Jon Coifman

Current

Vice President/Practice Lead, Environment & Clean Technology at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

Past

National Media Director at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Public Affairs Director at Global Environment & Technology Foundation
Senior Program Director at Environmental Media Services

Graduate Research Fellow at US Environmental Protection Agency
Legislative Assistant at Congressman Ted Weiss (D-NY)
Research/Communications Assistant at Congressman Steny Hoyer

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Education

The University of Texas at Austin - The LBJ School of Public Affairs
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Recommended

1 person has recommended Jon

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Public Relations and Communications

Websites

Jon Coifman’s Summary

As head of the Environment & Clean Technology practice at the independent public relations firm Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Jon works with corporate, nonprofit and public sector partners to create solutions-oriented initiatives on energy efficiency and renewables, organization branding, carbon policy, and sustainable business.

He is an experienced strategist, spokesman and speechwriter who has appeared frequently on network and cable television, National Public Radio, and in print outlets ranging from the New York Times to People magazine. He speaks regularly about trends in environmental marketing and communications.

Prior to Waggener Edstrom, he was in charge of national media strategy at the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a leading energy and environmental advocacy group, where his portfolio ran from Supreme Court cases and legislative advocacy to corporate partnerships including Microsoft, Google, Bank of America, Wal-Mart and Toyota. He also handled celebrity media and worked closely with NRDC’s Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) partner group.

Previously, Jon was with the bipartisan Global Environment & Technology Foundation in Washington, D.C., working with companies including Johnson & Johnson and IBM. He also developed successful communications campaigns at Environmental Media Services. He has also worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and served with two senior members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Originally from Minneapolis, Jon has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Wisconsin. He currently lives in New York City with his wife and son.

Jon Coifman’s Specialties:

media, communications, public affairs, PR, public relations, environment, sustainability, green business, public policy, journalism, energy, global warming, global climate, clean technology, clean-tech, green-tech

Jon Coifman’s Experience

Vice President/Practice Lead, Environment & Clean Technology

Waggener Edstrom Worldwide

(Privately Held; Public Relations and Communications industry)

May 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)

Oversee growing practice in energy and environmental technologies.
National Media Director

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

(Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Environmental Services industry)

May 2001 — May 2008 (7 years 1 month)

Oversee media and message strategy for leading non-profit organization with 350 staff, 1.2 million supporters and yearly budget of $68 million.

Appear as spokesman on television and radio, and in print outlets from the New York Times to People.

Train and place NRDC experts for media and public speaking engagements.

Craft op/eds, speeches and other persuasion tools.

Oversee multi-year public opinion research initiatives.

Supervise print and broadcast advertising, including creative content, placement, and firm search/selection.
Public Affairs Director

Global Environment & Technology Foundation

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Environmental Services industry)

August 2000 — May 2001 (10 months)

Launched external affairs program for new bipartisan clean energy technology think tank led by former Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the first President Bush and the former Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy under President Clinton.

Post included corporate relations, news and trade press outreach, and liaison with government agencies; consulting project pitches; and creation of new logos/visual identity and web presence.
Senior Program Director

Environmental Media Services

(Public Relations and Communications industry)

April 1996 — August 2000 (4 years 5 months)

Developed media and communications strategies for pioneering non-profit advocacy public relations firm on energy, health and environment for NGOs, national business leaders, local, state and federal elected officials and leading foundations.

Created new strategic messaging to clarify and reposition complex legal/policy issues. Extensive writing included releases, media kits and op/eds appearing in the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle and elsewhere.

Managed project teams of up to 10 professional staff; directed large field press operations serving hundreds of reporters covering Kyoto Protocol treaty negotiations in Japan, Argentina, Germany and the U.K.; conduct media trainings for partners in Israel and China.
Graduate Research Fellow

US Environmental Protection Agency

(Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; Environmental Services industry)

June 1994 — September 1994 (4 months)

Work with managers on community outreach program enlisting public/stakeholder involvement to assess community environmental risks; conduct research on social and economic metrics in scientific risk analyses.
Legislative Assistant

Congressman Ted Weiss (D-NY)

(Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Legislative Office industry)

March 1992 — December 1992 (10 months)

Legislative staffer for environment and energy, New York City public works, and transportation issues; maintain relations with city and state agencies, local community groups, and others; write community and media outreach material.

(Accepted University of Texas graduate fellowship following the Congressman’s unexpected death, and after serving briefly with his successor Rep. Jerrold Nadler.)
Research/Communications Assistant

Congressman Steny Hoyer

(Government Agency; 11-50 employees; Legislative Office industry)

October 1989 — March 1992 (2 years 6 months)

Conduct economic and political research on domestic policy issues; created press materials and briefing kits for the Chairman and 270 House Democrats; organized ongoing issue education series for Caucus members, as well as the annual three-day retreat featuring briefings by leading domestic and international policy experts.

Jon Coifman’s Education

The University of Texas at Austin - The LBJ School of Public Affairs

Master of Public Affairs , Economics, environmental policy, green business strategies , 1993 — 1995

Activities and Societies:

Thesis: Environmental Management – Policy, Economics and Strategy for Greener Industry.

LBJ Journal of Public Affairs: Managing Editor, 1994-95; Associate Editor, 1993-94.

Invited speaker/panelist: United Nations World Student Conference, Seoul, South Korea, 1995.
University of Wisconsin-Madison

BA , Political Science, History, Economics , 1984 — 1988

Activities and Societies:

Minor concentrations in economics, history and international relations; columnist and editor, the Daily Cardinal.