As President of Conway Strategies, Daniel Conway focuses on high impact issues and opportunities. From policy advocacy to business development, Conway looks to do what others assume cannot be done. Conway’s work often focuses on social impact through unconventional approaches and partnerships. He worked with the California Jewish Caucus, Relevant Sports, and FC Bayern Munich to bring an exhibit about former club President Kurt Landauer from Germany to the Holocaust Museum LA. Conway worked with Sacramento-area ethnic Chambers of Commerce and business improvement districts to develop an inclusive economic development strategy for the city. He helped develop the blueprint for California’s Great Plates program at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic by working with administration officials, restaurateurs, food suppliers, and food delivery companies. He has worked with Dr. Luke Wood of San Diego State University on a series of reports and events that highlight the inequitable treatment of black children in public schools that has lead to the introduction of legislation in California to address this injustice. Conway is currently advising the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which brought a landmark lawsuit against the City and County of Los Angeles to compel them to address Los Angeles’s homelessness with the goal of permanently changing the trajectory of homelessness in LA through the rapid development of scalable housing and service solutions that will humanely bring an end to the death and despair that we currently see on the streets.
Conway was a co-founder of Truth Enterprises, an early leader in California's licensed cannabis industry. In this role, Conway oversaw state and local permitting, identifying and securing real estate assets, as well as coordinating site design and development. Conway also lead the company's government and public relations efforts. Truth's companies include lbs distribution and Apex Agriculture. Products include Simply Cannabis and Woodland Reserve.
Prior to starting Truth Enterprises, Conway served as Chief of Staff for Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. He represented and advised the Mayor on local, state, and federal issues. Conway aided Mayor Johnson’s efforts to save the Sacramento Kings and build a new downtown arena by leading efforts to secure a series of council votes to approve the project and serving as the Mayor’s representative the city’s Arena Ad Hoc committee. During Mayor Johnson’s Presidency of the US Conference of Mayors, Conway helped develop the Mayor’s policy platform and “Cities 3.0” concept. He also developed partnerships with non-profits and companies, including Starbuck’s Solution City initiative and UNICEF’s Kids Power program.
Conway was front and center in a variety of key initiatives during his three years of service as Chief of Staff. Among the projects that Conway helped lead were: assembling and overseeing a minimum wage task force of business, labor and community leaders; launching an initiative to build 10,000 housing units in downtown Sacramento; developing an innovation district at the Railyards; campaigning for a ballot measure to create a strong mayor governance system in Sacramento; preempting a signature gathering effort and lawsuit aimed at undermining Sacramento’s arena plan; securing a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise for the City of Sacramento; selecting a new Executive Director for the NBA Players Union and guiding the union’s response to the Donald Sterling Controversy; creating a task force to build a new community center theater in Sacramento; and organizing a parade on Sept. 11th honoring three local young men who prevented a terrorist attack in France.
Previously, Conway was the Legislative and Public Affairs Director for the California Restaurant Association. In this role he developed and implemented political strategies on key industry initiatives at the state and local levels, and coordinated media relations and strategic communications for the association. Issues included banning toys in kids’ meals, improving usage of food stamps, regulation of food trucks, and mandated menu labeling. He coordinated media relations and strategic communications for the association. Served as an industry spokesman throughout California and country on a variety of issues appearing on television, radio, and in print. Quotes appeared in Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and Nation's Restaurant News among others. Conway also co-produced a television show, Capitol Views, in partnership with the California Channel, which featured elected officials and opinion leaders discussing their backgrounds and current events.
Before joining the CRA, Daniel was a consultant with KP Public Affairs, the largest government relations firm in California. He did extensive work in the areas of issue management, legislative advocacy, media relations, and coalition building on issues relating to business regulation, land use, and natural resources. Daniel worked on a wide variety of issues and projects for clients such as the California Restaurant Association, the California Independent Voter Project (CAIVP), Daimler AG, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, Nestle Waters North America, and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Daniel first gained exposure to the highest-levels of California politics while working at Kaufman Campaign Consultants. He worked on a variety of candidate campaigns, ballot measures, independent expenditures, and statewide initiatives, including the 2005 Special Election in which the firm led an extensive coalition of labor and community groups in opposition to a slate of initiatives championed by Governor Schwarzenegger. His duties included opposition research, campaign coordination, direct mail production, and drafting campaign materials.
Community and Activities
Conway serves as a member of the School Site Council at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School and at West Campus High School. He is a board member of the McGeorge School of Law's Capital Center for Law & Policy. Conway completed the City of Sacramento’s Planning Academy and the Northern California Water Association’s Water Leaders program. He also participated in the Project for Municipal Innovation at Harvard Kennedy school of government.
Education
Daniel has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with a concentration in business law where he earned Dean’s List Honors, and was named “Best Overall Advocate” in the California Lobbying and Politics course. He has a certificate in Mediation from the McGeorge School of Law. Daniel graduated with Honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara with degrees in History and Political Science.
Daniel lives in Sacramento with his four children.