Lauri Kerns

Associate Vice President

Lauri Kerns excels in crafting strategic communications designed to illuminate possibilities. A crisis communications and media relations expert, Kerns leverages her nearly 20 years of experience to drive change and achieve results.

Over her career, Kerns has worked closely with executives and senior leaders, developing strategic communications to further key initiatives. A lifelong writer, Kerns uses the power of storytelling to inspire and create change.

Prior to joining the firm, Kerns led communications, marketing and media relations for nine hospitals in the Ballad Health system, including the region’s only children’s hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center. While there, she led crisis communications, patient communications and marketing campaigns. She was boots on the ground during the COVID-19 crisis, working directly with front-line healthcare providers to develop and implement information campaigns.

Prior to her work in healthcare, Kerns led communications for several nuclear facilities, eventually managing all emergency communications for the Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear fleet. She began her career in the U.S. Air National Guard and Reserves, where she led community outreach and crisis communications during high-tempo deployment operations, earning the rank of Captain.

Kerns earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern California and a master’s in writing from Columbia College Chicago. She serves as a volunteer at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Worth Knowing

1. Always writing a novel
2. Once performed on the flying trapeze
3. Sings showtunes in the car