Ann E. Davison
NAGC Strategic Partnerships Director

Director, Strategic Communications
Guidehouse
strategicpartnersdir@nagc.com

Ann Elise Davison is an accomplished communications and public affairs advisor to elected officials, government program officers, corporate executives, and nonprofit leaders. Her passion is creating impact-focused campaigns, bringing fresh insights to citizen and stakeholder engagement challenges, and managing multifaceted teams in high stakes environments.

Ann began her career serving in policy and communication roles in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House. In 2000 she transitioned to the private sector taking on leadership positions at global public relations and public affairs giants Fleishman-Hillard (Senior Partner, General Manager) and, subsequently, Burson-Marsteller (Chair, US Public Affairs and Crisis Practice.) In 2016, Ann joined Guidehouse where she provides strategic communications counsel and executive coaching to federal, state, and local government agencies.

Deeply experienced in shaping mindsets and motivating desired behaviors, Ann was proud to lead a team representing multiple agencies advising the U.S. Census Bureau on earned media and public relations to drive self-response to the 2020 Census. Under her leadership the team developed and disseminated hundreds of media materials, organized and executed more than sixty media briefings, supported dozens of government spokespeople, and coordinated numerous in-person and virtual public relations events.

Ann is also steeped in crisis management. She has developed crisis communications playbooks, supported crisis exercises and led crisis response teams in intense situations including being onsite at the first hospital in Texas that diagnosed patients with Ebola in the United States.

Ann holds a BA in Public Policy from Duke University, an MA in American Government from Johns Hopkins University, and a Certificate in Executive Coaching from the University of Cambridge (UK). She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where she enjoys fly fishing, collaging, and staying connected with family, friends and pen pals.