Author David Barnes

David Barnes is the founder and President of GAIT, a personal brand development and management consulting firm based in Washington, DC. He is passionate about providing his clients with the resources to project an attitude of confidence and success while creating their personal brands through fashion styling and communications coaching. David honed his skills in communications as the former press secretary of the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he managed the public image of its Chairman, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA). He also worked on then-Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign, Senator Barbara Boxer’s 2010 reelection campaign, and was an aide to Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY). After being a “director of political theater”, David decided to use his experience in communications and background in psychology to provide young leaders with the insight and resources to build their personal brands for maximum impact. In addition to GAIT, David works with corporate clients on marketing and public affairs outreach to federal agencies and on Capitol Hill. He is in the process of expanding his entrepreneurial reach into international trade with long time business partner Christopher Washington, who is currently based in Accra, Ghana. David’s weekly column, Inside the GAIT, gives tips and insight on maneuvering office politics and professional development on Capitol Hill, and he is slated to write a men’s fashion column on WashingtonLife.com this coming spring. Known as the best dressed man on Capitol Hill, David has been featured in The Hill, Washington Post, Roll Call, Washington Life and The Source for his ability to integrate his personality into the “corporate uniform.”