Hilbrecht Joins KDA as Communications, Public Affairs Director

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Kirk Hilbrecht, Louisville, has been named the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's communications and public affairs director.

"We are excited to bring Kirk on board the Kentucky Department of Agriculture team," Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. "His years of experience and work ethic will bring a solid foundation to the communications team. I am confident his background in public relations, crisis communications, and media relations will create a positive outreach for our agriculture sector."

At KDA, Hilbrecht will work withQuarles and lead the Office of Communications' five-member team to keep the public informed of issues within the department, the state, and the world as it affects Kentucky's agriculture community. Hilbrecht assumed his new post this week.

"I'm honored and excited to join KDA," Hilbrecht said. "This department has advanced the services and awareness of Kentucky's agricultural community to its world-class recognition. I'm proud to be a part of Commissioner Quarles' team."

Hilbrecht most recently served as vice-president of Louisville-based RunSwitch Public Relations firm. For more than 20 years, he has offered public relations, crisis communications, reputation management, and media training to Fortune 500 businesses, government organizations, and military units.

A former lieutenant colonel in the Kentucky National Guard, Hilbrecht returns to state government after serving as director of public affairs for the Kentucky Guard and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. While serving in the Kentucky Guard, Hilbrecht directed the organization's strategic and tactical communication involving the 13,000 personnel that comprised Kentucky's Department of Military Affairs, Kentucky Army and Air National Guard and civilian contracted activities. During Hilbrecht's tenure, the Kentucky Public Affairs Office was cited five years in a row as being the most published public affairs shop of all 54 states, territories, and district.

Prior to Hilbrecht's active-duty tour, he was president/co-owner of Videobred, a premiere, full-service, video production facility, and senior vice president at Doe-Anderson Advertising in Louisville, where he co-built and managed Doe-Anderson Interactive.