David Preston is the founder and owner of New Harbor Group, a full-service marketing, communications and public policy firm based in Providence.  He has over 35 years experience crafting persuasive messages on behalf of his clients and effectively delivering them to key audiences. Over the past three decades he has worked with clients from coast-to-coast in every sector of the economy to successfully deliver effective communications and frame public policy.

An attorney, Preston specializes in crisis communications and public policy, as well as providing external and internal communications counsel to clients in the public and private sector.  He has taught crisis management and communications on the faculty of Brown University.  A former print journalist, Preston also taught journalism on the faculty at Providence College, where he earned a degree in English. 

Prior to co-founding his own firm in 1992, Mr. Preston managed a successful re-election campaign for Governor of Rhode Island.  Preston also served as Communications Director for the Governor, where he crafted media strategy, wrote speeches and served as spokesman for the Administration. 

A Marine Corps veteran, Preston served in the western Pacific with Battery “L”, 12th Marines based in Okinawa, Japan.  As Range Officer at Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, VA he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.  He is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and a member of the Rhode Island Bar. Until recently he served on the board of directors of the United Way of Rhode Island.  In 2019 Gov. Gina Raimondo appointed him to Rhode Island’s “Complete Count” Census Commission which achieved a successful count allowing Rhode Island to retain two U.S. House seats, despite projections to the contrary.