James Fuller

Founding Partner

Phone: +1.242.393.1369

Email: [email protected]

Biography

James Fuller has served impactful roles in the government and private sector. He started his career as an aide to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, where he successfully managed several campaigns including Domenici’s 2002 re-election, the Heather Wilson special congressional election, and led the New Mexico campaign for George W. Bush’s  2000 presidential campaign.

James was appointed by President Bush to serve as the Chief of Staff at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and later as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief Operations Officer at the Transportation Security Administration.

Following his public service, James joined Public Strategies, Inc., a Texas-based strategic communications firm where he eventually became President and Chief Executive Officer.  After merging with H+K Strategies, James oversaw H+K’s Texas offices, served on the U.S. leadership team, and led the crisis and risk practice in the U.S.

Wanting a new challenge and with a desire to deliver more impactful results, James founded Arena Communications, a strategic communications and media relations consultancy. Arena Communications specializes in providing high-touch client support and delivering impactful results.

James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.

Biography

Jason brings more than 20+ years of leadership & management, financial acumen, strategic problem solving, C-suite engagement, empathy and passion from a diverse set of professional & personal experiences. 

Before transitioning to his current role as a partner with ArenaCommuns, Jason served as a crisis, strategic and corporate communications/business consultant to banking, food & beverage, and education clients.  He also previously served as President & CEO of Schenck Foods Company, a broadline food distribution business based in rural Northern Virginia, serving a one-hundred-mile radius with approximately $40 million in annual revenues.

Prior to the aforementioned, Jason led the William Robert Group, a consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas, specializing in Telecom executive positioning and strategic & crisis communications. Before that formation, he was Senior Vice President at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, providing strategic & crisis communications guidance to clients in the energy and telecommunication industries – leading H+K’s largest US client relationship in corporate and strategic communications – AT&T. 

For two years prior to joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Jason provided strategic advice/guidance to the Pickens Plan, a $100 million campaign to turn America’s attention to reducing our dependence on foreign oil. He worked as a Vice President for Network Relations, LLC, where he served as a liaison to political/issue groups and coordinated activities with IT, media, public relations, and lobbying teams to ensure continuity of messaging and strategy.

Previously, he was a consultant for The Riley Group, LLC, where he lead a team of regional directors tasked with encouraging ratification of the Korean Trade Agreement. Jason was also the regional political director on the John McCain 2008 campaign and served as an associate director for the Office of Political Affairs at The White House under President George W. Bush. 

Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia and also attended The Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University. He lives in Dallas with his ten-year-old son, Oliver. 

Jason Huntsberry

Partner

Phone: +1.202.997.1911

Email: [email protected]

Kurt Watkins

Managing Director

Phone: +1.214.923.6903

Email: [email protected]

Biography

With nearly two decades of experience in strategic communications, Kurt is considered a go-to strategist for nonprofit organizations, civic initiatives, and Fortune 500 brands for his specialties in media relations, stakeholder outreach, governmental affairs, reputation management and executive visibility/thought leadership. 

After working in electoral politics for a major national political party, a mayor, a district attorney, a political action committee to elect school board trustees and several ballot referendums, Kurt has represented The Salvation Army, The City of Dallas, AT&T, Major League Baseball, Johnson & Johnson, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation and UT-Southwestern. 

Recently, he was recognized for an awareness campaign to help migrant women in the Rio Grande Valley by the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund and received a Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for his work to introduce esports to North Texas. 

Born and raised in Dallas, civic involvement in his hometown is important. He spearheaded the launch of Dallas Arts Month and served on the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission. 

Kurt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Texas.