MATT DORSEY

An award-winning communications professional and community leader with expertise in research-driven strategies that inform and influence.

Experience

Of Counsel and Partner
‍
Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC
San Francisco, California

September 2016 – July 2019 
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Currently serving in an of-counsel capacity, Matt Dorsey formerly led the communications practice for Northern California’s preeminent public affairs firm. As a partner at Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC, he worked alongside seasoned experts from a multitude of advocacy disciplines for a diverse array of high-profile and industry-leading clients. Matt’s representative client engagements there included: 

• The Millennium Tower Homeowners Association in its lawsuit against the developer of the exclusive luxury tower in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood that has been beset by sinking and tilting issues less than a decade after opening.
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• Presidio Terrace homeowners in their successful administrative challenge to the national headline grabbing — but legally invalid — tax sale of their common area property by the San Francisco Treasurer and Tax Collector’s Office.

• The Sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame, which with the help of celebrated benefactors Tony Robbins and Marc Benioff won the hearts of San Francisco’s press corps — commanding the front pages of both citywide daily newspapers — and won City approval to re-open their charitable soup kitchen in the Mission District.
As the longtime press secretary and spokesman for City Attorney Dennis J. Herrera, Matt functioned as primary contact for members of the news media — locally, nationally and globally — on all civil litigation involving the City and County of San Francisco.

His press work on high-profile legal matters included: 
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Press Secretary‍

Office of the City Attorney,
City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

September 2002 – September 2017 
• The office’s landmark, nine-year legal battle to win LGBTQ marriage equality in California — from defending then-Mayor Gavin Newsom’s issuance of marriage licenses in 2004 to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which struck down Prop 8 in 2013. 

• City Hall’s high-stakes lawsuit against a controversial regional accreditation board — which ultimately saved City College of San Francisco from imminent closure. 

• Dozens of other cases in which innovative, progressive city policies and millions of taxpayer dollars were at stake — and where SanFrancisco’s legal objectives were aided by fact-intensive, rapid-response communication strategies.
Consultant and Principal
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dorsey.communications
Boston, Mass. and San Francisco, Calif.

January 2001 – September 2002 
As an independent consultant providing strategic communications, PR, research and web development services in the early 2000s, Matt served a high-profile and diverse national clientele. It included public interest nonprofits like the California League of Conservation Voters; political campaigns like Warren Tolman for Governor of Massachusetts, Kevin Shelley for California Secretary of State; and Mark Leno for California Assembly; and private sector companies like Quadramed Software and Wolavers Organic Brewery.  

• His award-winning work for the California League of Conservation Voters’ annual online legislative scorecards earned honors as a Webactive Featured Site and recognition among the “Top 5% of the Web.”

• Matt’s major opposition research undertaking in 2002 played a significant role in the successful outcome for his client in a hotly contested race for the California Assembly.

• He wrote and designed the groundbreaking website for Democrat Warren Tolman’s 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial bid, which the Boston Herald praised as “the most pleasant surprise in the campaign.” The news analysis added: “Tolman’s site has poetry. Whatever you think of his maverick politics, he has an interesting campaign site that probably appeals to many reform-minded voters.”
At ground zero for the “Dot-com Boom,” Matt managed public relations efforts and developed research-based campaign strategies for a top technology PR agency that specialized in competitive communications. He pitched and secured news and feature coverage for executive profiles, customer successes and competitive de-positioning. He authored PR and executive-level communications for major “e-business,” “e-government” and corporate philanthropic initiatives. Matt’s notable accomplishments included:  

• His award-winning account management to launch the firm’s first major consumer-brand client, X.com — later PayPal — led by then-CEO Elon Musk. 

• His successful pitch and placement of a major feature story in Fast Company magazine on Thomas Kurian — then the up-and-coming Oracle executive the company’s e-business transformation.   

• His message and media outreach efforts for Oracle Corporation philanthropic events, which included Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Gen. Colin Powell (ret.) and then-Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt.
Account Manager and
Campaign Strategist

Applied Communications, Inc.
San Francisco, California

January 1999 – January 2002 
Political Consultant
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Koenig & Dorsey, LLC
Washington, D.C.

April 1994 – January 1999 
Matt was the founding partner of a national political research firm that served candidate campaigns and public interest causes in nearly two-dozen states. He additionally led the firm’s development of an award-winning web consulting practice, which served a diverse array of public sector, private sector and political clients in groundbreaking applications. Matt’s notable accomplishments at Koenig & Dorsey included:

• Being part of the consulting team responsible for one of the only landslide victories by a statewide Democratic candidate in the 1994 election cycle — Ben Nelson for Governor of Nebraska.  

