Katherine Mclane
Senior Strategist
Public affairs, crisis management, media training, non-profit work, Texas legislature, non-profits,
Honored as PR Professional of the Year in 2013 by the Public Relations Society of America, Katherine McLane creates crisis and strategic communications strategies for local, national, and international clients.
McLane founded the Mach 1 Group in Austin to provide strategic communications, media, and public affairs counsel to industry, for-profit, and non-profit groups, influencing public opinion in support of global brands and organizations. Under McLane’s direction, the firm successfully rebranded well-known non-profits, managed major media crises for some of America’s best-known brands, and created campaigns that helped clients win key legislative and regulatory victories.
Experience:
Prior to founding the Mach 1 Group, McLane was Vice President for Communications & External Affairs for the LIVESTRONG Foundation (2007 to 2013). She served as the organization’s chief communications and crisis management architect during years of global media attention surrounding its founder, successfully steering a course that kept the Foundation’s mission front and center.
McLane served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Margaret Spellings in 2006 and 2007, promoting President Bush’s signature bipartisan education law, No Child Left Behind. She led crisis communications and rapid response for the Department and created successful strategies to promote its policies and practices.
From 2003 to 2006, she served as a key member of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign team and communications staff. As Deputy Communications Director and Deputy Press Secretary, McLane shaped the Governor’s public outreach efforts and led media relations in the areas of education, military affairs, homeland security, federal relations, emergency response, and the environment.
Her career began in Austin, Texas, at Public Strategies, Inc., a public affairs and crisis communications firm where she produced and consulted on comprehensive campaign plans for leading technology, transportation, and entertainment industry clients.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts, English Minor in German – Texas A&M University
