With a keen understanding of what it takes to turn a story into news and the media contacts to make it happen, Missi Tessier leads the Podesta Group’s PR practice. In addition to designing and directing PR and strategic communications campaigns for clients, Missi advises them on broad legislative strategic planning, message development and media strategy. Missi also serves as the firm’s principal spokesperson.Among her greatest accomplishments at the Podesta Group, Missi has ushered in policy victories that protected consumers from soaring insurance costs, promoted defense technologies that make Americans safer while providing domestic jobs and secured federal funding for basic science research.During her esteemed career on Capitol Hill, Missi was the principal spokesperson for the Republicans in the House of Representatives, serving as press secretary for former House Republican Leader Bob Michel (R-IL). She also served as communications director for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Recognized by many for her top notch work (and her affable nature), she was named by Roll Call as one of Washington’s “Fabulous Fifty Staffers.”Missi has a bachelor's in foreign service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and is fluent in French. A performer at heart (her Podesta parodies are always a hit at the annual firm holiday party), she is a former board member of Hexagon, Inc., Washington, DC’s only original political satirical musical comedy revue, where she wrote sketches and musical numbers and performed as a singer and dancer for 15 years.A native of Easthampton, Massachusetts, Missi once called Paris home and was named an honorary Texan in 1997.
