108:– Targeting first-time voters, this tongue-in-cheek campaign for the Obama For America presidential campaign featured a video of author and director Lena Dunham, who slyly compared voting to losing one's virginity. "Your first time shouldn’t be with just anybody," Dunham says. "You want to do it with a great guy." TIME Magazine called the Dunham spot the "most memorable ad of the 2012 campaign". The video won a Digiday Sammy Award for "Best Branded Viral Video". The sexual innuendo was both applauded and condemned along party lines, with liberal commentators cheering the humor and conservatives calling it “tasteless".
126:– SS+K developed the “Don’t Get Mad, Vote” campaign in 2008. It drove young voters to VoteForChange.org, the Obama campaign's voter registration site. On Election Day 2008, Barack Obama won the highest percentage of the youth vote (66 percent) since exit polling began in 1972. The Obama campaign, including the paid media team of which SS+K was a member, won the Cannes Titanium and Integrated Gold Lion advertising awards.
207:
Council on
Foreign Relations (CFR) and several business and charitable boards, including the New York advisory board of Enterprise Community Partners (ECP) and the advisory board of the Center for Health Communication at Harvard University's School of Public Health. He developed and teaches a graduate-level course on health issue advocacy at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
67:
Shepardson's marketing communications firm, SS+K was tasked with registering and winning the support of millennials (18- to 34-year-olds). In 2008, 66% of those under 30 voted for Barack Obama. In 2012, 1.25 million more millennials voted for Obama than in 2008, tipping swing states such as
Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio in his favor.
114:– SS+K developed a second Obama For America ad campaign in 2012 called "For All" that included video, social media and print ads. It invited young voters to write an issue they cared about on their hand, photograph it and share it on Instagram. This campaign won a Digiday Sammy Award for "Best Social Engagement Campaign".
229:
In his senior year he achieved both All-American and
Academic All-American among Division 3 athletes, as well as being named to the conference All-Star team and also conference MVP. In 1990 Shepardson was inducted into the Franklin & Marshall Sports Hall of Fame. Shepardson finished the 2014 Boston Marathon in 3:36.
101:
for Lebron James' More Than a Vote and the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund, aimed at recruiting young people to serve as poll workers during the 2020 election. The effort succeeding in recruiting over 10,000 volunteers to work the polls. A second phase of the campaign launched after the Lakers' championship
228:
Shepardson received a B.A. from
Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. and an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. While at Franklin & Marshall, Shepardson set a number of records as a four-year starting quarterback, playing all but a single game.
219:
and Mark
Kaminsky, Rob Shepardson founded the New York City-based advertising and communication agency SS+K in 1993. In November 2014, SS+K sold a 33% stake to international advertising agency M&C Saatchi. From 1987 to 1993, Shepardson was a managing director at the Sawyer/Miller Group, an
70:
Shepardson is a co-founder and partner of SS+K, a New York-based advertising agency. In addition to political work, the firm also has non-profit clients that include
Arizona State University, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LIVESTRONG Foundation, and Bono's ONE Campaign, as well as a
206:
In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed
Shepardson to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), along with NBA players Jason Collins and Alonzo Mourning, celebrity chef and talk show host Rachael Ray, and ballet dancer Misty Copeland. Shepardson is also a member of the
66:
is a political consultant and marketing strategist, who in April 2014 was named by Barack Obama to the
President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN). He had become known for his work on the Barack Obama presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012, as a member of the paid media team.
197:
In addition, Shepardson has led SS+K's work for many commercial clients, including the recent, award-winning campaign for HBO called "Awkward Family
Viewing," promoting the HBO Go service to college students. The campaign won multiple media accolades, and some of the advertising industry's top
135:
Shepardson maintains that young voters have little trust in Washington, D.C., regardless of the political party in power. “Millennials will align with somebody regardless of political labels, based on values. Communicate through issues, not through the candidate,” he advises. “Negative ads and
87:, Shepardson and SS+K were asked to create important video segments for the Democratic National Convention. One showed the 2020 Democratic contenders unified behind the Biden-Harris ticket; another, contrasting the ticket's approach to gun violence vs.
220:
international political consulting firm. Prior to joining Sawyer/Miller, Shepardson worked as a special assistant to future Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell when Rendell was District Attorney in Philadelphia.
91:, featured Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez. A third segment which ran on the convention's final night featured the Democratic candidates sharing their favorite Joe Biden memories.
120:– The agency redesigned the Democratic National Committee logo, moving away from a kicking red, white and blue donkey to a bold blue "D" inside a thick blue circle with the slogan "Change That Matters".
