Washington, D.C. - The American Tradition Institute (ATI), a nonprofit public policy organization dedicated to free market environmentalism, named longtime Washington veteran Craig Richardson as executive director. Richardson has nearly three decades of non-profit, communications, fundraising, and political experience at the national, state, and local levels.

Richardson previously served as executive director of the American-Danish Business Council, a group he helped establish at the request of the Danish Embassy, The National Park and Recreation Foundation, and Leadership for America’s Future PAC (LEADPAC), a PAC founded by former Congressman Steve Largent.

In addition, he has provided strategic communications and fundraising services to political clients, including serving as a key aid to former Majority Leader Tom DeLay for more than a decade. He also consulted for the re-election campaigns of numerous U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives. Richardson’s also has extensive issues management experience, including participating in high visibility anti-tax and deregulation initiatives, and state-wide tobacco tax battles. In 1995, he co-authored a book, Red Tape in America, published by the Heritage Foundation, which details excessive government regulation and its impact on the U.S. economy, and its citizens.

“We are a relatively new organization with a tremendous track record and impact, and we needed a veteran leader to join our team,” said Dr. David Schnare, Director of ATI’s Environmental Law Center. ”Craig, with his proven organizational, communications, fundraising, issues, and political expertise, is a perfect fit for us at this stage of our growth and development, and we are confident he will lead ATI to the next level.” Schnare added.

American Tradition Institute (ATI) is a public policy research and public interest litigation foundation advocating restoration of science and free-market principles on environmental issues, including air and water quality and regulation, responsible land use, natural resource management, energy development, property rights, and principles of stewardship.

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