Raymond Glendening

Prior to joining Firehouse Strategies, Raymond Glendening served as the founder and CEO of Scarlet Oak Strategies, which specializes in designing and managing national public affairs campaigns for global corporate clients, national trade associations and issue advocacy organizations.

Before founding Scarlet Oak Strategies, Glendening served as Senior Vice President at Direct Impact, the grassroots arm of the worldwide communications firm Burson- Marsteller. Glendening managed national reputational and issue advocacy campaigns for fortune-500 companies and trade associations. Before this, Glendening spent 3 years as an Executive at McBee Strategic, leading public affairs and public relations campaigns for clients in the biotechnology, renewable energy and aviation sectors.

As the National Political Director for the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) from 2008-2010, Glendening was the chief architect of DGA’s now institutionalized independent expenditure program. Glendening led the committee’s candidate recruitment and, over the course of the cycle, the strategic allocation of $55 million across 37 gubernatorial races. Glendening oversaw all elements of the DGA’s political program including the design of the “incumbent protection” program, opposition research, message design, coalition management and field program.

Glendening was the Deputy National Political Director for the Bill Richardson for President campaign during the 2008 cycle, overseeing political outreach in the “first four” caucus and primary contests. Glendening has also worked on the campaigns of Ted Strickland for Governor, Jon Corzine for Governor and John Kerry for President, as well as several municipal and ballot initiative campaigns during his 6 years of service with AFSCME’s national political department.