Claire Buchan Parker is a veteran strategic communications professional. She has expertise with complex public policy and crisis communications stemming from hands-on experience at the highest levels of government and the private sector. Claire led strategic communications for two Fortune 500 companies and served three Presidents of the United States.
Today, Claire is the principal of CB Communications, a firm that delivers public affairs strategy, crisis communications, issues management, media training, executive positioning and media relations. The firm’s crisis work has included prominent individuals in newsworthy circumstances, being investigated by Congress, and with matters before the Justice Department, as well as corporations and trade associations in crisis.
As Chief of Staff to the U.S. Commerce Secretary, Claire led the senior management team. She was responsible for strategic counseling, crisis communications, media relations, speechwriting, business outreach and policy development. She successfully positioned and developed the Secretary’s reputation with all stakeholders, including Congress, the media and the public. Under her leadership, the Department managed crises, including a plutonium spill and the loss of thousands of laptop computers containing Census information. She was involved heavily with the auto industry rescue package.
Claire served for four years as Deputy White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush, serving as the lead White House communicator on economic policy matters. She worked closely with the President, Cabinet members and senior White House staff to formulate messages and media strategy. She dealt daily with high profile media on issues such as the 9/11 and anthrax attacks, two wars, Enron and the financial scandals, three economic stimulus packages, energy policy, and criminal justice.
Claire has extensive corporate experience. She held senior executive positions at a Fortune 200 company, Constellation Energy, including vice president for corporate communications and vice president for public strategy. She managed internal and external communications, grassroots development and communications strategy and execution. For eight years, Claire led corporate communications for ServiceMaster, then a $7 billion Fortune 500 company, reported directly to the Chairman and CEO, provided strategic counsel to senior executives, spearheaded a rebranding and repositioning initiative, and managed crisis and investor communications.
Claire served Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, Press Secretary to the U.S. Trade Representative and Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. She also was Deputy Communications Director of the Republican National Committee.
Earlier in her career, Claire worked on Capitol Hill and on various political campaigns. Claire received a B.A. in Business from Michigan State University with a major in marketing.
