Sarah Palin Hires Michael Glassner as Chief of Staff

By Gary P Jackson

This may be the most excitement ever created by the hiring of a logistics guy!

This announcement has set the blogosphere ablaze.

From Peter Hamby at CNN:

Sarah Palin has added a veteran Republican strategist to serve as chief-of-staff for her political action committee, Sarah PAC, CNN has learned.

Michael Glassner, an attorney and longtime adviser to former Kansas senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole, has signed on to steer the former Alaska governor’s political operation as she considers a possible 2012 presidential bid.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Glassner managed vice presidential operations during John McCain’s unsuccessful White House bid.

“We are happy and excited that Mike is joining our team,” Sarah PAC spokesman Tim Crawford told CNN.

Glassner worked logistics with the vice presidential team in 2008. That was the wing of the McCain campaign that actually gelled and worked pretty good as a unit.I’m sure he is someone who will serve Sarah well.

Glassner will work as Chief-of-Staff for SarahPAC, for now, but this is the sort of fellow one hires when they are getting serious about running for President. Glassner is a logistics specialist. A great team manager. He has a solid resume. From Linked-in:

Michael Glassner’s Summary

A 25-year veteran in public affairs and national political campaign management, Glassner provides experience and leadership in public affairs and policy development to achieve bottom-line business and policy objectives for clients.

C&M Transcontinental LLC offers national and international experience and expertise at devising and leading global strategic plans for successful public policy and communications challenges.

Specialties

Government affairs, corporate and campaign operations, internal and external corporate communications, investor relations, general corporate management.

Michael Glassner’s Experience

Partner

C&M Transcontinental

Public Relations and Communications industry

September 2009 – Present (1 year 6 months)

C & M Transcontinental (C & M T) merges the leadership and public affairs capabilities and policy and market development expertise of two leading professionals with over 50 years combined experience in corporate strategic communications, government program management, marketing and public relations at the executive level, political campaign management and more. C & M T is committed to its clients’ bottom-line business and policy objectives, achieved with a commitment to exceptional client service, quality control standards, and delivering a return on investment.

Director, VP Operations

McCain-Palin 2008

Telecommunications industry

May 2008 – November 2008 (7 months)

Managed the Vice Presidential campaign on behalf of Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican nominees for President and Vice President of the United States. Directed campaign travel and scheduling, logistical advance, personnel, budgets, fundraising, and other campaign activities for the VP nominee. Managed a team of over 100 campaign staff and volunteers and served as a member of the campaign’s senior staff. Participated in strategy and planning for the McCain-Palin general election campaign

Senior Vice President, External Affairs

IDT Corporation

Telecommunications industry

July 2001 – July 2008 (7 years 1 month)

Directed public affairs, internal and external communications, investor relations, and strategic planning for an international telecommunications company with an excess of $ 2 billion in annual revenues. Acted as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive Officer, chief spokesman for the firm, and leader of its public affairs efforts at the local, state, federal and international arenas including regulatory and legislative matters. Other duties included acting as liaison to members of the board of directors, advising the CEO on brand management, corporate governance matters, led extensive political fundraising activities, and served as Treasurer of the IDT Corporation PAC.

Also determined corporate sponsorships, assisted with new business development and charitable foundation contributions. IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT, IDTb) is a leading facilities-based multinational telecommunications carrier that provides a broad range of services to customers worldwide. IDT’s businesses include wholesale carrier and retail services including prepaid calling cards, domestic and international long distance services, wired and wireless consumer telecommunications products, and natural gas and electric sales and distribution networks.

Chief of Staff to the Chairman

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Government Agency; Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry

May 1998 – July 2001 (3 years 3 months)

As counselor to Chairman Lewis M. Eisenberg, served as liaison to the governors of New York and New Jersey, Members of Congress, state, county and local government, as well as to the Port Authority (PA) Board of Commissioners and staff. Duties included negotiating large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects, creating strategies for long-term capital plans and programs, promoting privatization of selected PA facilities including the World Trade Center, and advising the Chairman on personnel and management issues.

The PA is a bi-state, $3 billion agency with over 7,000 employees that operates major transportation facilities in the region including Newark, LaGuardia, and Kennedy airports; interstate tunnels, bridges and marine terminals; and other transportation, infrastructure, and real estate properties.

Senior Advisor

Senator Bob Dole

Public Relations and Communications industry

January 1986 – December 2000 (15 years)

January 1985-December 2000, Washington, D.C., Kansas, and nationally

Served as confidant and strategist to Bob Dole, beginning as an intern and culminating as Senior Advisor to the Republican nominee for President of the United States. Roles included acting as Executive Assistant to the candidate in his run for the presidency in 1988, as Executive Director of his leading national political action committee, and as State Director of a network of U.S. Senate constituent services offices in Kansas. In 1992, oversaw and managed a successful statewide campaign for Dole’s final reelection to the Senate.

From 1993-1995, led a national network of political consultants to provide financial and advisory assistance to candidates at all levels. In 1996, acted as key aide to Senate Majority Leader Dole from the presidential primaries through the general election. Traveled with the candidate on a full time basis, coordinated candidate’s schedule, crisis resolution and day-to-day logistical arrangements. Following the campaign was retained as advisor to Dole’s Washington, D.C. law firm, Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand in the international business development practice.

Michael Glassner’s Education

University of Kansas

Political Science

1981 – 1985

Additional recent coursework at the New York Institute of Finance in Financial Accounting, Project Finance, and Bond Markets as well as coursework in Macroeconomics and Investor Relations at New York University, New York, NY.

Activities and Societies: Delta Tau Delta Fraternity Intern for Senator Bob Dole Worked full time at a local law firm

This is a solid pick for many reasons. Glassner brings a wealth of skills to the job, as well as a wealth of contacts. The sort of contacts needed to put together a winning team.

Though she hasn’t announced,, we think this is a sure sign the big day won’t be too far off.