We’re thrilled to announce that Gary Susswein will join New West Communications as our newest partner in early 2021. Most recently the Chief Communications Officer for The University of Texas at Austin, Gary brings a wealth of expertise to New West; we’re looking forward to connecting the firm’s clients with his wide-ranging skills.
Since we launched New West a little more than two years ago, we have worked diligently to help our clients approach communications challenges strategically. As the first partner to join New West since our launch, Gary will fit with — and strengthen — our approach. During 11 years at UT Austin, he shaped messaging and communications strategy for three presidents, serving as a trusted advisor to each through high-profile political, public safety and personnel crises.
Gary will continue to consult with the President’s Office at UT as a special advisor beginning early next year. His higher education experience will complement our background in legislative and policy communications, political campaigns, health care, public education, energy, and other sectors where New West has established its leadership during these first two years.
He graduated with honors in American history from the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master’s degree in communications from Stanford University. Like us, Gary is a former journalist and an alum of the Austin American-Statesman, where he worked as a Capitol reporter, state editor and metro editor. The three of us worked at the newspaper together more than a decade ago and covered a lot of ground — from the City of Austin to the city’s booming suburbs to the Texas Capitol, Washington, D.C., and a host of campaign trails.
We often note that, after leaving journalism, the two of us worked in each party and each legislative chamber — Steve was Policy and Communications Director for Senator Kirk Watson, and Jason was Communications Director for House Speaker Joe Straus. Gary’s background adds even more breadth to the experience. With Gary’s experience managing a 30-person communications team at UT, New West will be better able to help clients support, elevate and structure their in-house communications teams most effectively.
We are grateful to the clients, colleagues and friends who have helped us build New West into a success during these first two years. As we enter this next chapter for our firm, we are better able than ever to help organizations achieve their goals. If you believe you could more effectively tell your story in the new year, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to help.
Jason Embry and Steve Scheibal
Co-Founders