Kurt Davis

Biography

Kurt Davis is a founding partner in the firm FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs . FirstStrategic, Communications & Public Affairs specialize in public affairs, integrated communications, strategic planning and tactical solutions for businesses and other ventures.Davis previously served as Vice President of Public Affairs & Marketing at Northern Arizona University (NAU), a doctoral one university with 10 schools and colleges serving nearly 20,000 students from all 50 states, 63 nations and more than 50 native American tribes. Kurt had direct responsibility for legislative affairs, media relations, marketing, public affairs, dining services, conference services, student recruitment, admissions, financial aid, community relations and NAU's 100,000 watt, NPR radio station. Kurt instituted an integrated marketing, branding and communications plan and strategy for both the mountain campus and NAU's 23 statewide sites.Prior to his position with Northern Arizona University, Davis served as the Vice President of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications at Rural/Metro, a publicly traded company providing fire and ambulance services to communities in 27 states and five countries. He had direct responsibility for public affairs, legislative affairs, contract negotiations, fire services marketing, corporate communications, franchise protection and community relations. Davis co-lead acquisition teams in integrating more than 50 acquisitions and developed/implemented strategies to land more than $75 million in new annual revenue contracts for the company. He also developed and implemented the first integrated marketing, branding and communications strategy for the company.Prior to joining Rural/Metro, Davis served as executive assistant to Governor Fife Symington of Arizona. Davis had direct policy oversight for the Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, State Land Department, Game & Fish Department, Department of Youth Treatment and Rehabilitation, Governor's Offices of Women, Drug Policy, Community Affairs and the Pardons and Parole Board. Kurt was also appointed to represent the Governor on the legislatively created Constitutional Defense Council and the statewide law enforcement policy council. Davis developed and worked with the legislature to institute broad based public policy reforms for adult/youth crime policy and transportation. He also reorganized the governor's community offices to integrate efforts to assist in neighborhood revitalization and the fight against domestic abuse.Previously Kurt served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs & Issues Analysis for Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods. His responsibilities included implementation of a formal communications process with public, private and non-profit constituents and he co-led legislative affairs activities. Davis also served a four stint as the Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party and as a Reagan Administration appointee in Washington D.C. at the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Small Business Administration.Kurt has also been active in community activities, serving as President of the Board of Directors for Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped (ARCH), board member for the Desert Southwest Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, member of the Arizona Board of Regents and currently President of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools.Davis is a native of Los Angeles, California and received BS from Northern Arizona University. He and his wife, Janet, have a daughter Brittani and reside in Flagstaff.

Research Interest

 Business and Management.