Kate Countryman

Kate Countryman, vice president, has more than 15 years of experience driving innovation and growth in the communication, media and government sectors.

Kate most recently served as director at a public relations firm, where she led communications strategy development and executed day-to-day public relations, boosting client visibility and media engagement. In this role, she also counseled clients on media relations, issues management, stakeholder relations, reputation management and crisis communications.

Her experience in state and federal government affairs is extensive, with a career spanning campaign consulting, lobbying and public affairs. Countryman served as president of a lobbying firm that provided cohesive solutions for clients at all levels of government, where she led a team delivering strategic solutions for clients navigating government at the local, state and federal levels. Her leadership strengthened client engagement, enhanced reputation management strategies and contributed to measurable revenue growth.

Her work has included engagement with policymakers and stakeholders throughout the country. She served as head of communication and public affairs for an organization that promoted equitable housing initiatives, was a communications advisor to U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, and served as the communications director for the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.

One of Kate’s proudest professional achievements is her work to expand the Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan Act that provided financial relief to American families and lifted children out of poverty. Contributing to the communications and policy work behind the expansion of the tax credit remains a career highlight.

Kate is passionate about telling stories that matter—stories that help organizations achieve their policy goals, secure funding, build and sustain partnerships, and protect and elevate their reputations.

Kate is part of the Influential Women network and has supported Hoosier Women Forward. Outside of her professional work, Kate is an advocate for mental health awareness. She founded Run for Ryan, an annual 5K fundraiser honoring her brother, which supports scholarships and raises awareness for suicide prevention. Kate serves as the organization’s race director. She also supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). A former captain of the University of Scranton women’s lacrosse team, where she received the coach’s award in 2010, Kate has also coached lacrosse in Colorado and Washington, D.C.