relations practice
Powell Tate (Group Director) 1997-1999
Practice areas included IT, telecom, anti-trust, medical devices, healthcare purchasing, and coalitions
EDUCATION
Duke University - A.B. History 1987
SKILLS
Registered lobbyist in the District of Columbia, published photographer; multimedia production including Pro-Tools, PhotoShop, Final Cut Pro, Adobe PhotoShop, InDesign, Microsoft Street & Trips and various voter-file trainings; Spanish written and spoken
References (contact information available upon request):
Edith Wilson, Senior Advisor on Corporate Communications-External Relations, The World Bank
Alison Cave, Chair, World Bank Group Staff Association
Jules Wortman, Senior Vice President-Publicity, Warner Brothers Nashville
Tim Unes, Managing Partner, Event Strategies, Inc.
WIT Americas, LLC * 519 11th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003
phone: (202) 315-1118 * rsm(at)witstrategy.com