Steve Bryant is a founding partner of RunSwitch PR with more than fifteen years of experience managing public relations, crisis communications and issue advocacy campaigns for a wide variety of clients. He specializes in corporate communications and public affairs support for government regulated industries.

Steve has vast experience working with media, state government, the business community and the health care industry in Kentucky. He has been at the forefront of numerous state and federal PR campaigns, including efforts to defeat prescription requirements for cold medicines, promoting legal liability reform, advancing telecommunications infrastructure and promoting life science innovation.

He has put his skills to work for numerous Fortune 500 companies and national organizations such as Allstate, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Boeing, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Honeywell, Pfizer, PhRMA, the US Chamber of Commerce and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) among others.

In 2010, Steve built his own public relations firm which he successfully grew and operated for several years before merging with his current partners to form RunSwitch PR. Prior to that, he helped another Kentucky PR firm grow from one office to a regional presence with offices in five states in just three short years.

Prior to moving to Kentucky, Steve worked with PR-giant Hill & Knowlton in Florida where he consulted on some of the state’s most high-profile issues including property insurance, nuclear power, affordable housing and real estate development. He advised one of the nation’s largest insurers after hurricanes ravaged the southeast from 2003 to 2005, coordinated a statewide advocacy campaign in support of nuclear power and provided crisis communications counsel to a major New Orleans-based university after Hurricane Katrina.

Education

Steve is a graduate of Florida State University.

Civic Involvement

Steve is currently involved with the 2017 Bingham Fellows class, is a 2015 graduate of the Leadership Louisville Program and a member of the 2015 Business First of Louisville 40 Under 40 class. He serves as Communications chair for the American Diabetes Association in Kentucky.

Experience

Founding Partner, RunSwitch PR (2012-Present)

Founding Partner, BK Public Affairs (2010-2012)

Senior Director, Peritus Public Relations (2007-2010)

Account Executive, Hill & Knowlton, Inc. (2004-2007)

Account Coordinator, Geiger & Associates Public Relations (2000-2004)

Media & Scheduling Inquiries: contact Austin at austin@runswitchpr.com.

“Scott Jennings is charming, he’s fun, he’s dressed prosperous-dad-casual in…polo shirt and khakis. He’s also lethal.” – New York Magazine

Scott Jennings is RunSwitch co-founder and partner, providing senior level communications, public affairs, political and crisis communications counsel for national and international clients. When it comes to blending grassroots campaigns, communications tactics, and political strategy, Scott is one of the most experienced and successful operatives in the country. His expertise on political strategy, polling and public policy often lands him on Fox News, MSNBC, and other national media outlets who value his experienced insights. In June 2017, Scott signed a contract with CNN to become a Political Commentator. Scott was named a Resident Fellow to the Harvard Institute of Politics in Spring 2018, where he will teach eight seminars in the Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge.

Scott’s career has taken him across the country as part of four presidential campaigns and numerous U.S. Senate, congressional, state, and local races. He served in key roles in both of President Bush’s campaigns in 2000 and 2004, before becoming Special Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Political Director in 2005. At the White House, Scott served as a liaison to members of Congress, state and local officials, and key business, political and community leaders nationwide, and his office advised the president on numerous issues.

Scott has served in senior positions on several highly targeted races, helping U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (’02, ’08, ’14), Congressman Brett Guthrie (’08-present), and numerous local Kentucky candidates.

In 2014, Scott served as Senior Advisor to Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, a Super PAC that spent millions helping reelect Senator McConnell. He also served in a similar role for the Kentucky Opportunity Coalition, a 501(c)4 non-profit dedicated to educating Kentuckians about critical issues. That group has spent millions of dollars on issue advertising in Kentucky since 2013.

After leaving the White House in 2007, Scott joined a Louisville PR firm as Director of Strategic Development, growing the business by 300% during his tenure. Before politics, Scott was an award-winning broadcast journalist for WHAS Radio from 1996-2000.

