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	Keenan Leaving His Diocesan Position By Jay Tokasz Buffalo News December 7, 2011 http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article661878.ece The voice of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is leaving his post to launch a new communications division of a Buffalo-based lobbying firm. Kevin A. Keenan, spokesman for the diocese since 2000, will head Keenan Communications Group in partnership with Masiello, Martucci, Calabrese and Associates, the lobbying group led by former Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello. Effective Jan. 1, Keenan will be president and chief executive officer of Keenan Communications, a new division of the lobbying group. The diocese will be one of the company's key clients, and Keenan will continue to serve as spokesman for the diocese on a contract basis. He also will still provide communication consultation and advice for various Catholic institutions in the region, including elementary and high schools, the Catholic Health System and Christ the King Seminary. However, he no longer will be editor in chief of Western New York Catholic or host Catholic television and radio shows on behalf of the diocese. His offices also will be located in Cathedral Place, 298 Main St., instead of in the diocesan center at 795 Main St. "It's a great opportunity for me to start this new business and work with a group of highly successful entrepreneurs," said Keenan, who served as news director of WBEN-AM 930 before becoming the first nonpriest to be named diocesan communications director. As spokesman, Keenan very often was the voice and face of the diocese on all manner of topics, including revelations of clergy sexual abuse among area priests, church closings and the state of Catholic education. He had overall responsibility for handling the diocese's public relations and crisis communications, and was considered a close adviser to Bishop Edward U. Kmiec and to Kmiec's predecessor, the Rev. Henry Mansell, who hired Keenan. Mansell is now archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Keenan also served on a panel of area Catholics that oversaw a strategic planning process resulting in the merger of more than 100 area parishes and the closure of several dozen churches. "Kevin Keenan is a well-known, respected brand name in the whole public relations, marketing and communications community in Western New York," said Masiello, president of MMCA. "This step is a natural evolution of our growth." The change comes at a pivotal time in the diocese, which is awaiting word from Rome about the appointment of a new bishop to succeed Kmiec, who is set to retire. He turned 75 last June and was required to submit a letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. In his new role, Keenan expects to offer a full range of communications expertise to for-profit and nonprofit clients. In addition to Masiello, the lobbying firm's partners are Victor A. Martucci, a longtime figure in Erie County Republican Party politics, and former Deputy County Executive Carl J. Calabrese. Calabrese, along with Marina P. Woolcock, an aide to former County Executive Joel A. Giambra, founded the company in 2005 as Government Action Professionals. Masiello joined as a partner in 2006, following his third term as mayor. The company was renamed in 2009 when Martucci was added as a partner. Woolcock and another former principal, Victor N. Farley, have since retired. Contact: jtokasz@buffnews.com
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