JOSEPH KOHOUT

Joe Kohout, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, serves as the Managing Partner of Kissel, Kohout, ES Associates LLC. He has been a registered lobbyist before the Nebraska Legislature since 2002, where he has secured significant successes for the firm’s diverse portfolio of clients.

Before joining the firm, Joe served as a Legislative Aide in the Nebraska Legislature, gaining valuable expertise in committee operations, the legislative process, and constituent services.

Since entering private practice, Joe has worked closely with clients to develop and advocate for legislation that advances their goals. His achievements include the creation of the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act, securing consistent state funding for Nebraska’s CASA system, and successfully defeating legislation that would have imposed major financial burdens on counties and halted infrastructure development across the state.

Joe is a member of both the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Omaha Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. His professional practice is devoted entirely to government affairs and management of the firm.

Along with former Nebraska Governor Charles Thone and Kristin Crawford, Joe co-authored the Nebraska chapter of the State Capital Group’s “Lobbying, PACs, and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook on Lobbying Laws and Regulations in the Individual States.”

Outside of his professional life, Joe enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Additional Information

  • Graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science and History in 1998 and the Creighton University School of Law in 2004.

  • Served as Legislative Aide to former Senator John Hilgert.

  • Former Member of the Nebraska Regional Advisory Board for the ALS Association.

  • Former President, Vice President and Treasurer of Phi Delta Theta’s Walter B. Palmer Foundation for Chapter Housing.

  • Current Member, North Hall Properties Board of Directors and chair of the Property Management Committee.

  • Current Member of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Academic Decathlon Foundation.

  • Former Vice President of the Board of Directors of Partnerships in Aging and former President of Sokol Omaha.

  • Member, Creighton University School of Law Advisory Board

  • Served on the Mayor’s Fair Housing Advisory Board pursuant to an appointment by former Mayor Mike Fahey.

  • Class Ambassador for Creighton Preparatory School Class of 1994 and Co-Chair of Creighton Preparatory School’s 2023 annual BASH fundraiser.

  • Married to Victoria Kohout who serves as Chief of External Relations for the University of Nebraska at Omaha

  • With Victoria, he has two sons, Jackson - a student at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln - and Harrison - a student at Creighton Preparatory School.

MY STRENGTHS

As noted on Gallup’s home page, the Clifton StrengthsFinder identifies what we naturally do best. It provides customized results that name our unique talents. It shows us how to succeed by turning our talents into strengths.  Here are the “power and edge” of my talents, according to the StrengthsFinder:

Context.
People exceptionally talented in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past.  They understand the present by researching its history.

Relator.
People exceptionally talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others.   They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

Deliberative. 
People exceptionally talented in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices.  They anticipate obstacles.

Significance.
People exceptionally talented in the Significance theme want to make a big impact.   They are independent and prioritize projects based on how much influence they will have on their organization or people around them.

Achiever. 
People exceptionally talented in the Achiever theme work hard and possess a great deal of stamina.  They take immense satisfaction in being busy and productive.

Contact Me Directly

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