Meet Ellie Schafer, CEO of South Lawn Strategies

Ellie Schafer is a seasoned operations and event strategist with a proven record of creating high-impact, world-class experiences. Her career is distinguished by her role as a Special Assistant to President Obama and Director of the White House Visitors Office, where she reimagined and managed the public engagement strategy for one of the world's most recognized landmarks.  In this high-stakes environment, she flawlessly executed over 1,500 events for more than 4.5 million guests. Her expertise lies in transforming spaces into engaging and educational destinations, a skill she has successfully applied to a diverse range of clients and projects.

Ellie's talent for fostering connections and managing complex logistics is demonstrated in a variety of challenging settings. She has orchestrated large-scale public events like the White House Easter Egg Roll and managed critical operations for the City and County of San Francisco's COVID Command Center, overseeing multiple high-volume vaccination sites. Her ability to work seamlessly with high-profile individuals and their teams, from global dignitaries to corporate leaders, ensures the success of every event. Through South Lawn Strategies, she provides strategic guidance to clients executing complex operations to engage key stakeholders.

A recognized leader, she was named one of Out Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Men and Women,” was awarded the "Director's Award" from the United States Secret Service, and recognized by the San Francisco Department of Public Health as a "Public Health Hero".

Born in North Dakota, Ellie has lived and worked in cities across the US, but remains a midwesterner at heart.