KURT KNAUS
Senior Vice President
Kurt Knaus is an expert at building coalitions that will support an issue, organize around it and actively sustain the push to meet an end goal.
Much of that means helping people get their message out – through media, hearings and public events. He is skilled at guiding clients to focus their thoughts and tailor their words for maximum effectiveness.
Sometimes that involves media training – preparing clients so they are practiced and comfortable heading into a challenging interview.
Sometimes it’s dealing with crisis communications. People know they can call Kurt when things are not going well.
The folks who benefit from his talents come from every sector – from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits. Their size may be different, but their needs are often the same, and Kurt gives them all ample attention.
Kurt joined Ceisler Media in 2007 and brings two decades of experience in journalism, media relations and government communications. He opened the firm’s first Harrisburg office and spearheaded the expansion to Pittsburgh. He serves as managing director out of the downtown Harrisburg office, handling new business development and overseeing daily operations.
He served from 2003-06 as press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, where he managed a staff of 10 community relations coordinators in six regional offices across the commonwealth and a group of five writers and press aides at the agency’s headquarters. He was the primary contact for media relations, conducting on-camera interviews and answering press calls and public information requests as spokesman for Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty and Governor Edward G. Rendell.
From 1995 to 2000, Kurt worked for the House of Representatives in the Democratic Legislative Information Office. He served as Assistant Manager and Senior Editor before becoming press secretary and director of communications for House Minority Whip Mike Veon.
Kurt owns a racehorse he has never ridden and never will. The Ocala, Fla.-born Glowing Charm is the grandson of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. He likes carrots but hates anything that blows in the wind.
Kurt isn’t much of a fisherman. Fishermen catch fish. But Kurt’s a great angler. His line usually hits the water, when he can find his way to a creek.
When people tell Kurt he should have been a standup comedian, he thinks: “Now that’s funny!”