Kirra at a glance
Kirra Consulting is a Los Angeles based public affairs and government relations firm specializing in advising businesses in their interactions with all levels of government. We know the business of governing and represent clients in a wide array of industries – from technology and transportation to entertainment and infrastructure.
OUR APPROACH
We recognize that governments are not always easy to work with. Our job is to bridge the divide between business, government, politics and the media. We do this by creating an environment where clients can establish partnerships with governments that maximize opportunity and limit red-tape.
Kirra’s approach begins by understanding our clients’ business objectives. We then work hand in hand with our clients to develop specifically tailored strategies designed to empower clients and accomplish both their short and long-term goals.
SERVICES
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Our relationships allow us to identify the right opportunities for our clients. Our knowledge of government processes and procurement allow our clients to make the most of these opportunities.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT & MEDIA RELATIONS
Kirra provides strategic counsel, external and internal communications expertise, and media training to respond rapidly to unplanned or unforeseen events.
GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY
Our knowledge of local government and access to key decision makers and staff is one of the primary reasons our clients see the results they desire.
GRASSROOTS/COALITION BUILDING
Kirra has a long history of developing and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders – including consumers, vendors, trade associations, community leaders and community advocates – in order to affect change and influence government decision making.
Our Industry Focus
TECHNOLOGY
Kirra represents a number of companies that offer cutting edge technology solutions to municipalities. From process controls to social media to the sharing economy, we specialize in matching our client’s solutions with the ever-changing needs of municipalities.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Transportation and water infrastructure projects are a core focus at Kirra. Our clients provide program management, construction management, technological solutions and many other services to public and public/private agencies. We help assist them with strategy and have helped them earn and keep staff recommendations.
TRANSPORTATION
Kirra has assisted a number of transportation clients in both the City of Los Angeles and the City of Washington, DC. In addition to work at LA Metro and LAX, our clients have successfully assisted cities with traffic flow and mitigation, alternative methods of transportation, and large infrastructure projects.
REAL ESTATE
Kirra assists companies and individuals with land use, property acquisition, entitlements, zoning and other real estate matters. Our team has a deep understanding of the business, government and market-related forces that impact real estate holdings.
ENTERTAINMENT
Kirra has represented a number of companies within the entertainment industry. We provide strategic advice regarding large and small venue management and acquisition and help guide our clients through the local regulatory process.
NON-PROFIT/PHILANTHROPY
Kirra works extensively with non-profit organizations to assist them in all facets of their interactions with government. Our experience includes non-profits in the education, community development, culinary, and philanthropic arenas.
RENEWABLES
Kirra’s Renewable Energy practice assists companies engaged with Community Choice Energy providers and municipal utilities. It supports leading independent energy providers and other companies that work with local agencies to implement sustainable projects and infrastructure. From utility-scale projects to in-basin solar, Kirra’s knowledge of renewables and their local government relationships have helped clients collaborate with municipal utilities to fulfill a commitment to renewable energy.
ABOUT US
Kirra Consulting represents technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, engineering, aviation, construction, advertising, food service, and venue management clients in California, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. Kirra assists businesses with their interactions with all levels of government. Its services include government advocacy, business development, crisis management, media relations, and grassroots coalition building.
JOSHUA PERTTULA
Joshua Perttula has over thirty (30) years of political advocacy and government experience at the federal, state, and local level and is the founding member and principal of Kirra Consulting, a boutique Los Angeles based government relations and public affairs firm. He currently represents technology, renewable energy, transportation, engineering, construction, aviation, advertising, food service and venue management clients. Under Josh’s leadership, Kirra has been named by Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top lobbying firms in Los Angeles County for more than ten (10) years.
Prior to founding Kirra, Josh worked for the federal government as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and served as Special Assistant City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles where he managed more than 60 attorneys and 40 support staff at the Los Angeles World Airports, the Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (the “Proprietary Departments”). During his tenure with the City, Josh directed all aspects of the Proprietary Departments legal affairs, including municipal governance, contract procurement and litigation. Josh’s legal career began as a corporate transactional attorney, negotiating and drafting contracts, employment agreements, private placement memoranda, stock purchase and registration rights agreements.
In addition to his role with Kirra, Josh is on the Investment Committee of Abington Emerson Investments (“Abington Emerson”), a mid-size regional real estate company with assets under management of $250 million.
Josh graduated with a B.A. in both Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Irvine and holds a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Josh is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California, a past member of the Board of Trustees of the California State Bar (2017-2021), a former member of the Getty House Foundation Board of Directors, a former Member of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Transition Team and current Chair of the California Supreme Court’s Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of the Bar Exam.
