Top Bush Aide Alia Faraj To Become V.P. At Ron Sachs Communications

December 18, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Alia Faraj, longtime Director of Communications for Governor Jeb Bush, will become vice president of Ron Sachs Communications, one of Florida's premiere public relations firms and one of the top 100 firms in the country, after the Governor leaves office in January 2007.

Faraj has served as director of communications for the governor since November 2004. In that capacity, she is the principal advisor and assistant to the governor concerning public information matters. In addition to serving on the senior management team, she helps develop policy and directs the external communications of all of the governor's agencies.

"We are excited that Alia will be joining our team because she is one of the strongest and most capable communications professionals in the entire country," said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of the firm founded in 1996. "Alia has a great and rare combination of talents and has served the people of our state so well in helping Governor Bush earn the distinction as the nation's best governor. She has been a friend for a long time and we are delighted to now be her colleagues."

Sachs added that Faraj's energy, creativity, strategic thinking and enthusiasm "will immediately be applied to actively helping our clients continue to benefit from the most effective counsel for all of their communications needs." Even more, Sachs said, "it will be wonderful for our staffers to have an opportunity to work with and learn from this great communicator."

"Alia brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be a tremendous asset to the excellent team we now have in place,'' Sachs said.

As Governor Bush's lead communications strategist, Faraj has been responsible for promoting the state's interests, and ensuring that Floridians were kept fully aware of activities involving their state government.

During the 2005 hurricane season, she directed communications for the State Emergency Operations Center, creating and implementing a plan that ensured Floridians would be provided necessary information during critical situations.

Prior to being named to the top job in the governor's communications office, Faraj served as deputy chief of staff at the Florida Department of State during the 2004 presidential election.

Faraj also served as Governor Bush's press secretary and spokeswoman in 2003. Previously she had served as the Public Affairs Director at the Florida Department of Community Affairs where she was responsible for directing the agency's overall communications, public information and education efforts. Before entering public service, she was vice president for news operations at Capitol News Service from May 1988 to March 2002, where she was responsible for overall operation of the news department, including the production of special events and live coverage.

Faraj's father served as a diplomat and ambassador between 1964 and 1992, which gave her the opportunity to reside in five countries overseas in addition to traveling extensively through the Middle East, Asia, South America, Europe and North Africa.

With headquarters in Tallahassee and offices in Orlando, Jacksonville and South Florida, Ron Sachs Communications is Florida's top issues and corporate marketing firm and the leading independent producer of public purpose television programming and public initiatives. As one of Florida's fastest growing communications firms, Sachs Communications offers integrated public relations services including media relations, video and multi-media production, public affairs support, advertising and design development, public education initiatives and marketing.