Sanford Dickert has been crossing the line between politics and private industry for a number of years – leveraging online technology, word-of-mouth marketing and community building solutions to build higher-quality relationships between candidates and constituents. Sanford first exposure into politics in 2003, when he joined the John Kerry Presidential Campaign as the Chief Technology Officer where he lead the planning and implementation of the campaign’s internet technology, online voter relationship and contribution strategies during the primary season. After founding (Rawlings Political, Sanford has continued his work providing effective solutions for a number of Gubernatorial, Sentatorial and Congressional campaigns. In the commercial sector, he has worked with Fortune 500 firms, leading venture funds and promising start-ups through product marketing and development strategies to help investors and management teams better understand and execute on customer focused solutions through the effective use of technology and relationship marketing through his firm, Contagious Conversations.

Sanford holds a BSc in Computer and Electrical Engineering with Distinction from Purdue University and a Masters, Engineers and Doctorate (ABD) in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University where he was active in university and community governance for over eight years. An investor, board member and mentor of early stage companies in Europe and the US, Sanford is a frequent and sought after speaker on online community and network building and has been a guest lecturer at the CASS Business School in London, George Washington University and the Cooper Union in New York. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at The Cooper Union in New York City teaching product design and social dance and his thoughts on the future of relationship marketing in politics can be found Political Gastronomica and discusses social software and the impact on society at Social Engineer.