Jillian Rice

Jillian joined KP in 2026 with more than 13 years of experience in public affairs, strategic communications, and integrated marketing. She has worked on nearly every side of the policy conversation, from legislative offices and state government to advocacy organizations, health policy consulting, and a full-service agency. That perspective gives her a deep understanding of how policymakers, stakeholders, and communities think and work. She is fluent across paid, earned, shared, and owned media and brings strong strategy and project management to every engagement. At KP, she helps clients build data-informed, audience-centered strategies that turn complex issues into clear communications and measurable results.

 Experience:

  • More than 13 years of experience in public affairs, strategic communications, and marketing across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors

  • Background representing state agencies, health care organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses

  • Managed communications and public affairs programs in complex issue areas including Medicaid, public health, health equity, behavioral health, aging, oral health, and transportation

  • Directed multimillion-dollar public awareness and social impact campaigns reaching millions across statewide and multi-market audiences

  • Owned campaign strategy end to end, from formative research and audience insights to message development, creative direction, and in-flight optimization

  • Oversaw production across the full channel mix, including out-of-home, radio, print, digital, and community outreach collateral

  • Managed campaign budgets up to $14 million and aligned strategy, creative, media, and PR teams as senior client lead

  • Secured more than 957 earned media placements and activated a network of over 18,000 community-based organizations through grassroots outreach and coalition building

  • Led legislative and governmental affairs strategy for Medi-Cal, the nation’s largest Medicaid program, coordinating policy, legislative, and budget work with the Governor’s office and state agencies

  • Built and led the full communications function for a statewide health equity advocacy organization, serving as spokesperson and driving narrative change

  • Developed communications and outreach strategies supporting health care delivery-system transformation for state agencies, counties, and hospital systems

  • Directed communications, public affairs, and community engagement for a California State Assembly office

  • Earned PRSA Los Angeles PRism Awards and Awards of Excellence for campaign work

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science & Philosophy, California State University, Bakersfield

Certifications:

HTML, CSS, and Web Design from General Assembly

 

Contact Jillian

Email: jrice@ka-pow.com

Main: 916-448-2162

621 Capitol Mall, Suite 1900 Sacramento, CA 95814