Who We Are
CKP is a fast-growing, award-winning, and woman-owned public relations firm. We help our clients draw people in and build community by understanding, planning, creating, and amplifying their full stories.
Carey Kirkpatrick
Founder + CEO
Read BioCarey Kirkpatrick
Founder + CEO
Carey launched CKP in 2014 after recognizing a growing need for agencies that could offer integrated public relations services. Since then, the business has blossomed into an award-winning, multi-department, multi-city operation supporting a wide spectrum of industries.
The Houston Business Journal recognized her as a 40 Under 40 honoree in 2017, and in 2018 BizWomen.com named her a BizWomen Headliner in the Marketing & Communications Field. Carey is a featured speaker and writer on topics such as remote work, diversity and inclusion, team building, and communications trends for organizations including the American Marketing Association, National Diversity Council, and Forbes Agency Council. Carey has taught at Rice University and is currently an adjunct professor marketing and arts administration in the Institute for Music Leadership at the Eastman School of Music. She serves as a governing director on the Board of Trustees for the Houston Symphony, as an Advisory Council member with Houston Christian University’s Women in Leadership program, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hermann Park Conservancy, and as a member of the Eastman school of Music’s National Council.
Her professional career began in 1999 with a Catherine Filene Shouse fellowship in marketing and public relations with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in New York. In 2001, Carey relocated to Florida to serve as public relations manager for the New World Symphony before moving to Houston in 2005 as a marketing manager for the Houston Symphony.
In 2009, Carey joined CultureMap.com as director of marketing, shepherding the brand through launches in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. In 2013, she transitioned to a career in agency work, joining a boutique Houston-based firm.
Carey attended the Eastman School of Music, where she participated in the Arts Leadership Program. She graduated in May 2000 with a Bachelor of Music degree in French Horn performance and a certificate in arts administration. In 2004 she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Music. She then completed additional graduate coursework, earning the designation of Doctor of Musical Arts ABD (all but dissertation).
Jeremy C. Little
Chief Operating Officer
Read BioJeremy C. Little
Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy is a seasoned strategic communications professional with nearly two decades of experience in public relations, crisis management, media relations, social media marketing, media training, public policy advocacy, and communications management consulting. He joined CKP as a communications strategist in 2016, later serving as CKP’s first head of accounts and head of culture and talent management before assuming the role of chief operations officer in 2023.
Jeremy's diverse communications background includes working with New York Times best-selling authors, government officials, national political figures, entrepreneurs, c-suite executives, non-profit leaders, and James Beard Award-winning chefs. He has strategized and executed award-winning public relations campaigns at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Prior to his extensive work in the public relations sector, Jeremy began his career working for the Massachusetts State Senate in Boston, Massachusetts, before relocating to Houston in 2007. He helped establish a boutique public relations agency focused on the hospitality industry then pivoted to public policy in 2012 when he worked as a senior account manager focused on national public policy issues at an agency based in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. He later developed communications strategies for large government agencies as a consultant while with Deloitte Consulting in Arlington, Virginia, in 2014 before joining the CKP team in 2016. He previously taught the crisis communications component for a class entitled “Communication for Nonprofits” at the Glasscock School of Continuing Education at Rice University.
Jeremy was born and raised in Massachusetts and attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in 2005. He then completed a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School in Middlebury, Vermont, in 2019.
Joel Luks
Chief Strategy Officer
Read BioJoel Luks
Chief Strategy Officer
Joel is a public relations strategist who has worked with a wide range of clients—from global brands to mid-size enterprises to solo entrepreneurs—to create integrated marketing strategies that connect entities with target markets. As CKP’s original chief content marketing strategist and now chief strategy officer, Joel supported the agency’s growth from a small operation to a robust, experienced team in multiple markets.
Joel is also an adjunct professor for the University of Houston’s Master of Arts Leadership Program as part of the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts, where he teaches marketing and communications to future arts and entertainment professionals. As an educator and thought leader, Joel has been a keynote speaker and has led classes, panels, and workshops for Rice University, Eastman School of Music, University of St. Thomas, University of Houston-Downtown, Sales and Marketing Executives Association (SME) Digital Forum Puerto Rico, MassChallenge, Da Camera of Houston, Young Audiences of Houston and Fresh Arts, among others.
Before joining CKP, Joel was the arts and entertainment editor, classical music critic, and video producer for CultureMap Houston. He is also a regular on-air contributor to Houston’s CBS affiliate KHOU. Throughout his career, Joel published more than 500 articles and produced more than 450 segments for online platforms and broadcast.
Joel earned a Bachelor of Music and a Performer's Certificate in flute from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. As a recipient of a Catherine Filene Shouse Fellowship, he was part of the inaugural Arts Leadership Program cohort. He has served on the boards and committees of the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Texas Music Festival, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Urban Harvest and Fresh Arts. In his free time, Luks is an avid yogi and a certified Zumba instructor.
Whitney Radley
Head of Accounts
Read BioWhitney Radley
Head of Accounts
Whitney is an award-winning communications professional who brings a fresh perspective to big-picture strategic thinking, always striving to find creative ways to tell meaningful stories. In addition to her expertise in media relations, branding, research, planning, integrated strategies, and content creation, she is a seasoned team leader with exceptional organizational abilities that guide even the most complex projects forward.
