Appointments and Promotions
December 25, 2011

Howard Consulting Group of the District appointed Paul Coussan account executive, Josh Levitt project associate, Emily Passini senior director of public affairs and Erin Thurston senior account manager.

Coussan and Levitt Join Howard Consulting Group; Passini and Thurston Promoted
December 19, 2011

Howard Consulting Group (HCG; www.hcgpublicaffairs.com) announced the hiring of Paul Coussan as account executive and Josh Levitt as project associate. HCG also announced the promotions of Emily Passini to senior director of public affairs and Erin Thurston to senior account manager.

"Emily Passini and Erin Thurston have been central to several recent successes for our clients and I am delighted to promote them to these key positions," said Frank Howard, president & CEO of HCG.

"Paul Coussan and Josh Levitt are great additions to our communications team and they are already helping our clients meet strategic imperatives with their experience and enthusiasm," said Dan Ronayne, vice president of HCG.

Coussan previously served as press secretary for Congressman Charles Boustany and as a community liaison for U.S. Senator David Vitter. He served as a communications specialist for the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, and in 2009 worked with the policy and communication teams at the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in Atlanta.

Levitt first joined HCG as an intern and earned a position as a project associate where he will continue assisting client's with research and earned media efforts. Levitt previously interned with Citizens for Specter, working closely with the research team to develop and implement effective strategies and messages.

Passini, promoted to senior director of public affairs, oversees the public affairs division of HCG and provides clients with counsel on grassroots mobilization, third party outreach and coalition building. Thurston, promoted to senior account manager, will continue to advise clients, craft and help implement communications plans.

HCG also recently launched a new blog on its website. The blog will provide updates from the company and give insights into HCG and its staff.

Howard Consulting Group Adds Two
Dave Levinthal and Anna Palmer
December 15, 2011

Howard Consulting Group is bringing on Paul Coussan and Josh Levitt. Coussan, who will be an account executive at the firm, previously served as press secretary for Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and as community liaison for Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Levitt, who will be a project associate, previously interned with the firm. HCG's Dan Ronayne said of the hires: "Paul Coussan and Josh Levitt are great additions to our communications team and they are already helping our clients meet strategic imperatives with their experience and enthusiasm."

People on the Move
December 15, 2011

Promotion: Erin Thurston, Howard Consulting Group Inc., Senior account manager

Promotion: Emily Passini, Howard Consulting Group Inc., Senior director of public affairs

New Hire: Paul Coussan, Howard Consulting Group, Account executive
Previous employer: Press secretary for Congressman Charles Boustany; Community liaison for U.S. Sen. David Vitter

New Hire: Josh Levitt, Howard Consulting Group Inc., Project associate

People on the Move
Eric Naing and Rebecca Shabad, CQ Staff
December 14, 2011

The following people have been hired or promoted at Howard Consulting Group (HCG):

Paul Coussan has been hired as an account executive. Coussan was the press secretary for Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La. He has worked as a community liaison for Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and as a communications specialist for the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency.

Josh Levitt has been hired as a project associate. Levitt was an intern at HCG. He has worked as an intern for Citizens for Specter, the political action committee of Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. He also has interned for Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y.

Emily Passini has been promoted to senior director of public affairs. Passini was the director of public affairs. She has worked as a political director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. She also has worked as a project manager the Saint Consulting Group.

Erin Thurston has been promoted to senior account manager. Thurston was an account manager. She has previously worked as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

Coming & Going:
Who is Where in the Political World...
June 10, 2011

Howard Consulting Group, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm, has added Emily Passini as director of public affairs. In her new position, Passini will aid clients with grassroots mobilization efforts as well as coalition building and third party outreach.

Passini comes to Howard Consulting Group from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, where she served as political director, overseeing strategy and spending decisions on races in thirteen states across the country. Before joining the DLCC, Passini was campaign director for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus and deputy political director for the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee. She also spent two years in Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration as special assistant for policy to the commissioner of mental health and developmental disabilities.

"We are very happy to announce the addition of Emily Passini to HCG," said Frank Howard, president and CEO of Howard Consulting Group, in a press release announcing Passini's move. "Her breadth of experience in grassroots organizing and mobilization make her a perfect fit for this position and the firm. Our clients will benefit greatly from her expertise."

