Ashley O’Connor, Managing Partner for Strategic Partners & Media 

During the past 15 years, Ashley O’Connor has emerged as a leader in political advertising and communications strategy, today serving as Managing Partner for Strategic Partners and Media. The founder of Red October Productions, she has directed the advertising for over 35 political campaigns including the 2004 and 2012 presidential races as a partner at The Stevens & Schriefer Group. 

O’Connor has advised advertising efforts for President George W. Bush, Governor Chris Christie, Governor Haley Barbour, Governor Mary Fallin, and Senator Rob Portman. 

In 2012, she served as director of advertising and strategic advisor for Governor Mitt Romney running the campaign’s in-house advertising and production team and geo-targeted strategy. 

An award-winning producer of political and corporate advertising, O’Connor’s work includes the acclaimed 2004 Republican National Convention keynote video, “The Pitch,” that introduced President Bush and “The Surge: The Untold Story” the documentary of the Surge in Iraq which won the 2010 Military Channel Award at the GI Film Festival.

O’Connor, a three-time marathon runner, has lectured on politics and advertising at some of the nation’s top universities, including Harvard’s Kennedy School and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. She resides in Annapolis, MD with her husband and son.

Ashley spoke at the February 2019 Elements of a Campaign training session.