Whitney brings her knack for storytelling and strategy to industries including arts and creativity, corporate and business-to-business, healthcare, nonprofits, and civic organizations. Her work in marketing, planning, and public relations strategy and execution has been recognized by the the American Marketing Association, and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), earning dozens of awards including the PRSA Grand Excalibur Awards the Grand Excalibur best-in-show award for Integrated Marketing in 2019.
She began her communications career in journalism as a reporter and editor for CultureMap.com in 2011 where she published hundreds of articles and covered topics ranging from lifestyle to cultural trends to local politics. Whitney shifted to public relations in 2013 when she joined the communications team at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Working with numerous internal museum clients, she developed and executed plans for the promotion of exhibitions as well as programs, special events, and overall museum initiatives. During her time there, she secured extensive coverage in local and regional publications as well as notable national outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest and The Art Newspaper.
Whitney is a Southeast Texas native with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of North Texas. She is a member of PRSA Houston and Houston Public Media Young Leaders Council.
Colin Dabbs
Events Coordinator
Read BioColin Dabbs
Events Coordinator
Colin brings his positivity, enthusiasm, and problem-solving skills to CKP supporting clients with public relations and experiential marketing needs. His passion for education led him originally to a successful teaching career. Colin’s many passions include singing a cappella, building scale models, making and enjoying live music, and supporting animal welfare causes.
BJ Strew
Senior Creative Manager
Read BioBJ Strew
Senior Creative Manager
BJ’s curiosity and passion for brands, current events, and cultural trends combine in his approach to imagining and creating marketing assets that get noticed. He translates marketing strategies into memorable visuals for branding, advertising, content marketing, and web. BJ has been a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Houston board, Rice Design Alliance, the Society for Experiential Graphic Design, and the Type Directors Club. In 2018, he became a court-appointed Child Advocate in Harris County.
Blake Steele
Account Assistant
Read BioBlake Steele
Account Assistant
Blake is a communications specialist who is unwavering in his curiosity to uncover consumer motivations, advising clients on best approaches to campaigns that consider relevant, timely conversations. Blake is also a skilled writer and artist who enjoys drawing, composing fiction, playing video games, and occasionally cooking. A student of film, he brings a creative perspective and outlook in his role as a professional communicator.
Hector Meling
Creative Manager
Read BioHector Meling
Creative Manager
Hector Meling is a multi-award-winning video producer who brings nearly two decades of creative visual storytelling experience to CKP clients. He has a passion for creating content that educates, inspires, entertains, and persuades, bridging storytelling and marketing disciplines to elevate the essence of his subject matter. When he’s not directing his creative energy toward telling client stories through video, Hector works to give a voice to the unheard as president of the Westridge Civic Association and previously as president of the Pastoral de Jóvenes Adultos y Universitarios, where he volunteered at the Casa Juan Diego immigrant refugee camp.
Jessica Henderson
Senior Account Executive
Read BioJessica Henderson
Senior Account Executive
Jessica Henderson’s professional background spans public affairs, journalism, and media relations. At CKP, she combines her various talents to drive media and community relations activities for our biggest clients. She remains an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she is involved in community events and community service for the purpose of uplifting women of color.
Madison Mann
Senior Account Manager
Read BioMadison Mann
Senior Account Manager
Madison is a public relations, content marketing, social media and communications specialist whose flair for storytelling is matched by her energetic and dynamic approach to her craft. She makes things happen by rallying teams to perform at their very best even through complex and challenging multi-prong initiatives. Madison has a third-degree black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, speaks conversational Spanish, and is passionate about mental health awareness.
Matt Randall
Senior Account Manager
Read BioMatt Randall
Senior Account Manager
Matt Randall, an Indiana native with a background in television journalism, combines hands-on multimedia skills and a deep understanding of the media landscape to offer clients quality content, value-driven media strategy, and proven engagement. As the 2018 recipient of the Indiana Broadcaster’s Association Spectrum Award, he brings a track record of excellence to his work at CKP. He is an active volunteer and donor to American Red Cross.
Randy Lakey
Associate, Brand Presence
Read BioRandy Lakey
Associate, Brand Presence
Randy Lakey is an events and promotions specialist who activates spaces with engaging and immersive experiences that bring communities together. Brands can depend on Randy for his positivity, creativity, and flexibility, leveraging promotional assets to craft a story that gets noticed and aligned with marketing and public relations objectives. A chef with training at the Culinary Institute Lenotre, this Astros fan has a passion for cooking and baking—and anything that puts a smile on people’s faces.
Awards & Recognition
Agency of the Year
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2018 & 2019 PRSA Houston
Best in Show
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2019 Grand Excalibur PRSA Houston
No. 77
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Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Texas
90+ Awards
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Awards and recognitions for client work
Our Team
At CKP, we have a collective 150+ years of experience telling the stories of clients across disciplines, platforms and industries. Each person’s unique skills and insights are what make our work not just possible, but phenomenal — setting new records, winning awards and garnering recognition from our industry.