Steve Kidera has spent more than 20 years at the intersection of tech policy, federal and state advocacy, public affairs, corporate communications, and journalism. For most of his career, Kidera has represented technology companies, from startups to the world’s largest businesses, running integrated communications and public affairs campaigns on issues like data privacy, antitrust, immigration, online safety, and AI.
Before joining Rational, he led communications for TechNet, where he built the trade association’s federal and state communications strategy from the ground up, working with nearly 100 member companies to raise its national and state profile, including launching campaigns focused on educating policymakers and key stakeholders on the economic and consumer benefits of AI and the need for a federal data privacy standard.
He earlier led policy communications and public affairs for CompTIA in Washington, D.C., and spent time at the Consumer Technology Association, including serving as a spokesman for the International CES.
Kidera has also worked in corporate communications for a Fortune 500 media company, helping guide its transition into two separately traded public companies. Earlier in his career, Kidera was an award-winning local television news producer and worked in professional baseball.
He is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.