Taking Columbia by Storm: 20 under 40

March 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The awards just keep on coming- Another congratulations is in order for CEO Wesley Donehue for being named by The State Newspaper’s 20 under 40 list! As the CEO of Push Digital and tech entrepreneur, Wesley demonstrates that with drive and motivation, a person can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

As a leading innovator in political consulting and technology, Wesley has seamlessly changed the way campaigns are run in the 21st century. He also pioneered Pub Politics, an internet show dedicated to friendly bipartisan conversations. Pub Politics has helped show Columbia that no matter what you believe, you can always sit down and have a friendly beer with your opponent.

Outside of politics Wes started a social media ministry at First Baptist Church of Columbia, helping messages of hope and faith reach countless people that would have otherwise been deprived of this inspiration.

Wesley certainly lives by his motto “decide what to be and go be it.” As a community activist, political innovator, and technology entrepreneur, we expect many more great things from Wes in future. Keep up the good work!

photo-1

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, In the News, Recent Work, Suggested Reading, Work

Raise Money, and Rally Your Supporters

February 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Check The Ways Rally Can Tell Your Story.

Regardless of The Issue, Rally Will Make It More Powerful

Social media is changing the way we communicate every day. It’s also changing the breadth and reach of those communications. From Facebook likes to re-tweets to youtube videos, a deep thought, a clever quip (or even an embarrassing moment) can be shared with more people more quickly than ever before.

Social media also has an incredible multiplier effect. With one click of the mouse, a person shares with hundreds or even thousands of others, then those people do the same. Pretty soon, one single communication is cascading across the Web.

What drives this phenomenon? What makes people WANT to share? Though the technology has changed, the answer to this question hasn’t – content. Even though the methods and modes of communication have changed, content is still king.

But that begs the question – what kind of content drives sharing? Sure a pithy quote or a funny video might drive some sharing or lead someone to 15 minutes of internet fame.

What people are really after is something that isn’t just compelling once, they’re looking for something that is compelling on a sustained basis; something that keeps them coming back for more.

What people are looking for, quite simply, is a story.

The best blogs, the best facebook timelines, the best twitter accounts are the ones that tell a story. People not only want to know what’s coming next, they want to see where you’ve been.

Every campaign, every issue, every candidate has a story. Those stories humanize and personalize what in a lot of cases are just facts, disjointed observations, and statistics.

That’s where Rally comes in.

Rally is a new social networking tool being utilized here at Donehue Direct. But Rally is more than simple social networking. It’s much, much more.

Think tumblr, twitter and pay pal all rolled into one.

At its most basic level, a Rally page functions like a blog. So automatically, it’s a great tool for storytelling. But it uses those stories to drive donations, right there from the content. And every new piece of the story is delivered to the audience at large via text, email and video alerts. The stories are shared over social networks as well.

We’re having incredible success with Rally, and getting great feedback from our clients for its simplicity and effectiveness.

It was a creation of the Piryx team. Piryx stormed onto the scene just a couple of years ago, and quickly gained renown as the best donation system for causes on the web. Donehue Direct started working with them during the Congressman Joe Wilson “You Lie!” controversy, and raised literally millions for Wilson online in just a few short days.

But Piryx was just the donation hub. And Congressman Wilson had the advantage of a very public news event to drive donations. In most cases, you need other means to push content, which is where Rally comes in – you can now do that alongside a donations platform.

Simply put, it’s a one stop shop for TELLING THE STORY of your campaign – and even more importantly, getting people invested in what comes next.

Filed Under: Blog, Strategy, Work Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Q&A #Whatever: Patrick Arnold, Foot-Soldier For Our Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

February 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Hardlegger.

We were going to go with Hardlegger to describe the daily grind of Patrick Arnold, Campaign Director of Donehue Direct….

But then we checked Urban Dictionary and found out it’s actually a bad thing. Hope all the campers we referred to as hardleggers after hiking 10 miles back in the day have forgiven us by now. It seemed real cool at the time.

But, absent of hardlegging- how can we describe the work and actions of Patrick Arnold? His skills, on-the-go approach, and to the point wit deserve a definition of it’s own. Road warrior? Soldier? Supreme Engineer of Campaign Mastery….

