Mark Nathan is a veteran communications strategist and media consultant for public officials, political candidates, community coalitions and responsible corporate citizens.
Mark has advised dozens of winning candidate and issue campaigns in Austin and across Texas, including congressional and state legislative contests, mayoral and city council races, local ballot initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and bond referenda. He began his political consulting career as a field organizer for Texas Governor Ann Richards and later served as a state field director for President Bill Clinton.
Mark has also worked extensively as a communications and media strategist for corporations, public entities, non-profits and coalitions. At the Bozell Sawyer Miller Group (now Weber Shandwick) in New York City, Mark helped corporate clients navigate high-stakes public issues. As Vice-President of TateAustin (now Hahn Public), Mark managed advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns for non-profits, trade associations, and public sector clients.
As founder and president of Austin Strategies, Mark paired political consulting with public affairs and issue advocacy work, helping groups such as the Texas Sierra Club and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce develop media and grassroots strategies to move public opinion and impact public policy.
At Austin City Hall, where he served as chief of staff to Mayor Lee Leffingwell and special assistant to Mayor Will Wynn, Mark’s work focused on transportation, energy and water policy, and civic engagement. Mark was also the principal architect of AustinCorps, a year-long City-sponsored civic internship program for local high school seniors now in its 10th year.
Active in the Austin community, Mark has served on the Board of Directors of Texas Campaign for the Environment, Austin Habitat for Humanity, PeopleFund and the Zilker Elementary School PTA.