Jamaine Dickens, Principal

Jamaine Dickens started out in public relations when the term itself was still a buzzword. After working as a public affairs director in county government in Florida, he returned home to Michigan in 2001 to serve in the Michigan legislature as communications director for the Michigan House Democrats. He later became the communications director and spokesperson for the City of Detroit. 

A veteran of campaigns, he worked on communication and field efforts for U.S. senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, as well as Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. The relationships he formed while in the foxholes of Michigan political campaigns would later help him position himself as a governmental and public affairs specialist who can influence key decision-makers across the state. 

Jamaine’s time in governmental affairs and public relations taught him that engaging communities is always a precursor to making decision-makers move on an issue. From this insight, he founded Compass Strategies to combine governmental affairs work with communication strategies, community engagement, and research. A proud Detroiter, he is honored to have been a part of some of the city’s most pivotal moments, including the renovation of the (former) Cobo Center; the passing of a $15-per-hour minimum wage for janitorial workers; a $2.2 billion expansion of Michigan’s only oil refinery; a $2.5 billion manufacturing investment through Stellantis; and most recently, a $3 billion transformational investment in Detroit’s New Center, a partnership between Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University, and the Detroit Pistons to develop a new hospital, medical research center and affordable housing.