Zach Friend

Policy and communications expert Zach Friend possesses 14 years of experience in politics, public policy, and media. For the past six years, Zach Friend has worked as the Spokesman and Crime Analyst for the Santa Cruz Police Department in California, where he represents the department to the public and news outlets using his media relations expertise. In addition to responding to various media sources, including print, online, television, and radio, Zach Friend also drafts and issues press releases, op-eds, and presentations for community groups and elected officials. In addition to his media responsibilities with the police department, Zach Friend also supervises the allocation of monetary resources and creates revenue projections for the unit’s $23 million budget. In addition to his work with the department’s finances, Zach Friend performs analysis and modeling of crime statistics, which he uses to create and implement programs, including an online crime reporting system. His innovative work for the Santa Cruz Police Department has helped the unit significantly decrease its payroll expenses. Prior to joining the Santa Cruz Police Department, Zach Friend served as the Press Secretary for President Barack Obama’s election campaign. Working out of the campaign’s Philadelphia offices, Zach Friend performed as an on-the-record spokesperson for media outlets throughout the city. In addition to speaking with reporters, Zach Friend also penned letters to the editor and op-eds to explain President Obama’s policy proposals, in areas such as health care, the economy, and foreign policy. He created and distributed weekly press plans among other campaign staffers. In his position with Obama for America, Zach Friend drew on his years of experience in politics and media, including his time as the Social Policy and Press Assistant for Congressman Sam Farr in Washington, D.C., and as a Legislative Research Assistant for Senator Tom Daschle and the Democratic Policy Committee. Zach Friend also worked as the Deputy National Director of Special Projects with the Democratic National Committee and as the Management Assistant to the City Manager of Santa Cruz. Zach Friend holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2007, he earned his certification in Financial Planning from Columbia University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Zach Friend also serves as a chairperso