Bo Kemp

Newark, New Jersey Business Administrator (Chief Operating Officer)

Bo spent the first decade of his professional career in finance with Morgan Stanley & Co. and TSG Capital Group, a private equity group. Then, after leading Cory A. Booker’s successful transition to the office of Mayor of Newark, N.J., Bo became the city’s Business Administrator (COO). In his three years with , Booker (now a U.S. Senator), Bo and the senior leadership team helped Newark evolve from a city close to bankruptcy to a community growing in population for the first time in 40 years.

In this role, Bo oversaw all 5,000 city employees and the operations of the city, including public safety (police and fire), economic development, child and family well-being, public works and administrative services. He also was responsible for all state and federal lobbying, union negotiations, and emergency management/ homeland security preparedness.

Senior Advisor to Mayor in Gary, Indiana

After leaving Newark, Bo returned to entrepreneurial endeavors until 2011, when he became senior advisor for another mayor, Karen Freeman-Wilson of Gary, Indiana, and executive director of the Gary Economic Development Corporation. Bo’s efforts in Gary included overseeing the Gary Sanitary District (waste and storm water), negotiating the city’s new residential waste collection contract, implementing the Mayor’s Clean Technology integrated waste and blight elimination strategy, and helping to guide and negotiate a $100 million public-private partnership with the Gary/Chicago International Airport. He also spearheaded neighborhood transformation through implementation of several federal and philanthropic grants.

Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting

Bo’s work at Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting has included P3 work with the Illinois Lottery, P3 work with electric vehicle infrastructure companies, growth strategies for philanthropic advocacy organizations as well as strategic and advisory work with other cities around the country.

Bo is a consulting professional within Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting, and does not act as a lawyer for clients.  Learn more about the Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting practice.

Personal Interests

Bo enjoys traveling and hopes to visit 100 countries in his lifetime. He’s a dangerous golfer (and not in the good way) but an aspiring aquaponics and micro farmer.