Bonnie Hackbarth
Senior Counselor
Bonnie J. Hackbarth brought with her more than a dozen years of U.S. government public affairs experience when she joined Guthrie/Mayes in 1998. She had directed the press office at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. for six years, and was communications director for consumer advisors to two U.S. presidents prior to that.
Hackbarth works primarily on behalf of Guthrie/Mayes health care and education clients, as well as clients in the dot.com arena. She also has assisted non-profit and faith-based clients with their public relations needs.
At the FTC, Hackbarth was responsible for strategic communications planning; media training; press conferences; news releases, pitch letters and other media relations; and liaison with other federal, state and local agencies. She has key knowledge in a variety of areas under the FTC’s jurisdiction, including consumer credit, direct marketing, health care competition, advertising regulation and consumer privacy issues.
Bonnie also handled media relations, as well as extensive speechwriting, at the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs. While there, she wrote and edited a monthly newsletter covering Administration-wide consumer activities. Formerly a deputy press secretary to a U.S. Senator, Bonnie has produced video teleconferences, PSAs and radio programs; ghost written columns and op-eds; and produced targeted newsletters.
She is a graduate of Washington State University, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications, with a minor in philosophy.