By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News
Josh Pendergrass has been named the Chief Communications Officer for the Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank based in Birmingham.
API’s President Caleb Crosby announced Pendergrass’s appointment in a statement on Monday saying that they are excited to have a person with his amount of experience on their team.
“In our thirty-year history, API has never had an individual with the level of communications experience and political connections as Josh,” Crosby said. “With his knowledge of media relations, Alabama politics, and his conservative credentials, Josh adds rocket fuel to our efforts communicate what true conservative values are and to advocate for those values here in Alabama.”
API is an independent nonprofit research and educational organization that is dedicated to influencing policy that strengthens free enterprise, defends limited government and champions strong families.
Pendergrass has worked in various political communication roles and worked in media relations for several years.
According to the release, Pendergrass was named by Governor Kay Ivey as Communications Director in 2017. He was responsible for the Governor’s entire communication efforts including crafting speeches, press statements, public comments and overseeing press relations, social media and other activities.
He also worked closely on communications efforts with the Alabama House Rural Caucus and played a role in dozens of Alabama campaigns in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 cycles.
Most recently he served as Director of Client Strategy and General Counsel at the nationwide political consulting firm Cygnal, which was recently ranked by the New York Times as the most accurate political pollster during the 2018 election cycle.
Pendergrass holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Lambuth University in political science and communications and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University.
He has also studied theology at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and currently serves as Pastor of Wadsworth Baptist Church.
Pendergrass has been licensed to practice law in Alabama since 2011 and has served as pastor of several local churches. He and his wife Leslie have been married since 2010; they have a two-year-old son, Thomas.