# Dakota Communications

> Dakota Communications is a Los Angeles public affairs and strategic communications consultancy founded in 1997 by Kerman Maddox and Rick Taylor. The minority-owned firm helps government agencies, infrastructure operators, corporations, nonprofits, political campaigns and faith groups win understanding and support through community outreach, media strategy, multilingual materials, grassroots organizing and political counsel.

- **Founded:** 1997
- **Headquarters:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Founders:** Kerman Maddox (Co-founder and Managing Partner), Rick Taylor (Co-founder and Partner)
- **Team size:** 13 employees in the supplied company data; the public team page names 10 partners and staff, while a 2024 procurement document reported four payroll employees.
- **Products:** Strategic consulting, Community outreach, Media strategy, Grassroots organization, Crisis management
- **Notable:** Built community support for an AltaMed senior health center in Watts after initial rejection; the project received unanimous approval from the Zoning Administrator., Selected in 2022 for outreach on Metropolitan Water District's Pure Water Southern California program, designed to serve up to 15 million people., Maintained a client relationship with Los Angeles World Airports for nearly 20 years across major modernization and transit projects.

## Products & services

- **Strategic consulting** — Communications and outreach planning for large-scale projects, with political and stakeholder analysis.
- **Community outreach** — Multilingual campaigns, community meetings, direct mail, ethnic-media outreach and stakeholder education.
- **Media strategy** — Paid and earned media, message development, public awareness campaigns, collateral and social content.
- **Grassroots organization** — On-the-ground engagement with residents, community leaders, faith organizations and hard-to-reach audiences.
- **Crisis management** — Contingency planning, scenario preparation and rapid communications guidance for sensitive situations.
- **Community partnerships and DEI consulting** — Partnership development in underserved communities and strategic guidance on organizational diversity, equity and inclusion.

## Achievements

- Built community support for an AltaMed senior health center in Watts after initial rejection; the project received unanimous approval from the Zoning Administrator.
- Selected in 2022 for outreach on Metropolitan Water District's Pure Water Southern California program, designed to serve up to 15 million people.
- Maintained a client relationship with Los Angeles World Airports for nearly 20 years across major modernization and transit projects.
- Qualified as a DBE, MBE and ACDBE business in the City of Los Angeles certification listing.
- Managing partner Kerman Maddox was appointed in 2023 to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.
- Partner Rick Taylor led the successful campaign for eight Los Angeles city charter amendments and the two-thirds-vote Measure B healthcare funding campaign.

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — The firm said it was advising MoCaFi on local political strategy and outreach for Palisades and Altadena wildfire relief and recovery.
- **2024-03** — Dakota Communications was included among Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks vendors for marketing communications and community outreach and engagement.
- **2023-06** — USC retained Dakota to inform South Los Angeles stakeholders about education, arts, economic development and healthcare programs.
- **2023-03** — Managing partner Kerman Maddox was appointed to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.

## Links

- Website: https://www.dakcomm.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dakota-communications
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/dakcomm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakotacommunications

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dakota-communications
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-15