That’s better.

Patrick Arnold comes to us with a history of globetrotting and winning- two things our firm is known for doing. His work couldn’t be more appreciated, and it pays off with the product. Since hiring him last month, Donehue Direct has brought in clients, secured campaigns, and found new strategic angles for success. His consulting skills, drive, and wit make him a pleasure to be around. He’s always on the go, but he’s always composed and put together- seemingly free of stress. Think James Bond meets Jedi Master- leader doesn’t even explain the half of it.

So, naturally we wanted to find some time to ask him a few questions and see if we could learn a thing or two in the process. What started as a simple walk down Main St. turned in to an overnight trip to Las Vegas, and somehow ended up with a hotel suite in South Beach. We really don’t know how it happened, but at least we got the answers that we were looking for ( and Wesley has yet to receive the bill.) So things are good, for now at least.

So, let’s start off boring…what is your favorite book?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams. I’m a habitual hitchhiker, so of course I need a guide to get me through the galaxy of politics.

What is your favorite song?

Charlie Brown theme song.

(Tunage Break)

Who is your favorite politician?

Gov. Bobby Jindal.

What do you think is your biggest asset to our work?

My disarming good looks.

Why do you like being a geek?

Because peaking in high school doesn’t get you a Ferrari.

Best memory working here?

Falling asleep standing. I’ve almost mastered it. Would you believe I’m doing it right now?

Biggest Screw Up?

Don’t worry about that right now. I’d rather break the news to Wesley gently.

What makes you love politics?

Opinions matter.

Describe yourself. As something you can buy at Wal-Mart…

Definitely a Semi-automatic weapon.

What does America smell like?

I’m from LSU, so everything smells like corndogs to me.

Well, while we might not think Corndogs are the smell of America, it’s the value of opinion in politics that certainly makes our country great. We’ve already seen great things from Mr. Arnold, and we only expect continued mastery in the future. He’s changing the game, and it’s easy to understand why he isn’t a Consultant…but a Campaign Engineer. Who knows where this will lead him in the future? To the White House, or to the frozen foods section of Wal-Mart? Your guess is as good as ours. Regardless, innovation happens naturally for Patrick, and we will just have to wait and see the developments that follow. Until next time…..

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized, Work Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Q&A #4: Renee, The Connoisseur of Cool, Calm, and Collected

February 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

For every sports movie you watched growing up as a kid, there was a reference by some old, cranky coach about how the glue keeps the team together, the bonds that cannot be broken, or something even more obscure. In his attempt to bring the team together, the coach pawned some ridiculous metaphor centered around someone, or something that brought everyone together to win. Maybe it was Air Bud. Maybe it was Henry Rowengartner. There’s some pop culture for you, but in the truest sense, Renee is the bond and the glue of Donehue Direct. She keeps it together, and by doing so keeps us together.

In an office where stress and personality dominate, Renee’s calm and careful demeanor provides an example for the men in the house to follow. Ever proper, her attention to detail, consistency, and dedication to this office make her example one to follow. Her personality allows her to organize, and to also read between the details of her work- something that the men often rely on her to spot before a final submission.

So, while she had a free moment we caught up with her and asked her a few questions. We published the appropriate ones, and filed the other ones in the back of our minds. What would you ask her? Well, we covered all the bases and I’m sure you’ll agree:

So Renee, what is your favorite book?

To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s the first book I ever read that made me think about what I was reading. The experience of “reflective” reading started with this book and then inspired me to eventually study English in college.

What is your favorite song?

Good by Better Than Ezra
(Tunage Break)

Who is your favorite politician?

Vaclev Havel*
*B.A. of International Politics didn’t know who this was either. World Renowned intellectual, anti-Soviet dissident, and first President of the free Czech Republic. Dedicated his life to freeing and Westernizing the Iron Curtain. Rock on, Havel.

What do you think is your biggest asset to our work?

Based on the questions I get, it seems that it would be my mad grammar skills. I have a degree in English, and someone’s always got a question about singular v. plural.

Why do you like being a geek?

Because I was home schooled

Best memory working here?

