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September 8, 2005

Tom Shrout joins CW as Director of Public Affairs

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced today that Thomas R. Shrout has been named Director of Public Affairs.

Shrout brings to this newly created position more than 25 years of communications expertise. In addition to experience as a television news reporter, he led the internal and external communications program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for more than 21 years. Most recently, he served as executive director of Public Affairs and Government Relations at Christopher Newport University.

In making the announcement John Bacon, senior vice president of External Affairs of the Foundation said, “We are pleased to have attracted an individual of Tom’s caliber to the new position of director of Public Affairs for Colonial Williamsburg. This is a particularly exciting and important time in our development and Tom will be central to making certain that we maximize awareness surrounding numerous initiatives.”

Upcoming initiatives in which Colonial Williamsburg will be engaged include:

  • Hosting the inauguration of Virginia’s next governor in January 2006;
  • Filming of the HBO miniseries “John Adams”;
  • Introducing program innovations next spring under the umbrella of Education for Citizenship and the Revolutionary City;
  • Launching the renovated Williamsburg Lodge and new spa;
  • Launching the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg reflecting the centralization of the Foundation’s renowned decorative arts and folk art collections; and
  • Participating as a Founding Colony Sponsor in the Jamestown 2007 commemoration.

    “I welcome building relationships within the community and with the broad scope of Colonial Williamsburg’s supporters,” said Shrout. “My first visit to Williamsburg was in 1975 and since that time I have closely watched and admired the Foundation’s mission to preserve, present and respect the history found here while advancing understanding of its relevancy in today’s world. I’m proud that I now have an opportunity to contribute directly to that understanding.”

    Shrout, who also held communication positions at the University of Missouri and The Ohio State University, was responsible for media relations, internal communications, publications, marketing and web development at Case Western Reserve. In addition to developing and implementing cutting edge media, marketing, and digital communications efforts in his previous positions, he has led campus-wide re-branding efforts that encompassed new visual identity systems and revamped websites.

    As director of Public Affairs, Shrout will serve as Foundation spokesperson, will manage the Foundation’s media relations and will provide oversight of internal communications and community, college and government relations. He also will provide strategic communications counsel to the organization.

    A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism, Shrout is married to Cheryl Shrout. They live in Williamsburg.

    Media Contact:
    John Bacon
    (757) 220-7164



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