David Kersten
President, Kersten Communications
David Kersten founded Kersten Communications in the fall of 2005 to accommodate the various research and writing needs of businesses and organizations.
Kersten is an expert in public policy research and analysis, particularly budget, tax, and fiscal issues. He brings more than 10 years of professional work experience, including stints as a Capitol staffer, lobbyist, campaign consultant and journalist.
He combines an in-depth knowledge of public policy issues with hands-on political and campaign experience learned in the field—bringing both the ability to solve complex public policy programs as well as the political strategy to get the policy enacted.
Kersten has learned from the best in the business both inside and outside the State Capitol. Most recently, he served as communications director for Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Santa Ana), chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
Prior to that he worked as a consultant for Senator Martha Escutia (D-Whittier) and as a lobbyist for Lenny Goldberg and the California Tax Reform Association—a progressive advocacy organization that lobbies for a fair and equitable tax system.
Senator Escutia and her chief of staff Suzanne Wierbinski have been recognized as one of the most effective and productive political teams in recent California history—championing dozens of major pieces of legislation through the California Legislature in such areas as education, health, insurance, and child care.
He went out on his own to pursue his business on a full time basis in January of 2008. Kersten has worked on a variety of projects for foundations, lobbyists, advocacy organizations, campaigns and public affairs professionals.
Kersten graduated with honors from the University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1998. He then went on to obtain a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University in 2000.
Download David Kersten’s resumé (PDF)
Elisabeth Kersten
Consultant, Kersten Communications
Elisabeth Kersten, mother of David Kersten, provides public policy consulting services to Kersten Communications.
Mrs. Kersten brings more than 30 years of public policy and research experience to the firm. She possesses an in-depth knowledge of state public policy issues and the research methodology and problem solving abilities to find real world solutions to complex public policy problems.
Mrs. Kersten currently serves as a Clinical Professor for the School of Policy, Planning and Development at the University of Southern California’s (USC) State Capitol Center where she teaches courses on political leadership in public sector organizations. Since 2006, she has also served as a consultant to the Government Action and Communication Institute where she provides fieldwork and research for the development of a legislative and executive staff training institute that is being funded by three major health foundations.
Prior to retiring from her position as the executive director of the Senate Office of Research in January 2004, Mrs. Kersten’s career in the state Legislature and executive branch of government spanned more than three decades. Mrs. Kersten was appointed to be the director of the Senate Office of Research in 1983 where she directed policy research initiatives for the Senate Pro Tempore as well as other Senators.
The Senate Office of Research serves as a bipartisan “think tank” to the state Senate. It assists members of the state Senate in developing legislation and empirical information on the policy challenges facing California.
Prior to that, Mrs. Kersten served in several senior staff positions in the Legislature and executive branch, including deputy chief of staff to Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., deputy director of the California Employment Development Department and California Department of Consumer Affairs, chief consultant to the Assembly Committee on Economic Development and New Technologies, and senior consultant to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Mrs. Kersten holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and English from the University of California, Berkeley in 1970 and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Public Policy in 1971.
Download Elisabeth Kersten’s resumé (PDF)
Robert Marcelis
Research Associate, Kersten Communications
Robert Marcelis started with Kersten Communications in July 2009 and has quickly proven himself to be a prolific researcher who excels in producing high quality quantitative and qualitative research.
Prior to working for Kersten Communications Marcelis worked for the Division of Recycling with the California Department of Conservation where he assisted in a number of research projects and recommended legislative changes to the California Litter Reduction Act.
In the Spring of 2008, Marcelis was awarded the Leon Panetta Congressional Internship that is granted to the top student chosen from each California State University. In the fall of 2008 Marcelis and went to work in the Washington, D.C. office of Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D) Sacramento to research legislative issues, update reports and website content, and serve as the primary constituent services representative.
Marcelis has also served as a student intern for Senator Darrell Steinberg (now Senate Pro Tem) where he assisted with casework and constituent correspondence. He has been an active member of the Sacramento Young Democrats, a student organizer, volunteered on the Phil Angelides for Governor campaign in 2006 and worked on West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon’s campaign for State Assembly in 2008.
Marcelis is currently finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in Government at Sacramento State University and plans to obtain his J.D. from the McGeorge School of Law while working for Kersten Communications.