Steven Ross
Executive Director
The Artists & Athletes Alliance, Inc.
900 19th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 327-8100
Fax: (202) 327-8101
Email: ross@artistsandathletes.org

Jenny Backus
Director
The Artists & Athletes Alliance, Inc.
900 19th Street, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: (202) 327-8100
Fax: (202) 327-8101
Email: jenny@artistsandathletes.org

Over the past year, Jenny Backus and Steve Ross have handled logistical planning and event management for over 20 nationally televised Democratic and Republican presidential primary debates and forums.

Steve Ross, Executive Director of The Artists and Athletes Alliance, Sam Feist, Senior Executive Producer and Political Director of CNN, David Bohrman, Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief of CNN and Jenny Backus, Director of The Artists and Athletes Alliance, after the Democratic Debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 21, 2008.

From Manchester, New Hampshire, to Los Angeles, California, Jenny and Steve served as the liaison between the television networks and each of the presidential campaigns. Their responsibilities included writing format and logistics memos, coordinating debate pre-programs, setting up candidate green rooms, campaign staff offices, spin rooms, media filing centers, campaign visibility areas and student watch parties.

Working closely with senior and traveling staff from each presidential campaign ensured that all the details and logistical movements for the debate were understood. Prior to every debate, Jenny and Steve briefed each candidate on format, staging and logistical movements unique to that debate.