Team

The original Grit, Vince overseas all of Grit Creative’s goings-on, including working directly with clients, guiding overall creative direction and managing vendor relations. Vince has beefed up his professional consulting skills for over 15 years, specializing in representing political candidates and public affairs organizations at the local, state and federal levels.

Born and raised in Virginia, Vince was pulled to The Bluegrass State to attend the University of Kentucky. He majored in Agriculture Economics and Political Science. Something about Kentucky must’ve clicked, because Vince enjoyed several jobs in leadership within the Republican Party of Kentucky, State-wide campaigns and Government before launching his own consulting firm in Frankfort: First Vote Strategies.

First Vote assisted candidates and public affairs organizations in Kentucky, Alabama and New Mexico. The list included the Republican Party of Kentucky, Congressman Hal Rogers, Congressman Brett Guthrie, KY Governor Ernie Fletcher and the KY Senate Republican Caucus. The firm specialized in voter contact, direct mail, grassroots/tops campaign implementation and general consulting for candidates and public affairs organizations in Kentucky.

Vince’s political experience, brand development methods and ability to translate client objectives into meaningful campaigns are keys to Grit Creative’s accomplishments. Our people range from groups focused on state-wide public initiatives and senators to numerous judicial and local candidates. Vince’s success stems from a highly entrepreneurial mindset, backed by a tried-and-true process for making his clients come out on top.

Vince enjoys being gritty and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Among Sarah’s many accomplishments include meeting Poland’s President and Kim Kardashian in the flesh. She has also been evacuated off of two subways in two different continents – she swears she had no direct involvement in the evacuations. We choose to believe her.

Sarah is a proud Murray State Grad, having interned under Elaine Cho at the US Labor Department. Sarah successfully managed Alice Forgy Kerr’s 2006 re-election campaign – a position that catapulted her into the KY Senate President’s office as Caucus Communication Director. A mere year before this success, Sarah personally attended the very last episode of Crossfire, CNN’s current debates show.

Sarah worked as an Account Executive for WDRB/WMYO TV in Louisville, then for Time Warner in New York City, the world’s #1 TV market. Sarah and her husband, Jay, gave birth to their first daughter, Nora, in the Big Apple. Shortly after, she gleefully returned home to the great Commonwealth of KY to work for WLKY TV in Louisville.

Sarah is our creative media buyer and specializes in television, radio, newspaper and digital media planning. But more importantly, she wears the office UofL sports banner – although she herself admits her love/hate relationship with Louisville sports has its ups and downs. Over the past few years Sarah has served hundreds of thousands of ad impressions that have persuaded voters and informed viewers. She’s delivered even more broadcast television communications. For non-profits and businesses alike, Sarah’s precision messaging has developed into leads, sales and changed minds.

Sarah made a vow with herself at a young age that she would never ever eat peas. She upholds her vow to this very day.

From the start, Alex Keys emerged as a visionary strategist, skilled graphic designer, and savvy political consultant.

Early on, he showcased his talent for web development, founding what’s now known as Keys Creative. By 13, Alex had designed websites and spearheaded a transformative Facebook political campaign for his cousin in Kentucky.

By 15, he was deep into political consulting, offering his strategies locally and nationwide, spanning from state legislatures to Congressional races.

At Grit Creative, Alex was instrumental in launching our digital division. Over time, he expanded into brand design and direct mail consulting, with his work reaching millions and digital ads garnering over a billion impressions.

A University of Kentucky graduate, Alex’s studies in Economics, Political Science, and Finance shape his unique approach to policy challenges, always innovating and finding solutions.

Passionate about creative development and econometrics, Alex stays updated with industry trends. More than his work, he values teamwork, learning, and growth, making him a core member of Grit Creative.

His commitment to excellence positions him as a leading figure in advertising and political consulting. While originally from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Alex now enjoys the vibrant culture of east Nashville, Tennessee, engaging with its community and local offerings.

With a last name that translates to “mustard,” Kathleen was obviously destined for greatness. Always up for a good challenge, Kathleen’s favorite childhood pastimes included drawing zoo animals in people’s clothing and diagramming sentences in English class. After far too much reading, Kathleen decided her love for written communication was strong enough to merit a career in Communications/Marketing.

Her communication skills have been put to use producing fresh content through all forms of digital, broadcast and print media and design. Kathleen is especially proud of her published poems and short stories, as well as a few special projects she isn’t allowed to talk about (just ask about her city-wide Environmental Poetry Event). With past experience in Broadcast and Digital selling and Campaign Management, Kathleen spends her time at Grit Creative “convincing” her team of the importance of words and cooking up new ways to meet the needs of their clients.

She has been known to incorporate “evidently” into all of her conversations with coworkers, and secretly yearns for the day when poetry comes back into style.

Internet articles seem to be Kathleen’s biggest weakness – and chocolate of any kind.

If she was asked to offer any advice to those reading this bio it would go something like: Live with energy and with lightheartedness. Do not let go of your fire, no matter what your mother told you about the kitchen stove. Fight for your enthusiasm! And whatever you do, do not take yourself so seriously that you forget how to play.