Matt Connelly is Vice President of Communications for Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), where he leads the organization’s national communications, public affairs, and media strategy focused on drug policy and public health.
A nationally recognized communications strategist, Connelly has advised some of America’s most recognizable public figures, helped shape presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns, and worked with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations—and one Terminator. Connelly began his communications career managing the executive newsroom for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California. As Schwarzenegger’s newsroom manager, he monitored every major news development affecting the Governor and the state across dozens of media markets, helping shape rapid-response communications in one of the nation’s largest and most demanding media environments.
In the political arena, Connelly has filled communications roles for multiple presidential campaigns. As a traveling press secretary on a national presidential campaign, he worked daily with reporters from every major national news outlet while traveling the country.
Connelly also served as a press secretary during Colorado’s closely watched 2014 U.S. Senate race—one of the most competitive in the country—helping guide day-to-day communications under intense national scrutiny. Following that race, he joined a national Senate campaign committee as National Press Secretary, helping develop and execute communications strategy for Senate races across the country.
Beyond politics, Connelly has advised corporations, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and community businesses on strategic communications, media relations, crisis response, and digital storytelling. He is also an entrepreneur who has built businesses in public relations, video production, and independent news media.
Connelly is a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and lives in Colorado, where he enjoys trail running, exploring the mountains, and spending time outdoors.