Joe Solmonese

Joe Solmonese is a Managing Director and Founding Partner of Gavin/Solmonese and leads the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Joe leads the firm’s Corporate Strategy, Public Affairs and Policy practice, where he advises corporations on organizational effectiveness strategies and policy development and implementation across a diverse spectrum of topics. Joe also brings his significant experience to advising both political campaigns and corporate brand campaigns.

Prior to forming Gavin/Solmonese, Joe served for seven years as the president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization. Under Joe's leadership, HRC was instrumental in passing landmark legislation such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act as well as the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." HRC, under Joe's leadership, also played a key role in winning full marriage equality in eight states plus the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the Human Rights Campaign, Joe spent nearly 13 years at Emily's List, one of the nation's largest political action committees, devoted to electing women to higher office. During his final two years there, Joe served as the organization's CEO.