• Leading the opposition research effort credited by national campaign consultants as decisive in narrowly winning a statewide victory for LGBTQ equality — for “Maine Won’t Discriminate/No on One” — in the 1995 General Election.

• Creating the first political committee ever approved by the U.S. Federal Election Commission to accept campaign contributions online — for the anti-Newt Gingrich virtual PAC, “NewtWatch.”
Research Director

Democratic National Committee
‍National Healthcare Campaign
Washington, D.C.

March 1993 – April 1994 
Matt directed opposition research into ideological and industry foes of President Bill Clinton’s Healthcare Reform Act of 1993, managing a five-person research team that compiled public information and conducted detailed analyses on activities, funding sources and agendas of more than 450 adversarial political groups.

• He conducted and operationalized research from the congressional record and other public statements on the topic of healthcare reform by GOP foes of President Clinton’s plan.

• Matt and his team provided historical research and analyses on prior healthcare reform efforts in the U.S. — dating back to President Theodore Roosevelt

• In daily coordination with administration staff and party leaders, Matt regularly attended meetings of the Clinton Administration’s legendary “Health Care War Room” to provide research and talking points for the White House’s rapid-response efforts.
Campaign Consultant
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The Research Group, Inc.
San Francisco, Calif.

May 1990 – November 1992 
In his first job after college, Matt served as a research analyst for the nation’s leading Democratic opposition research firm — co-founded by Ace Smith and Rahm Emanuel — and worked in key political roles for Smith’s father, then-SanFrancisco District Attorney Arlo Smith.

• He served as deputy press secretary for Arlo Smith’s narrowly unsuccessful bid for state attorney general in 1990, and then managed Smith’s successful 1991 re-election campaign.

• Representative examples of Matt’s client engagements at the ResearchGroup included U.S. Senate campaigns for Barbara Boxer in California; Carol Moseley Braun in Illinois; Ben Nighthorse Campbell in Colorado and Geraldine Ferraro in New York.

Leadership

Elected Member‍

San Francisco Democratic Party,
Democratic County Central Committee
San Francisco, Calif.

January 2012 – June 2016 
In the June 2012 Primary Election, Matt Dorsey won election to the San Francisco Democratic Party’s governing board — the highly competitive “D-Triple-C” race — earning more than 19,000 votes in one of the state’s most heavily Democratic districts.

• As the top vote-getter among first-time candidates, Matt outpolled several sitting elected officials, posting what the San Francisco Bay Guardian called “an impressive finish for a freshman candidate.”

• Matt’s 2012 campaign endorsement list would ultimately grow to include: U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Kamala Harris, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, State Sen. Mark Leno, State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, former Mayor Art Agnos among and both the Alice B. Toklas and Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Clubs.

• Appointed to the committee’s executive board as corresponding secretary in June 2012, Matt headed up a major revamp of the party’s website and authored comprehensive reforms to party bylaws to better harmonize with California’s Brown Act and San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordinance.

• Matt won broad support for resolutions that championed transgender rights, HIV/AIDS protections and other progressive issues during his term on the DCCC. And he authored a forceful resolution against 2016’s Prop 60 — Michael Weinstein’s ill-advised, anti-porn condom mandate — which was instrumental in winning the California Democratic Party’s support for a “No on Prop 60” recommendation.
Parish Councilor,
Ad Hoc Pastoral Advisor

Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church
San Francisco, Calif.

January 2008 – July 2016
A longtime parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood, Matt was appointed and subsequently elected to serve on MHR’s Parish Council from January 2008 to December 2010. He also served as a press and communications advisor through 2016.

• As a parish councilor, he helped to lead outreach efforts for multiple ministries to the neighborhood and larger diocesan community.

• And at a time in which the strongly LGBTQ inclusive Roman Catholic parish was targeted nationally by far-right critics, Fox News and others (in the midst of California’s high-profile political and legal battles over Prop 8 and marriage equality) Matt regularly advised the pastor on media relations challenges, and was often quoted as an active parishioner.
Hormel Award Winner
‍
The Shanti Project
‍San Francisco, California

October 2013 
San Francisco’s venerable AIDS and HIV services organization, the Shanti Project, annually bestows the James C. Hormel Client Community Spirit Award for those “embodying the values of Shanti in reaching out and serving others in the community.” Matt was awarded the honor in October 2013, in a presentation by State Sen. Mark Leno at Shanti’s annual dinner.  

