Dewey Square Group Expands California Practice
Erin Campbell Boltz Joins as Principal and General Manager; Damon Conklin Becomes Strategic Communications and Policy Advisor
SACRAMENTO, CA – December 7th, 2015 – The Dewey Square Group (DSG), a nationwide public affairs firm, announced today that Erin Campbell Boltz, Senior Vice President at Spitfire Strategies, will join the firm as General Manager of DSG’s California office and as leader of DSG’s California Public Affairs Practice. The firm also announced that Damon Conklin, a longtime advisor to members of the California state legislature, will become the strategic communications and policy consultant to the firm’s rapidly growing California business. Both will work from DSG’s Sacramento office and join Margaret Lyons, who leads the firm’s national Social Innovation and Philanthropy practice.
Campbell Boltz is one of the nation’s leading communications policy advocates, with extensive experience positioning organizations and developing winning media and messaging campaigns. As Senior Vice President at Spitfire Strategies in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, she led several successful national advocacy campaigns and developed communications strategies to secure passage of federal legislation on consumer protection issues including credit card fees and children’s toys. Campbell Boltz played an important role in the passage of the RESTORE Act, a federal law enacted to bring back the Gulf Coast region following the 2010 BP oil spill, and the Child Nutrition Initiative, a campaign that culminated in the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Previously, Campbell Boltz served as press secretary and speechwriter to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, in both his House and Senate offices.
Damon Conklin brings over 15 years of legislative experience serving a variety of members of the California Legislature, most recently as a senior policy and political advisor for both Republican and Democratic members, including Senators Lou Correa and Tom Harman. During this time he negotiated a number of policies that have been signed into law, including providing relief to student borrowers, tribal gaming compacts, healthcare reforms and local government funding and transparency initiatives. With a focus on building bipartisan coalitions, Conklin has successfully managed several legislative and state-wide campaigns and candidates. Conklin also serves as a communications officer in the California State Guard and as an adjunct professor in public service and organizational leadership and management at Golden Gate University in Sacramento.
“Erin and Damon are superb strategists and communications experts who have helped shape policies on a wide range of issues in California and around the country,” said Chuck Campion, chairman and co-founder of Dewey Square Group. “They bring an impressive constellation of skills that will provide tremendous value to Dewey Square Group’s growing roster of California clients.”
DSG’s Sacramento office is also home to the firm’s nationally recognized Social Innovation and Philanthropy Practice, founded by managing Principal Margaret Lyons, which continues to grow into such policy arenas as the multi-million dollar campaign to implement the State’s first Earned Income Tax Credit. Karen Breslau, Principal and California Communications Leader, and Jim Hawley, Principal and California Government Relations Leader, round out the senior Sacramento team.
Senior Associate Tamara Torlakson continues producing many of the firm’s signature events in California, including DSG’s popular “She Shares” conversation series, featuring women leaders making a difference in California and beyond. DSG has added project assistants Michelle Clark, Allison Castro and Fola Gbadamosi to enhance its California client service.
DSG’s California office offers a full range of services including strategic and crisis communications, government relations, public affairs and event planning to clients from the private, nonprofit and educational sectors, helping clients advance their goals, enhance their brands and expand their networks. In addition to “She Shares,” DSG earlier produced the acclaimed Women’s Conference, hosted by former First Lady Maria Shriver.