vahahealth
Oct 05, 2022New Orleans, LA – Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives Founder, Gary Hess, today announced the appointment of veteran political and communication strategist, Terry Holt, to serve on the organization’s Advisory Board as Strategic Advisor.
VAHA has steadily built out VAHA’s advocacy and resources and Hess’s appointment of Holt represents a critical step in the growth of VAHA. Earlier this year, they named members of the board of directors and launched a medical advisory board to advise supporters and patients on the latest science of cannabis therapy.
“Terry will bring the campaign experience and the political skills necessary to expand our advocacy nationwide. He brings a passion for the issues we face as well as the experience and perspective needed to help legislators and other stakeholders understand that access to medical cannabis is not a political issue—it’s a human issue. He’s a respected communications veteran who knows that for us to end the stigma and expand access, we need to make real connections and tell compelling stories that resonate with everyone,” Hess said.
Holt has been a noted political strategist in the nation’s capital for more than 25 years, having served in both the U.S. House and Senate, as one of the “50 most influential staffers,” and the spokesperson and communicator on two winning presidential campaigns. As a senior staffer for political figures like President George W. Bush and U.S. House Speaker, John Boehner, Holt built a reputation as a straight-talking voice. In 2007, Holt founded HDMK, a bipartisan public affairs practice working on high-profile stories like energy, cannabis reform, telecommunications, and health care. In 2021, Terry launched Holt Communication Strategies, a boutique communications shop, focusing on messaging, narrative development, and content delivery.
“Cannabis will transform healthcare and open tremendous opportunities for veterans and patients. VAHA is leading the way toward greater access and understanding of plant medicine, and I am thrilled to be involved in this movement,” Holt said.