Stacy Kerr

Stacy Kerr is a strategic communications expert with more than two decades of experience as a trusted advisor to CEOs, global executives, and elected officials who have relied on her judgment, innovative ideas, and strategic insights. As a partner at Penta, she helps clients including foundations, non-profits, and corporate leaders articulate their positions, manage their reputations, navigate the political, regulatory and media landscapes, and advance their business goals. She has led internal teams and was a member of the partnership responsible for managing Hamilton Place Strategies. As the senior woman at HPS, Stacy was committed to staff development and dedicated time to coaching and mentoring.

She is a board member of the Trust for the National Mall, dedicated to restoring, enriching, and preserving the National Mall. Prior to joining HPS, Stacy founded Kerr Strategies, a public affairs and strategic communications consultancy, where she advised clients in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. She has been a member of the Arthur Page Society, the world’s leading professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives. Washingtonian called Stacy a “communications ace,” while Politico noted she navigated the dozen years she spent on Capitol Hill “with grace, savvy and energy.”

Stacy previously served as Georgetown University’s chief communications officer, where she was responsible for maintaining and elevating the institution’s iconic, global reputation on the senior leadership team during a time of increasing complexity and disruption across higher education. She guided the university’s management of high-profile issues, grew the university’s owned platforms, and embedded strategic communications into the senior leadership team. During Stacy’s tenure she was involved in monumental advancements, including the University’s public understanding of and engagement with descendants of slaves who helped build the university; the establishment of the new Big East Athletic Conference; growth and development within the city; and the establishment of the McCourt School, a new school of public policy started with a $100 million gift to the university.

Stacy spent 15 years working in national politics, including serving nearly a decade as a senior aide to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. During her tenure, Stacy played a role in historic issues and legislation, including the 2008 financial crisis and the Affordable Care Act of 2010. She worked closely with Members of Congress, the Administration, and the Speaker’s family and close friends, earning their trust with her discretion and judgment.

Stacy got her start in politics working on Bill Bradley’s 2000 Democratic presidential campaign, on congressional races and as a press secretary to Congressman Martin Meehan (Mass.). She earned her master’s degree from Georgetown University and holds an undergraduate degree from Smith College. She lives with her husband and children near Washington, D.C.