A graduate of the University of Southern California’s Intergovernmental Masters

Program and the Coro Foundation Public

Affairs Institute, Kerman Maddox has      extensive experience in strategic planning,    media relations, community outreach and political guidance. Maddox has worked with numerous elected officials, legislative and governmental agencies, business organi-       zations and non-profit groups. He served as        a legislative aide to Congresswoman Maxine Waters, senior advisor to Mayor Tom       Bradley, consultant to Los Angeles Mayor            Antonio Villaraigosa, National Finance         Committee Member for President Barack            Obama and television commentator for PBS       & KCBS Television.       

As Managing Partner for Dakota Communications, Maddox develops strategic planning and media and public outreach programs for corporations, governmental agencies, faith based institutions, academic institutions and political candidates. He has served as a consultant and advisor for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, State Controller Steve Westly,      City Controller Wendy Greuel and Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn. Maddox still serves       on the National Finance Committee for        President Barack Obama and is an At-Large (Super) Delegate to the Democratic National       Committee.  

Kerman has worked on numerous outreach programs to increase minority participation         in enrollment, employment and contracting opportunities with governmental agencies, private businesses and major corporations.          In fact, when the Staples Center began      construction of their Arena, Maddox was      retained to recruit qualified minority and      women contractors who could assist in the development of Staples Center Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

Maddox has developed numerous strategic planning and communication programs for corporations, small businesses, governmental agencies and community organizations.

Maddox formerly served as the Chair of the Open Access Alliance, an organization      dedicated to making the Internet and the information highway available, affordable          and accessible to all consumers, but        especially those in low-income communities.

In addition to his numerous accomplishments     in public affairs, Maddox teaches political        science at the Unruh Institute for Politics at       the University of Southern California and for        the Los Angeles Community College District.  Maddox serves as the Chairperson of the          Political Outreach Committee at First AME Church, serves on the board of directors of        the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce and the African          American Summit on Violence Prevention. 

Maddox formerly served as the Emmy Award-winning co-host of the PBS public affairs program “Life & Times”. In 2001, he was given the outstanding community service award by First AME Church. In 2002, he was recognized by the NAACP as a positive male role model and in 2003 the California Democratic Party recognized him as Democrat of the Year. Recently, Kerman was honored as the African American Businessman of the Year for 2008 by the African American Chamber of Commerce. Kerman provides television commentary to KCAL Channel 9 & KTLA Channel 5.