"Buzz Czar," Grassroots/social media marketing expert. Named one of top 5 "PR Professionals of the Year" by PRWeek
Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Current
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- Partner / "Buzz Czar" at Social Jamming Productions
- Past
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- President & CEO at Grassroots Enterprise
- VP, Marketing and Creative Engagement at Grassroots Enterprise
- Director of Internet Strategy at Clark for President Campaign
- Founder at DraftWesleyClark.com
- Buzz Tsar at CTSG
- Director of Marketing/Evangelist at Third Voice
- Senior Consultant at Alexander Ogilvy
- Comedy Writer at Net Party '96
- Senior Consultant at Zimmerman and Markman
- Public Education Coordinator, Arts Censorship Project at American Civil Liberties Union
- Financial Analyst at Lehman Brothers
- Education
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- Harvard University
- Wesleyan University
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Yale University
- Recommended
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35 people have recommended John - Connections
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500+
connections
- Industry
- Public Relations and Communications
- Websites
John Hlinko’s Summary
- Top 5 PR professionals of the year, PR Week
- "Rookie of the Year," American Assn of Political Consultants
- One of world’s top 25, "individuals, organizations and companies that are having the greatest impact on the way the Internet is changing politics," by the World Forum on e-Democracy.
- Frequent on-air pundit (TV, radio), quoted in other media, etc.
- Have built multiple Facebook advocacy communities with hundreds of thousands of members.
- Have spoken at hundreds of panels, conferences, etc., for audiences ranging from a small room to
thousands
As a youngster, John Hlinko never dreamed he would one day record a Grammy-winning duet with country music legend Willie Nelson. And indeed, it never happened. But he has been long recognized as an innovator on the grassroots engagement front, received numerous awards for his work, and been covered by nearly all the major national news outlets. He has also been quoted as a grassroots expert in numerous books, and spoken at hundreds of events ranging from a few dozen attendees to a few thousand.
In 2004, he was named one of the world’s top 25, "individuals, organizations and companies that are having the greatest impact on the way the Internet is changing politics," by the World Forum on e-Democracy. And in 2006, PR Week named him as one of the top five "PR Professionals of the Year."
John was the founder of "DraftWesleyClark.com," one of the most successful grassroots movements in American political history. In 2006/2007, he was the co-leader of "DraftObama.org," a grassroots effort to build support for Senator Obama prior to his entrance into the race.
John holds a BA from Wesleyan University, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University.
John Hlinko’s Specialties:
- Corporate turnarounds (engineering move from deep losses to profitability)
- Use of the Internet to build movements
- Presentations at conferences
- Creative PR, marketing, and communications
- Guerrilla marketing
- Stand-up comedy and comedy writing
John Hlinko’s Experience
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Partner / "Buzz Czar"
Social Jamming Productions
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
September 2009 — Present (3 months)
Social media practice, focusing on rapidly building movements through "big bang" marketing (i.e., building movements that grow explosively and rapidly, rather than gradually over time). Have built multiple Facebook communities with hundreds of thousands of members.
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President & CEO
Grassroots Enterprise
(Privately Held; Public Relations and Communications industry)
September 2007 — August 2009 (2 years )
- Worked with corporate and political clients to devise and implement highly creative, cost-effective ways to engage grassroots activists and supports.
- Led turnaround in firm's fortunes, growing revenues by 34% from 2007 to 2008, and turning deep net losses into sustained profitability. -
VP, Marketing and Creative Engagement
Grassroots Enterprise
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)
April 2004 — September 2007 (3 years 6 months)
Co-leader of sales team that drove a tripling in firm revenue in three years
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Director of Internet Strategy
Clark for President Campaign
(Political Organization industry)
September 2003 — February 2004 (6 months)
Director of Internet Strategy for Clark for President -- part Internet strategy, and part reaching out to the grassroots on all fronts.
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Founder
DraftWesleyClark.com
(Political Organization industry)
March 2003 — September 2003 (7 months)
A campaign to draft Wesley Clark to run for president, this began as a single web page in the spring of 2003, and grew over the course of 6 months to a national effort with over 100 chapters, $2 million raised in pledges, and media coverage in nearly every national broadcast and print media outlet. It ended in September of 2003, with General Clark's entry into the race.
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Buzz Tsar
CTSG
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Political Organization industry)
September 2001 — March 2003 (1 year 7 months)
Devise and implement strategies designed to spur online buzz about causes and candidates.
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Director of Marketing/Evangelist
Third Voice
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)
October 1999 — April 2001 (1 year 7 months)
- Headed firm-wide user development effort
- Spoke and demonstrated product at a range of events
- Frequently interviewed by media members, including live, on-radio -
Senior Consultant
Alexander Ogilvy
(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)
March 1998 — October 1999 (1 year 8 months)
(formerly Alexander Communications)
- Hybrid role combining business development & account supervision
- Directed victorious new business pitches accounting for nearly $3 million in increased annual billings
- Devised firm-wide streamlining of new business development process
- Provided strategic direction and creative guidance across a range of accounts -
Comedy Writer
Net Party '96
(Entertainment industry)
April 1996 — December 1996 (9 months)
Head writer for "Net Party '96," a parody of the 1996 presidential campaign. Produced by GNN, a division of America Online. Wrote daily updates and features. Supervised assortment of other writers. Worked hard, but had a blast.
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Senior Consultant
Zimmerman and Markman
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Political Organization industry)
September 1994 — April 1996 (1 year 8 months)
Political campaign management & advertising company.
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Public Education Coordinator, Arts Censorship Project
American Civil Liberties Union
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Political Organization industry)
August 1991 — May 1992 (10 months)
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Financial Analyst
Lehman Brothers
(Public Company; LEH; Capital Markets industry)
August 1989 — August 1991 (2 years 1 month)
2-year corporate finance analyst program (investment banking)
Worked on-site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on behalf of the Saudi Economic Offset Committee.
John Hlinko’s Education
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Harvard University
Masters , Public Policy , September 1992 — June 1994
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Wesleyan University
BA , Economics and CSS , September 1985 — May 1989
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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Summer Program , East German History , 1988 — 1988
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Yale University
Summer Program , Political Science , 1984 — 1984
Additional Information
John Hlinko’s Websites:
John Hlinko’s Interests:
Editor, BareNakedPundits.com (political blog). Running (10Ks).
John Hlinko’s Groups:
Co-Leader, "DraftObama.org"
Founder of StemPAC (527 fighting for stem cell research), Founder of BestAdsEver.com (TV ad critique site). DraftObama.org, AAPC, Miss Tucker Fan Club, Renaissance Weekend
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Executive Suite -
Obama for America -
Campaigns & Elections' Politics magazine -
Carpatho-Rusyn Society -
Game Changers
John Hlinko’s Honors:
PRWeek: 2006 - one of top 5 PR professionals of the year
"Rookie of the Year," American Association of Political Consultants
One of world’s top 25, "individuals, organizations and companies that are having the greatest impact on the way the Internet is changing politics," by the World Forum on e-Democracy.
John Hlinko’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
