Katherine McLane

Katherine McLane is the strategist organizations call when the stakes are highest. As Founder and CEO of The Mach 1 Group, she brings a rare blend of policy fluency, message discipline, and crisis-tested judgment. This combination turns complex issues into clear, compelling narratives that move decision-makers. A former Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and Deputy Press Secretary to the California Governor, she pairs national-level communications experience with Texas savvy to deliver results for clients across sectors.

“Naming Katherine for Strategic Communicator of the Year is easy,” one nominator wrote. “Her team tracked and worked on 41 bills in the 89th Session, across education, regulatory reform, and affordable housing, and she helped advance landmark legislation through strategic storytelling.” Others point to her stewardship of major wins, from the Life of the Mother Act and the Regulatory Reform and Efficiency Act to high-visibility efforts that sparked statewide and national dialogue. Another nominator added: “She’s an extraordinary communicator with decades of experience… I would trust her with any campaign I could imagine. She leads with empathy, grace, and humor.”

Katherine’s career spans senior government service and reputational leadership in the nonprofit world, including guiding LIVESTRONG through one of the highest-profile crises in the sector. Since then, she has led multimillion-dollar campaigns, expanded pro bono support for grassroots nonprofits, and invested in the next generation by mentoring at the UT LBJ Women’s Campaign School, cultivating a culture of bold, creative women leaders inside her firm.

As one of this year’s Strategic Communicator of the Year honorees, Katherine McLane represents the discipline, clarity, and voice that shapes public understanding and legislative outcomes in Texas.