Chris Lisi is a catalyst for organizations seeking to drive change through their mission, products, and new ideas. An intuitive connector, she sees opportunities across networks and industries that expand her clients’ impact and shareholder value. Chris is an advocate for mission-driven leaders drawing on more than 20 years experience shaping institutions ranging from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies.
Nearly a decade ago, Chris founded Lisi Communications as a Washington insider and is well positioned to support a diverse client portfolio that relies on her for strategic counsel, project management, messaging, consumer marketing, public affairs and social impact campaigns. The Aspen Ideas Festival has relied on Chris for 7 years to advance the media goals of their numerous festival underwriters including PepsiCo, Toyota, Southern Company, Allstate, and other Fortune 100 companies in executive-to-executive meetings, high-level media outreach and event management.
The bi-partisan, Congressionally backed National Women’s History Museum turned to Chris to shape a communications strategy that would help realize a location for this institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and advocate for the museum to possibly be added to the Smithsonian constellation of museums. This large-scale advocacy campaign includes connecting with numerous advocacy groups, influential leaders including First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary Hillary Clinton, extensive national media outreach, and Congressional liaising to garner support and increase momentum.
Other projects have included developing and implementing the opening brand strategy for the new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston—the nationally lauded opening was attended by President Obama, Vice President Biden, numerous other current and former U.S. Senators, and heads of state. She was also tapped to guide the Peace Corps’ 50th Anniversary and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for guidance developing strategic partnerships to support the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Previously in the private sector, Chris worked for the public affairs firm the Glover Park Group and top global communications firm FleishmanHillard where she consulted for blue-chip technology and healthcare companies, as well as influential trade organizations. At AARP, she managed advocacy communications for the considerable Medicare Part D prescription drug program to the organization’s 50 million members including local and national earned and paid media; and coordinating all grassroots efforts among the organization’s 52 state offices and hundreds of small and large private-sector and advocacy organization partners.
She began her career in the White House for Vice President Al Gore. Later, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) and was elected to the Board of the U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association. During the past eight years, she served as a volunteer for First Lady Michelle Obama’s office to manage press corps needs for the First Lady’s domestic events and traveling overseas as part of the White House delegation.
She holds a B.A from Rutgers University and completed graduate work on social public policy at Georgetown. She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two children, and one very old dog.