Background

Rob joined Development Counsellors International in 1990, after three years of aggressively pursuing DCI founder and chairman, Ted Levine, for a position at the marketing firm. Rob came to the company with an impressive background. He had a degree in political science from New York University, leadership skills honed by serving as the founding executive director of Habitat for Humanity's New York City chapter (where he successfully recruited Jimmy Carter for a weeklong volunteer "work party," which instantly made Habitat a household name), and years of experience in the communications field, including a brief stint as a speechwriter for New York City’s deputy mayor for finance and economic development. His persistence and passion for place marketing paid off; Rob was promoted to partner in 1996. 

Rob's Passion for Places

An inveterate Gothamphile, Rob has a fondness for New York City that borders on idolatry. But from a very young age, he has also loved to explore other places, whether exotic or prosaic. This desire to travel even transcended materialism; Rob used to tell his family he would go anywhere dressed in a burlap bag, as long as he could just go. The intervening years have brought sartorial improvement but no less a passion for visiting new places – and now, with DCI, for learning and telling their stories.

Notable Results

• Rob shepherded media relations in the aftermath of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which happened just 19 days after DCI began work for the city's chamber of commerce; later, he recommended and managed media relations for a coast-to-coast “Thank You America Tour," during which the Oklahoma governor and Oklahoma City mayor recognized search and rescue teams that had flocked to the city from across the United States.

• On behalf of his clients, Rob has landed feature stories or guest appearances in media ranging from TIME and The Economist to CNBC and "The Charlie Rose Show."

• Rob manages DCI’s media relations activities, and is frequently quoted on economic development matters by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and other major print outlets. He has also appeared on CNN, FOX News and National Public Radio, commenting on similar issues.