GQR is excited to announce the promotions of Senior Director of Digital Strategy Jiore Craig and Senior Associate and Director of State Legislative Programs Ethan Smith to become Vice Presidents in the firm.
Jiore and Ethan have dynamic skill sets that will continue to enhance GQR’s strategic offerings which we provide to campaigns, government leaders, and organizations.
Jiore Craig leads GQR’s digital practice which supports both US and international clients. She specializes in differentiating between online sentiment and wider general public opinion, creating G.O.V.T. (Grow Online Voter Trust) programs, disinformation detection and rapid response, adopting conventional campaign strategies to digital outreach platforms, and implementing digital infrastructure in developing countries. Jiore concentrates on political campaign work in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa – as well as public opinion work surrounding the challenges facing progressive organizations in the U.S. and Asia. Since 2016, Jiore has been a leading expert in helping campaigns understand the role of social media in elections. She has led dozens of political campaign training programs, donor and elected official education, media literacy work, and other innovative programs to support progressive clients around the world as they face threats from bad actors online and abroad.
For the past four years, Ethan Smith has led GQR’s State Legislative Programs, helping win three new state legislative majorities and pick up dozens of seats across six chambers in Washington, Connecticut, Tennessee, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Ethan also helped flip 4 congressional districts, conducting research for Congresswoman Dr. Kim Schrier (WA-08), Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07), Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07). Ethan is a leader in the LGBTQ community, working to increase the number of openly LGBTQ officials at all levels of government. Prior to joining GQR, Ethan worked on campaigns at all levels across the country, including serving as Executive Director of the PA House Democratic Campaign Committee.
GQR Partners Anna Greenberg, Al Quinlan, Jeremy Rosner, and Elizabeth Sena said of the two promotions: “We are excited to have Jiore and Ethan take on elevated positions within the firm. They represent strong leadership at GQR, and provide important voices in the progressive space. Both have proven records of winning and creating integrated campaigns that inspire action.”