David L. Helfert 4027 Tealwood Drive Austin, Texas 78731 (703) 945-8033 [email protected]
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION American University, Washington, DC MA, Public Communication 2004 Thesis: A Clear and Present Danger?; An Investigation of White House Issue Frames about the Iraq War George Washington University, Washington, DC 1995-96 Graduate studies in Legislative Relations, 9 Hours Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Austin, Texas (through University of Texas) 1992 Certificate course in Intermediate Conversational Spanish The University of Texas at Austin 1963-64 & 1969-71 Undergraduate in Journalism
TEACHING EXPERIENCE Texas State University, Communication Studies, San Marcos, TX Political Communication (2017-18) Speechwriting (2018-19) (One of six speechwriting classes in the U.S.)
Johns Hopkins University, Advanced Academic Programs, Washington, DC Public Affairs Communication (2008-17) Political Campaign Communication (2009-13) Opinion Writing (Fall 2011)
George Mason University, Schar Graduate School of Public Policy, Arlington, VA Political/Policy Communication (Summer 2011) Professional Writing for Policy (Fall 2011-17)
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin Writing and Communication in Global Policy Studies (Spring 2013-14) Governor’s Center for Management and Development (Summer 2015) Fellow, LBJ Center for Politics and Governance
American University, Washington, DC School of Communication; Political Communication (2005-11) School of Public Affairs; Applied Political Writing (Fall 2012) U.S. Naval Academy, Department of Political Science, Annapolis, MD Guest Lecturer on Presidential Political Campaigns (Fall 2010-13)
PUBLICATIONS Political Communication in Action: From Theory to Practice; Political-public affairs communication textbook; Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder, CO. (2018). Stirring Through the Ashes; Article for Communication Director magazine’s 4th Quarter 2016 issue; exploring the reach of social media and its impact on cable television news and coverage of the 2016 presidential candidates. Navigating the New Media Environment, Article for Campaigns & Elections online magazine, Nov, 21, 2016 discussing digital media’s role in the 2016 presidential election. Huffington Post and Punditwire.com featured blogger; (2010-16) Op-ed contributor to the Austin American-Statesman (2010-11). As a Congressional Communications Director, wrote op-eds for U.S. Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Dave Obey published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chicago Tribune and Boston Globe.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS
2010 Small Business Star Award; National Small Business Association, for leadership role in winning Congressional passage of critical small business legislation, “displaying an uncommon passion and tenacity for helping entrepreneurs.” 2010
2007 Silver Mouse Award; Congressional Management Foundation, for redesign of Congressional web site, judged “among the best-of-the-best on Capitol Hill.” 2008 Outstanding Performance Awards, Congressman Chet Edwards, for leadership in establishing innovative media outreach strategies; 2001 and 2002 Special Service Awards, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for leadership in creating and implementing agency customer research program and strategic planning processes; 1997 and 1998 POLLIE Award, American Association of Political Consultants, for statewide radio campaign in Arizona and Texas; 1990 Firm won eighteen CLIO and ADDY Awards, Austin and San Antonio Advertising Federations for copywriting, radio and television production; 1977-94 Awards from the Associated Press and Texas State Teachers Association for outstanding news reporting at KVUE-TV; 1971-73 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
U.S. House of Representatives, Communication Director 2001-10 Communication Director/Senior Advisor for Chairman of Armed Services Subcommittee (2006-2010); Democratic Communication Director, House Appropriations Committee (2003-2006), and Communications Director for Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member (2001-2003)
William J. Clinton Administration, Director of Public Affairs 1994-2000 Recruited by the Clinton Administration to organize and manage public affairs department for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; Detailed to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to lead a communication strategic reorganization process
D. Helfert & Associates Media/Public Affairs, President 1987-94 Planned, wrote and produced English and Hispanic media for local, state, congressional, judicial and presidential political campaigns and statewide get-out-the-vote campaigns in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico; Planned and produced training media and public service campaigns for state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations and statewide professional associations; Advised corporate and association clients on public, media and governmental relations
Korba, Helfert & Zabel, Inc., President/Managing Partner 1977-87 Built and managed successful marketing-advertising agency; Wrote and produced radio and television messages for commercial, retail, public service clients and more than 160 political campaigns throughout Texas and New Mexico; Provided media relations and campaign advance.
Texas House of Representatives, Media Services Director 1973-77 Provided public information and media assistance for 150 House Members; Wrote and produced media programs and publications on the Texas Legislature; Provided information resources to news media
KVUE Television; Austin, TX, Reporter and News Anchor 1971-73
KHFI-KTAP Radio; Austin, TX, Reporter and Producer 1971
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Federal Mediator Training 160 total hours in Dispute Mediation, Training and Facilitation Skills, Interest-Based Bargaining, Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes and Cross-Cultural Mediation
Center for Creative Leadership Training program in Organizational and Individual Performance, Decision-making, Team building, Dealing with Organizational Change and Employee Feedback
Leadership Austin Year-long community leadership training program focusing on ethnic and cultural diversity, consensus building and the resolution of community problems
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ADDENDUM 2010: Volunteer member of communications team for Abercrombie for Governor Campaign in Hawaii; wrote speeches, policy talking points and campaign responses to hundreds of online inquiries on issue positions.
2008: Member of GOTV Team for Obama For America Campaign in Southern Virginia during final 10 days of General Election; recruited 27 additional volunteers from DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland; Organized and managed Election Day Ride to the Polls program with local volunteers, providing rides for more than 100 voters, including mobility impaired; Wrote talking points on military readiness issues for the Obama Campaign; Volunteer in Austin, Texas during final weeks of March primary, coordinating walk program and caucuses in four precincts; Weekend door to door canvassing in Alexandria, VA.
2004: Wrote surrogate speeches and op-eds for Kerry-Edwards Campaign for former Attorney General Janet Reno, former Texas Governor Ann Richards, U.S. Senator Dan Inouye and General Tony McPeak.
2004: Volunteer organizer for U.S. Senator Tom Daschle and Kerry-Edwards campaigns in South Dakota for three weeks; worked with local organizers on voter ID lists at Cheyenne River Lakota Reservation; produced one-hour radio program on Democratic issues broadcast to all nine Native American reservations in the state; developed outreach program to military veterans, assisted with Rapid City press events and door-to-door canvassing.
2000: Volunteer press coordinator in Milwaukee, WI for the last three weeks of the Gore-Lieberman campaign; supervised press operation and coordinated surrogate events for Jesse Jackson, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Al Franken and others.
1996: Volunteer at Clinton-Gore Headquarters in Washington, DC; Returned to Texas for the last two weeks of the presidential election campaign to help coordinate State Democratic Party’s GOTV program.
1973-1994: Media writer-producer for more than 120 political campaigns, from local, state legislative and statewide races to Congressional, U.S. Senate and state coordinated campaigns in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona; including Governor Ann Richards, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower and former Texas Comptroller John Sharp, former Congressmen J. J. (Jake) Pickle, Alberto Bustamante and Bill Richardson (NM); Also produced television spots for Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and numerous Congressional campaigns in the Midwest; Wrote and produced Hispanic media for more than 20 campaigns.