JAKE KETZNER
President
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Jake Ketzner served as chief of staff for Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg from 2017 – 2018. Upon Governor Branstad’s resignation to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China, Governor Reynolds asked Jake to lead her transition team and serve as chief of staff. In this role, Jake oversaw a team of more than 20 policy and communications professionals while managing relations with more than 40 state department and agency heads.
Jake was instrumental in guiding Governor Reynolds’ policies during her historic first legislative session, including the largest tax cut in Iowa history, record education spending, advancing one of the nation’s most aggressive workforce initiatives, balancing the state’s $7.3 billion budget, and working to expand healthcare options for farmers and small business owners.
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Jake’s role in the governor’s office dates back to 2009, when he served as the organizational director for Governor Terry Branstad’s comeback tour for governor. Jake led a dedicated team of Branstad-Reynolds staff and volunteers to commanding wins in both the primary and general election campaigns, while serving as floor whip in the nomination of Kim Reynolds as the lieutenant governor candidate.
After overseeing much of the Branstad-Reynolds inaugural efforts, Jake joined the Branstad-Reynolds administration as a policy advisor.
Branstad and Reynolds tapped Jake to serve as the campaign manager for their 2014 re-election effort, where he oversaw a $10 million campaign budget while engineering an unprecedented get-out-the-vote effort that produced a 98 county, 22-point victory.
Upon re-election, Jake served as the legislative liaison for the Branstad-Reynolds administration in 2015. Jake worked across party lines with House and Senate leadership to secure bipartisan support for significant transportation and broadband infrastructure investments, among many other initiatives. He departed the office in 2016, establishing a successful career with a leading public affairs firm in Iowa.
Jake’s extensive campaign experience includes serving as the senior advisor in Iowa to President Trump’s presidential campaign, serving as campaign manager for Congressman Steve King’s 2012 re-election campaign, and field organizing for the McCain-Palin 2008 campaign in the battleground state of Missouri.
Jake is a proud Dowling Catholic High School alumnus and University of Iowa graduate. He lives in West Des Moines with his wife and two children. In his free time, he alternates between his two favorite places, Kinnick Stadium and Lake Okoboji.