WASHINGTON, D.C., April 30, 2018 – The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has announced the appointment of Kimberly Kleine as Vice President, Public Affairs. In this role, Kleine will be responsible for developing and overseeing all USTMA’s public affairs strategies and programs, including communications, media relations and federal and state public policy advocacy.

Kleine comes to USTMA with nearly 30 years of policy, public affairs and executive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as the Managing Director at Burson-Marsteller’s Healthcare Practice where she managed business development and led executive-level communications and advocacy for numerous clients.

"We are excited to have Kim Kleine join USTMA," said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.  "Kim's experience, energy and vision will be a great asset to our team, our members and the tire manufacturing industry."

During her tenure at the global PR firm Ketchum, Kim consulted for a leading financial services company, a global management consulting firm, a diversified pharmaceutical and health products company, and a biopharmaceutical company launching biologic medicines. Kim’s work focused with clients seeking strategic communications for corporate positioning, thought leadership, policy and issues management, influencer campaigns, coalition building, and paid and social media.

Kim served in numerous senior leadership roles at HHS, including the Office of the Secretary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Health Resources and Services Administration. In HRSA, her work spanned the implementation of healthcare reform and modernization of its workforce programs. In CMS, Kim led all aspects of external affairs and communications, including marketing and multi-million-dollar public service campaigns. As a principal advisor to the HHS Secretary, Kim provided centralized leadership for HHS’s public affairs programs across the Department’s operating and staffing divisions and regional offices.

Prior to her government service, Kim was a producer for CNN and worked in the investigative unit of ABC’s Primetime Live.

Kim is a graduate of Bucknell University and attended the Wharton School for Business Writers, University of Pennsylvania as well as the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA. 

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association is the national trade association for tire manufacturers that produce tires in the U.S. Our 12 member companies operate 57 tire-related manufacturing facilities in 18 states and generate over $27 billion in annual sales. We directly support more than a quarter million tire manufacturing U.S. jobs – totaling almost $20 billion in wages. In 2017, USTMA members accounted for 82 percent of the 316 million passenger, light truck and truck tire shipments in the U.S.