Clay Doherty

Launched private consultancy practice in July 2016 serving as a Global Strategic Advisor to organizations in both the public and private sectors in the areas of stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, diplomacy/protocol, global affairs, and high-profile event production. www.hightouchengagement.com

• Led creation of the partnership between the National Museum of American Diplomacy (formerly known as the United States Diplomacy Center), CBS Television Studios and Revelations Entertainment that resulted in the donation of the sets and prop material from the CBS Television Show Madam Secretarythat will serve as the main exhibit feature in the museum on Diplomacy & Entertainment.
• Serve as Senior Advisor for Protocol & Special Events to The World War One Centennial Commissionleading numerous commission events including the USS Intrepid event with Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and the National Cathedral Service of Remembrance for the Armistice Centennial on November 11, 2019. Currently supporting production of the Memorial’s opening ceremony schedule for December 2020.
• Strategic Communications Advisor to Roots of Peace, a globally-recognized humanitarian organization dedicated to the removal of landmines and the replanting of war-torn regions. Let efforts on several major initiatives including organizational rebranding and stakeholder engagement at the United Nations.
• Produced Investing In Somalia’s Development: Somalia Diaspora Conference for RTI International at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School in partnership with USAID and the Somali Action Alliance .
• Successfully coordinated and executed two-day diplomatic engagement and logistics plan for high-level strategic dialogue for Concordia Summit during opening of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Served as Strategic Advisor to Dr. Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation on internal communications strategies, high-profile event production and strategic messaging of new policy vision.

Presidential Appointee at the federal agency responsible for administering all non-military foreign aid on behalf the American people.

Asked to create and assume the position of senior diplomatic advisor to USAID leadership on all matters related to diplomatic protocol and events; oversaw more than 200 annual VIP visits, summits, meetings and ceremonies. Served as the strategic lens for conceptualizing and executing more than 60 high-profile global events. Managed $2M+ in Agency protocol/event support contracts. Security Clearance: SECRET.

• Led execution of President Obama’s 2016 White House Summit on Global Development including creative concept planning and logistics; Received commendation from White House Communications Agency.
• Organized White House Faith Leaders Luncheon, first official event of 2015 Papal Visit by Pope Francis.
• Served as Senior Protocol Advisor to the Government of India at the 2015 Call to Action Summit in New Delhi, organized the diplomatic reception with Prime Minister Modi and the Ministerial Conclave of 22 Governments that led to the Delhi Declaration, the Summit communiqué on Maternal and Child Health.
• Produced two Off-Broadway events in New York with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign leaders.
• Executed launch events for USAID/National Basketball Association (NBA) partnership in Dakar, Senegal.
• Led three USAID-sponsored events with Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Kerry at African Leaders Summit.

Presidential Appointee at the federal agency responsible for administering all non-military foreign aid on behalf the American people.

Oversaw strategic planning, organizational development and daily activities that shaped and communicated the global mission of USAID. Orchestrated strategic initiatives and events to effectively engage domestic and international stakeholders. Served as Acting Director for 14 months. Security Clearance: SECRET.

• Served as Senior U.S. Government Representative and Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kosovo while leading one of the largest summits ever held in the country; Served as diplomatic negotiator with various stakeholders to achieve summit outcomes including establishing the Kosovo Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Received Presidential Letter of Commendation for summit efforts.
• Produced three-day $1.2M USAID Frontiers in Development Forum in 2012 and 2014, invitation-only Davos-style forum for 800 U.S. and foreign government officials, NGO, academic & corporate global leaders. Both led to increased partnerships including the creation of the U.S. Global Development Lab.
• Appointed U.S. Government Representative to the OECD Development Communicators Network.

Provided communications and public affairs counsel to advance the foreign policy objectives of the foundation established by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign leadership team. Collaborated with foundation leadership to create opportunities to inspire former campaign activists to become policy advocates and engage in a dialogue focused on solving global challenges.

Recruited by public relations agency president to grow the public affairs sector of the firm. Promoted twice and ultimately served as Senior Vice President leading day-to-day agency operations. Cultivated and nurtured relationships with the firm’s top accounts, creating unique strategic communications campaigns with targeted messages to achieve strategic corporate objectives.

Senior Vice President (2007-2009)

• Developed and implemented client communication strategies while overseeing daily agency operations, including client capture management, supervising all mid- and junior-level staff and leading talent acquisition.
• Led public affairs for Focus Features Film Studios for world premiere of the movie MILK; increased government official participation and established new relationships for film studio.
• Established philanthropic partnerships between agency clients and nonprofit organizations, resulting in over $500,000 of direct support for local and national charities.
• Organized executive-level meetings for clients with local, national and international government officials on policy initiatives and interests, establishing long-term, on-going relationships.

Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs (2005-2007)

• Secured largest retainer client relationship with Avery Dennison North America; launched four new Avery product lines, including the first-ever Apple-compatible DesignPro software program.
• Retained by Zale Corporation as first agency to ever lead public relations for Zales.com; created “Z-Trends” column featuring new styles, resulted in monthly feature in In-Style Magazine.
• Increased global brand awareness and sales for Trader Vic’s Restaurant Group through strategic media campaigns that reflected the unique cultural and political identities of the regions in which they operate, including Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Director of Communications and Public Affairs (2005)

• Designed first media training program for agency clients improving ability to engage with press.
• Secured numerous speaking engagements for clients at international conferences

Responsible for coordinating LGBT outreach for the Wesley Clark for President campaign in Arizona during the U.S. presidential primary process. Led successful execution of largest campaign rally weekend before election. Following Arizona primary, moved to Tennessee and served as staff aide to General and Mrs. Clark including on Election Night when he ended his presidential campaign.

Led fundraising for the coordinated campaign in Wisconsin during the 2002 political campaign cycle. Raised a record $2.5M in six months that helped to elect the Democratic Candidate for Governor Jim Doyle.

Responsible for development of initiatives within the LGBT constituency of the Democratic Party of the United States. Raised more than $5M annually, achieving all finance goals through a mixture of grassroots fundraising, major high-dollar contributions and events including two with former President Bill Clinton.

Served as Arms Control Policy Analyst to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) supporting the implementation of conventional arms control treaties in Europe. Team Lead for supporting U.S. Army implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies in Eastern Europe. Security Clearances: TOP SECRET-SCI/NATO/ATOMAL/COSMIC/CNWDI

Served as policy analyst on several Department of Defense contracts at newly established Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Served on team responsible for writing 1998 Counterproliferation Program Review Committee (CPRC) Annual Report to Congress. Security Clearances: TOP SECRET/NATO

Served with the Parliament of Australia's Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade. Supported the daily work of the committee, which included producing reports, organizing high-level meetings and fact-finding trips for Members of Parliament.