Phalen Kuckuck

Phalen Kuckuck is the communications director for the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA). In this role he develops and implements strategies and executive messaging in alignment with ICBA's mission through proactive media relations execution with a focus on advocacy. He also works to elevate ICBA’s thought leaders and subject-matter experts leveraging a variety of channels.

Prior to joining ICBA he was a media relations lead at the Mercatus Center, where he promoted policy ideas of leading scholars including a former vice-chairman of the FDIC and president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve as well as a former general counsel at the SEC. Kuckuck previously held public affairs consulting roles at Penta Group and PLUS Communications, ran political campaigns in West Virginia, and served as a legislative assistant and then a lobbyist in the West Virginia capitol.

Phalen holds an MBA with top honors from Eastern University, with a thesis focused on public affairs lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, along with a graduate certificate in public policy from Pepperdine University and a B.A. from Ohio University.