Deana Bass - Partner
Deana brings over 20 years of communications experience to her role as a principal at Bass Public Affairs.
Her first job in the business was writing obituary notices and wedding announcements for her hometown newspaper The Columbus Ledger Enquirer. Since those early years, she has gone on to manage the communications for politicians, business leaders and community organizations on the national, state and grassroots levels. She served as press secretary and spokesperson for United States Representative Howard P. Buck McKeon (current Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee former Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee).
As Director of Coalitions for the House Republican Conference, Deana was responsible for helping Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives build relationships with non-traditional media outlets and media personalities.
As Deputy Director of Coalitions for the Republican National Committee under Chairman Ken Mehlman, Deana successfully worked to build coalitions among a diverse set of stakeholders.
In addition to her national experience, Deana served as a staff writer for regional daily newspapers covering issues related to local and state government and education reform. Her work as a staff writer and her experience as the news producer of a CBS affiliate gives her a keen appreciation for writing, editing and messaging that appeals to grassroots audiences.
She holds a B.A. in communications and international relations from Salem College and an M.F.A. in film production from The Ohio University.
Deana serves on the Board of Trustees of Salem College and is a volunteer mentor with the Washington, D.C. based Higher Achievement Program.
Dee-Dee Bass Wilbon - Partner
Dee-Dee brings 10 years of experience in corporate America to her role as a principal at Bass Public Affairs and over 15 years as a professional communicator. Bass Public Affairs’ business clients benefit from her vast and diverse experience in navigating the financial services industry. As a senior credit analyst for MBNA, once the largest issuer of credit cards in the world, Dee-Dee gained an intimate understanding of profit/loss management and business development practices that are commercial, competitive and responsive to the community.
Evidence of her success in corporate America is the accolades that she received. Dee-Dee’s outstanding performance earned her the coveted Young Achievers Award at MBNA. Because of her commitment to corporate responsibility, she received the MBNA Community Service Award for her leadership in developing and executing a company-wide mentoring program. The program allowed MBNA to forge long-term mentor relationships with public schools throughout Delaware.
Her community involvement includes having served on the Board of Read Aloud Delaware. Active in the Wilmington, Delaware community, Dee-Dee is a member of the Wilmington Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Amani Council - Director New Media and Business Development
Prior to partnering with Bass Public Affairs, Amani Council served as Director of Government Affairs for the Family Research Council where she coordinated lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill on a wide range of social and pro-family issues. Under the banner of her own firm Council Consulting, Amani has helped organizations by overseeing grassroots development of community leaders, educators, and other community stake-holders.
Amani has worked as a legislative aid to U.S. Representatives E. Clay Shaw, Jr. and J. Randy Forbes. Her work as a congressional staffer and senior lobbyist has earned her the reputation of a true consensus builder on Capitol Hill. An article in the journal Legal Times, highlights praise from both Republicans and Democrats who applaud Amani's dedication to issues and not partisan politics. Her experience affords her a comprehensive understanding of social issues, and strength in the effective use of relationship development to create and maintain strong bi-partisan alliances with government supporters.
Amani earned a BA in Communications from Christopher Newport University. She earned her Masters in Organizational Development form Trinity University.
Amani is a Board member of the Southeast DC Partners and volunteers her time as a presenter for the Maryland Speakers Bureau. Amani is passionate about the youth and elderly in her community.
Southerlyn Reisig - Communications Consultant
Southerlyn Reisig has been practicing PR since she was cheering for her grade school basketball team on the sidelines of the gym in Alexandria, Virginia. Ms. Reisig attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. After graduating from Salem College in North Carolina, she followed her heart to Chicago (her birthplace) where she worked as a publicist for AWARE Records, promoting talented and unsigned bands such as Matchbox 20, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Train. She then relocated to New York City where she worked in Public Relations at Baume and Mercier, the luxury Swiss watch maker. Southerlyn was soon recruited by Real Estate Tycoon and Shark Tank Star, Barbara Corcoran of The Corcoran Group Real Estate. As PR Director at Corcoran, she oversaw the media blitz surrounding the unstoppable real estate market of the late 90’s. She then went on to serve as Barbara’s private publicist for her best-selling book Use What You’ve Got and Other Business Lessons I Learned from My Mother and If You Don’t Have Big Breasts Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails. (And yes, there is a story there….)
Southerylyn founded Newport Partners in 2004, serving clients in their individual public relations needs and goals with the idea of breathing life in to the dreams of her clients. She organizes events, creates content, and engages the media for her various clients.
Southerlyn received her BA in French and Sociology from Salem College in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She studied in Santa Fe, New Mexico and in the South of France. Ms. Reisig received her Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. While enrolled there, she completed studies in London.
In her free time, Ms. Southerlyn enjoys tennis, yoga, travelling, her family and friends.
