October 29, 2007

Emmy Award Winning Producer Ricky Kirshner, Long-Time Party Strategist Mark Squier to Oversee Production of Convention Program

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that Emmy Award winning producer Ricky Kirshner and long-time Democratic Party strategist Mark Squier will serve as Executive Producers for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. Together, Kirshner and Squier will craft and implement a program that supports the DNCC’s commitment to bring down the Pepsi Center walls and make this Convention as inclusive, accessible and engaging as possible using new technology and other creative means. As Executive Producers, the pair will be responsible for the overall look and execution of the Convention program including the design, staging, lighting, audio and entertainment.

“Come August 2008, the world’s spotlight will shine on Denver, the Rocky Mountain West and the Democratic Party,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “No one can make that light shine brighter than Ricky and Mark. Pairing Ricky’s unparalleled production experience with Mark’s strategic political insight will make an unbeatable team. I am confident they will put on the most spectacular show in Convention history as the world watches us nominate the next President of the United States.”

Ricky Kirshner, an Emmy Award winner and one of the industry’s leading production executives, has produced every Democratic National Convention since 1996. During the last 20 years, Kirshner has produced countless television specials, stadium spectaculars, political events and corporate gatherings.

“I am delighted to once again be a part of this historic event,” said Kirshner, who founded and runs RK Productions. “Now, it’s our job to make sure the millions of people watching from home and inside the Pepsi Center are informed, entertained and inspired by this four-day celebration.”

After producing four NFL Opening Kick-Off shows, Kirshner was selected as an Executive Producer of the Emmy-nominated 2007 Super Bowl Half Time Show starring Prince – the most watched television program in the world. This year, he won an Emmy, his third, for the 2006 broadcast of the 60th Annual Tony Awards. His production credits also include the Boston Pops Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular for CBS, the Vibe Awards for UPN, the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade on CBS and the GQ Men of the Year Awards for NBC.

On the corporate side, he has created and produced events for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), LIFE Magazine and many others. He is credited as producer for the North American Treaty Organization’s (NATO) 50th Anniversary Summit and for President Bill Clinton’s 1997 Inaugural Gala on CBS.

Following September 11, 2001, Kirshner produced the “I Love NY” commercial in Times Square, featuring more than 400 Broadway performers honoring New York. The spot aired around the country within a week of its inception and was lauded for helping regenerate business for New York City. The year before, he served as the Senior Producer of “ABC 2000,” ABC News’s Millennium coverage – one of the most watched television events in history at the time.

For more than 25 years, Mark Squier has been a media consultant and strategic adviser to Democratic candidates for federal and statewide office and Democratic Party committees. As Executive Producer for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, he will spearhead the strategic communications behind the program that will put the Party’s nominee on the path to winning the White House.

“I am very much looking forward to creating a Convention program that helps communicate the voice and vision of our Party and our nominee,” said Squier. “Our ultimate goal here is to put on a show that inspires the nation and builds just the right starting block for our nominee to begin the home-stretch sprint to the election.”

Before co-founding McMahon, Squier, Lapp & Associates (MSLA) in Washington, DC, Squier was the lead producer for nearly ten years at the Washington media firm, Squier/Eskew Communications (SEC). While at SEC, Squier produced ads for more than 20 current and former United States Senators, Governors and Members of Congress, including Senators Harkin, Lieberman, Akaka and Graham; former Senators Simon, Bumpers and Pryor; and former Governors Ann Richards and Cecil Andrus.

As a partner at MSLA, Squier consulted on the winning campaigns of Senator Ron Wyden and Governors John Kitzhaber and John Baldacci. Squier and his partners also worked as senior strategists for Governor Howard Dean’s presidential and successful Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman campaigns as well as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the League of Conservation Voters. He also worked on the successful
presidential campaigns of Carlos Andres Peres in Venezuela and Andreas Papandreaou in Greece.

In addition to his skills as a political strategist and creator of some of the industry’s most effective advertisements, Squier is an award-winning filmmaker. He holds a Masters Degree from the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles, where he produced the Emmy and Academy Award-winning (student category) film “The Blue Men.”

Held from August 25-28, 2008, the Convention is expected to pump an estimated $160 million into the Denver area’s economy and draw approximately 35,000 visitors, including 15,000 members of the media, to the region.

About the DNCC:
The 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee is the official arm of the Democratic National Committee responsible for planning and organizing the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. www.demconvention.com

Paid for by 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. www.demconvention.com

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.