ALEC EVANS
Alec Evans has over 15 years of government and campaign experience at the federal, state, and local level. He specializes in providing strategic counsel and external and internal communications advice to private companies and non-profit institutions. His areas of expertise include technology, infrastructure, transportation and entertainment. Before coming to California, Alec served as Campaign Manager and Communications Director for Washington, DC, Mayor Adrian Fenty. In this role he supervised a communications and policy staff of over 40 employees and developed and executed all plans for strategic communications and marketing. He also oversaw all media relations and served as primary liaison to editorial boards, columnists, and business organizations. Before joining Mayor Fenty, Alec served as Chief of Staff for Washington, DC, City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, where he directed all policy initiatives and personnel decisions and managed inter-Council, Executive Office, and Federal relations. He also served as the lead staff member for the Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation.
In addition to supporting Kirra’s Los Angeles operations, Alec manages Kirra’s local practice in Washington, DC, representing clients before the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Alec graduated with a B.A. in History from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and is a current Board Member of L.A. Kitchen.
KARINA MCNAMARA
Karina McNamara is an Associate who specializes in providing public affairs, lobbying and consulting services for local and private companies and non-profit institutions.
Karina developed a strong background in public policy while serving at the United States Senate, Oakland City Attorney’s Office and Chicago Housing Authority, where she was responsible for researching and monitoring local, State and Federal policy, and promoting public policy initiatives. Karina also has extensive experience in political volunteer and campaign work, which began in 2008 when she volunteered on behalf of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Chicago, IL. Before coming to Kirra, Karina worked for four years as a Civil Litigation Associate in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, where she handled claims involving general civil litigation on behalf of businesses and insurance companies.
Karina graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago and received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Karina is a licensed attorney with the California State Bar and remains active in the Los Angeles Bar Association and Women’s Lawyer’s Association of Los Angeles. She also serves as a member of the Joint Task Force Committee for the Retention and Promotion of Women Lawyers.
Clients
Kirra’s client portfolio includes national and international companies in a range of industries – from construction and infrastructure to real estate and entertainment. We represent public companies, private firms and non-profit organizations. Current and past clients include:
AMERICAN AIRLINES
American Airlines is one of the world’s largest airlines, offering an average of nearly 6,700 flights daily to 350 destinations in 50 countries.
UBER
An American multinational ride-hailing company offering services that include peer-to-peer ridesharing, ride service hailing, food delivery (Uber Eats), and a micromobility system with electric bikes and scooters.
LIVE NATION
Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management.
JACOBS
The world’s premier design, engineering, construction and technical services firm delivering end-to-end innovative solutions that provide superior value to their clients.
VERIZON
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is an American telecommunications company which offers wireless products and services. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications. Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless telecommunications provider in the United States.
Realterm
Realterm is the leading owner and developer of on-airport cargo infrastructure. Realterm owns and manages the largest on-airport air cargo real estate portfolio in North America with 17 million square feet of property and developments at 37 airports.
ATKINS
Atkins Engineering is a world-leading design, engineering, and project management firm.
NEW FLYER
New Flyer is the largest transit bus manufacturer in North America, with fabrication, manufacturing and service centers in the United States and Canada. New Flyer actively supports over 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses currently in service.
VELOCITY VEHICLE GROUP
Velocity Vehicle Group operates commercial vehicle dealerships across California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. VVG provides new & used commercial vehicle sales, including the full range from pickup trucks to delivery vans to 18-wheelers and school busses, aftermarket parts and service support, along with a multitude of other vehicle-related services.
AAAE
ALLIANCE GROUND
AMERICAN GOLF
APPLE
ARMAND HAMMER FOUNDATION
ARTS DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT
BALFOUR BEATTY
CARRERARC GROUP
CAVNUE
CGI TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS
CHARGEPOINT
CHERYONG ELECTRIC CO.
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR
CLOUGH HARBOUR & ASSOCIATES
COLLEGE TRACK
DTE
EXPEDIA
F.H. PASCHEN
FACTORYMADE VENTURES
FAITHFUL+GOULD
FIRST STUDENT
FLATIRON
GET CHARGED, INC.
HAWAII GAS COMPANY
HERTZ
HOCHTIEF
HONEYWELL
HONOLULU COFFEE
IPR PIPING
LIMEBIKE
LUXE VALET, INC.
LYFT
NASCAR
OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
OTG MANAGEMENT
PARKEON
PEPSICO
PHILLIPS
PMA
PORT’S O’CALL RESTAURANT
QUALLION
SCATEC SOLAR
SDI PRESENCE
SKYRYSE
TERRAWATT
THE MERUELO GROUP
UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
Contact
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ADDRESS
11100 Santa Monica Blvd Suite 260 Los Angeles CA 90025