Mike Cys

Managing Director, Total Spectrum/ Steve Gordon & Associates

Email: mcys@totalspectrumsga.com

Mike Cys is a veteran political strategist who began his political career nearly 20 years ago working for the Illinois House Republican Campaign Committee, where he managed dozens of campaigns. He developed a keen understanding of all aspects of campaigns – including galvanizing grassroots volunteers, developing media strategies, polling, conducting opposition research, and building successful get out the vote operations. Mike’s efforts helped create a Republican Majority in the Illinois House – the first Republican Majority in 14 years.

Mike was then named Communications Director for the Republican Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, and built a statewide media strategy through more than 500 news outlets. He organized and conducted more than 100 press conferences, oversaw production of TV and radio shows, and planned crisis response strategies.

In 1997, Mike became the Campaign Manager for Peter Fitzgerald’s successful campaign for the U.S. Senate. He executed all aspects of the campaign, including the development of strategy, implementing the statewide candidate advocacy program, overseeing the grassroots effort, and guiding the creation of all earned and paid media.

After Peter Fitzgerald’s victory in 1998, Mike was named Communications Director in the Senator’s Washington DC office. Mike created the Senator’s external communications, and served as the Senator’s key political advisor.

In 2001, Mike became the American Medical Association’s Political and Grassroots Director, and remained there nearly ten years. AMA’s PAC – AMPAC – was consistently ranked as one of the largest and most effective in America, spending more than $20 million under Mike’s guidance. Mike also managed AMA’s grassroots network of physicians and patients through websites, faxes, phones, and helped create the award-winning 700,000 member Patient Action Network. He was also responsible for their issue advocacy campaigns, including recruitment of patient volunteers, crafting of media advertising, and directing of political and voter research programs.