Kristen McDade Byrne is the principal of Byrne Communications Consulting, a firm specializing in public affairs, community engagement, and strategic communications. With more than 25 years’ experience in the San Diego community, Byrne has a strong network and proven trackrecord working with community groups, elected officials and other key stakeholders throughout the region.Byrne is an expert outreach and communications strategist, with extensive experience in planning and land use,transportation, and civic issues. She is well versed in both CEQA and NEPA public input requirements and hassuccessfully led many clients through the environmental review process.Her strategic plansand execution of complex strategies for private clients andgovernment agencies have been recognized with a numberof awards from the Public Relations Society of Americaand from the American Planning Association, San Diego Chapter.
Byrne has a proven track record of successfullybuilding coalitions of support, navigating environmentalreview processes, and leading countless public workshops toachieve successful outcomes for her clients. She is a skilledfacilitator and holds a certification from the prestigiousInternational Association for Public Participation (IAP2).She has developed and implemented the communicationsand outreach programs for a number of high-profile projectsand major policy initiatives in San Diego County, includingthe Mid-Coast Trolley project, San Diego Forward, and the Plazade Panama Project in Balboa Park.
Byrne began her career in community and governmentrelations as a council representative for a San Diego CityCouncil member, followed by on-site consulting to theCity of San Diego’s Metropolitan Wastewater Department. She was a partner in a local public affairs consulting firm, MNA Consulting, for thirteen years. When the firm was acquired by MJE Marketing in 2008, Byrne served as the firm’s Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs for more than eight years.
Byrne is a San Diego native active in diverse communityaffairs. She has served as a volunteer leader for the Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council, a board member of the San DiegoCounty Taxpayers Association, and a board member forSan Diego Youth and Community Services.
Byrne received her bachelor of arts degree in politicalscience from the University of California, Santa Barbara.In 2016, Byrne was inducted as a member of LambdaAlpha International, San Diego Chapter, recognizing heroutstanding efforts that have contributed to the field of landeconomics and land use development and redevelopment.