Successes
From record-setting wins on statewide ballot issues, to ushering in the largest single-company private investment in state’s history, to key legislative victories that keep motorists on Ohio roads safe, our team has been at the forefront of some of the most high-profile issues in recent history. The breadth and depth of our experience ensures that you’ll get time-tested strategies that work. Keep reading to learn how these clients enjoyed success and achieved their objectives after hiring Jonathan Varner and Jen Detwiler – the founders of Kestrel.
PhRMA
In 2017, the Kestrel team played key roles in the campaign to defeat State Issue 2, a proposal that sought to artificially limit the price the State of Ohio pays for prescription drugs. Working on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry (PhRMA), we were part of a bipartisan team and played a key role in the campaign strategy, communications and operations. Issue 2 was opposed by the state’s leading medical groups, military veterans’ organizations, business and labor leaders, and nearly every Ohio newspaper editorial board. The issue was soundly defeated, with 79 percent of Ohioans who cast ballots voting against Issue 2, setting an all-time Ohio record of voter opposition to a proposed initiated statute.
Intel in Ohio
Our team was instrumental in assisting with the announcement of the Intel project in Ohio on behalf of Jobs Ohio and Intel. Our work included messaging research and development related to economic impact and the necessary state taxpayer support, as well as serving as Intel’s primary media relations contact for the Ohio project.
Upper Arlington Community Center
As Upper Arlington City Council completed its planning process on a new community center, there was one big item left on the checklist: Community Approval. Fulfilling a pledge to voters, Council put the question of whether to build a new community center on the ballot, and Jonathan Varner was called upon to pass the issue. Working with a cadre of distinguished and capable community leaders, they passed the issue with nearly 80% voting in favor.
Ohio Sports Betting Legislation
When the Ohio General Assembly was moving legislation to legalize sports betting, we assisted the coalition of Ohio’s professional sports teams. As the providers of the "sports” in sports betting, the group coalesced to advocate for a law that ensures the integrity of games and matches, creates healthy market competition, ensures Ohio’s sports teams remain competitive with their counter parts across the nation, provides fair market access, and enhances the fan experience online and on location.
Lock Your Screen campaign
We assisted the State of Ohio with its messaging and communication of a public education campaign supporting the 2023 distracted driving law by coordinating messaging by external stakeholders such as AAA Ohio, the Ohio Insurance Institute, Nationwide Insurance, State Auto Insurance, and the Ohio Contractors Association, among others.
Ohio Department of Health Covid-19 campaign
Our team was instrumental in assisting the Governor’s administration and the Ohio Department of Health with the public education campaign surrounding the coronavirus pandemic throughout 2020 and 2021. Key activities included extensive public opinion research throughout the pandemic, ongoing message development, strategic communications planning, and television commercial development and production.
Israel on Campus Coalition
For nearly a decade, our team has assisted the Israel on Campus Coalition with public relations and public affairs, including national strategy, community relations, leadership/advocate training, and crisis management.
AT&T
Our team coordinated public affairs and public relations statewide for AT&T in support of the Ohio Telecom Modernization Act over a two-year period. This included high-level strategy development, embedding contracted staff within the corporate AT&T structure, training executive staff on media relations, coordinating local earned media activity, and educating consumers.
Securing Transportation Funding in Ohio
Our team managed public and legislative communications strategy for legislative passage of sizeable increase in the state gasoline tax in 2019 to improve state highway and local road and bridge funding.
Success Stories
