Trainer’s Bio: Joel C. Bradshaw

Joel Bradshaw has worked in politics and public affairs for 30 years. He is the founder and president of Joel Bradshaw Associates, a consulting firm specializing strategy, message, management and planning for political campaigns and institutions. Joel has been the Director of Government Relations for the Colorado Education Association, the Director of Reapportionment and Redistricting at the Democratic National Committee, the Founder and President of the Campaign Design Group, and a Political Affairs Specialist for the National Education Association.

He is a recognized expert in political strategy, message, communication, and strategic planning and he has extensive experience in designing effective public policy advocacy programs that emphasize grass roots impact on public policy.  Joel has consulted on over 300 campaigns for public office at all levels, including the successful U.S. Senate campaigns of Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Patty Murray (D-WA).  In addition to his work federal campaigns he also has extensive experience in campaigns for state legislatures having worked with legislative leaders in New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Washington and New York.

He has been particularly successful in operating a consensus based strategic planning process for campaigns and advocacy organizations like the National Education Association, the Florida Education Association, the Illinois Education Association, the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education, Save Our Wild Salmon, the Alaska Conservation Alliance and several state conservation voter leagues.

Joel is a renowned trainer and an accomplished public speaker. He has given hundreds of talks on all aspects to politics and public affairs.  He is the author of campaign manuals for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the American Medical Association.  He is the author of several articles on political strategy including “Who Will Vote for You and Why: Campaign Strategy and Message”, and “Order Out of Chaos”.

He has designed and conducted political and public affairs training programs for the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, The National Education Association, The American Medical Association, The Washington Environmental Alliance for Voter Education, and the Democratic National Committee. Joel has designed electoral campaign simulations for school board and Congressional campaigns, including a computer simulation of a U.S. Senate race.

Joel is a Civil War buff and lives in Falls Church, Virginia.  He began his career as a history teacher, and he remains a teacher.