Career
client list

  • Alan Wheat for U.S. Senate — Kansas City, Missouri (1994): research
  • Alta Vista — Palo Alto, California (1999-2001): public relations
  • American Red Cross — Washington, D.C.: Chiat/Day actor in disaster preparedness training film (1996)
  • Arlo Smith for Attorney General — Los Angeles, California (1990): deputy press secretary, finance coordinator, speechwriter
  • Arlo Smith for District Attorney — San Francisco, California (1991): re-election campaign manager
  • Art Miller for Mayor of Warren, Michigan (1995): research
  • Aurigin Systems, Inc. — Cupertino, California (2000-2001): public relations
  • Barbara Boxer for U.S. Senate — Los Angeles, California (1992): research
  • Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee — San Francisco, California (2002): research
  • Ben Nelson for Nebraska Governor — Omaha, Nebraska (1994): research
  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell for U.S. Senate — Denver, Colorado (1992): research
  • Boston Against Drugs — Boston, Massachusetts (1989): writer
  • California League of Conservation Voters — Oakland, California (1995-2002): web development
  • Carol Moseley Braun for U.S. Senate — Chicago, Illinois (1992): research
  • Center for Public Integrity — Washington, D.C. (1997¬98): web development
  • Chuck Robb for U.S. Senate re-election campaign — Alexandria, Virginia (1994): research
  • Crow & Rose Law Firm — San Francisco, California (2002): web development
  • David Bonior for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Mount Clemens, Michigan (1994-98): research
  • Democratic National Committee — Washington, D.C. (1993–1994) National Health Care Campaign Research Director
  • Dennis Herrera for City Attorney — San Francisco, California (2001) web development, writing, research, media relations
  • Dennis Herrera for Mayor — San Francisco, California (2011) writing, research and media relations
  • Doak, Carrier and O’Donnell, LLC — Washington, D.C. (1998): web development
  • Document Solutions, Inc.: Oakland, California (1997): web development
  • Donald Payne for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Newark, New Jersey (1996): research
  • E.Piphany, Inc. — San Mateo, California (2000): public relations
  • Frank McCloskey for U.S. Congress — Bloomington, Indiana (1994): research
  • George Nakano for State Assembly re-election campaign — Long Beach, California (1998): web development
  • Geraldine Ferraro for U.S. Senate — New York, New York (1992): research
  • Green Mountain Film Festival — Montpelier, Vermont (1997): web development
  • Greg Harper for U.S. Congress — Emeryville, California (1998): writing, web development
  • Hal Brown for California State Insurance Commissioner — San Rafael, California (1998): web development, speechwriting
  • Hewlett Packard — Palo Alto, California (1999-2000): public relations
  • HP World e-Inclusion — Palo Alto, California (1999-2001): public relations
  • Interactive Services Association — Washington, D.C. (1996-97): web development
  • International Consortium of Investigative Journalists — Washington, D.C. (1997): web development Internet Alliance — Washington, D.C. (1996-98): web development
  • Jerry Kleczka for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1994): research
  • Jill Long for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Fort Wayne, Indiana (1994): research
  • Jim Folsom for Alabama Governor — Montgomery, Alabama (1994): research
  • Joe Kennedy for U.S. Congress — Cambridge, Massachusetts (1986): field and fundraising staff
  • Joe Kohn for Pennsylvania Attorney General — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1992): research
  • Joe Manchin for West Virginia Governor — Morgantown, West Virginia (1996): research
  • Karen Thurman for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Ocala, Florida (1994-96): research
  • Kathleen Connell for California State Controller — Los Angeles, California (1998): web development, media relations
  • Kathleen Kennedy Townsend for U.S. Congress — Towson, Maryland (1986): field staff
  • Kevin Shelley for Secretary of State — San Francisco, California (2002): web development, research and writing
  • Latino Voter Guide — San Rafael, California (1998): web development
  • Lewis Massey for Georgia Governor — Atlanta, Georgia (1998): research, web development
  • Lewis Massey for Georgia Secretary of State — Atlanta, Georgia (1996): research, web development
  • LinuxCare — San Francisco, California (2000-2001): public relations
  • Lynn Rivers for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Ann Arbor, Michigan (1994-96): research
  • Maine Won’t Discriminate/No on One — Portland, Maine (1995): research, web development
  • Maria Cantwell for U.S. Congress — Bothell, Washington (1992): research
  • Mark Leno for State Assembly — San Francisco, California (2002): research, web development
  • John DeStefano for Connecticut Governor — New Haven, Connecticut (2006): web development
  • Michael Dukakis for Massachusetts Governor — Boston, Massachusetts (1986): field and state convention staff
  • Michael Dukakis for President/Victory Fund ‘88 — Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut and Nashua, New Hampshire (1988): writer and finance coordinator
  • Michigan Education Association — East Lansing, Michigan (1998): research
  • National Association for Bilingual Education, Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas (1996-98): web development
  • NetResponse, Inc. — Alexandria, Virginia (1995): web development
  • New England Telephone — Boston, Massachusetts (1989); CEO speechwriting intern
  • NewtWatch PAC — Washington, D.C. (1995-96): web development, research
  • No on Knight/No on Proposition 22 — San Francisco, California (2000): writing — web development
  • Oracle Corporation — Redwood Shores, California (1999-2001): public relations
  • Oracle’s Promise — Redwood Shores, California and Dallas, Texas (1999-2000): public relations
  • Peter Hoagland for U.S. Congress re-election campaign — Omaha, Nebraska (1992): research
  • Phil Zimmermann Legal Defense Fund — Boulder, Colorado (1994-95): web and content development
  • Pierre Howard for Georgia Governor — Atlanta, Georgia (1997): research
  • Political Technologies, Inc. — San Rafael, California (1997¬1999): writing, web development
  • Pro-Choice Voter Guide — San Rafael, California (1998): web development and graphic design
  • QuadraMed Software — Alameda, California and Plano, Texas (2001-2002): public relations
  • Rapt Software — San Mateo, California (2000-2001): public relations
  • Rick Zbur for U.S. Congress — Long Beach, California (1996): web development, writing
  • Robert Barnes & Associates, Inc., San Francisco, California (2001): web development, research and writing
  • Russian Federation, Embassy to the United States of America — Washington, D.C. (1997): web development
  • The Sierra Fund — Nevada City, California (2002): web development, graphic design, writing
  • South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) — Nevada City, California (2001-2002): writing and web development
  • St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation — San Francisco, California (2001-02): research and writing
  • Sun Apparel, Inc. — Arlington, Virginia (1995): web development
  • TBWA/Chiat/Day — New York, New York (1995-96): fitness model and actor in broadcast and print advertisements for nonprofit and public sector clients
  • Tony Smith for U.S. Senate— Anchorage, Alaska (1992): research
  • Travel Documents Systems, Inc. — Washington, D.C. (1997): web development
  • U.S. Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) — Washington, D.C. (1996-97): web development
  • Virginia Department of Health — Richmond, Virginia: Chiat/Day actor in paramedical training film (1996)
  • Warren Tolman for Massachusetts Governor — Watertown, Massachusetts (2002): web development, speechwriting, research
  • Warren Tolman for State Senate — Watertown, Massachusetts (1986): writer and deputy field director
  • Wolaver’s Organic Ales — Middlebury, Vermont (2001): graphic design and writing
  • X.com/PayPal — Palo Alto, California (1999-2000): public relations
  • Yes on 41: Voting Modernization Bond Act of 2002 — Sacramento, California (2002): web development
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Washington — Washington, D.C.: Chiat/Day fitness model for “Build More than Your Body — Build Your Community” campaign (1995)