Scott was born on October 26, 1977, in Princeton, Kentucky. He grew up in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Louisville. Scott is married to the former Autumn Stiff of Whitesville, Kentucky, and they have three sons, Everett, Winston, and Thatcher, and one basset hound, Rufus, who was rescued by the family in January of 2010.

Scott writes a regular column for the Louisville Courier-Journal which appears every third Wednesday. You can regularly find him quoted by CNN, The New York Times, the Associated Press, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, National Journal, National Public Radio, U.S. News & World Report, and other news outlets.

Education

Scott is a graduate of the University of Louisville, and the U of L McConnell Center for Political Leadership

Civic Involvement

Board Member, Louisville Forum
Cub Scout Pack 308 Den Leader
Bingham Fellows Class of 2015
Leadership Kentucky Class of 2014
Board Member, Alice Lloyd College
Volunteer, McConnell Center for Political Leadership
Volunteer, Aubrey’s Song Foundation
Volunteer, Prospect City Parks
Business First of Louisville “Top 40 Under 40”

Experience

Founding Partner, RunSwitch Public Relations (2012-present)
Resident Fellow, Harvard Institute of Politics (2018-present)
Political Commentator, CNN (2017-present)
Senior Advisor, Jeb Bush for President (2015-2016)
Columnist, Louisville Courier-Journal, (2013-present)
Kentuckians for Strong Leadership Super PAC, Senior Advisor and Spokesman (2013-2014)
Kentucky Opportunity Coalition 501(c)4, Senior Advisor and Spokesman (2013-2014)
Senior Advisor and Ohio State Director, Mitt Romney for President (2012)
General Consultant, Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer re-election (2012)
Media Consultant to Kentucky state Senate campaigns of Joe Bowen and Mike Wilson (2010)
Senior Communications Advisor, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s Re-Election (2008)
Senior Advisor and General Campaign Consultant, Congressman Brett Guthrie, (2008-present)
Director of Strategic Development, Peritus Public Relations (2007-2012)
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Political Director (2005-2007)
Executive Director, Bush-Cheney for President New Mexico (2004)
Political Director, Ernie Fletcher for Governor of Kentucky (2003)
Political and Communications Director, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s re-election (2002)
Communications Director, Republican Party of Kentucky (2001)
Press Secretary, Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus (2001)
Staff Member, Presidential Inaugural Committee (2001)
Political and Communications Director, Bush-Cheney for President Kentucky (2000)
Broadcast Journalist, WHAS Radio (1996-2000)

Gary Gerdemann is a founding partner of RunSwitch and has more than 30 years experience leading communications and communications teams in large organizations and startups. Mr. Gerdemann is an award-winning strategist, spokesman, entrepreneur, writer and public speaker. A former newspaper reporter, Gerdemann is a media and crisis expert having conducted thousands of interviews with print, broadcast and online reporters. Mr. Gerdemann’s work has supported the launch and growth of several major national brands including Boston Market, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Lipton ready to drink teas, Gamefly and eToys. Gerdemann’s experience includes investor and financial relations including debt and equity offerings, annual reports and quarterly releases; employee and internal communications; food contamination issues and recalls; environmental issues; activist and stakeholder engagement; and corporate social responsibility. Mr. Gerdemann is active on several professional and community boards and is a community volunteer involved in several youth organizations.

Prior to RunSwitch, Mr. Gerdemann was Senior Vice President of Peritus leading the firm’s public relations teams in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio and Alabama. Under his leadership, the agency grew from a single office in Kentucky to six offices in five states while revenue quadrupled. His teams won more than four dozen industry awards and attracted a range of national and international clients.

Prior to Peritus, Mr. Gerdemann was Senior Director of Corporate Communications for Gap, Inc., the largest specialty retail apparel company. Based in San Francisco, Gerdemann led a seven person business and financial communications team responsible for all external corporate communications including the company’s first ever corporate social responsibility report. Before Gap, Mr. Gerdemann was Vice President of Corporate Communications for Los Angeles-based Homestore.com, Inc. and prior to that he led business and investor communications for eToys.com, Inc.

