Mark Rickel, Vice President
A highly skilled communicator experienced in media relations, marketing and public affairs, Mark joined Lesic & Camper Communications in November 2007 to execute media relations and grassroots strategies that generate public awareness on issues ranging from business, health care, agriculture, tax policy and education.
Mark leads the account for Walmart, working closely with corporate communications, community relations and government relations teams as well as with regional and market level operations in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia to assist with philanthropic and community outreach, alliance development, marketing promotions and media relations.
Mark also leads efforts for Pearson Education, providing strategic communications services for five Connections Academy online charter schools in Ohio, Minnesota and Missouri. Mark also works to promote the AEP/Dollar Energy “Neighbor to Neighbor” utility assistance program through media and partner agency outreach.
Mark has also supported media relations and grassroots outreach on successful statewide issue campaigns in Ohio including the Ohioans Against the Deceptive Rx Ballot Issue in 2017 and the Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending campaign in 2008 to uphold a law that lowered interest rates on payday loans. In 2012, Mark assisted the Protect Your Vote Ohio campaign team that soundly defeated a flawed redistricting constitutional amendment.
Prior to his work for Lesic & Camper, Mark served as the senior media manager for the National Federation of Independent Business, leading the media relations activities in a 12-state region to promote small business growth. Mark also served as press secretary for Ohio Governor Bob Taft where he managed media relations activities with statewide and national outlets to promote policy initiatives and to address day-to-day issues and crises.
As marketing director for the Ohio Lottery Commission, Mark successfully led the effort to enhance the organization’s brand by establishing promotional relationships that maximized budgets and increased sales by engaging new segments of the market. In 2019, Mark was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to serve as a member of the Ohio Lottery Commission.
Mark also served as the marketing director for the Ohio Department of Development where he managed the state’s branding activities to attract and retain business investment. During that time, he initiated a grass-roots campaign to build awareness and loyalty within Ohio’s business community. He also led the effort to identify promotional opportunities for an initiative designed to reinvent Ohio’s economy by investing in growing technology sectors.
A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations, Mark began his career in media relations at the Ohio House of Representatives and served as a press assistant to former Ohio Governor George Voinovich.
Mark is currently a board member for Families for a Cure, a Columbus-based non-profit that provides grants to local organizations that offer cancer support services to individuals and families.
Contact Mark:
mrickel@lesiccamper.com
614.232.8309