Jerry Austin

principal partner, Winning Directions

Jerry Austin is one of America's most experienced and most successful strategists and advisors, having operated his own marketing and political consulting firm for more than 30 years. Mr. Austin's clients have included President Jimmy Carter, Senator Gary Hart, Senator Paul Tsongas, Senator Carol Moseley Braun, Senator Paul Wellstone, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator JohnGlenn, Governor Richard Celeste, Governor Jim Guy Tucker, Reverend Jess Jackson, Mayor Jane Campbell, MSZP in Hungary, Obama for President and numerous members of Congress. Mr. Austin was a member of the international delegations who witnessed the The Marcos/Aquino election in the Philippines and the Pinochet Plebiscite in Chile and was an advisor to the SDLP in Northern Ireland when they beat Gerry Adams for the MP seat in Belfast. Austin's corporate clients have included the American Automobile Manufacturer's Association (Chrysler, Ford, and GM), American Electric Power, Cincinnati Gas & Electric, Dayton Power & Light, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Nationwide Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Aetna Insurance, First Energy and MedExpert. In 1988, Mr. Austin was Jesse Jackson's National Campaign Manager and in 1992 he served as a Senior Political Advisor to Senator Paul Tsongas' campaign for President. In 2006, he helped the MSZP retain enough seats in Parliament to remain in power in Hungary. Mr. Austin's governmental clients have included The Greater Cleveland Growth Association, Cuyahoga County Regional Transit Authority, and the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, The Cleveland School Board, The Columbus School Board, the State of Arkansas Highway Department and the State of Virginia Department of Health. Mr. Austin, a native of the Bronx, New York, earned his BA from The City College of New York, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and an MA in Education from the University of Akron. Mr. Austin has been an Adjunct Professor at The University of Akron Bliss Institute of Politics, a Fellow at The University of Kansas Dole Institute of Politics and a guest lecturer at the Zagreb Economics University in Zagreb, Croatia. Mr. Austin is a member of the International Association of Political Consultants and the American Association of Political Consultants. He attended IAPC conferences in Budapest, Johannesburg and Barcelona. He received the distinguished "Pollie Award" from the AAPC for his work for the Jackson for President Campaign. Mr. Austin is the author of "Incredible Tales From The Campaign Trail" as well as "Running With The Reverend" (M Magazine) and several Op Ed pieces.