Ben is BZ’s principal communications strategist, senior writer, and lead trainer. A multiple award-winning public affairs, marketing, and communications leader, Ben has 21 years’ communications experience, including strategic, corporate, and marketing communications achievements in both the corporate and public sectors.

Ben’s experience includes tenures as a print and broadcast journalist; and service as a communications advisor, strategist, writer, and speechwriter for senior military and public sector leaders, including current and former presidential appointees, members of Congress, and flag officers. His corporate experience includes the development of plans and strategies for the introduction and growth of global brands in key international markets, and he has served as spokesperson for multiple brands.

In 2014 and 2015, Ben served as the lead writer/senior editor and, later, Associate Director for Public Relations for the President’s Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. In 2010, he served as lead editor for the DoD’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” report (and Supplemental Plan for Implementation) for the Secretary of Defense, Congress, and the President of the United States. Prior to that, Ben served as senior contractor for the DoD Independent Review (IR) Related to Fort Hood and the associated Air Force follow-on effort. As managing editor for the DoD IR, Ben supervised a team of 14 contractors and supported the work of the 129-person Task Force to produce the final West-Clark report on the November 5, 2009, mass shooting at Fort Hood for the Secretary of Defense.

Ben’s notable corporate achievements include a 300-500% jump in all metrics of an integrated communications program, including multiple campaigns in the United States and EMEA regions for a pharmaceutical and life sciences solutions division of Honeywell International.

He is a certified Behavior and Values analyst, and regularly provides organizational development consulting to optimize team and corporate performance, and is credentialed to administer and interpret DISC and Emotional Quotient/Emotional Intelligence inventories.

Ben is the recipient of multiple accolades, including various industry awards and two Paul R. Ellis media awards for journalism and advocacy, and has supervised a number of award-winning projects for clients and employers.

Ben holds a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development and Leadership and Master of Arts degree in Applied Administration from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He previously studied journalism and communications at the University of Texas at Austin, and earned a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College in Albany, NY.

Those Ben has provided strategic communications counsel and/or technical communications support to include:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Technology
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection & Readiness
• Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Energy
• PEO Deepwater, U.S. Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security)
• IDIS Co. Ltd, IDIS Europe, IDIS Middle East, and IDIS America
• Reliance Hi-Tech and Reliance Protect
• Honeywell International

Connect with Ben through LinkedIn.

Tommy is BZ’s principal Information Technology consultant and senior project manager. An accomplished manager of people and projects, Tommy has 20 years government and industry experience in quality assurance, content editing, project management, and information technology.

Tommy possesses extensive experience designing and implementing creative and award-winning solutions for small business, corporate, government, and military clients. Known as a skilled quality assurance manager and editor of high visibility creative content, Tommy served in 2014-2015 as the Deputy CIO for the President’s Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, and the technical editor of the DoD’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” report (and Supplemental Plan for Integration) for the Secretary of Defense, Congress, and the President of the United States in 2010. Prior to that, Tommy served as senior technical editor (and deputy senior contractor) for the report of the DoD Independent Review Related to Fort Hood (exploring the issues surrounding the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas), and associated follow-on efforts.

Additionally, Tommy has served as lead multimedia designer on multiple projects for corporate clients headquartered around the world and for the United States Armed Forces, supervising front- and back-end custom development in support of client needs. These projects have consistently been singled out for awards and recognition by peers and industry organizations.

Tommy earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, in 2000. He holds two Masters Degrees from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, a Master of Arts in Applied Administration and Master of Science in Organizational Development in Leadership. Both were bestowed in 2015.

Clients Tommy has served throughout his career include:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
• Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Technology
• Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy
• Reliance Protect and Reliance Hi-Tech
• IDIS Co. Ltd, IDIS Europe, IDIS Middle East, and IDIS America
• Smartfinds Internet Marketing
• Knowledge Advantage, Inc.

Connect with Tommy through LinkedIn.