Board of Directors

Richard Norman

Richard Norman

Richard was born in Durham, North Carolina, but lived most of his life in Virginia. Growing up in Chesapeake, he majored in history with a minor in religion at Bluefield College and political science at the University of Richmond Graduate School. It was at the University of Richmond that Richard studied under Larry Sabato, a visiting professor from the University of Virginia. Sabato influenced Richard to pursue a career in political campaign consulting with an emphasis in direct mail fundraising.

Upon completion of his graduate studies at the University of Richmond, Richard embarked on a series of political campaigns. These include George Bush's 1980 campaign for the Republican nomination for President, Bob Daniel's 1980 reelection campaign for Congress (VA-4), a one-year assignment on Capitol Hill as political aide to Rep. Daniel and John Wilkerson's campaign for Congress (SC-5) 1982. In each campaign, Richard was involved in writing and producing direct mail fundraising.

In 1983, Richard began his career in direct mail fundraising when he joined Vienna, Virginia, based Eberle & Associates. Richard personally managed the highly successful 1984 cycle prospecting program for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and supervised direct mail prospecting for the record-breaking 1984 re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms. Because of his successful efforts, in 1985, he was named President of Eberle & Associates.

On August 15, 1987, Richard founded a direct mail creative agency, The Richard Norman Company and a list brokerage and management company, Robertson Mailing List Company. Richard has managed fundraising programs for dozens of well-known national organizations and candidates for President, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and Governor.

In 1994, Richard took a one-year sabbatical from his Agency to design and administer the fundraising program for Lt. Col. Oliver L. North's U.S. Senate campaign. The result was over 277,000 contributors who gave more than $24 million. The number of donors and total dollars raised set new records for political fundraising. He also served as Finance Director for former Vice President Dan Quayle's PAC, Campaign America, and Mr. Quayle's brief campaign for President in 1999.

In 2001, Richard founded Patriot Data Services, a computer service bureau catering to the direct marketing community. In 2009 Richard founded ActiveEngagement, a digital communications and fundraising agency. All of the companies are located in Lansdowne near Dulles International Airport.

Richard participates in a number of charitable and educational organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Youth for Tomorrow, a faith-based residential facility for troubled youth founded by Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs, and as a Trustee of Bluefield College, a Christian liberal arts college in Bluefield, Virginia. He has served on the Board of Dominion Academy, an independent Christian K-8 school in Leesburg, Virginia. He also served on the Board and as President of ECHO (Every Citizen Has Opportunities), a United Way supported non-profit sheltered workshop for physically and mentally challenged adults in Loudoun County, Virginia. Richard and his wife attend McLean Bible Church.

Richard is a founding member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and the Board of Governors for the Virginia Institute for Public Policy. He is a member of the Executive Board of the American Association of Political Consultants and the National Association of Republican Campaign Professionals. Richard and Vickie are also members of the Council for National Policy.

Related to his career in the field of direct response marketing, Richard is a member of the Direct Marketing Association and the Direct Marketing Association of Washington. He frequently lectures on direct mail fundraising at The Leadership Institute and was a member of the faculty of The International School of Fundraising at Wellington College near London, England. He has participated in democracy building as a guest lecturer for The International Republican Institute school in Accra, Ghana.

Richard also owns The Cabins at Crabtree Falls, a Blue Ridge Mountain retreat near Lexington, Virginia.

Richard, his wife Vickie, reside in rural western Loudoun County, Virginia. Their son, John David, is a graduate of Virginia Tech. He is married to Rebecca and they also reside in Loudoun. There daughter, Beth Anne, resides in Richmond where she is a rising junior at Virginia Commonwealth University. Richard enjoys working out, snow skiing, golf, watching ACC football and travel.

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