Inaugural Federal Government Alumni Luncheon Honors Kenneth J. Kies

Ohio University hosted the inaugural Federal Government Alumni Luncheon on Sept. 13 at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. The luncheon honored alumni active in public service to the nation, including 1974 graduate Kenneth J. Kies, who was presented with the Outstanding Federal Government Alumni Award.

The event was hosted by Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis on behalf of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. Since 1985, the school has awarded an annual State Government Alumni Award to for alumni engaged in public service in the state of Ohio. However, this year is the first time an alumnus has been awarded for service to the federal government.

The criteria for the Outstanding Federal Government Alumni Award include significant achievements in one's profession, significant public service to the United States, and service contributions to the public affairs programs at Ohio University.

As an award recipient, Kies will serve as a national member on the Ohio University Public Affairs Advisory Committee. Individual members of the committee are also involved in activities such as teaching, internships and placement of Ohio University students.

Kies graduated cum laude from Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College in 1974. He went on to earn a juris doctor from the Ohio State University of Law in 1977 and a master of laws from Georgetown University Law School in 1986. He began practicing law in Cleveland in 1977 as a tax associate with Baker & Hostetler before joining the Committee on Ways and Means staff in 1981.

From 1982 until 1987, Kies served as Chief Republican Tax Counsel to the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the firm wide Chair of the Tax Practice for Baker & Hostetler, and has served as Chief of Staff of the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, overseeing development of major tax legislation.

Prior to the acquisition of the Federal Policy Group by Clark Consulting in 2002, Kies was the Co-Managing Partner of the Washington National Tax Services office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He is currently the Managing Director of the Federal Policy Group, a division of Clark & Wamberg LLC that provides strategic and technical tax advice on tax policy matters before Congress, the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

During his keynote address, President McDavis commended alumni for their dedication to public service.

"Our alumni's contributions and distinguished accomplishments enrich our University community and enable our students, faculty and staff to have unmatched educational opportunities. It is because of you that Ohio University holds a place of prominence and a distinguished legacy of public service to our nation," he said.

President McDavis went on to encourage the audience in continuing their devotion to public service, especially within the OHIO community.

Senator George V. Voinovich, presented the award to Kies, stressing the importance of national service.

Since his retirement from politics in 2010, a career that spanned more than four decades, Senator Voinovich was named the Ohio University Visiting Professor of Leadership and Public Affairs at the Voinovich School in 2011. The former mayor of Cleveland, governor and U.S. senator received his bachelor's degree from Ohio University in 1958 and his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1961.

At the close of the luncheon, President McDavis noted that the room was filled to capacity, yet there were still many alumni on a waiting list for the event. He promised that the event would return next year, with an even larger room.