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May 1, 2008

Political Entrepreneur Mark Walsh to Lead New Leaders Council National Board

Walsh to Kick Off Expansion of NLC Institute with June Tour

WASHINGTON, DC -Today the New Leaders Council appointed political entrepreneur Mark Walsh as Chairman of the organization's national Board of Directors by unanimous acclamation.

Walsh's first public effort in his new role will be a national tour of fundraising events in San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC from June 24-26. The goal of this effort will be to raise necessary funds to endow new NLC training institutes slated to open in 2009 in Boston, DC, and Los Angeles - in addition to existing institutes in NYC and SF.

NLC's training institute is a unique and highly selective 5-month program focusing on political entrepreneurship across disciplines. "Mark Walsh's background as a leader and a pioneer in both politics and technology makes him an ideal candidate to lead NLC into a rapid growth phase," remarked San Francisco chapter director Michelle Wasserman.

Walsh, a former AOL executive, created Verticalnet, a successful early online advertising company. Walsh also served as Chief Technology Officer of the Democratic National Committee before becoming a co-owner of national progressive radio network, Air America. Walsh currently serves as CEO of GeniusRocket.com and hosts a weekly talk show, Left Jab, on XM satellite radio.

"We're excited to bring Mark's talent to our programs in New York and DC, and we hope to have an excellent series of events," remarked Daniel Getman, director of the NLC New York chapter.

NLC's lightweight operation uses active local leaders to recruit the emerging progressive entrepreneurs in business, politics, nonprofits, and journalism. "This allows NLC to really find the best and the brightest," said Daniel Kilduff, Director of the DC Chapter. The NLC Institute brings in experts in different areas in order to give the NLC Fellows the skills they need to survive. The students' mentors help them refine and put to work these skills, and the networking events allow them to become better connected in their community to enable collaboration. More information is available at www.newleaderscouncil.org. ###