Sr. Vice President Government Affairs
dcole@azhighground.com

Douglas Cole, Sr. Vice President Government Affairs, joined HighGround, Inc. in August of 1998 after building a successful public-sector career in the U.S. Congress, the Arizona Governor's Office, and the Arizona Legislature.

Twice in the past few years, Cole has been declared a "winner" by The Arizona Republic in its post-legislative "winners and losers" review of lobbyists.

Before joining the firm, Cole was the Director of Communications for the Arizona House of Representatives. In this position, he was a member of the House's top management team and was the chief spokesman for the House Republican majority and the House Speaker. Besides his media responsibilities, he oversaw the House Majority communications strategies and Speaker's schedule. Cole joined the House in October of 1997.

Prior to his top House position, Cole served as Arizona Governor Fife Symington's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and was his chief spokesman from 1991-97

Cole served as Press Secretary to Congressman John J. Rhodes, III (R-Arizona) in Washington, DC from 1987-91 during which time Rhodes was a ranking member of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. He was the Public Information Assistant for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, the operating agency for the Central Arizona Project, from 1985-87.

Douglas Cole graduated cum laude from The American University, School of International Studies, in Washington, DC. His curricula included studies at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Cole is a long-time member of the Phoenix Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee where he served three years as chairman and is currently the vice-chairman. He is also a public member of the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments, a constitutional commission that selects judicial candidates for gubernatorial appointment.

Douglas Cole is a fourth-generation Arizonan is married to the former Heather Jacobs. They have two sons and a daughter.