Before moving to California, Mr. Gerdemann was Director of Strategic Communication Development for Atlanta-based Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest energy companies. Mr. Gerdemann led development of a company-wide communication strategy that included financial, investor, media and internal communications as well as governmental relations. Prior to Atlanta, Mr. Gerdemann joined Denver-based Boston Chicken, Inc., and (later renamed Boston Market) to create and develop the company’s internal and external communications functions. He was later tapped to join the 24-member startup team that created the Einstein Bros. Bagel brand. While there, Mr. Gerdemann led all aspects of corporate communications for Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp., a $350 million subsidiary of Boston Chicken. He designed and executed a communications strategy to support the company’s Initial Public Offering, subsequent add-on offering and senior subordinated debenture raising more than $291 million to fund growth. He hired and directed regional PR agencies to support the opening of more than 200 retail stores in more than a dozen markets.

Before Boston Market and Einstein Bros, Mr. Gerdemann was Director of Worldwide Public Affairs for KFC Corp. in Louisville and led all internal and external communications for 9,000 KFC restaurants worldwide. Before KFC, Mr. Gerdemann was Manager of Public Relations for Pepsi-Cola in New York where he led consumer public relations efforts for Mountain Dew, Mug Root Beer and the Pepsi/Lipton joint venture. He also supported many consumer initiatives including the launch of Crystal Pepsi, SuperBowl XXV and the NCAA Collegiate Basketball Championship. He was a primary media spokesman handling more than 1,200 media calls per year.

Education

Mr. Gerdemann is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, a former licensed Emergency Medical Technician by the state of New York and the owner of a federally-registered trademark (Registration #3133611).

Civic Involvement

Mr. Gerdemann serves on the Board of Directors of the American Advertising Federation, Louisville and serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Society of America, Bluegrass Chapter.

Experience

Founding Partner, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Vice President, Peritus Public Relations
Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Gap, Inc.
Director of Strategic Communication Development, Southern Company

Les Fugate is an Executive Vice President at RunSwitch. An accomplished former political aide, non-profit executive, and communications and public relations practitioner, he has conducted thousands of interviews for media outlets as diverse as Kentucky weekly newspapers to all of the major national broadcast media and many international outlets. He also directed several successful legislative campaigns and public affairs initiatives that have had major impacts on the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Fugate served seven years in Frankfort as the chief political aide to former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson. He directed Grayson’s communications office, legislative affairs, and local elected official outreach. Grayson is widely considered to be Kentucky’s most effective Secretary of State in the Commonwealth’s history. Fugate led Grayson’s effort to pass several legislative packages and directed the communications effort that was regarded as one of the best of its kind in the nation.

Fugate has also served as Executive Vice President of Congressman Hal Roger’s Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY and as the Director of Alumni and Annual Giving for Kentucky’s prestigious Governor’s Scholars Program. He recently owned his on strategic affairs firm where he led public relations and government relations campaigns, including the management of a statewide association.

An accomplished communicator, Fugate has presented media training to the Kentucky County Clerk’s Association, The Election Center, and the International Association of Clerks and Recorders. He has also presented social media training to the National Association of Secretaries of State and has served as their communications director for their summer conference.

In 2007, Fugate was recognized with the Jennifer Schaff Memorial Award. This honor is presented to the outstanding government communicator in Kentucky by the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He has been recognized as Business First’s 40 under 40 and Velocity Magazine’s 14 Next Generation of Leaders for Louisville. He has been recognized with numerous awards from the Kentucky Association of Government Communicators, among others. In 2011, he was honored by Centre College with the 2011 Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. “He is a graduate of Leadership Kentucky, Leadership East Kentucky, Focus Louisville, Ignite Louisville, and Leadership Louisville Center’s Bingham Fellows Program and is currently participating in the 2017 Leadership Louisville Class.

