Hal Dash

Since 1977, Hal Dash has been instrumental in the growth of Cerrell Associates Inc. (CAI), propelling the company into one of the larger independent public relations firms in the United States and one of the largest in Los Angeles.  Hal works closely with his fellow owners and practice area leaders in planning and implementing strategic client projects and campaigns.  He also oversees the company's key practice areas: Energy and Environmental Public Affairs, Campaigns and Issues Management, Local Government and Land Use. 

In addition to his management responsibilities, he personally consults with corporate and political clients on public affairs, government relations, media strategy, crisis situations, legislation and political campaigns. 

For more than 33 years Hal has helped conduct speaker and media training and crisis management programs for CAI’s clients.  He also serves on their behalf as an advocate before local city councils, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and various regulatory agencies.

Since 1978, Hal has consulted on and/or managed nearly 3750 judicial campaigns ranging from California Supreme Court to Municipal Court.  The firm’s win percentage is over 95 percent during that time.  Cerrell Associates Inc. provides full service campaign consulting to judicial candidates and has conducted seminars and forums on “How to Run for Judge.”  He has spoken at several California Judges Association conferences and other judicial forums and he has authored articles on judicial campaigns that have appeared in national publications.

He also comments on politics, government and California trends on local and national radio, television and in print.

Before joining CAI, Hal was a broadcast journalist with RKO radio (KHJ) in Los Angeles.  As a reporter, he covered all areas of government and politics.  He also hosted a weekly talk show and served as assignment editor, writer and producer of radio documentaries and special reports.

Hal holds both a Master's Degree in communications studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  He is past President and former member of the Board of Directors of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Los Angeles Chapter and was a PRSA Assembly Delegate for four years. He holds the title of APR (Accredited Public Relations) from PRSA. Hal is a member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the largest network of independent public relations firms in the world, and is past chair of the America’s Region of Worldcom.  He is also on the Board of Directors of the Greater Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles (AFMLA), and the statewide California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB).

Hal has lectured on public affairs, public relations and politics at the University of Southern California, UCLA, Pepperdine University and Northwestern University.