Team — Kane Communications Group

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President & CEO
Kimberly is an award-winning journalist and public relations practitioner. Her firm works with executives to align communications with business strategy, defining brands, building reputations and inspiring business results.
During her 15 years in television news, Kimberly won multiple awards, including an Emmy nomination. She was instrumental in the creation of a highly recognized health segment for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. In 2006, Kimberly entered the business community, working in business development, communications and government affairs before starting her own company.
Today, Kimberly is not only involved with her firm and their clients, but is active on numerous boards, advisory boards and committees; regularly emcees events; and is a public speaker on topics that include crisis management, strategic communications and leadership. She has a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Urban Politics from the University of Southern California and a Master’s Degree in Strategic PR and Political Management from George Washington University.

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Vice President, Creative Services
As Vice President of Creative Services, Davidson knows how to blend visual, auditory, and emotional information to best tell a client’s story. Sometimes, that means tugging at heartstrings. Other times, it requires the video equivalent of a swift kick in the pants to get audiences involved. Or it may mean something else altogether. At its best, video will create an emotional connection between you and your audience in ways nothing else can. As video technologies become more consumer-focused, it’s tempting to think video production is easy – and in some ways that’s true. Anyone can point a phone and hit ‘record,’ but it takes an artist to create video content that engages audiences and propels business forward.
With 25-plus years covering every aspect of video production, Davidson can find the perfect way to make your video speak directly to your audience. Originally from “Out East” (specifically the Great State of Maine), Davidson has called Milwaukee home for the past 20 years.

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Vice President of Purpose and Social Impact
Kathleen’s career spans more than 20 years of international work in business, nonprofits, higher education and government. She specializes in building partnerships that address complex social, economic and environmental challenges—advancing solutions that drive both impact and shared value.
Kathleen has collaborated with multinational companies, UN agencies and grassroots organizations to design holistic initiatives supporting gender equality, workforce inclusion, public health and sustainable development. Her work has improved government programs, strengthened business accountability and deepened community engagement.
A Swiss and U.S. national, Kathleen speaks French, German and Russian and has worked across Europe, Africa, Asia and Central Asia. She holds a master’s degree in European Political Affairs and is passionate about unlocking opportunity in the Future of Work through inclusive, skill-based talent strategies.

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Vice President, Accounts - Green Bay
A seasoned public relations strategist and business development leader, Cole brings over 30 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex communications challenges and build stakeholder trust. His expertise spans public affairs, crisis management, brand strategy, and integrated campaigns.
At Kane, he applies a big-picture mindset to strategic planning and client engagement. His work has supported major infrastructure initiatives like the TransCanada Bison Pipeline Project and I-39/90 Expansion, where his outreach helped maintain public support.
Cole excels at forging relationships, facilitating community conversations, and mentoring colleagues. He brings proven skill in budgeting, advertising, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring Kane’s solutions are impactful and lasting.

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VP of Client Services
Matt is a strategic communications leader and trusted advisor with a proven record of building, promoting, and protecting world-class brands, relationships, and reputations. He transforms complex business challenges into compelling narratives and develops insight-driven communications strategies and stakeholder engagement programs that deliver measurable results and meaningful bottom-line impact.
With more than 30 years of high-level counsel and execution across regional, national, and global organizations, Matt brings a rare combination of strategic rigor and creative vision. He is known for making the complex simple, leading collaborative teams with clarity of purpose, and consistently delivering communications that accelerate business growth, strengthen organizational culture, and improve profitability.
Over the course of his career, Matt has partnered with more than 30 clients across 15 distinct industries, and he brings genuine intellectual curiosity to every engagement. His ability to quickly immerse himself in new industries and client landscapes allows him to surface the insights, opportunities, and differentiators that others miss — turning them into strategies that move people and drive real impact.

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Controller
Eric brings a unique blend of financial expertise, operational insight and community commitment to Kane Communications Group.
His career path has included roles in manufacturing, distribution, sales, and health services—each shaping his deep understanding of margins, valuation, and service delivery. Eric’s varied experience makes him a valuable partner for both internal teams and external clients, offering practical financial insight grounded in real-world operations.
Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant & Stratton College and an associate degree in business management from MATC, earning Dean’s List honors at both institutions. He is certified in Microsoft Office Suite and brings a strong foundation in cost analysis, financial documentation and accounting systems.

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Account Supervisor
Matt is a data-driven marketer with a strong foundation in strategic planning, creative execution, and leadership. With deep experience across marketing, advertising, and communications, he’s known for delivering measurable results and building long-term partnerships. His work spans complex initiatives, from launching integrated campaigns to overseeing operational transformations—including leading a marketing agency merger and migrating enterprise systems.
As a Marketing Manager and seasoned client lead, Matt develops customer-focused strategies that help brands grow and scale. He excels at turning insights into action, always aligning marketing efforts with business goals.
Matt holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and a BA from St. Norbert College.

Creative Design Director
Bill Zalenski believes great brand design is more than aesthetics—it’s about creating a meaningful connection between a brand and its audience. With more than 25 years of experience, he helps organizations find clarity in who they are and build the systems to communicate it consistently across teams, touchpoints, and moments of change.
Shaped by a Detroit upbringing and a foundation in Swiss design principles, Bill approaches identity work with an emphasis on structure, resilience, and longevity. His background spans manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, and consumer brands. His work ranges from naming and corporate identity to annual reports, campaigns, and environmental design.
Clients describe him as someone who brings clarity to complex challenges—grounded in craft and adaptable to what comes next.
At Kane, Bill applies that same mindset to every engagement: design built to scale, hold up, and evolve with the organizations it represents.
He remains active in the community, volunteering his time, supporting local initiatives, and mentoring the next generation of designers.