Appointments and Promotions
May 9, 2011

Howard Consulting Group of the District named Emily Passini, former political director with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, director of public affairs.

Howard Power
Mike Magner
May 3, 2011

Emily Passini is the new public-affairs director at the Howard Consulting Group, helping clients with grassroots mobilization, third-party outreach, and coalition building.

Passini comes from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, where she was a political director handling campaign strategies and spending in 13 states.

Earlier, she served as campaign director for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus and deputy political director for the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee. She also was a policy aide during the administration of former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Civil engineers of Maryland take pride in
displaying report card
May 1, 2011

The American Society of Civil Engineers Maryland Section wanted its first Infrastructure Report Card to reach key decision-makers and the public. The objective was to create an event to draw the attention of those who could facilitate change to the state's infrastructure policy.

STRATEGY

A press conference was coordinated on February 8 in Annapolis, MD, but "we wanted to reach the general public as well, since they are the people that use the roads and the Metro," says Frank Howard, president of Howard Consulting Group.

The report card presented the information on the state's roads, bridges, transit systems, dams, and storm-water management in an easy-to-understand format.

State Senate Majority Leader Robert Garagiola and Delegate Jon Cardin were on hand to explain the findings.

Tactics

In his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama mentioned the national society's 2009 report card.

"His speech validated our efforts," says Frank Kaul, American Society of Civil Engineers Maryland Section president.

The speech was used as leverage for media outreach. Content was also posted on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Results

The press conference was covered by outlets including The Baltimore Sun, Maryland Daily Record, and Maryland Reporter.com. State lawmakers and staff members attended the event. News of the report card reached 45,000-plus Twitter followers.

"We've been invited to Annapolis to testify to several committees," adds Kaul. "People as far as England have contacted us about the report card."

Future

Other society chapters are looking to replicate the event.

People on the Move
April 20, 2011

Howard Consulting Group in D.C. added Emily Passini as director of public affairs.

Passini comes to HCG from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, where she served as political director, overseeing strategic and spending decisions in 13 states. She will oversee the public affairs division of HCG and provides clients with counsel on grassroots mobilization, third-party outreach and coalition building. Passini has more than 10 years of experience in campaign management, community organizing and grassroots advocacy. Prior to her time with the DLCC, Passini served as the campaign director for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus and as the deputy political director for the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.

THE TALENT RACE: Who's headed where
April 22, 2011

Emily Passini joined Howard Consulting Group as director of public affairs. Previously, Passini was political director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Passini Joins Howard Consulting Group as
Director of Public Affairs
April 21, 2011

Howard Consulting Group (HCG; www.hcgpublicaffairs.com), a Washington, D.C. based public affairs firm, announced the addition of Emily Passini as Director of Public Affairs. Passini comes to HCG from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) where she served as Political Director, overseeing strategic and spending decisions in 13 states across the country.

"We are very happy to announce the addition of Emily Passini to HCG," said Frank Howard, President and CEO of HCG. "Her breadth of experience in grassroots organizing and mobilization make her a perfect fit for this position and the firm. Our clients will benefit greatly from her expertise."

As the Director of Public Affairs, Passini oversees the public affairs division of HCG and provides clients with counsel on grassroots mobilization, third party outreach and coalition building. Passini has over 10 years of experience in campaign management, community organizing and grassroots advocacy. During that time, she has worked with non-profits, political campaigns, government and public affairs firms to build effective coalitions and strategic partnerships amidst challenging political environments.

Prior to her time with the DLCC, Passini served as the Campaign Director for the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus and as the Deputy Political Director for the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.

Roll Call
April 22, 2011

Emily Passini has joined Howard Consulting Group as director of public affairs. She has more than a decade of experience, and will oversee the firm's public affairs division. Passini was previously political director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Howard hires public affairs director
April 20, 2011

Howard Consulting Group, a D.C.-based public affairs firm, announced Emily Passini will join as director of public affairs. Passini comes from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

HCG announces new additions
February 23, 2011

HCG also added Travis Brown as an associate, Jill Machol as human resources manager and promoted Kunal Khosla to project associate.