Obama Pollster and Research Expert
Stefan Hankin Joins Widmeyer Communications
Hankin to Serve as VP & Deputy Director of Widmeyer Research & Polling Unit
WASHINGTON, DC - Widmeyer Communications announces the appointment of research and polling expert Stefan Hankin, who will serve as Vice President and Deputy Director for the firm’s research and polling practice. Hankin was most recently a pollster for Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential primary campaign.
“We enthusiastically welcome Stefan to Widmeyer,” said Joe Clayton, President and CEO of the independent communications firm with offices in New York and Washington, D.C. “Stefan’s deep background in assessing public opinion for top political campaigns and parties, corporate clients and public interest groups will be especially valuable to our clients and to our growing research practice.”
Hankin will be based in the firm’s Washington, DC office. In his role as deputy director, he will work with clients to develop tailored research plans that determine attitudes, beliefs and perceptions among target audiences, in addition to understanding how those attitudes, beliefs and perceptions may be changed.
Hankin has a decade of experience in market research, working with clients at all levels of politics, in addition to labor and trade unions, associations, non-profits and corporations. The hallmark of his political work lies in helping his clients position themselves to succeed across all demographic and ideological groups. Successes include a long list of campaign victories including those of Governor Jon Corzine, Senator Robert Menendez and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
From 2005 to 2007 Hankin performed double duty as the director of policy and outreach for 18to35, a non-partisan think tank focusing on young voter issues. At 18to35, he worked with foundations, interest groups and leaders in Congress to focus attention on giving young Americans a voice in government. In the summer of 2007, 18to35 merged with Mobilize.org, where Hankin continues to serve as a senior advisor to the organization.
Over the years, Hankin has also built relationships with many clients outside of the political sphere. He has worked on a variety of message-driven communication campaigns for clients such as Shell Oil, the Home Builders Association, City Harvest, AT&T, the RIAA, WNYC, UNICEF and WWE/Smackdown Your Vote.
Hankin is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
