Mark Shields, Director

Mark Shields works and plays well with others. He has more than a decade of experience within mission-driven organizations leading strategic communications, media relations, branding, social media outreach and crisis communications.

Throughout his career, Mark has worked for some of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, the Human Rights Campaign and the National Park Foundation. He has also served as an independent consultant for clients including the Center for American Progress.

For six years, Mark was a leader in communications at the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay and transgender political organization. He helped lead media relations and messaging through the 2004 fight against the Federal Marriage Amendment, as well as other campaigns to help advance employment non-discrimination legislation and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act that was signed into law in 2009. He has a proven ability to work with key political and opinion leaders across the political spectrum to help deliver messages and strategically reach target audiences.

Throughout his career, Mark has served repeatedly as an organization spokesman, including leading regional response to the September 11th attacks while working for the American Red Cross in Madison, WI; the Lighting of the White House Christmas tree on behalf of the National Park Foundation; and on a variety of key issues for the Human Rights Campaign - including on a national speaking tour that he developed and implemented for George Takei, better known as Mr. Sulu on Star Trek. Mark also developed messages and provided media training for principles and other key spokespeople for each of the aforementioned events and beyond.

Mark also brings extensive background as a strategist to the Spitfire team. As a consultant for the Center for American Progress, he co-authored a chapter of Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint, which was published during the Obama administration’s transition, and helped to create fundraising and planning materials for a new initiative. He has also developed social media strategies – including an effort for the National Park Foundation, where he was communications director, which more than doubled the organization’s Facebook audience to more than 10,000 members in less than six months. 

A native Midwesterner, Mark graduated from Marquette University with a B.A. in Broadcasting and Electronic Communications. He currently lives in Washington, D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood where he is enjoying the trials and tribulations of his first home.