MEET OUR TEAM

Kelsey is a senior consultant in our nonprofit services department. A Northeast Ohio native and graduate of Youngstown State University, Kelsey has over a decade of experience working with nonprofit organizations across Northeast Ohio and Appalachia. She previously worked at HOLA Ohio, where she was instrumental in a capital campaign that established a $2 million Hispanic Community Center in Painesville. She also served as Associate Concertmaster and a board member of the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, and she remains active in the Northeast Ohio music scene as a violinist. She draws upon a wealth of experience in nonprofit fundraising and administration to help our clients successfully grow their impact.

Pat Lowry joined KO Consulting in January 2023 and is working in the areas of consulting, grant writing and public relations. A life-long Mahoning Valley resident, Pat is a graduate of Youngstown State University in the fields of history and education and earned a master’s degree in School Counseling.

Pat has worked in education for 27 years as a teacher, school counselor and administrator, and 18-years of federal service with Congressman Tim Ryan, working in the areas of press and communications.

Pat has been active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors at Ursuline Ministries, and serving as President of the Board of Trustees of Jubilee Gardens, Inc., which owns and operates two community gardens in Youngstown. He is a former board member of the Mahoning Valley Community School.

Pat is passionate about the roles that non-profits, education and good government can play in providing economic and social equity to the Mahoning Valley community and seeks to provide them the resources they need to succeed. 

Flavio is a Pittsburgh native that graduated from The Ohio State University in 2004. He is a Senior Consultant at KO that works with local municipalities and school districts to obtain State and Federal grant funding to reach their economic and community development goals. Flavio’s previous experience includes 7 years as a Compliance Team Lead at a Litigation Law firm and non-profit grant writing.

Lisa Viscusi is an educator, writer, and cultural curator. Originally from Pittsburgh and new to Youngstown, Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from John Carroll University and studied at DePaul University while living in Chicago. Lisa has spent her career working in non-profit fundraising, education for all ages, and public arts and culture programming. She believes in the power of thoughtful, creative, and generative community-building.

Gina is an Associate Consultant and Executive Administrator with KO Consulting, and focuses her time within the Government Department. She manages different municipality accounts, such as cities and school districts. Gina is an alumni of Girard High School (‘20) and Youngstown State University (‘23). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a double minor in English and Criminal Justice Studies.

Before joining KO Consulting, Gina previously interned for Congressman Tim Ryan’s office, as well as, worked on a campaign for a local State Representative. Her political background and experience has provided her with useful expertise in this line of work. Outside of the office, Gina loves spending time with her pets and friends, traveling, going to Youngstown State Football games, and cheering on her favorite sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers & Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cara is an Associate Consultant and Environmental Specialist at KO and a Warren, Ohio native. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability (EEDS) – with a specialization in Community Development – from The Ohio State University. EEDS is an interdisciplinary course of study, centered on the assessment and implementation of sustainability practices in our environment, economy and society.

At KO, Cara primarily works with nonprofits, helping them grow capacity and reach their fundraising and organizational goals. She is particularly interested in the intersection of sustainable and economic objectives to grow communities, and brings this perspective and her environmental expertise when assisting clients.

Matthew is an Associate Consultant in the Government Department at KO where he assists municipalities receive Local, State, and Federal grants. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Ohio State University in 2023 where he specialized in Urban Policy and Data Analytics. Matthew is dedicated to community and economic development, especially in the Mahoning Valley.

Prior to KO Consulting, Matthew worked at East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) and interned with Representative Tim Ryan in the US House of Representatives as well as in the Ohio House of Representatives with Ohio Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan. Beyond work and politics, Matthew is an avid Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Football fan.

As an Associate Consultant at KO Consulting, LLC, Carolyn Overton specializes in
communications and marketing strategies for clients in government municipalities, small businesses, and nonprofits. With a Master’s degree in Professional Communication from Youngstown State University, she leverages her expertise in digital marketing, organizational communication, and strategic planning to help clients achieve measurable outcomes through clear, impactful messaging.

Before joining KO Consulting, Carolyn worked as an Administrative Assistant at United Returning Citizens, supporting executive operations, event planning, and staff development. She also interned at the Better Business Bureau, where she managed the 50th Torch Awards and played a key role in securing KO Consulting’s BBB accreditation. Additionally, during her time as a Business Development Intern at OH WOW! Science Center, Carolyn focused on employee policy updates, onboarding, retention efforts, and tracking performance through project management tools. These experiences helped her hone skills in project management, content creation, and strategic planning.

Carolyn is certified in HubSpot Sales Management, Google Analytics, and Hootsuite, and is passionate about using digital tools to drive business growth. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her son, staying active by playing volleyball, crafting, and traveling. A lifelong learner, she also enjoys exploring new trends in technology and business, always on the lookout for ways to bring innovative solutions to her clients.

Niko is an Associate Consultant at KO and a native of Howland / Warren, Ohio. Graduating from Youngstown State University in 2024, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication (Persuasion) and Political Science (Pre-Law) as well as a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

Prior to joining KO, Niko was heavily involved within the YSU community. While serving as the University’s Student Government President, he frequently met with YSU administration and leaders to help foster and advocate for beneficial change for students. Additionally, as a Graduate Assistant / Strategic Planner for YSU’s Division of Workforce Education and Innovation, Niko investigated diverse higher education program strategies and other innovative approaches to bridge the gap between the workforce and post-secondary education. As a Graduate Assistant within the Office of Government Affairs, Niko conducted research on statewide legislation and programs for departmental leadership to assess impacts on the institution. Niko is beyond excited to utilize his previous experiences at YSU to assist our clients.

When outside of the office, you will likely find Niko reading, hanging with friends, playing cornhole, traveling, or rooting for Cleveland (Go Guards & Browns!).