Jack L. Martin 

Jack Martin is an entrepreneur, businessman, rancher, and globally recognized distinguished strategic thought leader. He is perhaps best known for his behind-the-scenes advice to C-suite executives, navigating them through their most challenging communications and corporate issues. Jack's counsel has been sought for decades by some of the largest companies in the world, leading effective crisis communications, forging mergers and acquisitions strategies, and successfully defusing hostile takeover attempts.

In 1988 , Jack founded Public Strategies, which grew into one of the most successful corporate advisory firms in the world. Under Jack's leadership, Public Strategies helped shape the business climate in Texas and later globally as an advisor to CEOs and Board members.

Jack's earliest business relationship was with Herb Kelleher, the r founder of Southwest Airlines, who he counseled as the company revolutionized air travel and rapidly expanded from Texas to the rest of the country. Jack advocated Southwest's successful effort to take the airline to "Main Street," eschewing a focus on Wall Street and the travel agencies that had dominated air travel in favor of empowering consumers to reach out directly to the airline - a strategy that would engender an unheard-of level of brand loyalty in the industry. Jack also advised Southwest's leadership on business and public strategies and led the company's successful efforts to block taxpayer subsidies for a high-speed rail service in Texas that would have threatened Southwest's business model.

Another significant relationship was with Ed Whitacre, the CEO of Southwestern Bell, which would later become AT&T. Jack crafted the business strategy in Texas and the four other states where Southwestern Bell became the exclusive local-phone provider for a new regulatory framework that upended the traditional ways states oversaw regional Bell operating companies -including removing caps that had limited the company's allowed return on investment The model that Jack established - where a Bell employee in each community was assigned to build support for the company's plans through relationships with local elected officials and other community leaders - is still in use today. Jack continued to advise SBC Communications, which generated regulatory and public support for a series of huge mergers as the company acquired Pacific Telesis, Ameritech, AT&T, and Bell South. When Ed Whitacre became chairman of General Motors, he once again called on Jack to assist him. GM was facing several governmental and regulatory challenges, and Jack provided the strategic framework for gaining public support as the GM emerged from the government bailout that would save the company and the entire automotive industry.

 Another of Jack's successful client relationships is with Goldman Sachs. When the giant investment firm came under withering scrutiny during the financial crisis, its board and C-suite turned to Jack for counsel that allowed them to reestablish their company as a trusted brand and industry leader. Jack and his colleagues managed Goldman's crisis team, designed its social media strategy, audited its media relations practice, and advised its executives and directors on a multi-year plan to restore credibility with the public. Jack also built an in-house research function -which is still being used today -that surveyed attitudes of employees, customers, and the public across the country. Included in those efforts was a repositioning of Goldman's philanthropic work that led to the investment bank's "I 0,000 Small Businesses" initiative, which has graduated more than 9,000 business owners and provided them with greater access to education, capital, and business support services. A similar Goldman project, "10,000 Women," has provided female entrepreneurs from 56 countries with business and management education, mentoring, and networking.

 Jack has also been an advisor to Ross Perot Jr. for almost 30 years and serves as an advisory director for Perot's Hillwood Development Co., one of the nation's largest independent real estate developers. In addition, he served as a key outside advisor to Perot Systems and developed a plan for the outsourcing of investor relations, media relations, government affairs, and other public functions. When the Perot family sold Perot Systems to Dell for $3.9 billion in 2009, jack was asked to simultaneously advise both parties on the transaction given jack's long-time business association with Michael Dell.

 Jack’s business advisory skills have positively impacted Texas communities, specifically San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, where he led the efforts to build new sporting facilities for the Spurs, Astros, and Mavericks. jack developed the business strategy as part of public-private partnerships which secured the necessary support from these local communities. Never forgetting his roots in agriculture, jack successfully negotiated a dual usage agreement between the Spurs and the San Antonio Livestock Show in an unprecedented collaboration among the two organizations.

 Counseling companies in acute crisis has always been a particular focus for jack. He orchestrated the strategy that helped stabilize Bridgestone/Firestone after the company was blamed for hundreds of deaths from rollovers of Ford sport-utility vehicles. jack tackled the tire maker's desperate situation with an aggressive gambit, demanding that Ford agree to jointly investigate the cause of the crashes with Firestone -or Firestone would no longer sell its tires to Ford. After Ford refused to partner with Firestone, the public and lawmakers rapidly began to see the crisis as a car problem as much as a tire problem, buying Firestone valuable time to correct problems in its plants and restore public confidence in the brand.

 Jack's other crisis work includes advising the board of Martha Stewart Living on a strategy to save the company after the founder was indicted and sent to prison; advising the board of Target, the giant retailer, on a hostile takeover attempt and on its response to a major data breach; advising former FBI director Robert Mueller on his investigation on behalf of NFL team owners into how the league handled the Ray Rice scandal; and advising Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, on a stream of difficult political and public affairs issues over several years.

 Jack also has extensive experience counseling private equity funds, including advising KKR and Texas Pacific Group (TPG) on corporate strategy and establishing the first public affairs division on behalf of TPG.

