The company was founded in 1980[1] by Bernie Swain, Paula Swain, and Harry Rhoads, Jr.[2] In 2000, the company was acquired by Omnicom Group but continues to run as an independent business within Omnicom's diversified-services division.
[2][4] Its roster includes former U.S. presidents, prime ministers, business executives, and journalists, among others.
[1][5][6] Washington Post (2011): Focused on WSB’s role in negotiating fees for prominent figures, detailing the growing demand for high-profile speakers in political, business, and cultural circles.
[7] Fortune (2016): Featured an interview with Bernie Swain, examining the bureau’s early challenges and the importance of personal relationships in building a successful speaking agency.
[5] Sports Business Journal (2025): Announced that sports talent agency Athletes First (A1) signed an official partnership with Washington Speakers Bureau to market 50+ athletes, coaches, and executives for professional speaking opportunities.