Northwind Strategies

Doug Rubin

Founding Partner

Doug Rubin, Founding Partner at Northwind Strategies, is a veteran communications, political and business strategist.  Doug has spent over twenty years developing winning strategies and managing successful organizations. He is currently serving as a Senior Strategist for Elizabeth Warren’s US Senate Campaign and Joe Kennedy, III’s US Congressional Campaign.  He previously served in the same role for both of Governor Patrick’s successful gubernatorial campaigns (MA-2006, 2010), as well as for the successful campaigns for Treasurer of Paul Tavares (RI-1998, 2002), Tim Cahill (MA-2002) and Steve Grossman (MA-2010).  In 2002 Doug won a national “Pollie” award for the innovative “Tim for Treasurer” ad he created for the Cahill Campaign.

Doug has also served in senior roles in state government.  He spent nearly three years (2007-2009) as Chief of Staff for Governor Deval Patrick, where he was responsible for executing the administration’s policy agenda and overseeing the day-to-day management of state government. He also served as the First Deputy Treasurer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Treasurer Tim Cahill for three years (2003-2005), with direct oversight of the $4 Billion State Lottery, the $40 Billion State Pension Fund, the Commonwealth’s cash and debt management, and the State Treasurer’s office.

Prior to starting Northwind Strategies, Doug was a partner at Fireman Capital Partners (FCP), a private equity investment firm that specializes in mid-market consumer brands. While at FCP, he played a role in the evaluation and management of FCP’s investments, and worked closely with senior management at a number of the portfolio firms. He remains in an advisory role as an operating partner at FCP.

Doug is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Contact Doug at Doug@Northwindstrategies.com.

Kyle Sullivan

SVP for Public Relations

Kyle Sullivan, Senior Vice President for Public Relations at Northwind Strategies, leads its communications and public relations efforts. Kyle has nearly two decades of experience in public relations, crisis communications, government, public policy, non-profit advocacy, and politics on both the state and national levels.

He currently serves as a communications strategist to Elizabeth Warren’s U.S. Senate campaign and Joseph Kennedy III’s 4^th Congressional District campaign. Prior to joining Northwind, he served as Communications Director to Governor Deval Patrick and was a member of his Senior Staff during the Governor’s entire first term and through his successful reelection campaign. Before being appointed Communications Director, Kyle was the Governor’s Press Secretary where he served as the Administration’s principal spokesperson in local, state, and national news outlets.

Before joining the Patrick-Murray Administration, Kyle was Director of Communications and Chief Counsel for Education Policy for the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Immediately prior to joining the Speaker’s staff, he worked in non-profit advocacy as Deputy Campaign Director for the Early Education for All Campaign and Strategies for Children.

Kyle also spent over six years working for United States Senator John Kerry in both his Senate office and 2004 Presidential Campaign. In the Senate office, he served in a number of communications and management positions including Interim State Director, Deputy State Director, and Massachusetts Press Secretary. He also spent 18 months on the presidential campaign trail as Lead Press Advance for the successful primary campaign in New Hampshire and subsequently for primary and general election events in nine states.  In addition he was the Deputy Convention Hall Director for the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Kyle began his career working five years for a Massachusetts State Senator in roles including Chief Legal Counsel and Director of Communications. He is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College and Suffolk University Law School.

Contact Kyle at Kyle@Northwindstrategies.com.

Chris Greeley

SVP for Public Affairs

Chris Greeley, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at Northwind Strategies, is a veteran strategic communications and public affairs professional. Mr. Greeley brings over 30 years of top-level experience in managing complex issues for corporate, non-profit, government and political clients.  He has focused his recent efforts on emerging growth industries and has developed and executed national legislative and public affairs strategies designed to increase awareness and update archaic regulations that no longer fit in today’s changing marketplace.

Mr. Greeley has been actively involved in government relations and public policy initiatives in Massachusetts and he leads and directs Northwind’s outreach and interactions with elected officials. His presence at Northwind adds a particular expertise in federal public policy and national communications arenas.

Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Greeley served as State Director and Chief of Staff to Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) and was the campaign manager for Senator Kerry’s successful 1996 re-election against Governor William Weld to a third term in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Greeley served as Senator Kerry’s liaison to state legislators, local municipal officials, and the leadership of various constituency and advocacy groups. He played key roles in crafting media and communications strategies, and coordinating staff activities on a variety of public policy issues, including trade, small business, technology, environmental protection, and law enforcement.  He often represented Senator Kerry at key meetings of the state’s business community.

Mr. Greeley was the coordinator of several annual business leadership meetings in Washington, D.C. planned and attended by Senator Kerry, other members of both houses of Congress and key members of the White House staff.

Immediately prior to joining Northwind, Mr. Greeley was Managing Director at Nelson Mullins Public Strategies Group, and in addition, he is the former Vice President of WolfBlock Public Strategies, LLC.

Contact Chris at Chris@Northwindstrategies.com.

David O’Brien

VP for Business Development

David O’Brien, Vice President for Business Development at Northwind Strategies, has been leading public engagement and communications strategies for over twenty-five years. He has provided counsel to the private, public and non-profit sectors at the state, national and international level.

Prior to joining Northwind Strategies, David served as the Executive Director for Governor Deval Patrick’s two political committees – the Deval Patrick Committee (DPC) and Together PAC (TPAC).  David also served as finance director for Governor Patrick’s successful re-election campaign and directed both of his inaugurations.

From 2001 to 2009, David O’Brien ran North Bridge Strategies, a communications and marketing firm that specializes in strategic planning, grassroots organizing, and government and community relations. David had a diverse set of clients whose needs were equally diverse.  They ranged from the redevelopment of a neighborhood housing project in Lowell to traveling to Ukraine twice to conduct democracy training, and many things in between.

Prior to founding North Bridge Strategies, David served on the staff of four presidential campaigns and he served in the Clinton Administration as a presidential appointee at two federal agencies – the Corporation for National Service (CNS) and the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

David holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Merrimack College in North Andover and he is an elected member of the Democratic National Committee. David and his wife Julie live in Concord, MA with their two sons.

Contact David at David@Northwindstrategies.com.