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Alumni Spotlight Archive
Ian Koski, GSPM Class of 2004
President and Founder, On Deck Communication Studio
Ian Koski, a 2004 graduate, is the the founder and president of On Deck Communication Studio, a graphic design and strategy firm in Alexandria, Virginia.
On Deck Communication Studio is carving out a niche it dubs "strategic political design" - the application of communication strategy to the design of political direct mail and campaign web sites. Having a professional political operative making on-the-spot visual choices that support a strong written message can make the difference between junk mail and an earned vote.
Ian founded On Deck in July 2004, designing political mail pieces in the evenings after days at The Performance Institute, a nonpartisan government management think tank. As the director of public policy and communications, his responsibilities ranged from organizational branding and design management to policy advocacy and Congressional relations. Ian left PI in December 2004 to devote his full attention to On Deck.
"Honestly, I had no idea how difficult it would be to start my own firm," Ian said. "I didn't think it would be easy, but wow, the stress took some getting used to. It wasn't the acute stress I had to deal with at my old job or when I was writing on a deadline - it was a constant, nerve-wracking, inescapable kind of stress. It's been almost a year now, though, and I couldn't be happier about the decision to go out on my own."
In addition to building a client list that includes an array of political candidates, companies and organizations, On Deck has participated in a variety of pro-bono projects.
"Networking is such an important part of business development that taking on volunteer projects from time to time just makes sense," Ian said. "Plus, it allows me to support causes I believe in, even if they can't afford to pay me."
This winter, On Deck will launch PoliticalStock.com, a stock photography web site offering original photos of the political process, government activities, federal buildings, and national monuments.
"After two years in the government contracting sector and having designed web sites for several political consulting firms, it became clear that very few options existed for stock photos of government and politics," Ian said. "The same photos kept appearing over and over again. Political Stock is designed to both offer options and provide an independent revenue stream for On Deck."
Ian graduated from the GSPM in 2004. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Villanova University, where he worked at the student newspaper, The Villanovan, as its editor in chief. His journalism resume also includes stints at newspapers in suburban Philadelphia, New York's Hudson Valley, and the South Bronx in New York City.
A confused fan of the Mets and Nationals (but still a loyal fan of the Jets), Ian now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. For more about On Deck Communication Studio, visit www.ondeckstudio.com.
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Erin Russell, GSPM Class of 2001
2005 Leadership Staff Award Recipient
Erin Russell recently received the 2005 Leadership Staff Award at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) annual conference in Seattle, WA for her contribution to the legislative process and professional development of leadership staff.
Erin was recognized for the development of a new, functional computer program, Caucus Dialogue, which assists with the escalating workload, references legislation and provides communication between members in committees and on the floor during the state's legislative session.
Erin Russell is based out of Las Vegas as the Executive Director for the Nevada Republican Assembly Caucus, a position she has held since 2002. "The Caucus" is comprised of the elected Assembly (referred to as House in some states) Republican Members throughout the state of Nevada. Since the legislature is only in session for 120 days every other year, Erin's position handles both public policy during session as well as fundraising and strategizing on the 42 district campaigns during the interim. Prior to joining the Caucus, Erin worked on Capitol Hill for US Senator John Ensign.
Erin received a dual BA from the University of Nevada-Reno in Journalism and Political Science. There she was awarded Top Ten Senior Woman of the Year and All Around Greek Woman of the Year. She went on to receive her MA in Political Management from George Washington University. While attending graduate school, she worked for two political communication firms that involved her in media buying for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during the 2000 election cycle and media production. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Affairs at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Erin is a past Board Members for the Nevada Federation of Young Republicans, Junior League of Las Vegas Member and avid runner having completed numerous marathons including the Boston Marathon.
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Matthew Zablud, GSPM Class of 2005
Web Strategist to Join Rightclick
IPDI Staffer to Helm New Consulting Group
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rightclick Strategies (RCS) today announced that Matthew Zablud has joined the firm as vice president and web strategist.
Zablud will head RCS' new strategy group: RCS Consulting, where he will use his expertise and training to deliver a unique suite of consulting services specifically tailored for interest groups and associations looking to bolster their online advocacy programs.
Zablud is a lawyer and campaign manager from Melbourne, Australia who practiced commercial litigation in Melbourne for Tress Cocks and Maddox Lawyers before becoming a political advisor to an Australian state opposition minister responsible for community services and housing. After moving to the United States, Zablud worked as the Conference Manager for both the highly successful 2004 and 2005 Politics Online Conferences in Washington, DC and in a research role at the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet.
Zablud worked with the e-Campaign team at the national headquarters of the Bush-Cheney '04 presidential campaign and has been involved with numerous political campaigns in the United States and internationally for almost 10 years. His experience includes managing a victorious re-election campaign in the Victorian state electorate of Caulfield in 2002 and coordinating early voting and election day legal teams in Miami-Dade County for the Republican National Committee in 2004.
Graduating in 1999 from a joint bachelor's degree in Law and Arts from Monash University in Australia, Zablud completed his Masters in Political Management at The George Washington University in 2005. He is the executive director of the Australian Liberal Friends of Israel and a founding board member of the Graduate School of Political Management International Network.
RCS managing director Jeff Mascott said "we are very excited to have Matthew Zablud join our team and greatly look forward to his involvement heading our new RCS Consulting division. Matthew's background in online and offline political campaigning combined with his legal sector experience makes him ideally placed to deliver effective strategic advice and creative web advocacy solutions for existing and future RCS clients."
Bush-Cheney '04 Web Videographer Joins Campaign Solutions
Campaign Solutions is pleased to announce that Justin Germany will be joining our firm as an account executive.
Campaign Solutions is the leader in online solutions for campaigns and organizations and recently took home seventeen Pollie awards for excellence in political consulting.
Justin will bring his web-video expertise to Campaign Solutions. Before coming to Campaign Solutions he served as the videographer and editor for the Bush-Cheney eCampaign. His work served as a nexus between digital documentary and political message that showcased the President on the campaign trail. That work resulted in over twenty videos seen by more than a million people on the Bush-Cheney?04 website.
The New York Times took note of Germany?s editing and shooting style, describing a movie he filmed and edited for the President?s rallies. ?The video stands out," the Times wrote, "?edgy, unpresidential style, with grainy pictures, speeded-up-action and off kilter camera angles shouting out 'You got a problem with this?' to anyone under 25.? Footage he shot was also used for TV ads and convention videos. Additionally he won two Pollie awards for videos he shot and edited for the campaign.
Germany graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University in 2002 and a Masters of Arts in Political Management from the George Washington University in 2003.
Congratulations, Justin!
Click here to view some of Justin's web-video work for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign.
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Brad Bauman, GSPM Class of 2003 Latest C & E Rising Star
Brad Bauman a 2003 graduate of the GSPM has become the latest in a long list of GSPMers to be named a "Rising Star" by Campaigns and Elections.
Brad currently works at Bannon Communications where he has assumed a leading role in polling and message development for many of their prominent clients.
His recent projects include work with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Student Citizens Action Network which is working in Maryland to restore funding to the University of Maryland. He was named "Democrat of the Year in 2003 at the GSPM and serves on the Board of the National Democratic Club.
Brad's campaign experience includes work on the 2000 Bradley presidential race, the Janet Reno gubernatorial contest and a score of local races in his home of Miami. "Brad is one of our most enthusiastic alumni and we are especially proud that his early career accomplishments have been deservedly recognized," said Dean Chris Arterton.