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Speech
Cum laude

Emerson College
Boston, Mass.

Class of 1989 
Matt earned his Bachelor of Science in Speech (BSSp.) degree cum laude, after majoring in communication studies with a minor in psychology and an emphasis in political communications.  

• Honing his political and organizational skills early, Matt founded “Students Against Moving Emerson,” or SAME, an organization of students, faculty and alumni that successfully opposed the college administration’s bid to relocate the century-old Boston campus to the suburb of Lawrence, Mass.

• He earned an advanced placement internship as a speechwriter to New England Telephone President and CEO Paul C. O’Brien during his junior year, and went on to serve on Beacon Hill as a legislative intern to State Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Boston).  

• He was elected president of Emerson’s Six Arlington/Zero Marlborough dormitory and also served as a resident assistant there. An avowed “Paynesian” — an acolyte of communications department chair, Dr. J. Gregory Payne — Matt was active in Emerson’s Communications, Politics and Law Society, intramural athletics and as an occasional columnist for the college newspaper, Berkeley Beacon.  

• Matt made Dean’s List every semester while at Emerson College, and graduated with an Emerson GPA of 3.91 out of a highest-possible 4.00. His other academic distinctions included: the John F. Kennedy Scholarship from the Massachusetts Democratic Party (1988); Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities (1989); and Gold Key Honor Society (1989).
mattdorsey.org


Matt Dorsey

1188 Mission St., No. 1117
San Francisco, Calif. 94103

+1 (415) 640-6288

info@mattdorsey.org
www.mattdorsey.org
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