Rodney Jay C. Salinas

     Rodney Jay C. Salinas serves as Founder and President of the Rainmaker Political Group LLC. Rainmaker is an award-winning provider of content, online magazines, workshops and reports for organizations and individuals who are interested in politics, social issues and government.

     With over 8 years of experience, Rodney is a nationally recognized leader on politics and public policy. He was named as a "Rising Star of Politics" by Campaigns & Elections Magazine in April 2002.

     As the former Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), Rodney worked to bring national attention to issues facing Asian Pacific Americans and encouraged their involvement and participation in politics and pubic policy. Prior to his position at APAICS, Rodney served as the National Finance Director for the Jon Amores for Congress Campaign in West Virginia.

     Rodney has spoken extensively on issues relating to political empowerment within the Asian Pacific American community - having delivered speeches in over 25 major cities and at over 40 colleges and universities. He has appeared on Asian American, a nationally syndicated weekly show airing on PBS and has been featured and/or quoted in The Washington Post, Roll Call, FoxNews.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Las Vegas Review Journal, Asian Week, A. Magazine, Philippine News, and Filipinas Magazine.

     Rodney has conducted workshops for Campaigns & Elections Magazine and is a Contributing Editor to NetPulse, a weekly international, electronic newsletter that highlights the latest trends in political uses of the internet. His weekly political column has appeared in several newspapers and media throughout the country, including Manila Bulletin USA, Monolid, KQED Radio's Pacific Time, among others. He is also a correspondent for ABS-CBN's news program, Balitang America.

     In April 2001, Rodney was unanimously confirmed by the Mayor & City Council to serve a three-year term on the Human Rights Commission for the city of Alexandria, Virginia.

     Rodney earned his master's degree in political management from the Graduate School of Political Management while on a full scholarship as a Presidential Administrative Fellow at The George Washington University.

     Rodney lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, the former Taryn Costanzo of Colts Neck, New Jersey.

     Contact address: P.O. Box 22442, Alexandria, VA 22304.