VICE PRESIDENT
Dan Kowalski
Dan Kowalski is a communications strategist at Hawthorne Strategy Group specializing in integrated communications campaigns that shape public narratives in policy, technology, and clean energy and deliver business outcomes. With nearly a decade of experience, Dan has earned 18+ awards from the Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), Public Relations Society of America, Bulldog PR Awards, and the Shorty Social Good Awards, and he is a PCC 30 Under 30 honoree.
A committed leader in renewable energy communications, Dan serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association Young Professionals Council. Dan’s proudest career achievement is creating the clean-energy brand Solar Powers Illinois and leading a statewide communications and public affairs campaign that helped pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), a historic clean energy policy. He also supported the AA and NHPI community in Chicago in its fight for equitable political representation, work that contributed to Chicago’s Chinatown securing its own ward and aldermanic representation.
His earlier career accomplishments include strong media coverage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for two consecutive years (generating 1.5-2 billion earned impressions) with OMRON, increasing a client’s lead-form traffic by 10% within a single quarter at Icon Alternatives, and helping a 10-year-old comedian earn the “Hero of the Pandemic” title in Newsweek and USA Today through a fundraising campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Before Hawthorne, Dan built experience across integrated marketing and global public relations, serving clients from local Chicago businesses to a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. No matter the client, Dan understands the power of aligning message development, narrative strategy, earned media, and stakeholder engagement toward a shared goal that achieves business objectives.
Education: Northern Arizona University (Bachelor of Science: Strategic Communications with a Double Emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations and a Minor in Visual Communications)
Currently Watching: Severance
Outside of Work, You’ll Find Dan: Exercising at the gym, rallying with his friends on the softball field, playing a round of golf, or cheering on the Cubs from his season ticket seats
One Fact About Dan That Might Surprise You: He completed the improv program at Second City and wants to pursue a side career in comedy