As a one of Kentucky’s top political strategists, Les is regularly quoted in political stories across the commonwealth and can be seen often as a political analyst for Spectrum cable’s Pure Politics program, Kentucky’s leading nightly political newscast.

Education

Fugate is a Cum Laude graduate of Centre College and earned his master’s degree from Vanderbilt University where he concentrated on government relations, communications, and fundraising.

Civic Involvement

Les serves in a variety of volunteer roles most notably serving as a member of the board of directors for Leadership Kentucky, the YMCA of Kentucky, as an at-large member of the Jenny Wiley Theatre Board of Directors, and as a member of the KY Oral Health Coalition.

Experience

Owner and Principal, Fugate Strategic Affairs (2012)
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Office,
The Center for Rural Development (2011)
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
Office of the Secretary of State (2007-2011)
Director of Communications and Executive Advisor,
Office of the Secretary of State (2004-2007)
Director of Alumni and Annual Giving,
Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (2002-2003)

Ben is a Senior Vice President for RunSwitch and has a decade of experience in healthcare, public affairs, public relations, and issue advocacy campaigns. He has created numerous health-related trade associations and is experienced in building communities around issues impacting businesses and organizations. Ben has also built two monthly newspapers focused on healthcare issues in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Ben is an expert at raising awareness around issues through community and relationship building. He has strong contacts in the biotechnology and healthcare industries as well as in state government. He is experienced in breaking down complex issues and developing grassroots efforts to influence policy makers.

Before joining RunSwitch, Ben created and grew IGE Media. He served as the founder for the Kentucky BioAlliance, a trade association focused on supporting the biotech industry in Kentucky. He also founded the Association for Corporate Growth – Kentucky and the Louisville Angel Investor Network. Ben is the Publisher for Medical News and Medical News for You. Prior to IGE Media, Ben helped build the Health Enterprises Network and created new programs to connect healthcare executives and build a community around critical industry issues.

Ben is experienced in public affairs, issue advocacy, media and communications, marketing, advertising, and relationship building.

Education

Ben is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Kentucky.

Civic Involvement

Ben serves on the Executive Committee of the Venture Club of Louisville and the Louisville Healthcare Fellows. He is also serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Corporate Growth and Council for State BIO Affiliates. In addition, he recently chaired the Culture Committee for the State of Entrepreneurship Report.

Experience

Senior Vice President, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Founder, IGI Media
Founder, Kentucky BioAlliance
Founder, Association for Corporate Growth

Kaylee Carnahan is a veteran of several political and public relations campaigns. A former staffer for Congressman Brett Guthrie, Kaylee has also worked on campaigns in Texas, Ohio and Iowa, most recently for Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Combining her experiences and education, Kaylee offers clients expertise in project management, grassroots programming, media relations, writing, and media planning and buying.

As a student leader at Western Kentucky University, Kaylee began building a network throughout the 2nd district of Kentucky. In 2009, Kaylee joined Congressman Guthrie’s inaugural team, and she continued building her grassroots network through local party apparatuses and as Chairman of the Southern Kentucky Young Republicans.

In 2012, Kaylee went to work on campaigns full time. Kaylee first worked on a statewide campaign in Texas, Roland Sledge for Railroad Commissioner. As the Southeast Texas Field Director she was in charge of running a grassroots program in a region which included Houston. In 2012, Kaylee joined the Romney for President Campaign in Ohio as Special Assistant to the State Director. In the most targeted state in America, Kaylee helped manage more than 150 staffers statewide. She assisted with coalition building, media relations, event planning, and carrying out the most robust grassroots program ever seen in a Republican campaign to date.

Following the November election, Kaylee joined RunSwitch PR as Chief of Staff handling media relations, media buys, coalition building, and office management before joining Governor Terry Branstad’s campaign in Iowa. The campaign team was in charge of building the largest and most innovative grassroots team ever seen in Iowa, finding supporters at the precinct level across the state. Kaylee’s region included Des Moines and all of Polk County, the capitol and largest county in Iowa. The Governor’s field team was an integral part of turning out Republicans to the off-year caucuses in January 2014 and building a grassroots team to support the entire 2014 Republican ticket in Iowa.

