Darrell Henry

Darrell Henry, co-founder of Conventions 2012/GOP Convention Strategies, has nearly 20 years of experience as a public affairs leader, issue advocate, political campaign specialist, and manager of corporate issue campaigns. In 2008, Darrell co-found GOP Conventions Strategies, which provided services for businesses and state delegations at the 2008 national political conventions, worked with Fortune 50 companies, national trade associations, and the CA, GA, KY, MN, NC and TN delegations at the GOP convention. The firm managed over two dozen events, including large high profile events and small intimate gatherings from 30 to 1,000 attendees, at both 2008 national political conventions. Darrell has participated in seven national political conventions since 1996. While directing the convention operations for the American Gas Association, Darrell innovated new ways for businesses to participate in the conventions in order to make an impact and deliver added value for issue advocacy efforts and to maximize organizational recognition. Darrell also operates ROQ Strategies, an advocacy, government relations, and public affairs firm based in Washington. D.C., which focuses on agricultural, emergency preparedness, energy, environmental, natural resource, transportation, and utility policy issues and coalition building. Prior to ROQ Strategies, Darrell opened the Washington office for the Western Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C., and served as its Washington Representative for three years. He spent seven years as the Director of Public Affairs at the American Gas Association, where he earned his place as a key player in major federal energy policy development, and he is a recognized policy expert on energy, utility, environmental, and natural resource related issues. Darrell is a former Chairman of the National Energy Resource Organization (NERO), which is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to engage in dialogue on energy issues. NERO is the primary networking organization for energy interests in Washington. In addition, Darrell served as the Deputy Director for Federal Affairs for former Governor George E. Pataki of New York and as the Director of Research and Policy for Senator Alfonse D'Amato (NY). He has also worked for Governor Pete Wilson of California in Sacramento and served in many senior positions on many other federal and state campaigns. Darrell earned a BA from The American University and his Masters of Public Administration degree with honors in Intergovernmental Management and Public Policy from the University of Southern California.