Vermont Business Magazine KSE Partners, now Leonine Public Affairs, launches its new brand today. KSE Partners, based in Montpelier, has been a leading Vermont premier government relations and public relations firm for nearly 30 years. Now, KSE Partners is retiring its original identity and launching its new look, office space, and name, Leonine Public Affairs.
KSE Partners, founded by Steve Kimbell and Bob Sherman, both former officials of the Kunin Administration, began the practice as a government relations firm in 1987. Since that time, the firm has expanded dramatically and now includes several lines of business. In addition to the Vermont government relations practice, the firm provides a regional public relations and issues campaigns service, national economic and tax analysis for the wireless and telecom industry business, and a 50-state consulting legislative and regulatory tracking business.
Scott Mackey, Managing Partner
As the scope of work expanded to include these additional lines of business, the list of clients expanded to include global brands such as Toyota, AT&T, Avangrid Renewables and Google, as well as reputable Vermont clients including the Vermont Automobile Dealers and Rutland Regional Medical Center.
Scott Mackey, Managing Partner and President of the wireless economic and tax analysis business, joined the firm in 2000 and has seen the business grow and thrive over the years.
“It has been very rewarding to grow this firm from a small Vermont lobbying firm to a full service, multi-state government relations and public relations practice with clients all across the US. Our new brand reflects this growth and our range of businesses,” said Mackey. The goal of the new brand is to honor the impressive history of the firm while also recognizing its growth and current breadth of services.
The firm has over 30 employees and offices in Washington DC, Minnesota and Montpelier.
Alex MacLean, Partner and President of Public Relations
Alex MacLean, Partner and President of Public Relations, is the newest Partner, having joined the firm in 2014. She is a former Shumlin Administration official.
“It is incredibly exciting and motivating to be a part of such a creative, energized team,” said MacLean. “The public relations division of the firm has seen tremendous growth and we look forward to continuing to expand our issue campaign and public relations work to the greater New England region. Our new brand better reflects our scope of work and will help this growth.”
In addition to the new name and look, the firm has moved its headquarters to a new, larger space at One Blanchard Court in Montpelier. The new office will better accommodate the growing staff and provides a more cohesive working environment for the different lines of business.
Todd Bailey was hired six years ago, when founding partner Steve Kimbell retired and is now the President of Government Relations.
Todd Bailey, President of Government Relations
“From the beginning we have worked on some of the biggest issues in Vermont,” said Bailey. “We’ve been leaders in the government relations arena for years whether it was the formation of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the first in the nation civil unions and marriage equality laws or Vermont’s energy transformation we’ve been there for our clients.”
Source: Leonine Public Affairs. 12.5.2016. www.leoninepublicaffairs.com.