Capabilities & Qualifications

Doug Carlson formed his consulting business in 1993 after 20 years in public affairs, business communications and journalism in Hawaii. His service as corporate spokesperson for a major public utility for nearly a decade included continuous involvement with the media and community as a crisis communicator and public speaker on utility-related matters, including renewable energy development. Carlson Communications provides clients with strategic communications planning, media relations, crisis communications support and executive development services and has assisted scores of Hawaii's business, government and professional leaders in elevating their presentation and media relations skills. His familiarity with power generation issues arguably makes him Hawaii's most-qualified public affairs consultant in the emerging renewable energy field.

As a senior vice president of Hill and Knowlton in Hawaii, directed the operations of the agency's media and presentation training subsidiary. Planned and implemented clients' communications.

Managed Hawaiian Electric Company’s communications programs and served as spokesperson 1981-1989 for issues ranging from rates and service reliability to renewable energy development. Responsible for media and community relations, crisis communications, internal communications, financial and customer publications, advertising and video production. Recognized by the Hawaii chapters of Toastmasters International ("Silver Gavel") and the Public Relations Society of America ("Koa Anvil for Emergency Public Relations") for the company's communications performance following Hurricane Iwa in 1982.

                                                                  Journalist, Author

Reported or edited for The Honolulu Advertiser; KGMB-TV in Honolulu; The Chicago Daily News and Westinghouse Broadcasting Company all-news radio stations in Philadelphia (KYW) and Los Angeles (KFWB). Earned bachelors and masters degrees in journalism from the University of Iowa and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism respectively. Author of Me and Him Are Killing English! by Comma`aina Communications (2007).  Co-authored (with Scott Stone) Punchbowl: The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific by Island Heritage Publishing (1982).

After serving as press secretary in broadcaster Cecil Heftel's 1976 campaign for Congress, joined Mr. Heftel's Washington office for the Congressman's first term. Later managed the district congressional office for three years. Community service has included Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise (past president), USO-Hawaii, Honolulu Community-Media Council, Aloha United Way, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, American Heart Association, Manoa Valley Theatre and the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program. Public service has included creation of web logs focused on improving emergency communications, promoting renewable energy development (especially OTEC) and building Honolulu's rail transit system (see Overview page). Helped win the Cold War during five years of active-duty service as a US Army Military Intelligence officer, with duty stations in West Berlin, Germany and Can Tho, South Vietnam; later served as a US Navy Reserve Public Affairs officer at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.