Cathy Rought manages strategic public affairs campaigns for Podesta Group clients on both the state and federal levels, working with defense, international affairs, telecommunications and higher education clients. Among her achievements, she has helped lead a diverse coalition of companies and individuals to defeat legislation that would harm their industry, as well as assisted in generating significant grasstops and media awareness of the implications of a federal contracting decision. Proving she is up for a host of communications challenges, Cathy has advised foreign entities on strategic campaigns, helping to shape messaging and train high-level political appointees for media appearances, and has worked with clients on a variety of crisis communications efforts. Before joining the Podesta Group, Cathy gained extensive experience as an assistant vice president for the technology division at a Washington, DC-based communications and public affairs firm. Previously, Cathy earned her stripes by serving as communications director for the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, where she helped state workers advocate for “contracting out” language that was passed into law in 2006. As a project manager for Wood Communications in Madison, WI, she worked on supporting public affairs efforts around a major electric transmission program in northwest Wisconsin.
A New Jersey native, Cathy holds a bachelor's in communications from Rowan University, with a specialization in public relations and a minor in theater arts. Cathy is also our in-house martial arts buff, with a third-degree black belt in Sin Moo Hapkido and a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
