Tara Dowdell

Tara Dowdell is the Founder and President of TDG Speakers, a boutique speakers bureau, and Tara Dowdell Group, a social good PR and marketing agency. In addition to her businesses, Tara is a respected television commentator. She appears regularly on MSNBC and PIX11 News providing analysis on a range of political and business topics. Tara’s proven expertise and engaging style have also made her a sought-after speaker. She has addressed several major conferences, including the NYU Stern School of Business Women in Business Conference, the Southern Women in Public Service Leadership Conference, the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics Ready to Run Conference, the Colorado Black Women for Political Action 39th Annual Luncheon, and more. Prior to starting her businesses, Tara held senior roles in the public sector. Notably, she was the first Black American and youngest person to serve as Director of Appointments in the Office of the New Jersey Governor. In this position, she led the office responsible for gubernatorial appointments to over 550 statewide boards and commissions. Tara’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Most recently, her firm, Tara Dowdell Group, was named to the City and State New York 2024 Political PR Power 75 List. Tara Dowdell Group also received the PR Daily Top Agencies – Campaigns of the Year for Media Relations award in 2023 and was recognized by Governor Phil Murphy in 2021 for their work with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. In 2023, the Women’s Transportation Seminar – Greater New York Chapter honored Tara with the Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award. Tara is an alumna of the American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Program in Switzerland. Tara has also been recognized by Rutgers Business School, Colorado Black Women for Political Action, the NAACP, and more, and she has been named to the business publication, ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Power List, several years in a row. Tara is the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of WBGO, a public media and jazz radio station, and serves on the board of New Jersey Policy Perspective, a nonpartisan think tank. Additionally, she is on the Steering Committee for the Center for American Women and Politics Ready to Run Conference and part of the NJ Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments. Tara is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government.