Following a successful Iowa caucus season, Kaylee returned to RunSwitch PR as Account Director and Chief of Staff. She manages several client projects and specializes in grassroots programming, coalition building, and media planning and buying.

Originally from Illinois, Kaylee moved to Kentucky in 2005 to attend Western Kentucky University. Kaylee and her dog Governor have traveled the country but now call Kentucky home.

Education

BA in Political Science – Campaign Management
BA in Communication Studies, Western Kentucky University

Experience

Vice President, RunSwitch PR (2017-present)
Senior Account Director, RunSwitch PR (2016-2017)
Account Director/Chief of Staff, RunSwitch PR (2014-2016)
3rd Congressional District Field Director,
The Branstad Committee (2013-2014)
Chief of Staff, RunSwitchPR (2013)
Special Assistant to Romney for President
State Director, Ohio (2012)
Southeast Texas Field Director,
Roland Sledge for Railroad Commissioner (2012)
Staff Assistant/Constituent Services Representative,
Congressman Brett Guthrie (2009-2012)
Intern, Congressman Ray LaHood (2007)

Chris Nation is a Vice President at RunSwitch PR with more than ten years of experience implementing advertising, brand development, public relations and digital campaigns for clients. He specializes in digital strategy and utilizing online platforms and emerging technologies.

Recognized for his work in the digital space, he was invited to join the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), Interactive Media Council, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Since 2012, he has judged some of the most impressive digital work both nationally and internationally as a judge for The Webby Awards, Horizon Interactive Awards, The Communicator Awards, W3 Awards, and Davey Awards.

He has managed award winning digital projects for national clients such as Tampico Beverages, General Motors, Conagra Foods, Rafferty’s and The Melting Pot. Additionally, Chris has a long history working with the government and nonprofit sector through such clients as: Louisville Metro Government, Volunteers of America Mid-States, Junior Achievement, United Way, and Western Kentucky University.

Prior to RunSwitch, Chris served as the Director of Client Services at Quantum Communications, Inc. and Account Director at Hitcents, an interactive agency with offices in Kentucky, California and Shanghai, China. Prior to this position, he held academic posts at Western Kentucky University and Lindsey Wilson College as an instructor teaching Communication and Public Speaking courses.

He had the honor of serving as the 2016-2017 President of the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL) and previously served as an Ambassador to U.S. Representative John Yarmuth for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Chris is a graduate of the Leadership Louisville Center’s Ignite Louisville Class of 2016, Focus Louisville Class of 2013 and Leadership Bowling Green Class of 2012. He was awarded the “Hot 10” Award in 2015 by the American Advertising Federation of Louisville, recognized in 2017 by Insider Louisville as one of the “Top 100 Marketing & Advertising Influencers in Louisville,” and is a 2017 recipient of Louisville Business First’s Forty Under 40.

Education

Chris holds a Master of Arts in Corporate & Organizational Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Western Kentucky University.

Civic Involvement

Current:

• Board of Directors, Volunteers of America Mid-States
• Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana
• Community Impact Cabinet, Metro United Way
• Board of Directors, American Advertising Federation of Louisville
• Board of Directors, Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL)

Previous:

• Ambassador to U.S. Representative John Yarmuth, Alzheimer’s Association
• Board of Directors, Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI)
• Board of Directors, Leadership Louisville Center
• Board of Directors, Louisville Downtown Development Corporation (LDDC)
• Board of Directors, Community Winterhelp, Inc.

