Two Top Washington Strategic Consulting Firms Come Together To Launch Venn² Communications

WASHINGTON, DC – August 2, 2011 – Stephanie Silverman, CEO of Venn Strategies, and Michael Meehan, president of Blue Line Strategic Communications announce the launch of Venn² Communications, a full service communications and public relations company.

Venn² Communications brings together the energy and commitment to economic growth of a government relations and public affairs company honored by Inc Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the country with one of the most innovative and highly respected strategic communications and consulting firms in Washington, DC.

“Venn² Communications was created because Stephanie and I share a vision for exponential business growth for our clients and our companies,” said Michael Meehan, co-founder and CEO of Venn² Communications. “Our clients don’t have time or money to waste these days. They want the best strategic guidance available and proven performance.”

From helping CEOs bring their companies through an IPO to creating winning coalitions on issues facing Congress to helping companies, foundations, and trade associations break through the clutter to promote their message, Venn² Communications will provide clients with an expanded menu of smart, sensible and affordable solutions to the challenges of an increasingly complex public policy, communication and media environment.

“Our new communications business adds an exciting array of new offerings for Venn Strategies’ clients and a valued opportunity to expand the reach of Michael’s communications expertise,” said Stephanie Silverman, Chairman of Venn²Communications, who will also remain CEO of Venn Strategies.  “Michael’s 25 years of helping clients, from elected officials to clean energy start ups, from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit foundations, gives him an invaluable skills for navigating an increasingly decentralized and diverse media world in Washington and nationwide.”

Venn² Communications has offices in Washington, DC and Redwood City, California. The firm’s growing Silicon Valley practice is focused on the technology sector, particularly on biotech and clean-tech startup and pre-IPO clients.

Joining Meehan and Silverman at Venn² Communications are Blue Line veterans Kerry Symonds, Erin Grandstaff, Kati Rutherford, Chloe Etsekson and Charlie Patterson.   Venn Strategies’ President Penny Lee will also serve as President at Venn² Communications.

Address: 805 15^th Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20005 Office: 202 466-4437

WHO WE ARE: The new Venn² Communications, LLC team:

Michael Meehan (mm@vennsq.com) is the co-founder and CEO of Venn² Communications and manages the company’s day-to-day operations.

For more than a quarter of a century, Meehan has been at the epicenter of the communications and policy spheres, bringing clear and concise successes from the combative court of Capitol Hill to the crucial priority policy issues concerning companies, foundations, trade associations, non-profits and issue coalitions.

As testimony to his ability to find consensus and generate progress, both Presidents Barack Obama and George Bush nominated Meehan to serve as a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting companies in the area of public diplomacy.  In June 2010, the full Senate confirmed him for a three-year term as Governor on the bipartisan Board.

Meehan is an expert at communications, national media, message development and implementation, polling and election politics.  He is strategically positioned to build targeted and personalized public relations campaigns that amplify determined public policy goals.  Meehan served as Senior Communications Advisor to Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign.

Meehan has held positions of implementation in the public policy and media relations’ arenas – serving as chief of staff for senators, directing the top political and communication posts to all three national Democratic parties, working in key advisory positions for four U.S. Senators, including a Senate Majority Leader, as well as two U.S. Congressmen.

The New York Times wrote that Meehan “specializes in adversarial situations.” Smart details and quiet passion are other unique elements of Meehan’s portfolio.

From sports reporting in his early years to teaching social studies to grades 5 to 12, to senior private sector experience including being the first president of BGR Public Relations in Washington, D.C., where he continues a strategic partnership, Meehan’s nuts-and-bolts knowledge of how to connect in reality and not in hype is crucial. His media training has been hailed as irreplaceable, most recently helping top executives prepare to take their clean energy companies to the public market.

Prior to founding Venn² Communications, Meehan served as President and co-founder of both Blue Line Strategic Communications as well as BGR Public Relations.   For three years, Meehan also was senior executive at Virilion, a digital media company.  He holds a degree from Bates College in political science and education.

Stephanie Silverman (ss@vennsq.com) is the co-founder and Chairman of Venn² Communications.  She is based in Washington DC and remains the chief executive officer of Venn Strategies, LLC, a firm she founded in 2001.  Ms. Silverman’s practice focuses on helping clients shape messages and strategies that affect national policy debates and actions, principally on matters of health and economic policy.  A frequent speaker on federal public affairs and political strategies, Ms. Silverman formerly was senior advisor in the Washington, DC office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and an associate in the global finance division of Citibank, N.A. Additionally, she has run a policy research consulting practice in Philadelphia and Washington, DC and has been an investigative writer for the Center for Public Integrity.  Ms. Silverman serves on the Board of Directors of the Campaign to End Obesity and the S Corporation Association, and as a Trustee of the Democratic Governors Association.  She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and an undergraduate degree from Duke University.

Penny Lee (plee@vennstrategies.com) is the President of Venn² Communications and will continue to serve as President of Venn Strategies.  Penny Lee is a seasoned political communications and government relations strategist.  A regular commentator on the political process, campaigns and elections, she has been quoted extensively in the New York Times, Washington Post, National Journal, Bloomberg, Roll Call, Politico and dozens of local publications.  Ms. Lee appears as an analyst on MSNBC, FOX News Channel, FOX Business Channel, ABC News Now, and CNN.

Ms. Lee joined Venn Strategies, LLC in January 2009 after serving as the top communications and political advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Prior to serving in that post, Ms. Lee was the Executive Director of the Democratic Governors Association, where she oversaw 38 statewide elections and helped Democratic governors regain the majority of statehouses for the first time in more than a decade.  Before serving in that position, Ms. Lee was communications director for Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell.  She has also been a member of the senior staff of the Democratic National Committee and a private consultant to charitable and Democratic Party interests.  She holds a BA in journalism and political science from Baylor University.

Kerry Symonds (kerry@vennsq.com) is Vice President, based in Redwood City, CA.  Kerry served as Vice President for Business Development at Blue Line Strategic Communications.  Prior to her work at Blue Line, Kerry worked at the Hewlett-Packard Company for more than thirteen years in the heart of Silicon Valley. During her tenure at HP, Kerry held positions in business development, demand generation, corporate affairs, marketing communications and program management.  Kerry previously worked in Washington DC in a range of communications and spokesperson roles in organizations such as the White House Conference on Small Business, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, The Clinton/Gore Campaign and the Presidential Inaugural Committee.  She holds an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and an undergraduate degree from Bates College.

Erin Grandstaff (erin@vennsq.com) is Assistant Vice President, based in Washington, DC. Erin served as Account Executive at Blue Line Strategic Communications.  Prior to Blue Line, Nevada native Erin worked at the ONE Campaign and for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in his Capitol office.

Kati Rutherford (kati@vennsq.com) is Assistant Vice President, based in Washington, DC.  Kati served as Account Executive at Blue Line Strategic Communications.  Prior to joining Blue Line, Kati worked at Edelman Public Relations and B&D Consulting.

Chloe Etsekson (chloe@vennsq.com) is Account Manager and previously was Project Manager at Blue Line. She is based in Washington, DC.

Charlie Patterson (charlie@vennsq.com) is Account Manager and previously was a Blue Line Scholar.  He is based in Washington, DC.