Patty McQueen is an experienced communications strategist and media spokesperson with a background in politics, journalism and corporate communications. McQueen worked full time on the 1992 and 1996 Presidential campaigns and inaugurations, and as a consultant on the 2000 Presidential campaign. She served as a political and communications advisor to the Connecticut Speaker of the House and worked for more than 11 years in broadcast and print journalism.
Since starting her own media relations business in 1997, McQueen has provided consulting and hands-on media relations and communications planning services to a variety of clients, including the Mohegan Tribal Council and Connecticut Association of Realtors, State Comptroller Nancy Wyman’s successful campaign for Lieutenant Governor, Kevin Lembo for Comptroller, and Denise Merrill for Secretary of the State, as well as the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities and the Connecticut Health Policy Project.
In 1997, McQueen served as press secretary for the Presidential Inaugural Parade, developing and managing publicity for more than 80 parade entrants. In that post McQueen worked with the White House press office, the national press corps and reporters from across the country. In 1996, McQueen was press secretary for the President Clinton’s re-election campaign in Connecticut. She worked with state and national leaders to deliver the campaign’s message through the local media and coordinated with the national campaign and the White House on media logistics for Presidential visits, including the season’s first Presidential Debate, held in Hartford.
McQueen was campaign press secretary for Clinton-Gore ’92 in Western Pennsylvania, overseeing operations in three media markets. In addition, she worked in the executive offices of the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Committee. McQueen also served in 1993 and 1994 as Communications Director in New York for President Clinton’s National Health Care Campaign.
From 1994 until April 1996, McQueen was Media Relations Specialist for Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance, working on product launches and with the insurer’s foundation for public giving.
McQueen started her career as a producer and reporter for Connecticut Public Television, before joining the (Manchester) Journal Inquirer in 1985, where she became the paper’s chief political writer. In 1990, McQueen moved to the Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Time as political correspondent for both Times-Mirror newspapers.
In 1992, McQueen became Deputy Policy Director for Communications for House Speaker Richard Balducci, serving as the Speaker’s spokesperson and media advisor to the House Caucus. In that post, McQueen worked with outside polling and direct mail consultants on the House Democrat’s incumbency protection program.
Listen to Patty McQueen’s appearances on WNPR public radio.