Raise DC Leadership Council

Michael Akin is President of LINK Strategic Partners, a full-service communications and stakeholder engagement firm based in Washington, DC. Prior to founding LINK, Akin served as Vice President of the Community and Government Relations Practice at Reingold Inc., a national communications firm headquartered in Alexandria, Va. He played a key role in two national campaigns for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,  leading community outreach campaigns for the Veterans Crisis Line and coordinating the launch of the Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign.

Previously, Akin served as Assistant Vice President of Government, International, and Community Relations at The George Washington University, overseeing the university’s outreach to city, state, and federal officials/agencies. Named GW’s first Director of Community Relations in 2004, Akin made his office the university’s “go-to” resource for residents to share their thoughts or concerns. His work helped to ensure GW became a national model for building community partnerships and overcoming classic “town/gown” friction.

Akin serves on the boards of Destination DC, Cultural Tourism DC, Think Local First, and as Chairman of the Greater Washington Urban League Board of Directors. He is a recipient of many awards, including The George Washington University Award, and he was named “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by the DC Chamber of Commerce in 2015.  

He received an M.B.A. from the George Washington University, where he also graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political communications.