Matthew Hargarten Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Matthew oversees CCSA's government affairs, public affairs, and communications functions. In this capacity Matthew leads legislative campaigns to pass community solar legislative in 11 states concurrently. These campaigns include managing state lobbyists, testifying in front of Legislative Committees, creating and managing coalitions, executing grassroots and grasstops advocacy strategies, developing communications and PR campaigns, and serving as the campaign spokesperson with media. Matthew is also President of Community Solar Action Fund, the community solar industry's Political Action Committee that supports candidates for office who support community solar. In his capacity as President he has raised over $1MM and supported over 175 candidates for office in 10 states.

Washington, Dc, Us

Oversee CCSA's state legislative and regulatory campaigns to expand and improve community solar programs across the country. This includes developing and implementing campaign strategies and managing budgets and a team of regional directors, local lobbying consultants, and public affairs agencies to pass legislation and improve community solar regulations in over sixteen states.

Washington, Dc, Us

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Matthew served as the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs for Molson Coors Beverage Company where he led all external corporate communications for the publicly traded beer and beverage company. He oversaw media relations, digital communications, community relations and the company’s two tour centers in Milwaukee, WI and Golden, CO. His team designed and implemented impactful communications strategies that support the company’s objectives, promote and defend the company’s corporate reputation in its hometown markets and nationally, and ensured all external stakeholders understood the company’s business strategy. He left the company because he didn't want to relocate his family after Molson Coors moved its headquarters from Denver to Chicago.

Denver, Colorado, Us

Rival is a global communications and public relations agency. We are built to be more nimble, strategic, creative, hard-working, and results oriented than traditional agencies.We help organizations communicate about more than just new products, financial results, or the latest issue or crisis. We help organizations find and amplify their core purpose, and develop strategies that build and protect brand reputation and create deeper connections with customers.

Paris, Fr

As the Director of Communications, Matthew oversees and is directly responsible for a number of key communications initiatives within WhiteWave: - Crisis and Issues Management. Matthew works across the organization to manage various issues and crisis that occur with the company's brands and works to identify gaps that exist in current crisis infrastructure to ensure preparedness as the company acquires new businesses and expands into new geographies. - Financial Communications. Matthew is responsible for communicating the company's quarterly and annual earnings results to various stakeholders including media and employees.- M&A/Integration. Matthew manages all communications for the company's increasing M&A activity and helps lead all integration activity after a deal closes. - Employee & Executive Communications. Matthew leads all executive and employee communications for WhiteWave and two of its business segments, including developing content for all leadership and employee meetings. - Corporate Branding. Matthew is helping lead a re-branding effort for WhiteWave which includes the launch of a new corporate website, thought leadership program and employment branding initiative.

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Matthew joined Olson in February, 2008 and brings with him over twelve years of communications experience. He currently manages Corporate Development for Olson Engage which includes business development, market and capabilities expansion and integration with parent company ICF International. He was previously General Manager of the company's West Coast territory including offices in Denver and San Francisco, and prior to that managed the company's Corporate Affairs Group with specialties including business media relations, investor relations, public affairs, issues and crisis management, thought leadership, corporate social responsibility and internal communications. He helped grow the Corporate Affairs group in four years from total revenue of $350,000 to approximately $2.8mm and staff spanning three offices, including Chicago, San Francisco and Minneapolis. Current portfolio of clients includes MillerCoors, Kraft, Wm. Wrigley Co., SABMiller, Belize Tourism Board, Fitbit and Cabelas. He is responsible for developing and executing communications strategies and messaging that clearly communicates companies’ investment theses and key value propositions to stakeholders including investors, government officials, business leaders and employees. In his current role, Matthew facilitates and manages a coalition of the world’s largest companies in their industry to collaborate on issues of shared importance. This includes developing and disseminating research, driving action among local market coalitions in over 20 countries around the world, and developing strategies to engage with global stakeholders. He also manages the development and execution of all consumer marketing strategies for Cabelas and various consumer and clean energy tech startups including PR, experiential events, product launches and partnerships.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

As Chairman, Matthew developed governance and founding charter for the Associate Board to help support North Lawndale College Prep, a charter school in one of the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Chicago (97% of students are low-income). He recruited and lead more than 25 professionals focused on developing programs around mentoring, school services and fundraising. He also organized the school’s first-ever fundraising event that had over 200 participants and raised $50,000.

New York, Ny, Us

Before joining Olson, Matthew worked for four years in the Corporate Affairs group at Weber Shandwick Worldwide where he counseled Fortune 500 corporations and industry associations on complex issues and crisis situations ranging from agricultural, energy and public health, to trade, human rights and nutrition. Specifically, Matthew led the issues and crisis management programs for the U.S. Dairy Industry and the U.S. Pork Industry. In his role, Matthew was responsible for giving strategic counsel and activating response on a myriad of issues including activist group attacks, lawsuits, safety issues, government legislation, and many more. In addition to his role with the dairy and pork industries, Matthew has counseled a variety of major global companies through both large and small-scale crises, including Mars Incorporated, SC Johnson and Son, and Kraft Foods.Managed day-to-day public relations activities for SC Johnson’s Oak Creek campaign, a public affairs campaign to stop the construction of two coal-fired power plants on the shore of Lake Michigan. Created and mobilized a grassroots organization – which was comprised of local community members and national activist groups – that was able to raise the profile of the issue, eventually leading to a decision by the state Supreme Court.Received three early promotions and Weber Shandwick’s 2005 “Rising Star” award and was selected by senior management to manage the corporate internship program.

Managed the Congressman’s successful 2004 reelection campaign including fundraising, grass-roots campaigning and event coordination. Assisted local governments and individuals gain access to various federal programs and privileges. Developed messaging in response to questions and inquiries that local constituents had about various federal issues.

Researched long-range scheduling opportunities and helped assess priorities for future Presidential trips. Worked closely with White House staff to organize various presidential events throughout the country. Communicated the President’s domestic agenda to a wide variety of groups and individuals.

Assisted with legislative matters by articulating summaries of specific pieces of legislation to the Governor during daily briefings. Worked with other state governments to research new, innovative ways to approach corrections and justice in the state. Communicated Governor McCallum’s budget priorities to a wide variety of stakeholders.

Created a database of faith-based and community organizations across the nation that aligned with the mission and vision of the President’s Initiative. Helped organize and plan the Improving America’s Schools Conference held in cities throughout the United States. Researched the barriers faith-based and community organizations face while attempting to obtain federal grants and developed a report which was disseminated to senior leaders within the Department.

Bachelor Of Science, Political Science

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