Jennifer Harris brings 25 years of public affairs, media, and campaign leadership experience to clients.
JWH Communications is Jennifer Waisath Harris. You get senior leadership from the start.
Jennifer brings 25 years of extensive strategic communications, grassroots and coalition management, and media relations experience to her clients at JWH Communications. She also serves as a consulting partner with ROSS Communications and The Jeff Eller Group, supporting select clients with strategic communications, crisis communications, and public affairs services.
Before forming JWH Communications in 2010, Ms. Harris was a director with ROSS Communications, managing client accounts across several industry sectors including healthcare, telecom, and transportation.
Ms. Harris previously served as the spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, coordinating response and messaging for complex issues including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, outsourcing, and state contracting. She was an integral part of the agency’s effort to promote and defend a nearly $1 billion contract to modernize the state’s benefits system.
Jennifer also served as director of communications for Texas’ Secretary of State Geoff Connor, the state’s chief elections officer and lead liaison for border and Mexico affairs.
As a director at Public Strategies, Ms. Harris directed marketing and client activities for the firm’s International Group, offering her in-depth insight on communications and media relations to international and domestic clients, including a leading international brewery and a Fortune 500 financial services company.
Ms. Harris also worked for former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza in several capacities. During Garza’s tenure as Texas Secretary of State, Ms. Harris oversaw all correspondence and worked on various special projects, including border and Mexico issues. Ms. Harris served as political director and writer, handling grassroots, fundraising, and media-related assignments during Garza’s historic 1998 election to statewide office. She went on to serve as Garza’s communications director at the Texas Railroad Commission, as well as manager of his political office.
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in government and a master’s degree in journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. She is active on several non-profit boards and resides in Austin, Texas.