Jeff Surrell

The founder and managing director of Shot Point Strategies, Jeff Surrell is a seasoned communications and public affairs expert with more than 30 years of experience supporting companies, associations, and educational institutions in shaping public perception, safeguarding reputations, influencing debates, and managing risks. Building on his continued principal work at Shot Point, Jeff is affiliating with Adfero in the capacity of Senior Counselor. In this leadership role, Jeff helps advise Adfero's Energy, Health, and Public Affairs clients and account teams, providing strategic communications and business development counsel.

A former general manager of Edelman’s Washington office, Jeff's specialties span corporate and public affairs, health care policy advocacy, issues management, crisis communications, media strategy/relations, reputation management and recovery, higher education, and transportation. Jeff joined Edelman’s office in 1994 working closely with Michael Deaver, President Reagan’s former Deputy Chief of Staff. From a D.C. office staff of around 20 employees when Jeff joined Edelman, the firm grew to become the world’s largest public relations agency with close to $900 million in annual revenue and well over 5,000 employees by the time of Jeff’s departure from the firm in 2019. 

Prior to joining Edelman, Jeff served on the staff of U.S. Rep. Robert W. David (R-Mich) and worked in the Defense Department as a foreign liaison officer.  

Jeff’s public affairs experience includes managing national media for three high-profile federal commissions, including the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group, and managing multi-year image campaigns for national trade groups including the Association of American Railroads and PhRMA. 

Little-known fact: Jeff co-wrote two best-selling books with Michael K. Deaver, former deputy chief of staff to President Reagan: A Different Drummer: My Thirty Years with Ronald Reagan and Nancy: A Portrait of My Years with Nancy Reagan.