David L. Helfert 4027 Tealwood Drive Austin, 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 , 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 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 , 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.