Joe Solmonese
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBoston University (BS)

Joe Solmonese is a political strategist and activist who served as president of the Human Rights Campaign of the United States and its affiliate the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. He was appointed to this position on March 9, 2005, replacing Cheryl Jacques. A native of Attleboro, Massachusetts,[1] Solmonese lives in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications.[2][3][4]

Solmonese is the former Chief Executive Officer of EMILY's List, where he oversaw one of the nation's prominent pro-choice Democratic political action committees, including its Political Opportunity Program.[5][6]

Solmonese has worked for numerous campaigns and in government positions. He held top fundraising positions at the 1992 Senate campaign of Les AuCoin and Barney Frank's 1990 Congressional campaign.[3] Solmonese began his career as an aide in the office of Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.[1]

Solmonese hosted The Agenda with Joe Solmonese on XM Satellite Radio.[7]

In February 2008, Solmonese appeared on two episodes of The Colbert Report.[8][9]

On August 27, 2011, the Human Rights Campaign announced that Solomonese would step down as president of HRC on March 31, 2012.[10] On February 22, 2012, the Obama 2012 campaign announced the appointment of Solmonese as one of 35 national co-chairs of the campaign.[11] Chad Griffin succeeded Solmonese as president on June 11, 2012.[12]

On April 17, 2012, Solmonese helped establish the corporate consulting firm Gavin/Solmonese as a managing director and founding partner, leading the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Joe leads the firm's Corporate Strategy, Public Affairs and Policy practice, where he advises corporations on organizational effectiveness strategies and policy development and implementation.[13]

Solmonese is the CEO of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Hand, Jim (6 June 2011). "Attleboro native honored for civil rights work". Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  2. ^ Waltz, Vicky (23 October 2008). "Out Loud: The Public Face for Gay Rights in America". BU Today. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Aucoin, Don (7 April 2005). "THE PERSUADER ; GROUP CALLS ON JOE SOLMONESE TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR GAY-RIGHTS ISSUES". Boston Globe. p. D1. Retrieved 16 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Largest Gay Rights Group Gets New Chief". The Washington Post. 10 March 2005. p. A6. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Karen (2010-08-18). Gender and Women's Leadership: A Reference Handbook. SAGE. pp. 251–. ISBN 9781412960830. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  6. ^ Merolla, Ames A. (9 December 2007). "A champion of equality". Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  7. ^ Stout, Chris E. (2008). The New Humanitarians: Inspiration, Innovations, and Blueprints for Visionaries, Volume 1, Changing Global Health Inequities. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2–. ISBN 9780275997700. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Better Know a Lobby - Human Rights Campaign Pt. 1". The Colbert Report. Season 4. Episode 04019. 6 February 2008. Comedy Central.
  9. ^ "Better Know a Lobby - Human Rights Campaign Pt. 2". The Colbert Report. Season 4. Episode 04020. 7 February 2008. Comedy Central.
  10. ^ "HRC's Solmonese to depart by March". Bay Windows. 2011-08-29. Retrieved 2011-08-31.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Byron Tau (February 22, 2012). "Obama campaign announces co-chairs". Politico.
  12. ^ Harmon, Andrew (March 2, 2012). "Chad Griffin Named President of HRC". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  13. ^ Roy, Kendall (17 April 2012). "New Consulting Firm Gavin/Solmonese Offers Powerful Combination of Corporate Restructuring and Public Affairs Expertise". Reuters. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  14. ^ Glauber, Bill (March 26, 2019). "Joe Solmonese named chief executive of 2020 Milwaukee Democratic convention". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 28, 2019.

External links

Non-profit organization positions Preceded byCheryl Jacques President of the Human Rights Campaign 2005–2012 Succeeded byChad Griffin
Executive Directors and Presidents of the Human Rights Campaign
Authority control databases
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