136:
politics-as-usual can turn millennials off. They are quite shrewd when it comes to marketing.” The best strategy to reach them, he suggests, is to “sell a politician by not being political.”
434:
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range of corporate clients that include Meta, JPMorgan Chase & Co., HBO, Starbucks, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Lyft, WhatsApp, Airbnb, and The New Yorker.
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169:– Founded by parents of the victims of the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, to protect children from gun violence.
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193:– Co-founded by Bono, the advocacy campaign to reduce extreme poverty and preventable disease, especially in Africa.
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175:– Founded by First Lady Michelle Obama, a first-of-its-kind campaign to reduce childhood obesity in a generation.
32:
157:– Founded by Mark Zuckerberg and other Silicon Valley executives, supporting comprehensive immigration reform.
151:(formerly the Lance Armstrong Foundation) – To empower cancer survivors through advocacy and support programs.
1122:
435:"Convention Video "United We Stand" Shows 2020 Democratic Candidates Coming Together to Defeat Donald Trump"
308:
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How Biden Ran the Ultimate Purpose-Driven Campaign - A lesson in authenticity and differentiation,
941:
1102:
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852:
489:"Lebron James' 'More Than a Vote' Campaign Gets 10,000 Volunteers to Sign Up as Poll Workers"
891:
8:
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163:- To eliminate childhood hunger in the United States through the No Kid Hungry campaign.
40:
1026:
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181:– Housed at the Center for American Progress, an advocacy campaign to fight genocide.
1092:
Joe Biden as strategist: lessons for managing a brand through unprecedented times,
330:"Tapping Millennial Political and Social Passions Ahead of the Midterm Elections"
255:
471:"Former 2020 Candidates Share Their Favorite Joe Stories in "United We Stand""
144:
Shepardson has led SS+K's work for issue campaigns and nonprofits, including:
1226:
1080:
Leadership in our divided times: The power and pragmatism of radical empathy,
409:
79:
Examples of Shepardson's political communications work with SS+K include:
503:"Nike releases new voting PSA featuring LeBron James, 'More Than A Vote'"
216:
1160:
How a Political Strategy Can Bolster Brand Reputation in Volatile Times,
809:
1148:
To energize young voters, Biden must recapture spirit of 2008 campaign
676:"Barack Obama campaign claims two top prizes at Cannes Lion ad awards"
521:"Lena Dunham's New Obama Ad—as Controversial as Everything She Does?"
358:
598:
792:"Enough! The Project to End Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity"
575:
1126:
opinion piece published in Little Black Book, November 13, 2020.
791:
651:"(video) How Did the 2008 Obama Campaign Attract Young People?"
94:
During the NBA playoffs, Shepardson and the firm launched the
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awards, including five Cannes Lions and 11 One Show Pencils.
382:
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Member, President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
542:"#3 of Top 10 commercials: Lena Dunham's "Your First Time""
453:"A New Generation Rises Up to Say "Enough" to Gun Violence"
260:
475:
D20 The Website of the Democratic National Convention 2020
457:
D20 The Website of the Democratic National Convention 2020
439:
D20 The Website of the Democratic National Convention 2020
251:"President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts"
1216:
Launch! Advertising and Promotions in Real Time, v. 1.0
1192:
President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
1073:
962:
Launch! Advertising and Promotion in Real Time, v. 1.0
130:
1142:
self-published article on Medium, October 24, 2020.
946:
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
1134:self-published article on Medium, November 3, 2020
1106:self-published article on Medium, October 11, 2021
965:. Flat World Knowledge, Inc. p. Section 1.2.
702:"Campaign 'Refugees' Created Livestrong Bracelets"
102:win, urging their audience to make a plan to vote.
1224:
1199:Like a Politician, Delta Hits the Comeback Trail
1174:article by Rob Shepardson and Mark MacKinnon in
1140:Why Political Professionals Think Biden Can Win,
716:"FWD.us Highlights Hope Brought By New Arrivals"
324:
322:
276:"Obama Campaign Will Use Six Consulting 'Teams'"
118:Democratic National Committee Rebranding (2010)
383:Rob Shepardson; Mark MacKinnon (May 5, 2009).
273:
201:
774:"Does It Take a Village to Overcome Obesity?"