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Account Director
Velia Tarnoff knows the power of communications and that the right communications strategies can build brands, protect reputations, help solve business problems, and achieve valuable, measurable results.
With nearly three decades of experience, Velia understands every facet of communications from her time as an award-winning broadcast news reporter and anchor; as a corporate communicator representing global brands, including GE Healthcare and ManpowerGroup; and as a public relations practitioner at national and regional integrated marketing communications agencies.
She has successfully guided organizations ranging from Fortune 50 to local non-profits with strategic internal communications, public relations, thought leadership communications, marketing and crisis communications.
Velia earned her journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

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Consultant
Susan Finco brings more than three decades of experience guiding organizations through high-profile, high-impact communications challenges.
As the longtime president and co-founder of Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Susan has led award-winning campaigns across sectors—from economic development and public health to infrastructure and Tribal initiatives. Her strategic counsel has helped clients win public support for school and community referendums, secure multimillion-dollar grants and shift entrenched narratives around complex issues.
Beyond her client work, Susan is an active civic leader. She serves on the boards of the Green Bay Packers, UW-Green Bay and Bellin-Gundersen Health System and is a proud advocate for community advancement throughout Northeast Wisconsin.

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Account Manager
Sydney Pini believes in the power of positive storytelling—and that thoughtful, well-crafted communications can build connections, foster understanding and strengthen communities.
Sydney has supported clients such as Oneida Behavioral Health and Oneida Comprehensive Health by designing impactful communication tools including brochures, infographics, flip books and signage. Her work has helped these organizations clearly communicate vital information and connect meaningfully with the communities they serve.
With a background in graphic design and a people-first mindset, Sydney specializes in creating visuals that draw attention and elevate her clients’ missions. She is well-versed in platforms such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva and is known for forming genuine relationships with clients, uncovering what drives them and amplifying their stories to inspire and inform.

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Senior Account Coordinator
Aidan excels in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, leveraging data-driven insights and trend analysis to develop impactful communication strategies.
He brings a comprehensive perspective to communications, shaped by hands-on experience in research, strategy and content development. His previous work as a Quantitative Researcher enables him to approach communications with both analytical precision and creative insight. In addition to his research background, Aidan has worked with technical and manufacturing companies such as The Boldt Company, American Transmission Company (ATC) and CNH Industrial, where he translated complex industry information into clear, compelling communications strategies.
Aidan graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri with a degree in Journalism – Strategic Communication.

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Operations Manager
Hailey thrives on creating meaningful impact through collaboration, authenticity and continuous growth. Whether she’s managing teams, refining operations or orchestrating events, she is driven by a deep curiosity and a passion for building genuine connections that move people and projects forward.
With experience spanning team leadership, event coordination and operational strategy, Hailey blends a sharp eye for detail with a people-centered approach. She excels at aligning teams around shared goals, creating systems that support efficiency and adaptability and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. Her work is rooted in the belief that strong relationships and well-run operations are the foundation of lasting success.
Outside of work, Hailey recharges by cheering on roller derby tournaments and headbanging at metal concerts.

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Associate Art Director
Brad specializes in branding, print and digital marketing, web design, social media, e-commerce and interior design. He always keeps his finger on the pulse of the latest trends in the design world and continually works to find new ways to develop dynamic solutions for clients’ needs.
Brad attended the UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design and Visual Communication, as well as minors in English and Art History, in 2014. He has worked as a freelance graphic designer since 2013 and held various design positions in large corporations as well as smaller agency environments.
More recently Brad worked in a smaller, skilled-trade-oriented environment as a designer and prepress operator, developing an in-depth knowledge of best practices in CMYK Print Design.

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Junior Creative Coordinator
With a deep appreciation for the impact of visual media, Edelmar passionate about shaping narratives that inform, inspire and engage, whether that’s through fast-paced reels or long-form documentary-style content.
A graduate of Carthage College with a degree in Communications, Ed built his foundation through hands-on internships with the college’s marketing communications team and later with Backyard Dream Productions, a virtual video and live-streaming studio. Much of his creative skillset is self-taught, developed through personal projects, freelance work, and his own YouTube channel.
In addition to video, Ed brings experience in graphic design, photography and web platforms like Wix and ShulCloud—making him a versatile asset to any creative project.
Outside of work, you’ll likely find him experimenting with new visuals, refining his edits or discovering inspiration behind the lens.

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Account Coordinator
Emma Kroll is an Account Coordinator at Kane who loves connecting people and ideas. She’s a natural relationship builder and thrives on creating connections that help teams and clients do their best work. Whether she’s helping keep projects on track or supporting day-to-day client needs, Emma brings a positive, collaborative energy to everything she does.
She sees herself as a connector at heart and is always looking for ways to build strong relationships and make an impact, big or small.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time by Lake Michigan, checking out new coffee spots around the city, walking around Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward and taking time to recharge.

Account Coordinator
Rachel Van Hefty is an Account Coordinator at Kane who brings a strong foundation in social media strategy, account support and client communications. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues and clients, building meaningful relationships, and helping brands connect with their audiences in impactful ways.
A UW–Madison graduate with a degree in Communications, Rachel brings a curious mindset, creative thinking and a passion for continuous learning to her work. She thrives in collaborative environments and is always looking for new opportunities to grow while supporting client success.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys playing tennis, golfing with friends and family and making the most of Wisconsin summers.