Katherine Hennigan Ohanesian

Katherine Hennigan Ohanesian (she/hers/her) is an owner and co-founder of Collaborate. Since the firm’s launch in 2017, Kate has played an integral role in growing the government affairs and strategic communications firm into the thriving business it is today. Armed with an extensive background in public service at the City of Los Angeles, Kate is one of L.A.’s most trusted leaders when it comes to advocacy, policy analysis, public speaking, economic development, land use and strategic community outreach.

In her role as a communications strategist and government relations consultant, Kate has helped countless businesses overcome regulatory hurdles and achieve government approvals to move forward with their projects and initiatives. The relationships she has at Los Angeles City Hall are unparalleled, which allows her to quickly identify the people and institutions that can most efficiently and effectively obtain key objectives.

Kate served the City of Los Angeles more than a dozen years in various capacities before she launched ColLAborate. Most recently, she was the Economic Development and Legislative Director for L.A. City Councilmember Paul Koretz. Kate advised and represented the Councilmember on such issues as business retention, job creation, transportation policy and economic development. Her focus also included important legislative issues, including wage theft prevention and minimum wage increase proposals.

Prior to that, Kate served as a Senior Policy Director in the Office of Economic and Business Policy for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, where she was responsible for the Hollywood film and entertainment community.

A native Angeleno, Kate is passionate about giving back to the city she was born and raised in. She is the current Chair of the L.A. County Library Foundation and sits on the Boards of the Alliance of Women Philanthropist, the Center for the Study of Los Angeles (StudyLA) at Loyola Marymount University, 211 and is the former President of the Women Against Gun Violence advocacy group.

Kate earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Loyola Marymount University, and later received a Master’s Degree in International Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California.