Natalie Bauer Luce is a seasoned crisis communications and public affairs strategist, with extensive experience at the intersection of government, law, politics and business. Over the course of her career, Bauer Luce has developed award-winning integrated marketing and communications campaigns for business leaders, elected officials and nonprofit advocacy organizations.
As President of Culloton + Bauer Luce, she guides the firm’s strategy and new business development and oversee high-profile client initiatives, including political issues advocacy campaigns, crisis management engagements and corporate reputation programs. Bauer Luce provides strategic counsel for corporate executives, nonprofit leaders and public officials across a broad range of industries including: healthcare, energy, technology, cannabis, construction & real estate development, professional sports, financial services and manufacturing.
Before starting her consulting practice, Bauer Luce oversaw communications for Uptake, which Forbes named "hottest startup of the year." During her tenure as Uptake's first strategic communications leader, she oversaw initiatives that earned the company recognition as a World Economic Forum "Technology Pioneer," and rankings on CNBC's “Disruptor 50” and Forbes' “Cloud 100." She has shared her insights gained at Uptake as an adviser to early-stage startups and as a mentor at 1871.
Previously, Bauer Luce served as a member of Attorney General Lisa Madigan's senior leadership team. She oversaw the administration's communications and outreach strategy and is credited with raising Madigan's national profile as a leading consumer advocate.
Early in her career, Bauer Luce counseled corporate teams on regulatory and legislative public affairs strategy, crafted messages for local and statewide political campaigns, and developed award-winning integrated marketing campaigns for leading advocacy organizations, including Unidos and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Bauer Luce started her career as a journalist covering government and politics for dailies including the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and The Olympian, and with CBS-affiliate WBBM's award-winning investigations team.
Bauer Luce is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Poynter Institute Fellow. She serves on the Board of Directors of the International Women’s Forum Chicago chapter and the Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois. She also is on the advisory boards for Chicago:Blend, an advocacy group that aims to recruit more women and underrepresented professionals into the technology sector, and the Center for Community Media at Governors State University. Bauer Luce is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and The Chicago Club.