Craig Shirley
Encyclopedia
Craig Shirley is President and CEO of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, the public relations, marketing, and government affairs firm he originally founded in 1984.
, Mr. Shirley’s fields of specialization include public relations, crisis management, marketing, and government affairs, political consulting and government affairs. He was honored as the school’s “Outstanding Alumnus of 2005.”
Mr. Shirley is the author of Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All. The book, which analyzes Ronald Reagan’s pivotal 1976 presidential campaign, was released by Nelson Current Publishing in January 2005.
In 1987, Mr. Shirley and David Keene
formed Keene, Shirley & Associates, Inc. During the five year association, ran an advertising and public relations campaign supporting President Bush and Operation Desert Storm, represented the Embassy of the State of Kuwait, and was placed in charge of public relations for an international conference on democracy hosted in Prague by President Václav Havel
of then Czechoslovakia. In 1992, Mr. Shirley re-opened Craig Shirley & Associates. In addition to working with political, corporate, and trade concerns, Mr. Shirley served as an informal advisor to the 1996 campaign of Republican Presidential nominee Sen. Bob Dole. In 2000, the firm provided in-kind support to the presidential campaign of then Governor George W. Bush
as well as the Florida recount. In that same year, Craig Shirley & Associates became Shirley & Banister Public Affairs with the promotion of Diana Banister from vice president to partner.
Mr. Shirley’s past efforts include the Fund for America’s Future, the political action committee of Vice President George Bush. Mr. Shirley worked with the future President George W. Bush, organizing conservative support for his father’s 1988 presidential bid.
During the 1984 campaign, he was the Director of Communications
for the National Conservative Political Action Committee
, on behalf of President Reagan’s re-election.
As Communications Advisor to the Republican National Committee
in 1982, Mr. Shirley advised dozens of campaigns and state committees on public relations, political advertising, and campaign strategy.
In 1981, Shirley served as an account executive with a New York advertising firm, where he managed and supervised agency programs for the New York Racing Association
and other clients.
In 1980, he directed the Fund for a Conservative Majority’s $750,000 independent expenditure campaign in support of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. In 1978, Mr. Shirley served as press secretary to U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey on his upset win in New Hampshire and came with the Senator to Washington, D.C. to serve on his Capitol Hill staff.
Mr. Shirley is a commentator and speaker on politics, and has appeared on C-SPAN
, CNBC
, CBS
, CNN
, MSNBC
, ABC
, NBC
, Fox News Channel
and others. Mr. Shirley also lectures at various seminars and has contributed articles to publications including The Washington Post
, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times
, USA Weekend
, Campaigns and Elections
, The Weekly Standard
, Conservative Digest, and Insight on the News. He currently holds membership on the boards of Campaigns & Elections magazine, the United Seniors Association, the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League, and the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association. He has also edited two books: Are You a Conservative or a Liberal? by Vic Kamber and Brad O’Leary, and Coaching Youth Lacrosse, published by the Lacrosse Foundation.
Craig Shirley resides in Alexandria, Virginia
with his wife, Zorine, and their four children.
He is also known for having coined the phrase, "luck is the residue of hard work," a play on John Milton
's maxim, "luck is the residue of opportunity and design."
Biography
A graduate of Springfield CollegeSpringfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
, Mr. Shirley’s fields of specialization include public relations, crisis management, marketing, and government affairs, political consulting and government affairs. He was honored as the school’s “Outstanding Alumnus of 2005.”
Mr. Shirley is the author of Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All. The book, which analyzes Ronald Reagan’s pivotal 1976 presidential campaign, was released by Nelson Current Publishing in January 2005.
In 1987, Mr. Shirley and David Keene
David Keene
David A. Keene , President of the National Rifle Association as of May 2, 2011, was the chairman of the American Conservative Union, from 1984 to 2011. Additionally, he is the managing associate at the Carmen Group Lobbying, a lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C...
formed Keene, Shirley & Associates, Inc. During the five year association, ran an advertising and public relations campaign supporting President Bush and Operation Desert Storm, represented the Embassy of the State of Kuwait, and was placed in charge of public relations for an international conference on democracy hosted in Prague by President Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
of then Czechoslovakia. In 1992, Mr. Shirley re-opened Craig Shirley & Associates. In addition to working with political, corporate, and trade concerns, Mr. Shirley served as an informal advisor to the 1996 campaign of Republican Presidential nominee Sen. Bob Dole. In 2000, the firm provided in-kind support to the presidential campaign of then Governor George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
as well as the Florida recount. In that same year, Craig Shirley & Associates became Shirley & Banister Public Affairs with the promotion of Diana Banister from vice president to partner.
Mr. Shirley’s past efforts include the Fund for America’s Future, the political action committee of Vice President George Bush. Mr. Shirley worked with the future President George W. Bush, organizing conservative support for his father’s 1988 presidential bid.
During the 1984 campaign, he was the Director of Communications
Director of Communications
Director of communications is a position in both the private and public sectors. A director of communications is responsible for managing and directing an organization's internal and external communications...
for the National Conservative Political Action Committee
National Conservative Political Action Committee
The National Conservative Political Action Committee was a New Right political action committee in the United States that was a major contributor to the ascendancy of conservative Republicans in the early 1980s, including the election of Ronald Reagan as President, and that innovated the use of...
, on behalf of President Reagan’s re-election.
As Communications Advisor to the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 1982, Mr. Shirley advised dozens of campaigns and state committees on public relations, political advertising, and campaign strategy.
In 1981, Shirley served as an account executive with a New York advertising firm, where he managed and supervised agency programs for the New York Racing Association
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
and other clients.
In 1980, he directed the Fund for a Conservative Majority’s $750,000 independent expenditure campaign in support of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. In 1978, Mr. Shirley served as press secretary to U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey on his upset win in New Hampshire and came with the Senator to Washington, D.C. to serve on his Capitol Hill staff.
Mr. Shirley is a commentator and speaker on politics, and has appeared on C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
, CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
and others. Mr. Shirley also lectures at various seminars and has contributed articles to publications including The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
, USA Weekend
USA Weekend
USA Weekend is a national publication distributed through more than 800+ newspapers in the United States. It reaches 47 million readers in 22.6 million households every weekend. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel....
, Campaigns and Elections
Campaigns and Elections
Campaigns & Elections is a "how-to" journal of politics, focused on the tools, tactics and techniques of the political consulting profession....
, The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard is an American neoconservative opinion magazine published 48 times per year. Its founding publisher, News Corporation, debuted the title September 18, 1995. Currently edited by founder William Kristol and Fred Barnes, the Standard has been described as a "redoubt of...
, Conservative Digest, and Insight on the News. He currently holds membership on the boards of Campaigns & Elections magazine, the United Seniors Association, the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League, and the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association. He has also edited two books: Are You a Conservative or a Liberal? by Vic Kamber and Brad O’Leary, and Coaching Youth Lacrosse, published by the Lacrosse Foundation.
Craig Shirley resides in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
with his wife, Zorine, and their four children.
He is also known for having coined the phrase, "luck is the residue of hard work," a play on John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
's maxim, "luck is the residue of opportunity and design."
External links
- http://www.craigshirley.com/bio.php?id=2 Biography at the official website for his public relations firm.