Kathleen M. Shanahan has a distinguished background in business, politics, and public service. As chief executive officer of WRSCompass, she has overseen the environmental management and construction company’s strong growth. WRSCompass was named an industry leader in safety and accident prevention by the National Safety Council. Along with her work at WRSCompass, Shanahan serves as a member of the Florida State Board of Education, and she was recently appointed to the Florida Energy Action Team. Other philanthropic endeavors include serving as pro bono advisor to the Florida Coalition for Domestic Violence, the National Parks Foundation Board, the Lincoln Center Institute Board, and the Board of Lime – an organization devoted to integrating people with disabilities into the workforce.

Prior to joining WRSCompass, Shanahan was President of Irish ROSE Consulting, LLC, and served as a senior consultant to former New York Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer John Thain. From January 2001 to November 2003, she was Chief of Staff for Florida Governor Jeb Bush. She also served as Chief of Staff for Vice President-elect Dick Cheney during the 2000 presidential campaign and transition. Shanahan gained additional business experience as a senior vice president at Paine Webber. While at Paine Webber she received her Masters of Business Administration from New York University Stern School of Management.

Additionally, Shanahan has served in high ranking government roles that include; Deputy Secretary of the Trade and Commerce Agency, California, special assistant to then Vice President George Bush, and staff assistant on President Reagan's National Security Council. She was the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign deputy campaign in California, deputy GOP convention director for the 1988 George Bush for President Campaign, and Governor Pete Wilson's re-election manager.

She also received an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego.

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