Ethan Veneklasen

Bishop O'Dowd High School

University of Rochester

Head of Advocacy and Communications at ID2020

Pleasant Hill, California, United States

ID2020 is a public-private partnership that brings together corporations, governments, and civil society organizations to promote the ethical implementation of privacy-protecting, user-controlled and portable digital ID solutions.

- Launched the Good Health Pass Collaborative (GHPC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing together more than 125 companies and organizations from the health, travel & tourism, and technology sectors to establish principles and standards for digital health passes for international travel.
- Generated media coverage for GHPC, including more than 150 pieces in the New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, Mother Jones, CNN, CNBC, France24, Nikkei Asia, and numerous industry/trade publications.
- Led GHPC advocacy efforts before the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and G20.
- Provided testimony to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee as part of an inquiry into the UK's science, research, and technology capabilities for global disease outbreaks.
- Worked with the California assembly majority leader to amend and pass A.B. 2004, authorizing the use of W3C verifiable credentials for medical test results. Though passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill was vetoed by Governor Newsom as part of the state’s pandemic austerity measures.
-  Contributed to the development of the USAID Digital Health Vision for Action, World Bank Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development, and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Policy Branch Report on New and Emerging Technologies in Humanitarian Action.
- Launched the ID2020 “Summit Sessions” webinar series. The five-part series explores how digital ID can help support public health, international development and humanitarian action, financial services, and government digital transformation. Notable speakers included, Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL).

ID2020

Head of Advocacy and Communications

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is the nation’s only fully integrated transportation agency, operating public transit service as well as overseeing the city’s roads, parking, taxis, and regulating private sector emerging mobility services, such as scooters and bike-share.

- Led communications for the opening of Chase Center, the city’s new 18,000 seat multi-use arena in Mission Bay. Negotiated an innovative naming rights agreement for the UCSF/Chase Center light rail platform with the Golden State Warriors.
- Managed communications and public engagement for San Francisco’s largest infrastructure project, the $1.6 billion Central Subway.
- Developed and implemented the communications and outreach strategies for the agency’s $2.5 billion operating and $1.44 billion capital budgets. Produced the agency’s first live Online Budget Town Hall to solicit input from key internal and external stakeholders.
- As a member of the agency’s Senior Leadership Team, developed and implemented a crisis communications strategy to promote collaboration, rapid response, and consistent messaging across divisions. Advised the Director of Transportation and division heads on complex and politically sensitive issues.
- Developed and implemented a communications strategy for contract negotiations with the agency’s 18 employee unions. Supported the work on the negotiating team to avoid a transit strike and ratify new contracts for 6,000 employees.
- Provided communication support for the incoming director of transit and developed testimony for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors detailing a series of 90-day service improvement plans to enhance public transit service.
- Coordinated the SFMTA’s participation in the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit, which brought together heads of state, regions, cities, business, and environmental leaders to accelerate efforts to prevent climate change.
- Oversaw the internal communications team.
- Managed VIP visits.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)

Strategic Communications Manager

He(a)rd Sports Marketing worked with outdoor industry companies, events, and athletes to “harness the power of community” to build engaged, impactful brands.

- Co-founded the Broken Arrow Skyrace, a three-day trail running festival held at Palisades Tahoe (previously Squaw Valley). Built the event into one of the largest and most successful trail-running events in the United States with a prize purse of $50,000.  The Broken Arrow Skyrace was the only North American stop on the 2019 and 2021 World Mountain Running Association World Cup circuits.
- Represented top outdoor sports athletes, including National Geographic Explorer of the Year and The North Face skier and mountaineer, Hilaree Nelson.
- Co-produced a three-day, Pearl Izumi-sponsored trail-running camp in the Sonoma wine country, combining running activities with gourmet cuisine and world-class wine.
- Convened the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), American Trail Running Association (ATRA), elite athletes, and sponsors to develop a comprehensive drug-testing program and policies to protect the integrity of the sport.

He(a)rd Sports Marketing, LLC

Chief He(a)rder (CEO)

UltraRunner Podcast was created in 2011 for and by people who are passionate about mountain/ultra/trail running. UltraRunner Podcast episodes feature elite runners, veterans, and a variety of qualified experts discussing everything necessary to be successful on the trails.

- Helped expand listener base to more than 125,000 downloads per month and more than 250,000 unique website impressions per month
- UltraRunner Podcast was recognized by Outside Magazine as one of the top outdoor industry podcasts.

UltraRunner Podcast

Co-Host

Freedom from Hunger (now part of the Grameen Foundation) was a US-based international development non-profit, which worked to end chronic hunger and poverty by pairing access to financial services (microfinance and savings programs) with other vital social services, such as public health and education.

