Rutgers University

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Powell Tate is the globally-recognized, DC-based public affairs unit of The Weber Shandwick Collective. Built for change, we are nimble, data-driven and led by people who understand fast-changing politics, complex policy debates, emerging cultural trends, the role of third party stakeholders and digital transformation.  

Weber Shandwick's global social impact & sustainability team helps clients advance brave solutions to the biggest challenges facing our world, working at the intersections of purpose, sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership.  

Together, we've built a cross-sector portfolio of more than 150 assignments mapped to each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, work that has addressed global poverty, global health issues, sustainability, gender equity, quality education, racial equity and more. 

The agency was recognized by PRWeek as Purpose Agency of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

Weber Shandwick

President, Powell Tate & Global Lead for Social Impact & Sustainability, Weber Shandwick 

Powell Tate

President

I led Weber Shandwick's Social Impact practice, counseling global organizations on communications, engagement and advocacy strategies. 

I served as client relationship leader for our work with Nike, Inc., focused on telling premium, innovation brand stories that build and protect the company’s reputation.  Managing a global account team, I advised Bank of America on how to demonstrate the power of its connections across the company's ESG portfolio.

I directed our work with Pepsi on its signature Pepsi Refresh Project, an innovative, award-winning social engagement program to invest $20 million in great ideas that strengthen communities.

I also collaborated with foundation and nonprofit clients to shape new and creative ways to communicate complex social issues from global development and education to social justice. My clients included Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The LEGO Foundation, The MasterCard Foundation, UN Foundation and more.

EVP, Global Lead for Social Impact

I served as the agency’s client relationship leader for Best Buy, providing strategic direction and oversight for all of the firm’s work for the consumer retailer, including corporate communications, strategic philanthropy and CSR/sustainability assignments.

I also directed our team’s work on range of brand building, public education and issue advocacy campaigns for nonprofits and foundations, including AmeriCares, American Council on Education, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Grameen Foundation, PSI and MasterCard Foundation, among others.

Senior Vice President, Management Supervisor

I served as an senior counselor and account manager for client assignments with organizations such as MasterCard Worldwide, European Union, America’s Promise, Business-Higher Education Forum, President Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington National Opera and The Wellness Community.

I also conceptualized and managed a new senior business development role in our Washington, DC office. I collaborated with executives from across our global network of office, and led teams in developing proposals and presentations for a range of public affairs, corporate reputation, issues management and public education assignments.

SVP and Director of Business Development

I provided strategic counsel to clients on communications strategy, reputation management and message development. I managed day-to-day implementation of communications programs, which included writing outreach plans, developing press materials, conducting media outreach, facilitating ally development, building partnerships, measuring results and more.  

Clients included the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Association of Independent Schools, Bank of America, Merck & Co., Inc. and the Business Roundtable.

Vice President

I designed and implemented public education campaigns, including @ your library, to increase awareness and support for libraries on behalf of the American Library Association. As part of this campaign I built and launched partnerships with Major League Baseball, Hershey’s Milk and ABC Television.  I also designed and helped lead the national campaign for the American Association of Poison Control Centers that introduced the first-ever national toll-free hotline for poison emergencies, 1-800-222-1222.

BSMG Worldwide

Director

Senior Associate

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the unifying voice for higher education, representing presidents and chancellors of all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions: community colleges and four-year institutions, private and public universities, and nonprofit and for-profit colleges.

I represented ACE in meetings related to higher education policy with U.S. Department of Education officials, congressional staff and college and university officials.  I authored reports, policy statements and congressional testimony on issues related to student aid, and college access and affordability.

Paul Massey