Experience

Vice President, RunSwitch PR (2018 – present)
Director of Client Services, Quantum Communications (2013 – 2017)
Account Director, Hitcents (2011 – 2013)
Account Manager, Hitcents (2010 – 2011)
Adjunct Instructor, Lindsey Wilson College (2010)
Instructor, Western Kentucky University (2009 – 2011)
Account Executive, Imagewest (2009 – 2010)
Account, Media & PR Intern, Doe-Anderson (2009)

Katherine Kington North is thrilled to join RunSwitch PR as a Senior Account Executive after a decade-long career as a television news journalist, culminating most recently as an anchor and reporter in the top-rated morning news broadcast at WAVE 3 News in Louisville. From crafting the message for media, coaching and consulting the client for on-air appearances, managing a breaking news crisis or writing, Katherine brings a unique perspective to our client directly from the newsroom.

She contributed reporting to WAVE’s Emmy-award winning coverage of the massive GE plant fire, happening concurrent to the severe flooding of April 2015. Her strengths include social media content and branding; media relations; writing for television and web; and the technical aspects of media, including filming, editing, and production.

Climbing the ranks of television news, Katherine began as an Intern at Fox Sports South, making company history on the flip side of the camera as the first intern to appear on the nationally syndicated program SEC Sports. She graduated to producer, reporter and eventually evening anchor at WTVM and WXTX in Columbus, Georgia, covering several stories of national interest. As a multi-media journalist, Katherine filmed, edited and wrote her own stories for multiple platforms and social media.

Returning to her hometown of Louisville in 2012 as the Sunrise Reporter, Katherine was delighted to be promoted to anchor at WAVE3 within her first month. In her dual capacities, she was able to continue reporting on both human interest and more serious news pieces, while fostering community relationships.

Education

Katherine graduated from Auburn University, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in Political Science.

Experience

Senior Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (2016-present)
Anchor/Reporter, WAVE 3-TV (2012-2016)
Weekend Anchor/ Reporter, WTVM and WXTX (2009-2012)
Intern, FOX Sports South (2009)

Hayley Marchionda Pugel joins the RunSwitch PR team as a Senior Account Executive with more than five years of experience in branding, community and public relations and event management. Hayley was recently an Account Executive for NDP Agency where she worked on the Kindred Healthcare account, assisting the account manager in media placement and reporting and tracking initiatives to drive company ROI. She also served as a copywriter for social media campaigns and assisted in the execution of the brand’s recent advertising campaign launch.

Before working for Kindred Healthcare, Hayley served as the Communications Manager for McDonald’s of Central and Southeastern Kentucky with Moroch Partners where she managed all internal and external communications for 70 owner-operated restaurants in the Bluegrass. She wrote, researched and pitched stories to the media, managed the brand’s social presence and executed community events as well as served as a spokeswoman for the brand. Hayley was an integral part of the national All-Day Breakfast launch and created a community campaign to generate awareness and create buzz, for which she won a Silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation.

Prior to her time at Moroch, Hayley worked as a Marketing and Community Relations Manager with Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt in Central Kentucky. In this role, Hayley planned and oversaw events for the local franchise, including catering and staffing. She also designed and distributed marketing materials for individual stores and trained staff on local promotions. Hayley created successful guerrilla marketing campaigns in the community to create traffic back to the stores and ultimately grow the business.

Education

Hayley graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY where she majored in Integrated Strategic Communications with an emphasis on Graphic Design.

Civic Involvement

Hayley serves as a Community Group Leader through Sojourn Community Church and regularly volunteers on behalf of the church in the community.

Experience

Senior Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Account Executive, NDP Agency (2016-2017)
Communications Manager, Moroch Partners (2014-2016)
Marketing and Community Relations Manager, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt (2013-2014)

Zachary Taylor joins the RunSwitch team as Senior Account Executive. Zachary has experience with public affairs, public policy, and direct advocacy. Most recently Zachary managed government affairs for the Organization for International Investment (OFII), a DC-based trade association representing the interests of global companies who invest and operate in the United States. During his time with OFII, Zachary advocated for policy that enhances U.S. competitiveness for foreign direct investment before Congress, the Administration, and regulatory agencies. He managed messaging and advocacy efforts for lobbyists from more than 180 foreign businesses on key issues including tax reform, trade policy, and investment attraction—including OFII’s presence at the 2016 presidential nominating conventions in Cleveland, Ohio and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Prior to working with OFII, Zachary served on the public affairs team for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), supporting communications, grassroots, and state affairs initiatives, and managing the trade association’s Political Action Committee. His communications portfolio included the press operations of the RILA-affiliated Retail Litigation Center and transportation and trade policy. He also worked as part of the team responsible for an ongoing 50-state campaign supporting retail parity.

