Kathleen Kaiser & Associates (KKA) expertise encompasses seminars, conferences, special events, publicity, marketing communications and trade show production. The company was established in 1993 as a tradeshow marketing and production firm focused on emerging technologies. It expanded to cover sustainable practices and non-profit organizations.
In 2002, KKA began work with the nonprofit sector. For three years Kathleen served as President of the Ojai Shakespeare Festival. In that time she helped produce the Festival’s first profitable season in 20 years and expanded its Youth Intern Program to include backstage/production internships. Kathleen served as a volunteer media relations and special events instructor at the Ventura County Community Foundation and teaches media relations for nonprofits in Santa Barbara and Santa Clarita.
For two years KKA managed marketing and sponsorship sales for the Ojai Art Stroll, continues to handle marketing communication for Ojai Studio Artistsfor five years, facilitated a strategic planning retreat for Performances to Grow On and the Humane Society of Ventura County and created and implemented marketing, public relations and sponsorship programs for the Ojai Shakespeare Festival, Ojai Art Stroll, Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, Humane Society and Ojai Studio Artists. KKA acted as festival coordinator for the Ventura Book Festival, produced by the California Literary Arts Society. KKA helped launch SoulCentered, a metaphysical shoppe in Ojai with a geodesic dome onsite that has evolved into a center for special events. In 2011, KKA handled sponsorship sales for the 25th Annual Ojai Wine Festival, produced by the Rotary Club of Ojai-West. In 2011, Kathleen, along with legendary editor Shelly Lowenkopf, created the Pacific Institute for Professional Writing (PIPW). She managed the first Ventura County Book & Author Fair for PIPW, a day long celebration of books and local writers, and is coordinating workshops and seminars for PIPW. In 2012, the event evolved into the Ventura County Writers' Weekend, a two-day educational seminars on the business and craft of writing.
Kathleen is considered a leader in such trade associations as the Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and the International Association of Exposition Management (IAEM) recently renamed IAEE. She is past Chairperson of the Southwestern Chapter of IAEM and was responsible for the reunification of Southern California, Las Vegas and Arizona as one chapter.
Since its inception in 1993, KKA has created and implemented projects for various clients, including new product line launches; the repositioning of two trade publications for Cahners Business Publishing and ST Media Group; extensive market research; the launch of an international trade show and three years of sponsorship sales (CES Mexico); the debut of two new consumer events (MTV Intersection and ESPN Sports Show International); the creation of value-added pavilions to trade shows; and, the creation/production of e-learning Success Awards for Advanstar Communications. Developed, sold and managed the first US Pavilion at Expo Agro in Santiago, Chile for US Department of Commerce.
Brought on to revive Xplor International in 2002, KKA's team doubled sales and expanded marketing to new attendee sectors. The company created and successfully launched Digital Marketing Symposium in partnership with Digital Marketing Corporation and Advanstar Communications at the Jacob Javits Center in New York in March, 2004. They were retained by Democratic National Committee to create and sell the Convention 2004 Commemorative Program. Kathleen joined SustainCommWorld as a full partner in 2007 and produced three successful conferences on sustainable media, partnered with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on two conferences and managed sponsorship sales and event operations.
A detailed breakout of KKA achievements is under Accomplishments Page on this website.
Previously, Ms. Kaiser was Director of Expositions for Seybold Seminars, from 1988 to mid 1993. She grew Seybold San Francisco (under 40,000 net square feet) and a hotel conference with a small demonstration area (Seybold Seminars) and developed them into the leading computer publishing events in North America with respective net square of 125,000 and 60,000 in 1993. The driving force behind the successful creation of two additional events, Digital World, launched in 1990, the first conference and show focused on the convergence of computers, publishing, entertainment and the internet, and Windows Solutions, launched in 1993. Kaiser guided exposition marketing of events to public and created marketing opportunities for exhibitors, created public relations, advertising and attendee telemarketing departments. Took the Expo division from $200,000 loss to 54% of the net profits of the entire Seybold Organization with grosses over $8 million annually. Many of the KKA team members worked with Kathleen at Seybold and continue their relationship 20 years later.
Prior experience includes over 15 years in corporate marketing, event management and entertainment public relations. Product launches include perfume for Max Factor, a punk rock label M-80 Records, and the Beverly Hills Country Club. Beginning her publicity career in late 1968, Kathleen worked on publicity for recording artists including Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Ten Years After, Loggins and Messina, and the Eagles, amongst many. She held management positions with three record labels, management and publicity firms. She was directly responsible for the entire management of conferences, seminars and special events in such locations as the Sydney Opera House, Australia; Catalina Island; exotic resorts and luxury hotels. Former clients/employers include: Capitol Records, MCA Records, Halston Fragrances, Rolls Royce, Herbalife International, Shinko Music Publishing, 4Life Records, Nippon Phonogram, Goldstein Organization, Alive Enterprises, M80 Records, Continental Communications and Rock Magazine.
