Gary Rasp has managed the Energy Institute’s communications and public affairs since December 2010. As Communications Director, Gary oversees all of the Institute’s internal and external communications, including media relations, community outreach, branding, reputation management and online presence.

He has more than 25 years experience working with corporations, government agencies, universities and not-for-profit organizations. His background includes work as a journalist, media liaison, direct mail specialist, public opinion analyst and public affairs consultant.

Prior to joining the Energy Institute, Gary provided strategic counsel to a variety of public and private sector clients, with particular emphasis on energy industry issues.

From 2000 – 2008, as a manager in Burson-Marsteller’s Austin public affairs office, Gary directed media relations for the Midwest ISO, the non-profit electric grid operator for much of the Midwest U.S. He provided crisis communications in the immediate aftermath of the August 2003 blackout, and subsequently managed media relations for MISO on numerous issues leading up to the successful launch of the organization’s energy market in April 2005.

Prior to his work with MISO, Gary directed media relations efforts and was a chief strategist for the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ public education campaign, Texas Electric Choice.

Throughout much of the 1990s, Gary was a Vice President in Communications for Public Strategies, Inc., a national public affairs firm that provides strategic communications counsel to numerous corporate clients, including the Association of Electric Utilities of Texas, for whom Gary served as spokesperson during two legislative sessions, leading up to the 1999 passage of legislation creating a competitive retail electricity market in Texas.

As a reporter with the Hearst chain of newspapers during the mid-1980s, Gary covered energy policy, politics and state government as a member of the Capitol press corps. Later, he served as the public information officer for the Texas Nuclear Waste Programs Office, where he fostered relationships with journalists, local governmental entities, and public interest groups.