Kurt Knaus

Senior Vice President, Harrisburg

Kurt Knaus is an expert at building coalitions that 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 impact.  

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 nonprofits.  

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 served from 2003 to 2006 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 Gov. 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.