About Wise Public Affairs
Wise Public Affairs is a specialized public affairs firm focusing on public policy advocacy, grassroots advocate training, strategic coalition building, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications and grassroots mobilization. Our team of experts is complemented by an extensive network of public affairs professionals and strategic communications assets throughout the country. Together, we provide the high-quality results of a large agency with the client-focused attention of a boutique firm.
What makes Wise Public Affairs different?
Wise Public Affairs (WPA) is not a traditional public relations firm. We work on behalf of our clients to influence public policy, public opinion and public behavior through results-driven strategic advocacy campaigns. While there are elements of traditional public relations in all of our initiatives, we employ a campaign-style strategy to effectively accomplish our clients' goals in a timely manner. We will only launch a campaign we're confident we can win using our proven strategies, so we carefully assess the viability of each of our clients' objectives before making a proposal. Because of our results-driven approach, you can be confident in our promise to deliver.
Our Promise
We promise that if we are not the most effective partner for your project or the most efficient use of your resources, we will tell you. Our team of experts have worked in some of the largest PR agencies in the world and will tell you if a traditional public relations agency can better meet your needs. Wise Public Affairs is focused on establishing a relationship as a trusted partner so that whenever you need us, we will be there to help you win.
Our Founder
Brian J. Wise
Managing Partner, WISE | Public Affairs
Brian J. Wise is an experienced public affairs professional with over 15 years of experience in network news, public policy, and public affairs. He most recently served as Vice President at Edelman Public Relations, the world’s largest public relations agency. As Vice President, Brian worked with clients to utilize nonprofit organizations, industry alliances, and informal coalitions to overcome crisis communications situations, proactively build brand identity and credibility, execute public education and public opinion campaigns, and achieve public policy goals.
Prior to joining Edelman, Brian was responsible for launching and directing a coalition of five military support and advocacy organizations in support of charitable, public policy, and political objectives. The coalition consisted of two 501c3 charitable organizations, two 501c4 advocacy organizations and a PAC, which together exerted sizeable influence over legislation on Capitol Hill and impacted public opinion on various issues. Brian served as Chief Executive of these entities, which included Military Families United and Vets for Freedom. Under Brian’s leadership, Military Families United grew to become the largest military family organization in the nation in just two years. In total, these organizations had operating budgets exceeding $6.5 million.
Brian has also managed the strategic communications and coalitions efforts of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, including a multi-million dollar national public relations campaign in support of re-authorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the development of a coalition of organizations that succeeded in rallying public and congressional support for the successful military “Surge” strategy in Iraq. In addition to his work with military and national security groups, Brian has developed and managed several cross-industry alliances, including Operation Clean Air, Inc. (OCA) and Operation Clean Air Advocates, a pro-business environmental coalition of public and private stakeholders focused on improving air quality while creating jobs in an economically depressed area of California.
His political experience includes work on Senate and Congressional campaigns on behalf of Democrat and Republican candidates, and his legislative experience includes working in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of California and the Office of Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA). He has appeared frequently on CNN, Fox News Channel, ABC News, CBS News, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, and Al Jazeera, as well as numerous local television outlets throughout the country.
Before his work in the nonprofit and political arenas, Brian spent over 10 years as a producer with ABC News, Good Morning America, CBS News, and Fox News Channel. He covered stories throughout the world including breaking news from the White House and Congress, Hurricane Katrina, the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns, and the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, CA.
Brian earned his masters degree from the University of Southern California in Communications Management, where he also taught communication theory. He earned a B.A. in Communications Studies from California State University, Long Beach. Brian currently resides with his wife, Carolyn, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.