Zachary is a 2012 graduate of Boston University’s College of Communications and the College of Arts and Sciences, where he earned a B.S. in Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations, and a B.A. in Political Science. During his time at Boston University Zachary interned with the public affairs group at O’Neill and Associates and with a Cambridge-based start-up specializing in connecting real estate agents with potential buyers.

Education

Zachary graduated from Boston University where he received his B.S. in Communications and his B.A. in Political Science.

Experience

Senior Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Manager, Government Affairs, Organization for International Investment (2016-2017)
Associate, Government Affairs, Organization for International Investment (2014-2016)
Coordinator, Public Affairs, Retail Industry Leaders Association (2013-2014)
Intern, O’Neill & Associates

Austin Birge is an Account Coordinator for RunSwitch PR. His past experiences include time in offices in both chambers of the United States Congress, as well as campaign work on state and federal elections.

Austin is a graduate of Lipscomb University where he graduated with a B.A. in Law, Justice and Society with a Law and Ethics emphasis. Along with his degree he graduated as a SALT Scholar which required 30 hours of community service based classes. During college Austin got his start in government volunteering in the Tennessee State House of Representatives and campaigns in Kentucky.

Prior to joining RunSwitch Austin spent time in Washington, D.C. as intern in Congressman Brett Guthrie’s office, later moving to Staff Assistant role in the office of Senator Rand Paul. He later returned to Kentucky working for the Republican Party of Kentucky as a Field Director for the Bowling Green Victory office. His efforts included helping re-elect Senator Paul to his second term.

Education
Austin attended Lipscomb University and received his Bachelor’s degree is Law, Justice and Society.

Experience
Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (2018-present)
Account Coordinator, RunSwitch PR (2017-2018)
Victory Office Field Director, Republican Party of Kentucky (2016)
Staff Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Rand Paul (2015-2016)
Intern, Office of Congressman Brett Guthrie (2015)

Kalli Plump is a public relations professional with diverse experiences in media relations, social media, digital marketing and branding.

Kalli worked as Marketing Coordinator for Yumzar.com, an online e-commerce website, where she developed and oversaw a comprehensive marketing and communications plan for the young brand. During her time with Yumzar, Kalli worked to increase the community’s awareness of the brand through the development of a company blog and social media presence and participation at local events. After, she began an internship with Porter Novelli working on local and national media relations campaigns for clients in healthcare and government. Clients she worked with included Children’s Hospital of Orange County, San Diego International Airport and Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. After completing her internship, Kalli relocated to Louisville, Kentucky and joined Pro Communications PR as an Account Manager. At Pro Communications PR, Kalli oversaw multiple different accounts in the food and beverage, small business and engineering industries. She managed several strategic digital marketing, media relations and social media programs for her clients.

Kalli attended Biola University, where she was on staff with the student newspaper. She also served as a director on the executive board for her university’s chapter of PRSSA.

Education
Kalli graduated from Biola University in La Mirada, CA, where she majored in public relations

Experience
Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Account Manager, Pro Communications PR (2016)
Intern, Porter Novelli (2015)
Marketing Coordinator, Yumzar (2014-2015)

Before joining RunSwitch PR as a consultant, Terri Studer served as SW Ohio Regional Director for the 2012 Romney for President campaign, where she helped oversee campaign events, coordinated coalition outreach programs, and built volunteer networks, working with state and county political groups and  campaign teams to organize grassroots voter contact efforts throughout region.

Previous to the 2012 Presidential campaign, Terri was a member of campaign teams for the Ohio Republican Party and for Governor John Kasich.

