Beth Kanter, Vice President

Beth Kanter brings extensive experience providing strategic communications and public affairs counsel to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, political campaigns and large corporations on a wide range of issues including health care, the environment, reproductive health, economic development, labor and telecommunications reform. She is particularly skilled at working with nonprofits to craft language and develop messages that resonate with their target audiences.

Prior to joining Spitfire, Beth was the senior vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Illinois where she oversaw the organization’s communications and marketing, public policy, development and community education departments and provided staff with strategic guidance and leadership to direct their efforts.

Beth also served as a vice president at the Chicago-based public affairs firm Jasculca/Terman & Associates (JT). Beth put her extensive background in politics and public affairs to work for a wide range of clients including AFL-CIO, Feeding America, Chicago Department of Environment, Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition and the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

Beth took a three year hiatus from JT to serve as the director of political affairs for the Chicago Federation of Labor. At the CFL, she was responsible for the development and implementation of political activities in support of working families in Chicago and Cook County. The historic political program Beth directed helped elect six new aldermen to the Chicago City Council in the 2007 municipal election.

Beth was previously the political director for the National Women’s Political Caucus in Washington, D.C. and also served as the communications director for 21st Century Democrats. She began her career at the public relations firm of Fenton Communications.

Beth received a bachelor’s degree in political science and English from Duke University.