ABOUT
About Brad Thompson
Brad Thompson is the former President of BTA Public and Governmental Relations, a small consulting firm located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The focus of his company was developing competency in advocacy and non-profit organizations in reaching established goals and financial stability.
Brad has more than thirty years of corporate and government experience. A Herbert Lehman Foundation Scholar and an Engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, he has had a stellar career as an administrator for some of the worlds largest corporations including IBM, Hewlett Packard, COMPAC, and Westinghouse Corporation. He has also served a Bureau Chief for OSHA under former Labor Commissioner Harry Payne and as Special Assistant to former State Auditor Ralph Campbell.
After many years as a community advocate serving on over 30 boards and commissions, including Chair of the Raleigh Community Relations Committee in (1975-1976) and the past President of the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association (1985-1986),Brad was elected in 1993 as a City Councilman in Raleigh, representing the Southeast area. He was elected Mayor Protem in his first year and was called “the very definition of an effective councilman” by the Raleigh News and Observer. After three terms, he elected not to run and became the State Director for US Senator John Edwards, one of only two African Americans to serve in that capacity in the country.
Brad has been Co-Chair of the Southeast Raleigh Assembly, a group of 41 citizens that seeks to improve economic conditions and quality of life for those residing in the Southeast area of the city. This group makes policy recommendations to the Raleigh City Council. He also has served or is serving on the board of the Raleigh Transit Authority, The Fair Housing Hearing Board, Chair of the Southeast Raleigh CDC, the Southeast Raleigh Improvement Commission, the Raleigh Area Development Authority (RADA), Chair of the Community Alternatives for Supportive Housing (CASA), The Museum of Natural History, Vice Chair of the Agency for Public Telecommunications, Treasurer of Democracy NC, Blueprint, and Chair of Progress NC Action. He is a member of the South Central CAC and President of the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association. He is also a Life Member of the NAACP.
Brad is a very active Democrat having served at every level from Precinct Officer to National Delegate. He has attended five National Conventions and has served as Whip of the North Carolina Delegation three times. He was recently Chair of the Second Congressional District. He has coordinated many successful campaigns and is often sought out for political advice.
Brad has won dozens of awards for his community service including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the African American Hall of Fame. He is a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Raleigh and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Brad retired in 2012, but continues to be active in community affairs. He has been married to Dorothy Shaw Thompson since 1968 and they have four adult children.
