Brian B. Morris

Brian Morris has over 30 years of experience in New Mexico's political, government, non-profit, media and business communities. He is respected across the State of New Mexico for developing strategic plans and achieving results for his clients.

Prior to opening his own firm, Morris Strategies For New Mexico, he served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for the Downtown Action Team, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Albuquerque, managing its Business Improvement District.  Brian worked for the Downtown Action Team from 2001-2012. As Executive Director of the organization, he oversaw a $1.2 million annual budget, 85 square blocks of properties within the Business Improvement District, the Hospitality and Clean Program and the Downtown 2010 Sector Development Plan. He worked closely with a 21-member Board of Directors on development and fundraising for the organization and led the implementation of strategic action plans that included concise measurable goals and objectives in the Downtown area. As Executive Director of the Downtown Action Team, he led the efforts for the successful re-election of the Business Improvement District.

Prior to joining the Downtown Action Team, Brian served as Chief Communications Officer for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, and as Press Secretary for Mayor Jim Baca.  His duties included oversight of media and public relations for the entire City government as well as handling media for the Mayor.  Brian served as a senior advisor to the Mayor and was Mayor Baca’s campaign manager in Baca’s re-election bid.  

Prior to serving as Communications Officer for the City of Albuquerque, Brian also worked as Deputy Communications Officer and Assistant to the Mayor for Legislative Affairs.  In addition to working daily with the national and local print and electronic media, Brian oversaw the Mayor’s involvement in the 2000 Census and was the Mayor’s liaison to the State Highway and Transportation Department on the Big-I reconstruction project, the biggest highway department project in the state’s history.

Brian has served on several boards, including as Chairman of the Board of Directors for New Mexico AIDS Services and as President of Creative Albuquerque. He is Past-President for four terms of the Friends For the Public Library. He also sat on the boards of the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, the New Mexico AIDS Services Development and Marketing Committee, Finance Committee and Governance Committee; and the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau Conventions & Meetings Council. He was also appointed by Governor Bill Richardson as a Commissioner for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Nominating Commission and served on the 2008 Committee for Rail and Urban Infrastructure Systems Expansion.

He previously served on the the Albuquerque Art Business Association Board (ArtsCrawl), the Advisory Panel for the New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair and as Vice-Chair of the Teach and Learn Cable Educational Network Executive Board, the National Youth Sports Program Advisory Board, the Albuquerque International Sunport Noise Abatement Committee, the Mayor’s Quarter Cent Streets Task Force and the City of Albuquerque/State of New Mexico Public Art Project Planning Committee which was charged with overseeing cultural corridors project commemorating Route 66.

Prior to joining the Office of the Mayor in 1998, Brian served as campaign manager to several candidates, interned for the Legislative Council Service in Santa Fe and worked at the state’s largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, for five years where he wrote stories and served as editor of the in-house newsletter.  Brian attended the University of New Mexico where he majored in Political Science and was active in student government and served two terms as president of the College Democrats.

Brian is a New Mexico native, born in Albuquerque. He grew up in his younger years in Milan, NM, which is just outside of Grants, NM. His family moved to Albuquerque while he was in middle school and he attended Del Norte High School. He currently lives in Albuquerque’s North Valley with his two miniature Daschunds, Lola and Courtnee.

Brian is a recipient of the New Mexico Business Weekly’s 2011 Power Brokers and is also a member of the New Mexico Business Weekly's 40 Under 40 2008-2009 class, which recognizes 40 individuals annually under the age of 40 for their professional achievements, leadership and community involvement.

About

Morris Strategies For New Mexico

Brian B. Morris

Resume & Experience

Morris Strategies for NM LLC Principal
2012-Current

Downtown Action Team, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
2007-2012

Downtown Action Team, Vice President
2005-2007

Downtown Action Team, Public Relations Manager
2001-2005

Mayor Jim Baca, Campaign Manager
2001

Mayor Jim Baca, City of Albuquerque, Chief Communications Officer/Spokesman for Mayor/Senior Advisor
1999-2001

Mayor Jim Baca, City of Albuquerque, Assistant to the Mayor for Legislative Affairs
1998-1999

Albuquerque Journal, Editorial Assistant/Freelance Writer/In-House Newsletter Editor
1992-1997

NM Legislative Council Service, Intern
1997

University of New Mexico Study Abroad Program, Costa Rica
1996

Contact Brian:

2011 Power Broker Recipient,
NM Business Weekly

2008 40 Under 40 Recipient,
NM Business Weekly

CONSULTING                    COMMUNICATIONS                 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Community Service

NM AIDS Services
Chairman of Board of Directors, 2008-2015
Board of Directors, 2005-2015
Treasurer, 2006-2008
Executive Committee, 2006-2015
Marketing & Development Committee, 2005-2015
Finance & Human Resources Committee, 2005-2015
Governance Committee, 2009-2015

Creative Albuquerque
Board President, 2011-2012
Vice President, 2010-2011
Chair, Organizational Development, 2010
Chair, Advocacy Committee, 2010-2011

Friends For The Public Library
Board Member, 2003-2010
Board President, 2006-2010

Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board Member, 2008-2012

ABQ Art Business Association
Board Member, 2013-2015
Board Member, 2003-2012

Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance
Board Member, 2009-2012

Commissioner, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Nominating Commission, 2008

County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta Campaign Committee
Treasurer, 2004-2009

County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins Campaign Committee
Treasurer, 2009-current

Second Judicial District Judge Shannon Bacon
Campaign Committee
Fundraising
2010

Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
Member, 2001-2012

International Downtown Association
Member, 2001-2012

Quality of Life Initiative Campaign Committee
Member, 2006

NM Arts & Crafts Fair Advisory Committee
2005-2008

Teach & Learn Cable Education Network
Vice Chair, 2000-2001