Robert Kolt
Instructor
Phone: (517) 355-2314
Fax: (517) 432-2589
Room: 309 CAS Building
Email: kolt@msu.edu
Bio
is the president/CEO of Kolt Communications, Inc., a privately owned communications corporation with offices located in Okemos, Michigan. In 1991, Kolt Communications began providing a variety of communication counseling services to both public and private sector clients statewide including: public relations, advertising and media consulting. Robert Kolt is also an instructor in the Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing Department in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. Robert Kolt also serves as volunteer president of AARP Michigan, representing 1.4 million age 50+ residents in the state.
Kolt Communications has been recognized over the years with numerous communication awards for outstanding work, and today the firm provides counsel to a prestigious list of clients. Robert Kolt has been active as a media strategist for several statewide ballot issues, and worked as a media consultant and key political advisor to former Governor James J. Blanchard and former Secretary of State Richard H. Austin.
Prior to founding Kolt Communications, Robert Kolt worked as a civil servant in the role of executive for the Office of Communication in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). As MDOT Communication Executive, Kolt functioned as chief spokesperson for the 3,900-employee department with a $1.65 billion annual budget. Robert Kolt directed all staff and communication activities including: marketing, advertising, community and public relations efforts.
Robert Kolt came to MDOT from the Michigan Department of Treasury where he served as public affairs officer and spokesperson to the media. Kolt designed and implemented public relations and advertising efforts for the Michigan Education Trust (MET), the nation's premier college tuition guarantee program, and the Michigan Tax Amnesty effort, which resulted in a $110 million revenue windfall for the state. He served as the spokesperson to the media for all financial activities of the State of Michigan including $20 billion in employee pension fund investments.
Robert Kolt worked for numerous years as a news anchor and correspondent for WZZM-TV 13 ABC in Grand Rapids, as well as WWTV/WWUP-TV 9/10 CBS in northern Michigan. His reporting work appeared on several network news broadcasts including ABC & CNN.
Robert Kolt earned a master's degree in communication from Michigan State University and earned an undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University in broadcast & cinematic arts and journalism. Kolt began teaching at Michigan State University in 1993, and now serves as a full-time instructor teaching public relations techniques and ethics to students in the public relations specialization program. He co-authored a book titled, Managing Interpersonal Conflict. Robert Kolt is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Robert Kolt is involved in many community and philanthropic efforts. Along with his duties as president of AARP Michigan, Kolt is a board member of the Capital Region Community Foundation and is currently chair-elect of the board with a term as chair beginning in 2013. He serves on the board of the Michigan Nurses Foundation, which supports the nursing profession with educational scholarships and research. Robert Kolt has also served as a member of the board of the Capital Area United Way, and was a longtime member of the Lansing Rotary Club serving as president of the board of the Lansing Rotary Foundation. Robert Kolt has also served on the volunteer associates board of the Michigan State University Museum, and Kolt helped to establish the Lugnuts Charities, the charitable organization formed by the owners of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team.
Credentials
- MA in Communication,
Michigan State University - BA in Broadcast/Cinematic Arts & Journalism,
Central Michigan University