Our History

Awestruck by the opportunities internet technology offered organizations working on global issues, Harvard Kennedy School of Government classmates Jim Cashel and Dave Witzel created a firm to help organizations realize this potential.

In 1996, Jim and Dave opened Forum One Communications. After a year of steady growth, Forum One added Chris Wolz, another classmate from the Kennedy School. The three shared a keen interest in how policy-focused groups in the U.S. and abroad effect change. In 1998, Forum One opened its Alexandria, Virginia office and began actively recruiting staff. Now, ten years later, Forum One Communications has more than 30 staff and has managed more than 600 projects.

Milestones

1999: Staff grows to 10. Purchased first office building. First annual staff retreat held, April 1999, at Hunter House, Vienna, VA. New clients include World Bank’s "Online Media Briefing Center."

2000: Staff grows to 15. Launched first database-powered web sites! Purchased second office building. New clients include the African Wildlife Foundation, Economic Research Service of the USDA.

2001: Staff grows to 20. Developed and launched Backyard Jungle. New clients include InterAction.

2002: Purchased third office building! Awarded 2002-03 "Alexandria Small Business of the Year" award by Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. New clients include the Center for Global Development. Expansion of the International AIDS Economics Network.

2003: Initiated monthly "last-Friday BBQs" at Alexandria office. New clients include the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Education for a New Era" project in Qatar, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

2004: Staff grows to 22. Launched AIDSMatters blog. Important growth and enhancement of SyntaxCMS. New clients include World Bank/AIDS Media, support to Abt Associates on USAID's PSP-One project.

2005: Staff grows to 25. Finalist for "Technology Achievement of the Year Award", City of Alexandria. Backyard Jungle licensed by PBSKids. Rolled out new versions of SyntaxCMS (www.syntaxcms.com) and Project Spaces (www.projectspaces.com).

2006: Completed over 100 projects for high-profile organizations. Launched Online Community Report and User Experience and Design blogs. Launched "Live Interviews Online" product. Hosted fifth Online Community Summit, launched Online Community Camp and Web Executive Series.

2007: Staff grows to 35. Named one of the D.C. area's "Great Places to Work" by the Washingtonian. Hosted five Web Executive Seminars at the National Press Club. Launched the Online Community Research Network.

Read More About the History of Forum One in Kennedy School Bulletin.