KevinSweeney.jpg

Kevin Sweeney

IN BUSINESS. At Patagonia, he led the company's brand strategy group, led marketing efforts, and supervised the art, Internet and public affairs staffs. As environmental strategies director, he oversaw the company's environmental vision, including the grants program, ecological assessments of production practices, and employee activism. He was a member of the company's five-person management team. While at Patagonia, he helped found the Outdoor Industry Conservation Alliance and the Fair Labor Association.

As a consultant, his clients have included Nike, Nokia, Ford Motor Company, Hewlett-Packard, Terramera, Trace Genomics, Agricultural Capital, the University of California Office of the President, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Rockefeller Family Fund, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Resource Legacy Fund, and many others.

IN GOVERNMENT. As Special Assistant to Secretary of the Interior, he helped manage the 75,000-person Department of the Interior. He supervised more than 300 communications officers in ten government agencies, including the National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. He played a lead role in the Clinton Administration’s efforts to protect the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, and played a key role in returning wolves to Yellowstone.

He was press secretary to Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Gary Hart (D-CO). He has written speeches for members of the House and Senate, members of the President's cabinet, and the President.

IN POLITICS. As press secretary for Senator Gary Hart, in the Senate and on the presidential campaign, he directed the national message operation and helped craft all elements of Hart's substantive agenda. As a field organizer in 1983 and 1984, he was a key architect of Hart's surprise showing in the Iowa caucuses. He has helped run several campaigns on environmental issues, and has advised many candidates at the national, state, and local levels.

IN THE MEDIA. He was an on-air reporter and political analyst for CBS television's Atlanta affiliate, and has appeared as a featured guest on many news shows. He has written numerous articles on social and environmental topics. His book, Father Figures, was published in 2003; the paperback edition was released in 2004.

IN ACADEMIA. He was a visiting faculty member at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He taught both MBAs and undergrads, and was cited for teaching excellence. He was a research specialist at the Wharton School's Analysis Center for the Evaluation of Energy Statistics. As a student, he was editor of the California Pelican, the humor magazine at his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley.

IN THE NGO COMMUNITY. He was Chief of Staff for the Alliance for Climate Protection, the group founded by Nobel Prize winner Al Gore.  He chaired the Irish American Climate Project, which paired the work of climate scientists with Irish poets, musicians and other artists.  He was chairman of Ozone Action, which focused on atmospheric and climate issues; Ozone Action merged with Greenpeace USA. He has advised many NGOs on strategic planning, marketing and communications, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards.

He is a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Ireland.

KS Photo: Where Leopold Bloom shopped, Sweny the chemist, Dublin