ON THE ARTS CLUB STAGE
an interview with
JOHN ASHFORD
Thursday, April 1, 2021
6:00 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - FREE
Virtual event with a live Q&A with Mr. Ashford
Political luminary and lobbyist John Ashford, Chairman and CEO of the Hawthorn Group, recorded an interview at the Arts Club in February. This virtual event will be shared via Zoom, followed by a live Q&A with Mr. Ashford, on the evening of April Fools Day, which seems fitting for a conversation about current and past politics. Other topics: renewable energy, the Texas February power outage, the future of elections, partisan divisions and polarization, the current and former presidential administrations, and more.
Guests are welcome to bring other topics to the discussion during the Q&A.
Once a country and western disc jockey, John Ashford is now Chairman and CEO of The Hawthorn Group, L.C., the international public affairs and public relations firm he founded nearly 30 years ago.
Drawing on communications and public affairs experience gained in hundreds of successful candidate and corporate campaigns, Ashford now provides senior counsel to Hawthorn clients across the country and around the world.
Recognized experts in crisis management, the firm is best known for its work in the energy, electric utility, healthcare, and consumer products industries.
Raised in a small farm community, Ashfordfirst appeared on the political scene in his native Missouri.
When he was only 26 years old, the Kansas City Star had already called him a “political kingmaker.” After staff work on Capitol Hill for members of the U.S. House and Senate, Ashfordspent a decade with the legendary political consultant Matt Reese.
Together they worked in more than 200 campaigns around the world and pioneered the adaptation of political grassroots techniques to serve Fortune 500 companies.
Attending Missouri Valley College, where his father was a Hall-of-Fame football coach, John instead studied classics and ancient Greek, earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. He received his Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
He is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants, The National Press Club, The Harvard Club, The International Churchill Society, the American Guild of Organists and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
He and his wife, Ivy Whitlatch, live in Alexandria, VA. He has two children, a son, 21 and a daughter, 20.