 In 2006, WPP Group acquired Public Strategies and subsequently merged it with Hill & Knowlton, creating Hill+Knowlton Strategies. jack was appointed Global Chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies where he took his business advisory services global by leading the multinational strategic communications firm with over 80 offices and clients consisting of half of the Fortune Global 500 list in 2011.

 During his eight-year tenure at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Jack added a new dimension to his career by advising clients on a global level. Based in New York, he directed the company's delivery of invaluable counsel and expertise to its 3,200+ clients. He traveled extensively visiting every corner of the world where he personally managed corporate and communications issues for leaders at some of the world's largest corporations and gained valuable insights on businesses in other regions.

Upon stepping down as the Global Chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Jack formed JPM Advisory, LLC as a part of a family investment platform active in ranching, oil and gas, and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

 Jack continues counseling a wide range of clients from around the globe, including Digital Realty Trust; the Skadden law firm; Liberty Latin America; WilmerHale; JP Morgan Chase; NRG Energy; several large universities; and Allen & Co., the privately held investment bank that specializes in technology, entertainment, and media. 

 Jack has recently led efforts on behalf of Texas A&M University System to develop a new research campus in downtown Ft. Worth. The Texas A&M Research and Innovation Center and the Education Building will help to strengthen the area's industrial and employment base. Jack has served as the lead advisor between Texas A&M officials and Fort Worth government and business leaders.

 Jack's communications leadership has been honored by organizations at the forefront of communications excellence. In 2014, PR News lauded him as a PR pioneer who has "helped to shape the world of public affairs consulting, public relations and corporate consulting for more than 25 years." He was previously honored by the Center for Public Policy Priorities for his lifelong civic leadership in 20 I 0. In 2016, the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO), based in London, inducted him into their Hall of Fame. Jack was invested as a Member of the Order of St John, on the instructions of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In February 2017, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Austin Chapter awarded Jack and his wife, Patsy, the Philanthropist of the Year award. This honor highlighted the couple's work and leadership within the philanthropic community. In 2018, he received a Presidential Citation from the University of Texas at Austin. This award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the university's commitment to transforming lives. Most recently, Martin was awarded the Individual Achievement SABRE Award at the Holmes Report's 2019 North America SABRE awards ceremony in New York.

Early in his career, Jack served as Executive Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. He managed the respected legislator's two re-election campaigns both of which established records for margin of success. Jack has received five appointments from governors of both political parties in Texas. In 1996, he chaired Texas Governor-elect Ann Richards's Transition Committee. In 1994, then Governor-elect George W. Bush and Lt Governor Bob Bullock appointed Jack co-chair of the Texas Inaugural Committee.

Ranching

Jack and his wife (Patsy Woods Martin) carry on the grand Texas ranching traditions that have been a part of both of their families for five generations. Their JPM Ranch Company currently owns the Mallard Creek Ranch in Montague, Texas, and the Open C Ranch in Forestburg, Texas where they produce high quality angus beef & registered quarter horses. 

The Martins are proud members of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, and the American Quarter Horse Association. The Martin ranches have received numerous awards and distinctions for excellence in the ranching business including cattle and horse breeding.

Philanthropy

As the President of the Student Senate at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), Jack didn't rest with ceremonial duties. He pitched in with new initiatives to improve health care services and campus life for all. Recognized for his commitment to the university, he was later named chairman of its Board of Regents.

While Chair of the Board of Regents at Texas State University, jack was instrumental in the creation of the University's Southwestern Writers Collection and The Witliff Collections. jack and Patsy were the lead sponsors of the first gala that kicked-off the Center's endowment. In 1990, Texas State University recognized Jack as a Distinguished Alumni of his alma mater. A lifetime endowment was created by the late Texas Lt Governor Bob Bullock and Jack's friends in Jack's honor to provide scholarships and paid internships to university students. Earlier this year, Jack was asked to serve on the advisory committee for the Texas State University presidential search.

 Jack and Patsy have a long-established history of giving back their time, talent and treasure to organizations that work improve the communities which they live and work. 

This support has never been more evident than when  Jack and Patsy founded and funded the ‘I Live Here, I Give Here’,  a campaign to increase philanthropic giving in Central Texas. The organization grew into the largest nonprofit in the area contributing over $100 million to more than 750 service organizations since its inception. In 2017, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Austin Chapter recognized Jack and Patsy with the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award. This honor highlighted the couple's work and leadership within the philanthropic community.

 Currently, Jack serves as Chairman on the board of Baylor Scott and White Health, the largest not­ for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States with 48 hospitals and over 40,000 employees. In 2004, Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson asked Jack to serve on the board of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, which supports the educational missions of the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

 Jack’s other board leadership positions have included the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.

 Jack was previously honored by the Center for Public Policy Priorities for his lifelong civic leadership in 2010. In 2016, the London based International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) inducted Martin into their Hall of Fame. Martin was invested as a Member of the Order of St John, on the instructions of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2018, Jack received a Presidential Citation from the University of Texas at Austin. This award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the university's commitment to transforming lives.

 The Martins are founding donors of the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin and the Texas 2036, an organization founded by Texas business and community leaders to help the state maintain prosperity and remain the best place to live and work. 

They have also supported the Forestburg Independent School District, the Forestburg Volunteer Fire Department, the Junior League of Austin, the Trinity Conservancy in Dallas and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.