Don Hannaford

Vice President, Public Policy

Don Hannaford has spent more than 30 years navigating the often-tricky waters of public policy and public affairs—working with everyone from healthcare giants to not-for-profits to scrappy startups trying to make their mark. At Rural Minds, he works to shift perspectives and move the needle on policy, whether that means changing minds inside an organization, winning over stakeholders, or reaching the public.

Before joining Rural Minds, Don ran the Washington, D.C., office of global PR agency MS&L. Beyond keeping day-to-day operations humming, he built out their health policy practice from scratch, supporting clients focused on patient access and healthcare reform. 

One of his proudest moments? Leading the campaign that secured a spot on the National Mall for the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. He later took the reins of the Zeno Group’s New York office, heading up its Corporate and Public Affairs practice.

Don's career started on Capitol Hill, working as a legislative aide for a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, where he tackled health, energy, and environmental policy. From there, he moved to the Department of the Interior, helping four Pacific Island governments transition from post-WWII trusteeship and later overhauling the public affairs function for the Pacific Region of the Minerals Management Service, coordinating increased support for the needs of local governments, stakeholders, and businesses.

He earned his dual degree in International Relations and Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.