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Mark Steitz
Principal at TSD Inc
Professional Background
Mark Steitz is a seasoned expert in the field of strategic communications, having founded TSD Communications in 1993. Over the years, he has adeptly directed communications efforts for a diverse array of clients, including businesses, progressive organizations, and political campaigns. His rich career has provided him with extensive knowledge and experience in an array of industries, with a focus on financial firms, research organizations, and philanthropic foundations.
As a co-founder and Board member of the Analyst Institute, an organization dedicated to conducting randomized controlled experiments for progressive campaigns and causes, Mark has significantly influenced how data is utilized to enhance campaign strategies. His commitment to impactful communication is further evidenced by his board membership with Catalist, the progressive voter database company, which he also helped establish.
In addition to his work at TSD Communications, Mark serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where he teaches a course on Data Driven Approaches to Campaigns and Advocacy in the prestigious School of International and Public Affairs. This role reflects his passion for education and his dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders in the realm of advocacy and strategic communication.
Mark's impressive portfolio includes developing the international communications strategy for the Athens 2004 Olympics, showcasing his capability to manage high-stakes projects from the initial bidding process in 1997 through the execution of the Games.
Between 1993 and 1996, he also played a pivotal role in overseeing international and crisis communications for The Body Shop, a globally recognized retailer known for its ethical practices and commitment to sustainability. His aptitude for crisis management and strategic communication during critical times was crucial to the brand's international presence.
Mark's extensive experience includes serving as the Director of Communications and Research at the Democratic National Committee under the leadership of Ronald Brown. He was instrumental in developing the free media and scheduling targeting system for the groundbreaking 1992 Clinton campaign, emphasizing his innovative approach to political communication. Additionally, he has a rich history of working on presidential campaigns, notably those of Reverend Jesse Jackson and Senator Gary Hart.
Education and Achievements
Mark Steitz's foundation in economics has greatly influenced his work in communications and political strategy. He obtained his MA in Economics from Yale University, which provided him with analytical skills and insights that he applies to his current endeavors in strategic communications. He also earned his BA from St. John’s College in Annapolis, further enriching his educational background with a unique perspective on liberal arts and critical thinking.
Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated a profound understanding of economic and policy analysis, having previously worked as Chief Economist in the office of Senator Gary Hart. His journey includes a valuable eight-year period at the Congressional Budget Office, where he served as an industrial and tax policy analyst from 1978 to 1986. This extensive experience has equipped him with the tools to analyze data effectively, create robust communication strategies, and support progressive causes.
Mark’s contributions extend beyond his professional accomplishments, as he is actively engaged in fostering knowledge and innovation in strategic communications through his teaching role. His expertise in data-driven approaches to campaigns and advocacy is not only beneficial to his students but also to the broader community involved in civic engagement and progressive movements.
Achievements
Mark Steitz's impressive career is punctuated by numerous achievements that underscore his expertise and commitment to excellence in communications. His strategic direction for TSD Communications has consistently resulted in successful outcomes for his clients, enabling them to navigate complex communications landscapes effectively. His influence in the political arena, especially as part of the DNC team, has left a lasting impact on political communication strategies that continue to evolve today.
His leadership in developing the athletes' communications strategy during the Athens Olympics represents a significant milestone, showcasing his ability to manage multifaceted initiatives that require both creativity and analytical strategy.
As a thought leader in the field, Mark continues to inspire others as an educator at Columbia University, shaping the future of communications through teaching innovative and data-driven methodologies. His ongoing board involvement with organizations like the Analyst Institute and Catalist demonstrates his commitment to using data and empirical research to inform political strategies and enhance the effectiveness of advocacy efforts.
In conclusion, Mark Steitz embodies a unique blend of expertise in strategic communications, economics, and education. His contributions resonate throughout various sectors, proving that effective communication is crucial to successful advocacy and campaign strategies. With a remarkable career trajectory, he continues to influence and inspire both current professionals and aspiring leaders in the realm of strategic communications and public affairs.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.
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