- Led a comprehensive re-branding initiative for a 68-year old international development non-profit.
- Redesigned website and collateral materials to resonate with target donor audiences.
- Secured new funding partnerships with Cisco, Visa, the Tarsadia Foundation, and other individual and institutional donors.
- Wrote and placed blogs in industry publications and mainstream media outlets.
- Successfully pitched stories to the San Francisco and Sacramento public radio affiliates, including KQED’s flagship public affairs show, Forum.
- Expanded Freedom from Hunger’s social media presence, including doubling its Facebook following in one month and more than tripling the engagement rate.
- Secured “consultative status” for Freedom from Hunger with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
- Represented Freedom from Hunger on the Microfinance Communications Council and the Inter-Action Communications Council. Collaborated with colleagues from other organizations to place stories highlighting the collective accomplishments of the microfinance industry.

Freedom from Hunger

Director, Development and Communications

The American India Foundation is the largest US-based social development non-profit focused solely on India. It is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India through collective philanthropy.

- Developed strategy, messaging, and stakeholder outreach for a comprehensive overhaul of AIF’s business model.
- Helped manage the transition from a volunteer-run organization to professional staff.
- Produced three successful San Francisco galas, raising $1.43, $1.22, and $1.25 Million respectively in unrestricted funding from high net worth individuals and corporate donors.
- Secured programmatic grants totaling more than $3 Million from the Dell Foundation, Applied Materials, Yahoo!, Adobe, and other corporate and private foundations.
- Grew the Digital Equalizer program to serve 2,077 schools in 14 Indian states.  Established innovative public-private partnerships to provide high-quality, computer-aided learning opportunities to 800,000 children.
- Spoke at the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative University, Entrepreneurs Foundation Corporate Citizenship Conference, and as a guest lecturer at Stanford University.

American India Foundation

Executive Director-West Coast

The Contra Costa Council (now East Bay Leadership Council) is a regional economic development organization dedicated to promoting the economic vitality and quality of life in Contra Costa County.

- Managed successful ballot measure campaigns, including Measure J, a $2.2 billion county transportation sales tax measure.
- Helped secure environmental clearance and $420 million in local, state, and federal funding for the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore Project.
- Founded the East Bay Workforce Housing Coalition, bringing together business, labor, and social justice stakeholders to support affordable housing, and securing approval for more than 5,100 new affordable housing units in the East Bay in the first year.

Contra Costa Council

Executive Vice President

The Vasque Ultrarunning Team was a factory-sponsored trail running team, established to support the launch and marketing of the brand’s trail running shoe line.

- Supported the successful launch of Vasque trail running shoes and re-branding of the legacy outdoor company.
- Recruited and managed 18 of the top trail running athletes in the United States.
- Successfully pitched athlete profile and human-interest stories to the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Time, Outside Magazine, Running Times, and Trail Runner Magazine.
- Secured sponsorships with Cloudveil, Suunto, Ultimate Direction, Rudy Project, GU, Protech Sunscreen, and Darn Tough socks.

Vasque Footwear

Founder and Team Director, Vasque Ultrarunning Team

The California Alliance for Jobs is a business/labor partnership that promotes public-sector investment in transportation and water infrastructure.

- Secured billions of dollars in new transportation funding through the passage of Proposition 42, Regional Measure 2, and multiple countywide sales tax measures.
- Successfully advocated for the inclusion of a comprehensive goods movement strategy in the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Transportation Plan.
- Appointed to serve on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Advisory Council, Alameda County Transportation Authority Oversight Committee, and Regional Measure 2 Expenditure Plan Committee.

California Alliance For Jobs

Director of Transportation Policy

The Fremont Chamber of Commerce represents the business community in the fourth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area.

- Helped secure funding for the expansion of BART to San Jose and other highway and transit infrastructure investments as part of Measure B ($1.4 Billion county transportation sales tax).
- Produced and hosted monthly public affairs radio program, The Tri-Cities Public Affairs Forum.
- Appointed by Supervisor Scott Haggerty to the BART to San Jose Policy Advisory Committee. representing Alameda County Business interests.

Fremont Chamber of Commerce

Vice President for Government Affairs

- Coordinated logistics, protocol and political affairs for the President and Vice President of the United States during domestic travels
- Interfaced with local elected officials and public agencies to plan and execute public and private events
- Designed visual components of internationally televised appearances
- Coordinated with local public agencies as well as the United States Secret Service
- Developed creative press strategies to create positive local and national media coverage

The White House

Advance Staff

- John Tierney for Congress, General Consultant/Campaign Manager, 1996
- Clinton Gore ‘96/Democratic National Committee, 1996, Voter Contact Strategist
- Bob Hull for Delegate, 1995, General Consultant/Campaign Manager
- Jolene Unsoeld for Congress, 1994, Field Director
- 52nd Presidential Inaugural Committee, 1992-1993, Assistant to the Director of Talent
- Louise Slaughter for Congress, 1992, Deputy Field Director
- Monroe County Democratic Committee/Coordinated Campaign, 1992