Anytime that my cheeks hurt from laughter. Someone is always cutting up or telling a joke.

Biggest Screw Up?

Ha! I’ll summarize as: working too quickly. And that’s why I’m calm.

What makes you love politics?

AMERICA! (Author’s note: not calm for this one)

Describe yourself. As something you can buy at Wal-Mart?

Anything

What does America smell like?

Teen spirit?

Well, while America might not smell like teen spirit these days, Donehue Direct smells like team spirit. And Renee is someone who makes this dream a reality. She’s always working hard, and always doing her best to make sure that every loose end gets tied up. We appreciate her for it, and we love the example she sets for the entire office. Hopefully, her work and her example will only grow from here, and she will continue to be the flag-bearer for others to follow.

Until next time….

Filed Under: Blog, Recent Work, Uncategorized, Work Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Q&A #2: JearBear, Reba, and Endless Insights

February 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Inside every office filled with booming personality is the spunk that holds it together. Jarrett Edwards, who recently assumed his position as Social Media Manager (from starting as an intern, you rock Jarrett!) keeps the office entertained with his unique insight, and ever-constant worry- but his careful attention and almost fatherly care for his work and everyone around him shows the beauty and depth of his character. He’s an asset, and I assure you- there’s only one Jarrett in this world and the next.

Jearbear, as some have grown to call him, is the butter to the bread of Donehue Direct. He adds a little extra flavor that brings the stress level down at least 10 notches. Meeting up with him earlier this week and asking him some questions was an experience in itself, and we learned a thing or two about the man who motivates, inspires, and leaves one pondering: “hmm, what’s going on up there at this very moment?”

So, we got to know a little more, and I think we’re better people because of it:

So Jarrett, what is your favorite book?

 

The Baptist Hymnal, I used to be an Associate Music Leader at my small country church. I’m from the middle of nowhere.

What is your favorite song?

 


Might as well learn this about me now, I’m a Reba Fanatic. So any song of hers will always do the trick.

*Tunage Break

 

Who is your favorite politician?

 

Margaret Thatcher

What do you think is your biggest asset to our work?

 


My relentless determination, to always do the best.

Why do you like being a geek?

 


Who are you calling a geek?

Best memory working here?

 


Being treated to lunch on my birthday! Such a cool thing for a boss to do.

Biggest Screw Up?

 


I might as well confess, I mixed up addresses and sent Wes to the wrong DC coffee shop for a very important meeting. I felt like the earth opened up and sucked me in, it’s something I will never forget and makes me much more careful in my work.

What makes you love politics?

 


Politics touches all aspects of life, so to be even a small part of the process is very humbling.

Describe yourself. As something you can buy at Wal-Mart:

 


An inexpensive yet refreshing bottle of wine, it gets the job done!

What does America smell like?

 


Apples and Cinnamon

Who has been the greatest President in the past three years?

 


My mother, the President and so far only member of my fan club! (Not True)

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized, Work Tagged With: , , , , ,

Q&A #1: Mr. Joel Sawyer, Prince, and A Love for America

February 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We’re starting a new series here at Donehue Direct. Sure, you hear about all the great things we do, the hard work we put into building your campaign- but do you know us? Who are we? Name every one of us in 10 seconds.

You can’t.

So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to reveal our personal side. There’s things about us you just don’t know- and things you won’t know that we intend on keeping private to the few witnesses alive to testify. But, we’ll give you a sneak peek nonetheless.

Today, we’re kicking off the inaugural series with a profile of Donehue Direct’s newest addition- Mr. Joel Sawyer. Joel has recently assumed the position as Vice President, and in 24 hours he’s revolutionized our operations.

Sawyer comes to us born and raised in America, and we got the chance to have a word or two with this busy, busy fellow.

So Joel, let’s start off with something basic- what is your favorite book?

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. It’s influenced a lot of my political stances.

What is your favorite song?

For karaoke purposes, either Purple Rain or Total Eclipse of the Heart.

(Tunage Break)

Prince – Purple Rain found onYouClubVideo

Who is your favorite politician?

James K. Polk. I love me some Manifest Destiny.

What do you think is your biggest asset to our work?

