Leadership
The leadership team at KO knows how to get it done and deliver the knock-out.
Our team has led some of the biggest campaigns for elected officials on the national, state and local levels. We’ve advised members of Congress, governors, mayors and local officials. We’ve built campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. We’ve helped confirm a Supreme Court nominee. Our creative work has won Emmies and Pollies.
Get to know our first-class team of dedicated professionals and what we can do for you.
Steve Kearney
A founding partner of KO, Steve Kearney has led communications for two governors, Cardinal William Keeler, a top DC lobbying firm and, since founding KO Public Affairs, has advised leading nonprofit and corporate clients, including more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies, on a broad range of communications matters. He has been a strategist on many of the MidAtlantic’s most challenging public policy and development projects, and has served as a consultant to European, South American and African governments seeking to improve relationships within the United States. He also helped lead debate prep for Governor Martin O’Malley’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Damian O’Doherty
Founding partner, Damian O’Doherty is a media executive who represents Fortune 100 companies, NFL athletes, prominent family offices, trade associations, university presidents, master plan developers, and U.S. Governors and Mayors - all in high stakes and crisis communications. Growing up in politics between the Washington and Baltimore beltways, Damian’s style of advocacy combines a D.C. politico savvy with gritty, Baltimore storytelling and machine politics follow-through.
Rick Abbruzzese
Rick Abbruzzese has a long successful record of advocacy in Maryland representing diverse non-profit, corporate, health care, energy, and technology client interests in the State of Maryland and Delaware.
Rick served as a top adviser and Director of Public Affairs to former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. As chief spokesperson for the Administration, he was responsible for overseeing internal and external communications, political outreach, policy development and intergovernmental affairs for the governor’s office.
CONNECT: Email / LinkedIn
Beth Levine
Beth Levine brings nearly 20 years of strategic communications, crisis management, government and political experience to KO.
Prior to joining KO, Beth led communications efforts for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Capitol Hill, Beth provided strategic communications advice on various matters such as criminal justice reform, social issues, patents, privacy, prescription drugs, agriculture, executive branch oversight, and the Judiciary.
CONNECT: Email / LinkedIn / Twitter
Josh White
Josh has over 30 years of campaign, government, and public affairs experience. He has co-founded two successful government affairs firms, and has served as State House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, a victorious gubernatorial campaign manager for then-Mayor Martin O’Malley, a top aide to Senate President Mike Miller, as state party executive, a political media consultant, a legislative caucus director and a Congressional staff member. Josh lives in Anne Arundel County.
Connect: Email / Linkedin
Laura Toraldo
Laura Toraldo is an experienced communications professional with a proven track record of success. Laura not only develops the basics of a layered and targeted communications plan and issue advocacy campaign, but also thinks creatively and beyond traditional industry tactics, resulting in a tailored path to success for the firm’s clients.
CONNECT: Email / LinkedIn
Laird Bunch
Laird Bunch runs the KO Public Affairs Delaware office. He brings almost 20 years experience in various aspects of the real estate industry. He is President of Brandywine Fine Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Wilmington.
Stephen Kuhn
Stephen Kuhn heads up KO’s efforts in California and the Western United States. He is an experienced executive with 30+ years of experience leading media, technology, finance, wine industry and nonprofit organizations.
Dillon O’Brian
Dillon O’Brian has won nominations and awards from the Grammys, the Pollies, and the Emmys. He's written for the biggest names in music, including the Temptations, Ringo Starr, and Shakira, and performed with everyone from Tracy Chapman to Ed Sheeran to Bonnie Raitt. A Baltimore native, Dillon has produced, composed and performed a wide variety of music for television, including themes for The Office, The $100,000 Pyramid, My Name Is Earl, The Bastard Executioner, and signature songs for FX's Sons of Anarchy.