Jonathan Newport Email & Phone Number

Accomplished Vice President level corporate relations, internal communications, government affairs, and corporate culture strategist with a track record of success in cross functional creation of communications content and advocacy strategies that successfully advance organizational goals. Skilled storyteller who’s comfortable resisting the pull of data, statistics, and text heavy graphics as the means by which ideas are presented. Accustomed to working collaboratively with senior leaders in development of strategies to manage complex policy, communications, and government issues in a way that advances organizational mission and goals.Accomplishments include:• Negotiated agreements with Airbnb and Vrbo/HomeAway for voluntary collection of local Hotel Occupancy Taxes resulting in over $3 million in new revenue to Corporation.• Serve as Corporation spokesman with print, online, and broadcast media on all relevant public policy issues.• Successfully lobbied for Corporation’s inclusion in federal COVID-19 relief legislation leading to more than $10 million in relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program and Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program, which allowed Corporation to retain staff and adopt aggressive destination marketing as part of recovery efforts. • Drove internal employee engagement to record numbers through enhanced and interactive employee communications.• Engaged with employees in over 70 group and individual meetings over six months to present impact of foundational changes to corporate structure, history of litigation, and the resulting shift from traditional 401(k) retirement to combination of membership in municipal pension and new 457(b) plan. • Implemented strategic approach to corporate board relations which led to improved trust of, and improved relationships with, members of management.• Successfully transformed Corporation’s reputation with Houston City Council, whose approval is required of the Corporation’s annual operating budget. Resulting in unanimous approval of Corporation’s budget for eight consecutive years.