For more than 10 years, Kathy Fairbanks has specialized in developing, managing and implementing media relations and communications strategies for a broad range of clients whose policy concerns include education, healthcare, public safety, local government, insurance, housing, environmental and business issues.

Ms. Fairbanks has worked extensively with local, state and national journalists (print, electronic, blog writers) who cover the issue areas listed above. She also has built strong working relationships with the Capitol Press Corps in Sacramento, reporters who cover California state government and politics, and with editorial page editors and writers at California newspapers.

Ms. Fairbanks has experience managing communications plans and message development for literally dozens of legislative and regulatory advocacy campaigns as well as on statewide ballot initiative campaigns. Recent ballot initiative campaigns include the following successes: No on Proposition 90 (eminent domain/regulatory takings-November 2006); No on Prop. 82 (tax increase/universal preschool-June 2006); Yes on Prop. 1A (local government funding protection-November 2004); Yes on Prop. 55 (statewide school construction bond-March 2004); Yes on Prop. 40 (statewide parks, water and resources bond-March 2002); No on Prop. 9 (electric utility deregulation-November 1998); and No on Props. 214 and 216 (mandated health care-November 1996).

Prior to BCF, Ms. Fairbanks was Vice President, Media Relations, for the Sacramento-based California Chamber of Commerce where she was responsible for public affairs and communications strategy for the California Chamber's public policy and legislative agenda. As a representative of the state's largest business advocacy association, her responsibilities included communications strategy and message development, grassroots/coalition building, and media strategy/press relations. Ms. Fairbanks also served as the Chamber's spokesperson.

Prior to the California Chamber, Ms. Fairbanks was public affairs manager at the Sacramento office of Burson-Marsteller. There she developed and carried out public affairs and communications programs for many of the firm's clients. Prior to Burson-Marsteller, Ms. Fairbanks was at the Sacramento office of Stoorza Ziegaus Metzger & Hunt, also a political public relations and issue management firm.

Ms. Fairbanks graduated from UCLA with a double major in English and Economics.