Dean A. Ferguson

Lewiston, Idaho; *****

208-***-****

adqry9@r.postjobfree.com

Skills

·Writer

·Political Campaign Strategist

·Media Relations

·Photographer

·Trainer/Public Speaker

·Spokesman for Organizations

·Crisis Management/Messaging

Fundraising

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Communication Consultant/Photographer

dba RF Image, December 2019—now

·Clients include conservation groups and politicians

·Managed Greybull for Wyoming US House campaign

·Photography as art and individual portraiture

Wyoming Democratic Party Executive Director

Oct. 2017—July. 2019

·Wrote and was awarded DNC grant for 2018

·Hired team to rebuild statewide organization

·Increased fundraising; created successful election-year program

Interim Executive Director

Idaho Democratic Party, April 2017—Sept. 1, 2017

·Wrote and implemented Idaho Resistance Summer grant

·Managed 8-member staff (doubled for summer grant program), and six summer interns

·Prevailed in legal action against Secretary of State re: Trump Election Fraud Commission; led statewide meetings and board meetings; earned media coverage; managed budget

Communication Director

Idaho Democratic Party, March 2012—Jan. 1, 2017

·On-air and on-the-record spokesman

·Wrote newsletters, press releases, op-eds; developed messaging; social-media, ads

·Developed strategy with congressional, statewide, legislative, and local candidates

·Media relations, crisis management, strategic media work, trainer

Communication Consultant

Self-employed, May 2011—Nov. 2012

·Subcontractor for American Wind Energy Association’s Idaho education effort

·Trained activists and campaign workers on communication strategies and media relations

Communication Director for U.S. Congressman

Idaho’s United States Representative Walt Minnick, 2009-2011

·State and national media relations; crisis management, earned media

·Website management; moderated telephone town halls

·Advised Congressman on messaging; speech writing; set policy objectives and strategies

·Promoted from Regional Director, which meant managing Lewiston office, interns, representing Congressman at meetings, working on policy issues and constituent services

Campaign Manager

Larry LaRocco for United States Senate, 2008

·Managed staff in seven Idaho offices; developed and implemented campaign strategy

Political Reporter

Lewiston Tribune, 2002-2008

·Covered state and national politics for 24,000-circulation daily

Also worked as local government, crime, and tribal reporter; weekly columnist

EDUCATION

·MFA in Creative Writing, University of Alaska-Fairbanks

·BS in Education, English major/Psychology minor, University of Idaho

PUBLICATIONS AND HONORS

·Cover contest winner for photo, “Mist Horses,” Inland 360, a weekly magazine, March 2022

·The Tasajillo Residency; Kyle, Texas; monthlong paid residency to write and research a novel, October 2021

·Photo, “Elevator Going Down in History,” April 4, 2021, Lewiston Tribune.

·Idaho Press Club Award for Magazine Writing—Serious Feature; “The Unforgiving Sky” in Sun Valley Guide, 2008

·Contributor: Northwest Newsletter from Washington, D.C., May 2006; The Boise Weekly, July 2006; New West: The Voice of the Rocky Mountains, July 2006

·Short story published in New York City College’s Fiction Magazine, 2006

· Literary Pushcart Prize nomination for essay, “Spray-Painting Ravens,” 2002

CERTIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND INTERESTS

·2021 driver for OARS, a whitewater rafting company

·Proficient with Lightroom cc editing software

·2014 elected Democratic precinct captain for Idaho Legislative District 16

·Founding member Idaho Democratic Latino Caucus

·Guest speaker at classes at Boise State University and University of Idaho

·Idaho Teacher’s Credential (lapsed) for English and Psychology, grades 6 through 12

·Alaskan hiking guide, horse trail guide, gold prospector, farmhand, cowboy, equipment operator, tree thinner, carpenter, roofer

·Fisherman, hiker, mountain-biker, rafter, hunter, skier, traveler, and reader

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