Center President Alan Gottlieb proudly announces the confirmation of David "Nick" Nichols as Senior Fellow of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, effective January 1, 2005.

"We welcome Nick Nichols to the Center and look forward to his active involvement in our complex projects," said Alan Gottlieb. "Nick's outstanding talent at defending the free enterprise system will be a valuable asset in accomplishing the Center's exempt purpose. We intend to make Nick's entry into the non-profit world both challenging and fulfilling. His vast experience will be put to work in his many areas of proven ability. The non-profit organization framework may be very different from the corporate and academic world he comes from, but insightful problem-solving ability is essential to all three, and Nick's is among the finest to be found anywhere."

Paul Driessen, Director of the Center's Economic Human Rights Project (EHRP), said, "It's a great pleasure to be working again with my long-time colleague, Nick Nichols. The Center could not have selected a greater champion of free enterprise or a more talented Senior Fellow." Driessen was Senior Fellow prior to his appointment as EHRP Director in January, 2004.

The Center's Free Enterprise Press published Nick's 2001 book, Rules For Corporate Warriors: How to fight and survive attack group shakedowns. Nick is based in the Washington, D.C. area.

Personal profile of David “Nick” Nichols

Nick is the recently retired Chairman and CEO of Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Group, Ltd., a firm he founded in 1987, specializing in crisis management and risk communications with an emphasis on biotechnology, energy, food, drug, product safety and environmental controversies.

During 2003-2004, Nick developed and taught interdisciplinary, graduate level Crisis Management and Risk Communications courses for Johns Hopkins University.  He is a guest lecturer on crisis management and risk communications at Washington, D.C. area universities. 

Nick is a widely recognized expert on the topics of crisis management, media and government relations, eco-terrorism, the “precautionary principle,” and the political influence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). 

He is a featured speaker at meetings, seminars and national conferences of state and federal legislators, government officials, international and domestic trade associations, corporate executives, and public policy groups including: the American Legislative Exchange Council, the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and the CATO Institute.

Nick has appeared on television network news programs including ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s The Today Show and the CBS Evening News, and participated as a guest expert on numerous talk shows.

Nick Nichols is author of the book, “Rules for Corporate Warriors,” published in October 2001, and has written numerous articles as well as corporate publications that define and examine crisis management strategies and media relations tactics.

Timeline:

2004–present          Graduate Course Development and Instruction, Johns Hopkins University, Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Advanced Academic Programs.  Developed interdisciplinary, graduate level Crisis Management and Risk Communications courses and teaches these interdisciplinary, graduate level courses both in the classroom and on-line.

1987–2003                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Group, Ltd., (formerly InterCommunications Group, Ltd.). Specialized in high-stakes communications, crisis management, media relations and global issues management for Fortune 500 clients; developed a proprietary crisis management/risk assessment formula and pioneered unique strategies and tactics for preempting or responding to marketplace crises; and expanded company operations from a two-person consultancy to an international firm with offices and affiliates in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Sacramento, London and Brussels.  (Retired in August 2003.)

 1983-1987               Senior Vice President and Account Group Manager, Needham, Porter, Novelli (Omnicom), an international public relations firm.  Focused on crisis management, corporate public relations, as well as media relations and communications for federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives.

1980-1981                Deputy Director for Public Affairs, U.S. Cuban-Haitian Task Force.  White House designated spokesperson for the federal government on issues relating to the 1980 Mariel Boatlift of 147,000 Cuban refugees to the United States.

 1980                          Public Affairs Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region V.  Served as chief media spokesperson and director of public affairs at the Cuban Refugee Processing and Resettlement Center, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. 

1979-1980                Campaign Manager, People for Dennis Conta.  Developed and managed a successful primary election campaign for the office of Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 1977-1979               Deputy Secretary of Revenue, Wisconsin Department of Revenue.  Served as a statutory member of the Governor’s Cabinet; administered the enforcement of state revenue laws, departmental rules and regulations, agency personnel policies, budget preparation and the Department’s automated tax processing systems; supervised the operation of four agency divisions with 1,800 employees; enforced Federal Court rulings related to tax-exempt organizations that engage in discriminatory membership practices; and coordinated departmental investigations into organized crime.

 1976-1977               Chief of Staff/Executive Assistant, Wisconsin Department of Revenue.  Managed the staff of the Secretary of Revenue; served as agency liaison with the Governor, cabinet officers, state legislators, and the news media; and provided recommendations to the Secretary on matters of public and departmental policy.

 1973-1976                Executive Assistant, Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee On Finance.  Researched and developed legislation and executed legislative strategy; provided counsel on the development of the Committee’s mark-up of the state budget; managed public relations for Committee Members; and acted as liaison with other legislative committees, partisan caucuses, the Executive branch and independent agencies of the state government.

 1972-1973               Coordinator for Training and Development, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.  Developed and implemented education and outreach programs for Vietnam-era veterans (WISVET Outreach Project); and managed public relations activity for these programs.

 1971-1972               News Secretary/Media Coordinator, Lindsay for President Campaign.  Provided media relations counsel to New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay during his presidential campaign and served as his media liaison.

 1969-1971               Investigative News Correspondent, various broadcast outlets.

 1966-1969               Cryptographic/Teletype Specialist, United States Air Force.  Maintained a Top Secret clearance.  Vietnam service.

 1961-1966               News Production Assistant, WISM.  News reporter and commercial production technician, Madison, Wisconsin.

Selected publications:

Nick Nichols and Paul Driessen, “Global warming: Science versus Spin,” Essay. The Science & Environmental Policy Project, 13 July 2003.

Nick Nichols, “Crisis Communications in a Dangerous World,” Chemistry Business, March 2003, pp. 9-11.

Nick Nichols, “Orwell Would Be Proud,” TechCentralStation.com, 21 May 2002.

Nick Nichols, “They’re Animals,” TechCentralStation.com, 28 February 2002.

Testimony by Nick Nichols On Eco-Terrorism, U.S. House of Representatives, House Resources Subcommittee on Forests & Forest Health, (Washington, D.C.: 12 February 2002).

Nick Nichols, “Tips for Terrorists on Web,” The Baltimore Sun, 24 January 2002, Op-Ed.

Nick Nichols, “Let’s Also Battle Home-Grown Terrorists,” The Portland Oregonian, 24 September 2001.

Nick Nichols, Rules For Corporate Warriors: How to fight and survive attack group shakedowns, (Bellevue: The Free Enterprise Press, 2001).

Nick Nichols and James Hoskins, “The Precautionary Principle: Throwing Science Out With The Bath Water,” Issue Perspectives, (Washington, D.C.: Wirthlin Worldwide, February 2000).

Nick Nichols and Andy Shea, Ruling the Media (Washington, D.C.: Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Group, Ltd., 1998).

Nick Nichols, et al., Stopping the Attackers (Washington, D.C.: Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Group, Ltd., 1997).

Nick Nichols, Crisis Management (Washington, D.C.: Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Group, Ltd., 1995).

Nick Nichols, “Castro’s Revenge,” The Washington Monthly, (March 1982).

Education:

1981-1983                BA, Political Science, The American University

(A combined program of studies at George Washington University and The American University)

1977                           University of Wisconsin/Overseas (UK) studies (Public Policy/Media)

1966-1967                United States Air Force, Air Training Command, Telecommunications School 

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