John Earnhardt

John Earnhardt manages the social media team responsible for the "The Network: Cisco's Technology News Site" and other corporate communications channels such as The Platform blog and Facebook page, Twitter @Cisco, LinkedIn, and other corporate social platforms. He also manages the corporate PR team, including CEO and CFO media strategy, legal, M&A, finance, op-eds, broadcast media strategy and executive media training. John is the PRNews' 2012 Social Media Professional of the Year. He is also on the 2013 and 2014 "BusinessInsider" lists of "The 50 Best PR People in the Tech Industry."

Previously, he managed policy communications in Cisco's Global Policy and Government Affairs department where he was responsible for using communications channels to advance Cisco's state, federal and global public policy objectives. This is where he started the first blog for Cisco in 2005. He also handled media relations on public policy issues in addition to starting and managing Cisco's political action committee. He joined Cisco in 1999 as Corporate Public Relations Manager in the Office of the President.

Prior to Cisco he was the Director of Media Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, DC. Earnhardt previously worked for Senator Joseph R. Biden, the Senate Judiciary Committee and for the Presidential Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. In 1996, he worked for Vice President Al Gore doing press advance on the Clinton/Gore Presidential campaign.

John is married, has a young son and lives in Menlo Park, CA. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in English and Philosophy.

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/urnhart