319:
1132:How do you deliver hope in a hopeless time?,
1124:How Do You Deliver Hope in a Hopeless Time?,
571:"SS+K, R/GA Honored at Digiday Sammy Awards"
245:
243:
241:
74:
994:"M&C Saatchi Buys a Stake in SS&K"
565:
563:
1051:Franklin & Marshall College Athletics
835:"HBO GO: Awkward Family Viewing Campaign"
238:
1025:. Temple University Press. p. 75.
958:
560:
536:
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124:Obama for America Youth Campaign (2008)
1243:Franklin & Marshall College alumni
1225:
1207:Advertising Campaigns: Start to Finish
1018:
948:. Columbia University. December 2022.
874:"The One Show Announces 2015 Winners"
700:
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627:. September 16, 2010. Archived from
531:
37:John F. Kennedy School of Government
1114:opinion piece by Rob Shepardson in
309:"Young Voters in the 2008 Election"
185:Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
13:
491:. Global Citizen. October 1, 2020.
340:
298:
215:With fellow political consultants
14:
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853:"PDF of 2014 Cannes Lion Winners"
131:Strategy for reaching millennials
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274:Chris Cillizza (June 4, 2008).
33:Franklin & Marshall College
1047:"Hall of Fame: Rob Shepardson"
445:
427:
402:
385:"A Manifesto for Young Voters"
376:
267:
16:American advertising executive
1:
1238:Harvard Kennedy School alumni
1172:A Manifesto for Young Voters,
1000:. New York. November 17, 2014
921:Enterprise Community Partners
756:"New Ads Take On Gun Control"
259:. April 24, 2014 – via
232:
959:Solomon, Michael R. (2010).
896:Council on Foreign Relations
7:
223:
202:Public service appointments
10:
1259:
1162:self-published article on
714:
917:"New York Advisory Board"
210:
47:
28:
21:
75:Political communications
1218:, by Michael R. Solomon
1183:Adweek: "SS+K hired by
1022:The Philadelphia Reader
942:"Robert Shepardson bio"
621:"Brand New: D-emocrats"
1019:Huber, Robert (2006).
106:Your First Time (2012)
1150:, by Rob Shepardson,
704:. September 19, 2006.
631:on September 20, 2010
525:The Atlantic Magazine
410:"SS+K client listing"
149:LIVESTRONG Foundation
85:Biden-Harris Campaign
55:Advertising Executive
1197:The New York Times:
359:"Rob Shepardson bio"
315:. November 13, 2008.
286:on February 16, 2015
53:Political Consultant
1094:by Rob Shepardson,
1082:by Rob Shepardson,
892:"Membership Roster"
841:. 31 December 2014.
780:. December 7, 2010.
601:on January 26, 2015
591:"Obama For America"
579:. November 8, 2013.
527:. October 25, 2012.
509:. October 24, 2020.
280:The Washington Post
1104:Can CEOs Save Us?,
998:The New York Times
625:UnderConsideration
548:. December 4, 2012
477:. August 20, 2020.
459:. August 19, 2020.
441:. August 17, 2020.
414:Agency Compile.com
336:. October 6, 2014.
167:Sandy Hook Promise
161:Share Our Strength
140:Advocacy campaigns
41:Harvard University
839:Kevin Skobac Blog
796:EnoughProject.org
261:National Archives
61:
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288:. Retrieved
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1214:(Textbook)
1209:"Meet SS+K"
1205:(Textbook)
1004:February 9,
978:February 9,
926:February 9,
901:February 9,
878:PR Newswire
819:February 9,
810:"SS+K page"
738:"home page"
722:February 9,
686:February 9,
660:February 9,
635:February 9,
605:February 9,
552:February 9,
394:February 9,
217:Lenny Stern
173:Let's Move!
97:We Got Next
1227:Categories
1185:New Yorker
233:References
1096:The Drum,
1084:The Hill,
1056:March 22,
860:adage.com
655:Sarder TV
507:USA Today
419:March 23,
368:March 22,
1152:The Hill
1098:10/18/22
814:Facebook
224:Personal
99:campaign
83:For the
1166:7/19/18
1164:Medium,
1154:4/30/20
1118:11/9/20
1116:AdWeek,
576:Digiday
179:Enough!
1178:5/4/09
1086:3/8/24
1029:
969:
760:Adweek
334:AdWeek
211:Career
155:FWD.us
856:(PDF)
1058:2024
1027:ISBN
1006:2015
980:2015
967:ISBN
928:2015
903:2015
821:2015
724:2015
688:2015
662:2015
637:2015
607:2015
595:SS+K
554:2015
421:2024
396:2015
370:2024
363:SS+K
292:2015
39:at
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944:.
919:.
894:.
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