Nationally recognized communication and political strategist Traci Otey Blunt has led award-winning media and public affairs campaigns for corporate, political, entertainment, and professional sports organizations for over 25 years. Traci is the Founder and Principal of Blunt Group Strategies. This boutique strategic and crisis communications consulting firm advises C-Suite executives and leaders across various business sectors and industries. Blunt Group Strategies is sought after for its unique approach to building comprehensive communications and messaging campaigns.
Prior to launching Blunt Group Strategies, Traci was SVP of Corporate Communications at the National Football League (NFL). Traci led communications strategies across priority areas, including rapid response, marketing, tentpole events, player health & safety, business operations, NFL media, social justice, DE&I, corporate social responsibility, and community relations. During the 2020 season, Traci spearheaded the communications and partnership efforts on the NFL’s social justice initiative, Inspire Change, and civic engagement campaign, NFL Votes.
Before joining the NFL, Traci served in a dual role as EVP of Corporate Affairs at RLJ Entertainment and President of Urban Movie Channel (UMC), the first subscription streaming channel showcasing Black film and television, founded by Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder Robert L. Johnson. From 2008 to 2014, Traci served as EVP of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at The RLJ Companies – the parent company of RLJ Entertainment and Urban Movie Channel. At RLJ, Traci led communications and public affairs across the 16 diversified companies within the RLJ portfolio, as well as leading executive communications and visibility for the founder and chairman.
Traci previously served as a media specialist on Capitol Hill with the District of Columbia Mayor’s office. She held key communications roles on several mayoral, state legislative, gubernatorial, and presidential campaigns. Traci was the national director of African American media and a deputy communications director to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign. In 2000, Traci was communications director for the Tennessee-coordinated campaign during the Gore-Lieberman 2000 presidential campaign. Traci’s experience includes leadership roles at two global public relations agencies (Ogilvy Public Relations, where she led the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Readiness Initiative communications portfolio, and Porter Novelli), and as communications director at the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
Honored with multiple national awards for her communications and public relations prowess, Traci was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal. A few accolades include the Spectrum Circle Award for Media; NFL Executive of the Year by the Off the Field Players’ Wives Association; PlayMakeHER Award in sports and entertainment; the PIVOT Foundation’s Pivotal Woman Award; the National Action Network Women of Power Award; the Circle Award from ColorComm; and Champions of PR from PR Week. Traci has also been featured nationally, including Madamenoire (Women to Know), ESSENCE “Eight Black Women Share What It’s Really Like to Work in the Sports Industry,” Waymaker Journal entitled “Being Blunt,” and Mocha Market magazine’s “Women in Charge, On Fire and Changing the World: National Advisor to Presidential Contender and Business Tycoon.”
Traci serves on the board of directors of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Tennessee State University Foundation. She is a past board member of ColorComm and the International Black Film Festival of Nashville and a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Traci is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University, where she graduated cum laude and was a member of the Grammy Award-winning Aristocrat of Bands and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (AX Chapter).