John Sweney

John Sweney is a marketing communications and public relations consultant, public speaker and entrepreneur.

As co-founder and CEO of Brookwoods Group, he and his team provide customized interim communications and marketing services to large companies and startups. Unlike conventional agencies, staffing companies or freelancers, Brookwoods Group takes responsibility for vital portions of its clients' communications programs. Solutions always involve fully-dedicated experienced professionals working for several months on site with the client to drive the needed results. Budgets are established by a total program cost or a set monthly fee. (See www.brookwoods.com for more information.)

John is active in the Houston business community as president-elect of the Technology Entrepreneurs' Exchange (TeXchange) and a member of the Greater Houston Partnership's "Marketing Houston" and "CEO Roundtable Steering" committees. He has served as president or director of several non-profit organizations in Houston, including the Brown Club of Houston, The National Caregivers' Wall and Milam House.

For nine years at Compaq Computer Corporation, John was responsible for the company's product public relations, as well as mergers & acquisitions and Internet initiatives. In prior lives, he was a public information officer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, a speechwriter to the President of IBM, an advertising and PR executive for General Electric Company, a press secretary to the Mayor of Providence RI, and an all-news radio anchor. John has a Bachelor of Sciences degree from Brown University.

The son of TV wildlife show hosts, John was raised on a bird sanctuary in New England alongside other household "family" members that included otters, geese, coyotes, crows, and dogs. In his spare moments, he enjoys the company of family and friends, shamelessly spoils his dachshunds, experiments with foods and recipes, squanders savings on vintage wristwatches and a collector car, and converts his home to a showcase of questionable technology and gadgets.