Biography:

Kristofer Eisenla brings 12 years of government, campaign and private sector communications experience to Widmeyer’s Public Affairs practice. He has expertise in campaign development, strategic planning, crisis communications and media relations.

At Widmeyer, Eisenla is the lead account manager for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) raising the organization’s profile and visibility.  He has successfully secured appearances for NASE’s spokeswoman on top tier broadcast outlets, placed op-eds in key Washington publications – one of which earned a PRSA Bronze Anvil award – and connected NASE with reporters who have quoted its policy positions in major broadcast, online and print outlets. He also leads the communications program for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and provides strategic media cousel to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Pearson education. Leveraging his relationships with the media, he also led the firm’s media relations and outreach efforts for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign, the American Energy Innovation Council, the ARC International Wildlife Crossing Design Competition and the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

Prior to Widmeyer Communications, Eisenla served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications for U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado. As Deputy Chief of Staff, he was responsible for ensuring U.S. Rep. DeGette’s political and policy priorities were achieved as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Chief Deputy Whip. In his capacity as Director of Communications, he managed all aspects of communications strategy serving as chief spokesperson and message counsel for all political and public policy issues.

While with U.S. Rep. DeGette, Eisenla developed and executed an aggressive national communications and political strategy that raised both her profile and her policy priorities. As a result, U.S. Rep. DeGette’s voice was a part of the larger political conversation on a broad range of issues including health care, stem cell research, energy and the environment and food and consumer product safety.  Eisenla also served as U.S. Rep. DeGette’s political liaison to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver working closely with the soon-to-be Obama Administration and other national and state leaders on all convention activities.  At the end of his tenure, U.S. Rep. DeGette was featured in a front-page National Journal piece, “Five House Democrats Ready to Step Up,” of members poised to rise in the Democratic leadership.

He previously served as the Director of Communications for U.S. Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan, Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, where he was responsible for implementing U.S. Rep. Levin’s national and statewide communications strategy, securing a front-page profile piece in The New York Times. During the 2004 election season, Eisenla served as the spokesperson/press secretary for U.S. Rep. Brad Carson’s Senate Campaign in Oklahoma, which was named one of the best campaigns of 2004 by national political analysts.  Eisenla's work in politics also includes serving as the Deputy Communications Director for Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign in 2003. During the Iowa Caucuses, Eisenla ensured Dr. Dean’s message was heard in every corner of the state on television, radio and in print by implementing a targeted earned media campaign. Eisenla’s agency experience includes positions at Simon Strategies/Mindbeam, Hill and Knowlton and Blanc and Otus.

Originally from Modesto, California, Eisenla is an honors graduate of California State University, Stanislaus, earning a B.A. in Politics and Economics in 1999. He received his M.A. in Political Management from The George Washington University in 2001, and holds a M.Sc. in International Development Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 2003. Eisenla has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Denver Post, Detroit Free Press, Dallas Morning News, Salon, and has published pieces in the Advocate and the Modesto Bee.

Contact information:

• 1129 20th St NW, Suite 200,
  Washington, DC 20036
  Phone 202.667.0901
  Fax 202.667.0902