Terri currently serves as Campaign Coordinator on the Executive Board of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women, as well as sitting on the Agriculture Committee for the National Federation of Republican Women.

A graduate of Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s AgriPOWER program, Terri serves on OFBF’s leadership team, specifically in areas of outreach and education. In Spring 2015, Terri graduated from the JoAnn Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.

Tia Chancellor is an Account Executive for RunSwitch PR. She has experience in account management, research and development, event planning and media buying.

Prior to joining the RunSwitch team, Tia served as an intern for Coburn Communication Inc. in New York City. There she worked as a PR and Events intern. Tia was responsible for researching venues, vendors, and top industry trends in the event planning and public relations industry. She also contributed to the organization of press kits, media lists, and assisted with the update of the company website. While earning her BA at the University of Kentucky, Tia was the Vice President of Event Planning for her sorority and served on the executive board for two years. She was responsible for all social, philanthropic and alumni events. This included contract negotiating, financing, transportation logistics and vendor research.

Tia also has experience in the advertising industry. She was a media associate and assisted in the media buying and planning for OTT Communications, specifically outdoor media campaigns. Tia’s responsibilities included the daily coordination and communication with outdoor vendors to ensure accurate campaign execution, organizing internal documents for national clients and inputting, reviewing, and reconciling all invoices vs. orders to ensure compliance. Tia also coordinated all aspects of travel within the company.

Education
Tia received her Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Strategic Communication and a minor in Psychology from the University of Kentucky.

Experience
Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Media Associate, OTT Communications (2016-2017)
PR & Events Intern, Coburn Communication Inc. (2015)
Vice President of Event Planning for Pi Beta Phi, University of Kentucky (2014-2016)

Jordan Shellhaas is an Account Coordinator for RunSwitch PR. She joined the team as an intern after graduating from the University of Kentucky in May 2017. Jordan has a background in public relations, social media, and strategic communication.

Before RunSwitch she was an intern for University of Kentucky Public Relations & Marketing in Lexington, Kentucky. During her time there she created marketing and public relations strategies, executed marketing plans, analyzed the success of marketing and public relations efforts, and represented the University of Kentucky as an Ambassador.

During her time at the University of Kentucky, Jordan was part of the Dance Team and a member of the Chi Omega Fraternity. She helped with creative planning, social media activation and served as a leader for both the UK and USA dance teams. As a member of Chi Omega, she gained recruitment experience and served as performance chair for two terms.

Education
Jordan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in Integrated Strategic Communication, with a focus in PR, and a minor in Communications.

Civic Involvement
Volunteer at Southeast Christian Church
Make-A-Wish Foundation

Experience
Intern, RunSwitch PR (2017)
Intern, UK PR & Marketing (2016)

Olivia Sievert is an Account Executive for RunSwitch PR. She joined the team as an intern after graduating summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University in May 2017. Olivia has a background in event planning, social media, and strategic communication.

Olivia formerly worked as a marketing intern for Med Center Health in Scottsville, Kentucky. Her primary responsibilities included fundraising, grant writing, and promotional activities for a renovation project on the facility.

Before her work for Med Center Health, Olivia interned for UofL Physicians (ULP), a network of more than 700 specialists in the Louisville area. During her time with ULP, she was able to work closely with both the marketing and public relations departments to help create and manage website content, promote the organization at various community events, and plan a large internal branding event.

In 2014, Olivia was elected Vice President of Campus Relations of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Theta Iota Chapter where she served as a liaison between her chapter and the greater Panhellenic community. She was later elected as Vice President of Member Development where she planned monthly educational events for the 120 members of her organization.

Education
Olivia received her Bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University in Political Science with a minor in Marketing.

Civic Involvement
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Experience

Account Executive, RunSwitch PR (Present)
Account Coordinator, RunSwitch PR (2017 – 2018)
Intern, RunSwitch PR (2017)
Intern, Med Center Health (2016-2017)
Marketing Intern, UofL Physicians (Spring 2016)