Experience

Illinois Board of Higher Education
• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee
• General Counsel

  • Apr 2023 - Present


Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

• United States
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel

  • Apr 2018 - Apr 2023

  Executive team member of world-class destination museum and research library leading legal strategy, legislative initiatives, litigation management, intellectual property compliance, human resources and labor, contractual negotiations, internal/external investigations, and records retention. Corporate Secretary to Board of Trustees; Ethics Officer; FOIA/OMA Officer. Executive team member of world-class destination museum and research library leading legal strategy, legislative initiatives, litigation management, intellectual property compliance, human resources and labor, contractual negotiations, internal/external investigations, and records retention. Corporate Secretary to Board of Trustees; Ethics Officer; FOIA/OMA Officer.



Attorney

• United States
• Legal Services

• Of Counsel

  • Aug 2017 - Apr 2020

  Member of mid-sized commercial litigation and transactional law firm with a portfolio that included universities, municipalities, non-profit corporations, and estate planning. Served as corporate counsel to numerous municipalities and special districts to include elected board counsel, investigations, records requests, regulatory management, and ordinance drafting. Member of mid-sized commercial litigation and transactional law firm with a portfolio that included universities, municipalities, non-profit corporations, and estate planning. Served as corporate counsel to numerous municipalities and special districts to include elected board counsel, investigations, records requests, regulatory management, and ordinance drafting.



Illinois House Republican Caucus

• Senior Legal Counsel to Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin

  • Feb 2014 - Aug 2017

  Member of six-attorney in-house team charged with providing counsel and representation to the 47 member House Republican Caucus, policy and communication staff and district employees. Responsibilities included: • Negotiate & shepherd legislation involving pensions, civil law, election law & other issues; • Oversight of human resource issues including policy and disciplinary measures; • Assist ethics officer in counseling legislators and staff; • Draft necessary contracts and agreements; • Team leader for audit investigations. Show less



Springfield Business Journal

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Columnist

  • Apr 2013 - Aug 2017

  I develop, research & write the monthly article and/or column discussing events, organizations and people involved with the business environment of the greater Springfield region. I develop, research & write the monthly article and/or column discussing events, organizations and people involved with the business environment of the greater Springfield region.



Private Practice

• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Attorney

  • Mar 2011 - Aug 2017

  Serving Central Illinois clients with legal issues involving corporations, small business, non-profits & estate planning. Serving statewide clients in environmental matters particularly as they pertain to the petroleum industry & underground storage tanks. Developed, implemented and led government relations, strategic communications and grassroots campaigns for local, state, regional and national clients. Serving Central Illinois clients with legal issues involving corporations, small business, non-profits & estate planning. Serving statewide clients in environmental matters particularly as they pertain to the petroleum industry & underground storage tanks. Developed, implemented and led government relations, strategic communications and grassroots campaigns for local, state, regional and national clients.



Lincoln Land Community College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Adjunct Professor

  • Aug 2012 - May 2015

  Adjunct Professor teaching Lighting Design; lighting designer for two-three department productions per year; advisor to theatre faculty and theatre students for technical theatre issues. Adjunct Professor teaching Lighting Design; lighting designer for two-three department productions per year; advisor to theatre faculty and theatre students for technical theatre issues.



Illinois Office of State Fire Marshall

• United States
• Public Safety
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Contract Attorney

  • Mar 2011 - Sep 2012

  Contract attorney working on the Underground Storage Tank (UST) team to facilitate the remediation of out-of-compliant UST owners throughout Illinois. Contract attorney working on the Underground Storage Tank (UST) team to facilitate the remediation of out-of-compliant UST owners throughout Illinois.



Hennessy & Roach, P.C.

• United States
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Associate Attorney

  • Nov 2010 - Mar 2011

  Associate with corporate & small business client portfolio. Handled workers' compensation and general liability defense matters.

• Director of Communications

  • Apr 2009 - Nov 2010

  Resposible for client development, brand identification, internal & external communications efforts and partnerships.



970 WMAY

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing

• Talk Show Host

  • Feb 2004 - Apr 2009

  The Kelm & Kirk Show - daily call-in, talk show. The Kelm & Kirk Show - daily call-in, talk show.



Red Group Communications

• Australia
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal

  • Jul 2003 - Apr 2009

  Strategic communications consulting firm representing non-profits, advocacy associations and issue campaigns. Strategic communications consulting firm representing non-profits, advocacy associations and issue campaigns.


IL Dept. of Nuclear Safety
• Director of Governmental Affairs

  • Jul 1998 - Jun 2003

Illinois Governor's Office (Governor Jim Edgar)
• Policy Advisor

  • 1995 - 1999