Our Team.
JASON EMBRY
Co-Founder/Partner
New West Communications Co-Founder Jason Embry has been a professional communicator for more than 20 years. Having served as Communications Director for Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus, he specializes in helping a wide range of nonprofit organizations — including those involved in public education, higher education and child welfare — achieve their goals at the Texas Legislature and beyond. He is focused on empowering organizations’ members, allies, and broader audiences with the messages and content they need to tell their stories and advocate for policy solutions. Before joining Speaker Straus' team, he worked 15 years as a newspaper reporter, mostly as the Austin American Statesman’s Capitol Bureau Chief and lead political writer.
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CONNECT WITH JASON:
512-560-3876
STEVE SCHEIBAL
Co-Founder/Partner
New West Communications Co-Founder Steve Scheibal has been solving communications problems as — a reporter, staffer, director, and consultant — for a quarter-century. He has helped a wide variety of clients communicate through crises, develop effective messaging strategies, execute those strategies through proven and cutting-edge tactics, and develop internal and external resources to get the most out of their own and their allies’ people and channels. Before co-founding New West, Steve directed media and community relations for the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, the first new medical school in decades to be built on a Tier 1 research university campus. He also served as Policy and Communications Director for former Texas Senator Kirk Watson and was an award-winning journalist at outlets including the Austin American-Statesman.
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CONNECT WITH STEVE:
512-762-8808
GARY SUSSWEIN
Partner
New West Communications Partner Gary Susswein has worked in communications, the media, and organizational leadership for three decades. He provides clients with strategic guidance and crisis support so they can tell their stories powerfully and elevate their reputations. Drawing from his decade as Director of Media Relations and Chief Communications Officer at The University of Texas at Austin, Gary works with colleges and universities across the nation in developing communications strategies and managing pressing issues. He also supports clients in other policy-related areas and helps organizations in raising awareness about and combating antisemitism. Gary worked for 15 years as a journalist, including as State and Metro Editor at the Austin American-Statesman. He has a BA in history from Penn and an MA in communications from Stanford and has served on the Boards of Directors of multiple non-profits, including as president of Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin.
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CONNECT WITH GARY:
512-694-7909
SLOAN WYATT Communications Strategist
Sloan Wyatt joined New West in 2023. She is a highly skilled and motivated digital marketing professional with a background in integrated marketing communications and data-driven strategies. Having earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at The University of Texas at Austin, Sloan brings a diverse and interdisciplinary approach to her work that complements the experience of New West’s partners. Before joining New West, Sloan worked at Rational360, where she was pivotal in the digital marketing and communication efforts for data-driven campaigns in the Washington D.C. area. During her time there, she demonstrated expertise in online advertising, email marketing, and social media marketing. Sloan was also a Marketing and Communications Fellow at The Texas Tribune, where she developed relationships with Texas and national media while strategizing and coordinating media relations and marketing efforts. Sloan is a skilled storyteller. She studied long-form narratives at The School of the New York Times. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it is hiking, paddling, or practicing photography.
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CONNECT WITH SLOAN:
678-642-0782