Brett P. Smiley has worked with nearly every level of the United States government and developed relationships with influential, knowledgeable, and accomplished elected and appointed officials across the country.
He is known and respected by a large network of people for his professionalism and work ethic and he’ll be honored as one of the New Leaders Council’s Class of 2013 40 Under 40 at an event on Saturday night.
After earning an MBA from DePaul University, Brett began his career working for various national political campaigns, including as Melissa Bean’s campaign manager for her Congressional campaign in the Chicago suburbs in 2004. At the age of 25, he led the campaign which became known to the press as “The House Upset of the Year,” as Bean defeated incumbent Representative Phil Crane, the longest serving Republican in Congress at the time.
In August of 2007, Brett formed his own company focused on political fundraising and regulatory compliance, and built a team of five full-time staffers that helped elect a new mayor and congressman and managed the finances of over 20 congressional campaigns.
In November of 2011, he established CFO Compliance, working exclusively in accounting and compliance to advise Democratic campaign PACs, Parties, and related entities. He also managed the lobbying and advocacy components of the 2011 effort to pass Rhode Island’s Marriage Equality bill. In 2012, he was been hired to manage the public affairs campaign to pass a $50 million affordable housing bond. Brett serves as a national campaign board member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and supports its candidates nationwide.
He was a trainer for the inaugural class of NLC Rhode Island last year on the topic of political fundraising. He remains very politically active in his hometown of Chicago in addition to his home in New England.
