About

John “CZ” Czwartacki Bio:

Founder & Chairman

John Czwartacki is the founder and chairman of Survivors for Solutions a registered 501(c)(4) organization. He has been working in public policy in the government and private sector for more than three decades.

Throughout his career, John - or CZ as he is known to friends and colleagues - has worked in the highest levels of both the executive and legislative branches. He previously served as FEMA’s Public Affairs Director in the George W. Bush Administration and as Communications Director for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Trump. Most recently, John worked as the Chief Communications Officer for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) before having to go into early retirement when facing his disease’s inevitable progression. 

On the Hill, John served as Press Secretary for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and Congressman John Boehner. He also was the lead Communications Director for the Chairman of House Leadership, Bill Paxon.

John was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1993 during his time in the office of John Boehner. His fight began before there was a single drug treatment to slow its progression. His only choices were treatments at an out-and-in-patient rehabilitation center and even his parent’s basement. At 28 years old, John weathered the storm of his diagnosis by holding onto a strong sense of hope that an effective solution would soon be available. After success of a new innovative course of disease-modifying therapy (DMT), John was once again able to take control of his life and his future. After 20 years of relative quiet from his MS, CZ faced what happens to most people living with chronic diseases and had to try other therapies due to resistance his body developed to the original treatment. Fortunately, innovation has kept pace with his disease, providing multiple treatment options to help in his fight.

As a survivor with MS, CZ credits medical innovation and science for giving him his family, career, and independence. With gratitude for scientists and medical innovation, CZ founded Survivors for Solutions to advocate on behalf of patients in need of innovative new treatments, and to call on our government leaders to protect that innovation.