My work ethic comes from growing up with a coach as a father.  As a child, I was always exposed to a number of my dad's motivational sayings- one in particular stuck with me and I live by it to this day:  Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win

BIO

Kara Kennedy is a results oriented marketing and development professional with nearly two decades of experience in public relations, funds development and marketing with corporate, nonprofit and political organizations. Early in her career, she worked with various gubernatorial campaigns. In 1990, she joined Alabama Governor Guy Hunt’s campaign staff, in his second bid for office. After a successful campaign, she joined the Governor's staff at the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

In 2000, Kara joined the Birmingham Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Public Affairs. She was promoted to the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, DC, in 2001, where she worked closely with the Government Relations, Global Security, Disaster Public Affairs and Disaster Fundraising departments. After the tragedy of September 11th, she helped prepare the Red Cross for hearings and press conferences on Capitol Hill. Her work in raising money for disaster relief helped her gain more experience in working one-on-one with volunteers and boards. She directly worked with major corporations all over the country. Toyota, Maytag, Kirkland's, Wal-Mart and Exxon Corporation were a few of the corporations she worked with at the Red Cross. When tornadoes devastated Jackson, Tenn., her fundraising team raised $2 million in two weeks to help victims of disaster.

Kara left the American Red Cross in August 2003, to pursue fundraising and marketing project work with the International Republican Institute. At IRI, she headed efforts for the organization's annual gala that raised more than a half-a-million dollars for IRI programs.  As a team member with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, she worked with corporations such as General Mills, Target, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, AFLAC, Miller and Coca-Cola on the CBCF's ALC conference. The CBCF ALC Conference raised more than $6 million. She also worked on projects with Congressional Black Caucus members.   

In January 2006, she moved to Atlanta to do project work with a nonprofit that was directly connected to the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation. She successfully worked with various media outlets to promote better parks and green space for the City.

Kara moved home to Birmingham in the fall of 2006.  Her marketing and development firm, Kennedy Resource Development, became a reality shortly after her move.  After the serving as team leader (in partnership with The Gaffey Group) for European Union Ambassador John Bruton's 2007 economic development visit to the State of Alabama, Kara was asked to join the staff of the Brock School of Business as Director of External Affairs.  Within the first six months in the position, she headed the PR team that successfully branded the Samford's School of Business the Brock School of Business.  

Kara maintains her position at the Brock School of Business in addition to serving as President of her consulting firm. 

Kara received her BA, in Communications and Political Science from Auburn University.  She also was a member of Delta Gamma(DG).   She most recently was invited to join the Dean's Advisory Board of the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.   Kara  also is a member of nonprofit boards and associations in Atlanta, Birmingham and New York City including: The Atlanta Press Club, The Association of Fundraising Professionals (served as 2007 National Philanthropy Day Chair), Alabama Chapter Board of Directors and the Irish American Arts Awards Executive Board in New York City.

info@kennedyresourcedevelopment.com