Thomas C. Keller

Tom Keller is Founder and Managing Principal of Keller Partners & Company where he is responsible for managing the firm, fostering client relationships, and providing strategic guidance to the firm's team and all practice areas.

Tom has more than 30 years of government relations, fundraising and strategic development experience in both the public and private sectors. He has a substantial track record of success, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal appropriations and federal/state/foundation competitive grants, winning unprecedented regulatory relief, and delivering significant legislative victories on behalf of a diverse domestic and international client base.

Tom is a superb strategist and a believer in the power of good relationships. He applies his keen understanding of government, people and the political process to achieve client goals. Tom has been regularly selected as a "Top Lobbyist" by both The Hill newspaper and the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics (NILE).

Keller Partners & Company, regularly named a "Top-performing Lobbying Firm" by Bloomberg Government, has experienced a remarkable and sustained record of client successes. Tom founded Keller Partners to substantially expand and broaden the "mission" approach to comprehensive client service and to give a voice to mission-driven nonprofits in our Nation's Capital, as well as assist clients at the state government and private foundation levels.

Tom was previously Vice President and Deputy Director of Russ Reid's Washington, DC office. During his 15 years at Russ Reid, Tom developed innovative and successful strategies for nonprofit and corporate clients, expanded both the range and depth of Russ Reid's government relations services, and pioneered best practices in client satisfaction. Russ Reid (an Omnicom Group Company) was the largest marketing and communications agency in the United States dedicated to serving nonprofits and was responsible for launching organizations such as World Vision, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and Habitat for Humanity.

Tom served on Capitol Hill in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. He worked for seven years as a senior staff member to Senator Dan Coats (R-IN), who was a member of Senate committees on Appropriations; Finance; Intelligence; and Commerce, Science and Transportation; Armed Services; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Tom was responsible for managing the Senator's appropriations, grants and infrastructure efforts, and was the Senator's liaison with key business and political leaders throughout the State of Indiana. Tom also served as a campaign advisor and director of scheduling and advance during the Senator's successful 1992 Senate campaign.

Tom began his Washington career in 1990 after joining the campaign staff of his hometown Congressman, Rep. John Hiler (R-3rd-IN). He served as both a Field Representative in the Third Congressional District and staff in the Congressman's Capitol Hill office.

Tom is a "Hoosier" and a native of South Bend, Indiana. He is a graduate of Indiana University in Political Science and completed his graduate work in Government at The Johns Hopkins University. He also completed the Advanced Management Program conducted by the Harvard Business School at Babson College, MA. Tom is passionate about his work, which he describes as a "mission," but he also enjoys spending time with his family, international travel, occasionally fencing, his work as a Board member of Caritas in Veritate International (CiVI), and serving as a Trustee of a family philanthropic organization.