Ken Luce is the president of the Southwest offices of Weber Shandwick Worldwide. Ken is responsible for business and managerial operations, as well as new business development and overall strategic planning for the Dallas, Austin, Houston and Denver offices. The success of Weber Shandwick Worldwide’s Southwest group is due in part to Ken’s hands-on approach to each office’s daily operations and client work, and his strong relationships with local and national media outlets.
Ken has extensive experience in public affairs, issues and crisis planning, corporate communications, media relations, risk management, government relations, and consumer product promotion.
Before joining Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Ken managed the first statewide campaign of now Governor Rick Perry, when he ran for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Ken has served as a statewide campaign finance consultant for State Controller Carole Keeton Rylander and other elected officials. Ken also served as associate deputy commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture during Governor Perry’s tenure as Texas agriculture commissioner. Ken oversaw the marketing, communications and legislative functions for the agency.
Ken’s campaign-style approach to all client work has positioned Weber Shandwick Worldwide/Southwest as a leader among firms that can deliver local, regional and national public affairs/media relations support to clients targeting the high-tech, consumer, government, transportation, business-to-business and e-business market segments. Ken’s targeted, highly successful approach to public affairs/media relations has been used for clients such as Sprint, American Airlines, Microsoft, Dean Foods Company and its subsidiary Morningstar Foods and Essilor of America.
Ken’s extensive knowledge of campaigns, grass-roots organizations and public affairs media communications is applied to all public relations programs, but proves tremendously valuable in public affairs issues management. Ken provides strategic issues management consulting to American Airlines, and has been involved in multiple public affairs campaigns surrounding American’s expansion of their facilities and flight schedule at Love Field. Ken led a strategic public affairs team charged with handling the entrance of AT&T into the Texas market. Ken has also planned and implemented multiple public affairs programs for global clients that cannot be disclosed, due to confidentiality.
Ken’s other marketing/consulting experience includes being vice president of national marketing for Paragon Group, president of Celebrations Marketing Group and president of KWL Consulting.
Ken holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is an active member of the Dallas Citizen’s Council and has served as a guest lecturer for the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.