Regaling my co-workers with pointless anecdotes. My dark sense of humor gets me (and others) through the day.

Why do you like being a geek?

I treat geekdom as a genetic condition, and blame it for my love of sci-fi.

Best memory working here?

So far, this questionnaire

Biggest Screw Up?

So far, this questionnaire

What makes you love politics?

I like finding the humor in things, and politics gives me plenty of material.

Describe yourself. As something you can buy at Wal-Mart.

A clip-on tie. A business-like facade that is easily shed.

What does America smell like?

With all those Occupiers running around, mostly like feet and patchouli oil. Once they’re gone, it will smell like freedom again

Who has been the greatest President in the past three years?

Me. President of my own Fan Club. One member and growing.


Why is America the best country in the world?

Because Joel Sawyer says so, and that’s good enough for me.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know this Donehue Direct staffer as much as we did. This is the first of many, many parts, and we hope that it provided more insight as to who we are, and proof that there’s a lighter side behind the stress and success.

Until next time.

Filed Under: Blog, Recent Work, Work

Proud To Announce The Addition of Joel Sawyer

February 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Friends of Donehue Direct,

This morning, we’re proud to announce a new addition to the ever-expanding Donehue Direct team. Joel Sawyer, one of South Carolina’s most influential communications stars has taken the role as Senior Vice President.

Sawyer brings a wealth of skill and insider experience that will undoubtedly be an asset to the Donehue Direct team. His career has been marked by an award winning stint at the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, a series of advancements in the administration of Governor Mark Sanford, the role as Executive Director of the SCGOP, and most recently, Campaign Manager for Jon Huntsman’s SC Campaign.

Joel and Wesley were both named among Columbia’s 50 Most Influential People by Columbia Business Monthly and were the only political consultants to make the list.

CEO Wesley Donehue described the hire as: “Donehue Direct has already established a brand as being the premier internet, social media, and political consulting firm in South Carolina,” Donehue said. “Joel is going to help take this company to the next level in terms of growing our brand and expanding our presence across the region. “

Donehue Direct recently established an office in San Francisco, and has established operations in Charleston. These offices reflect the budding presence of Donehue Direct, and Sawyer’s hire will certainly add the needed momentum to make expansion possible.

The Donehue Direct team is excited to announce the addition of Joel Sawyer, and we’re proud to offer our clients the expertise acquired throughout Sawyer’s career.

For more information on Joel, please follow him on Twitter @JoelDavidSawyer, or see our staff section of our website which will include his biographical information shortly.

-DD Staff

Filed Under: Blog, Recent Work, Work Tagged With: , , ,

Donehue Direct Makes Key Hire: Patrick Arnold, Director of Campaign Management

January 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

January 25, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wesley Donehue
Email: Wesley@DonehueDirect.com

Donehue Direct Hires New Director of Campaign Management

Columbia, SC – Donehue Direct is proud to announce the hiring of Patrick Arnold as the new Director of Campaign Management, adding a wealth of expertise and experience to the senior leadership staff.

A Louisiana native, Arnold has worked with numerous state and local organizations, including rising GOP star Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. His record of success speaks for itself.

In South Carolina, Arnold advised numerous candidates running in state and municipal election, including two which won in near-unprecedented landslides.

“Innovation and organization continues to drive elections. That is why I am excited to join the cutting-edge team at Donehue Direct,” said Arnold.

Arnold has been described as a campaign engineer: a play on words with his engineering degree from Louisiana State University and reputation for dense, meticulous campaign planning and execution style.

His experience with state and local campaigns makes him a key acquisition for Donehue Direct. As the company expands, opening a new office in San Francisco, we’re excited to build upon the momentum gained throughout his career.

“Donehue Direct is becoming the nation’s most innovative political firm because we build technology and run political campaigns,” CEO Wesley Donehue said. “Patrick knows how to win on the ground and he’ll lead our campaign management division to new victories.”

###

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized, Work

State Senator Larry Grooms

February 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

State Senator Larry Grooms launches Win With WordPress website [Read more...]

Filed Under: Work

Representative Kevin Ryan

February 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

State House Representative Kevin Ryan launches Win With WordPress website [Read more...]

Filed Under: Work
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