Campbell is a former journalist who became a public relations practitioner upon moving to Washington, D.C. early in his career. John has more than 25 years in journalism, public relations, marketing communications and research, with deep experience in strategic research and planning in the fields of health, financial services and technology.

John founded his firm, Campbell Communications, Inc., in 1981, following service as an expert consultant in communications at the National Institutes of Health. At the National Cancer Institute in the late 1970s, Campbell was responsible for new national programs in smoking education and news media marketing. He created the first national communications program for the then new Cancer Information Service, a nationwide toll-free telephone system for consumers (1-800-FOR-CANCER).