As the leader of Werth’s public affairs practice, Karl Gebhardt offers extensive experience in public affairs, government relations and policy formation and implementation. He provides strategic counsel in government relations, issues management, statewide ballot initiatives and community relations to clients with a focus on natural resources, energy, land use and economic development.

Before joining Werth, Mr. Gebhardt was the president of Teater-Gebhardt & Associates, a natural resource management and policy-consulting firm where he represented a variety of private and public-sector clients in the Ohio legislature, Congress, local government and state and federal agencies.

Beginning his 37-year career at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Mr. Gebhardt has held executive positions with the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives. He also served in the administrations of four Ohio Governors.

Mr. Gebhardt is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on policy formation, lobbying, grassroots campaign organizing, natural resource management and economic development. He has served on a variety of policy organizations and advisory councils, including The Ohio State University Rural-Urban Policy Advisory Council, the Natural Resource Conservation State Technical Committee, the Ohio Water Planning and Policy Advisory Council, the Water Management Association of Ohio and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Environmental Advisory Committee.

Karl R. Gebhardt, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
MA, Public Policy and Management, The Ohio State University