Team

Founding Partner
margie@intesacom.com 

Margie Newman Tsay is founding partner of Intesa Communications Group. On speed-dial for high-profile leaders in San Diego and beyond, Margie’s impressive industry know-how, reputation management expertise and unmatched energy drive success for Intesa’s clients again and again. Her career has spanned public, private, government and nonprofit entities, including serving as a press aide to former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, and as media relations and social media manager for The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C.

Currently, Margie serves as the Board Chair of the YMCA of San Diego County, the largest Y in the country. Her volunteer service also includes the boards of LEAD San Diego (IMPACT ’15 & INFLUENCE ’17), the Downtown San Diego Partnership and La Jolla Country Day School. She also is a member of the Sharp HealthCare Marketing Committee.

Margie’s confidence-building and reputation-enhancing successes regularly receive nods from associations and publications at the local and national level. She’s been named among San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year numerous times, and was the International Association of Business Communicators San Diego 2018 Communicator of the Year.
A proud graduate of Auburn University – war eagle! – Margie is a charismatic and in-demand leader, public speaker, event emcee, and podcast guest. Still, her greatest joy comes from her family – Kai, Owen, Jake, Suzie and CJ.

Partner
maddy@intesacom.com 

Maddy Kilkenny is a powerhouse in government affairs, leading Intesa’s work to connect clients with the communities they serve. With extensive experience in both local government and the private sector, Maddy is the go-to expert for developing and executing impactful strategies that bridge the gap between organizations and the community.

Before joining Intesa, Maddy spent 11 years honing her expertise as a policy advisor and deputy chief of staff for County Supervisor Greg Cox. Her passion for public service led her to join Intesa Communications Group as partner, where she now manages complex projects across land use, higher education and non-profit management. Maddy’s focus is always on building strong relationships and delivering creative solutions to challenging issues.

Throughout her impressive career, Maddy has been instrumental in several landmark initiatives, including the creation of San Pasqual Academy, 211 San Diego, the SDSU Mission Valley project, and the innovative Cross Border Xpress (CBX). Her commitment to community is further reflected in her service on the executive boards of the USS Midway Museum, Civic San Diego, Civic Community Partners, and her appointment to the Oceanside Chamber Board of Directors in 2024.

Recognized for her leadership and community engagement, Maddy was named one of San Diego’s “40 under 40” by San Diego Metropolitan magazine in 2018 and honored as one of the San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year in 2022. Outside of her professional endeavors, Maddy cherishes time with her husband, Sean, and their two young sons in Carlsbad where they call home.

Senior Director, Public Relations
nancy@intesacom.com 

Maddy Kilkenny is a powerhouse in government affairs, leading Intesa’s work to connect clients with the communities they serve. With extensive experience in both local government and the private sector, Maddy is the go-to expert for developing and executing impactful strategies that bridge the gap between organizations and the community.

Before joining Intesa, Maddy spent 11 years honing her expertise as a policy advisor and deputy chief of staff for County Supervisor Greg Cox. Her passion for public service led her to join Intesa Communications Group as partner, where she now manages complex projects across land use, higher education and non-profit management. Maddy’s focus is always on building strong relationships and delivering creative solutions to challenging issues.

Throughout her impressive career, Maddy has been instrumental in several landmark initiatives, including the creation of San Pasqual Academy, 211 San Diego, the SDSU Mission Valley project, and the innovative Cross Border Xpress (CBX). Her commitment to community is further reflected in her service on the executive boards of the USS Midway Museum, Civic San Diego, Civic Community Partners, and her appointment to the Oceanside Chamber Board of Directors in 2024.

Recognized for her leadership and community engagement, Maddy was named one of San Diego’s “40 under 40” by San Diego Metropolitan magazine in 2018 and honored as one of the San Diego Business Journal’s Business Women of the Year in 2022. Outside of her professional endeavors, Maddy cherishes time with her husband, Sean, and their two young sons in Carlsbad where they call home.

Senior Director, Goverrnment Relations
kenneth@intesacom.com

Kenneth Moore directs Intesa’s government relations, public affairs and community outreach programs across the San Diego region. In this role, Kenneth develops and oversees multi-faceted campaigns in the land use, energy, tourism, non-profit and infrastructure industries.

Over his more than a decade-long career with top Southern California public affairs agencies, Kenneth has forged broad-based coalitions, developed inclusive outreach and education programs, and helped secure decisive victories at both the local government level and at the ballot box. Kenneth’s strategic leadership has achieved successful outcomes on behalf of San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Padres, SANDAG, Conrac Solutions, Brookfield Properties, San Diego County Water Authority, and Interfaith Community Services, among many others.

Kenneth serves as the chair of the board of directors for I Love a Clean San Diego, as well as the Public Policy Committee of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. His achievements have earned him recognition as a 2022 “Next Top Business Leader Under 40” by the San Diego Business Journal and a 2023 “40 Under 40” by San Diego Metropolitan magazine. His professional excellence is further reflected in over 30 awards from organizations including the American Association of Political Consultants, Public Relations Society of America, California Association of Water Agencies,  American Marketing Association and the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in managerial organizational communications and a minor in public relations from Point Loma Nazarene University. A lifelong San Diegan, Kenneth loves exploring San Diego’s best restaurants, snow skiing, sailing or playing a set of tennis.

Director of Strategic Communications
mlc@intesacom.com 

Margaret Lutz Chantung is a dynamic force in strategic communications, joining Intesa Communications Group in January 2024 as the director of strategic communications with nearly 20 years of experience in the field. Before stepping into her role at Intesa, Margaret spent 16 transformative years at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), where she served as the chief communications officer, a cabinet-level position that underscored her strategic vision and leadership.

At CSUSM, Margaret led an award-winning team responsible for a broad range of high-impact departments, including news and media relations, internal communications, branding and marketing, social media, and executive communications. She led strategic communications for major events and initiatives such as commencement, state of the university events, fundraising galas and national symposiums. Margaret also managed crisis communications and reputation management efforts that shaped the university’s public image and outreach.

Margaret’s career began in public affairs and community relations at the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. She holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Riverside.

A dedicated North San Diego County resident since 2009 and a second-generation Southern Californian, Margaret is actively involved in her community as the treasurer of the Rotary Club of San Marcos. She is also involved with her profession as a member of CAPIO and serves on the CUMU Task Force on the Role and Impact of Urban and Metropolitan Campuses.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she loves to spend her time reading, knitting (sometimes at the same time!), and planning her next travel adventure—catching the Northern Lights in Iceland is at the top of her list!

Senior Account Managegr
chelsey@intesacom.com  

Chelsey leads communications, media and marketing strategies for Intesa’s clients as the senior account manager.

Chelsey brings a unique skill set to the team, blending creativity and business strategy with a background in the arts and an MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Point Loma Nazarene University. Prior to joining Intesa, Chelsey was the marketing manager at the world-renowned Salvador Dalí Museum in Florida. In her role at the museum, Chelsey led key marketing, brand and communication strategies, and developed full-funnel advertising campaigns for frequent special exhibitions curated from top worldwide collections. Her expertise extends to creative development, tourism marketing, special events, fundraising communications and market research.

Fun fact about Chelsey: in addition to her business acumen, she is also an accomplished artist. She has been painting since the age of two when she created her first watercolor “masterpiece” for her dad’s Navy ship stateroom. As the founder of Chelsey Kamen Art, she continues to tell stories and capture moments through her vibrant, nature-inspired artwork, which has been featured in galleries and by retailers such as Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn, along with various designer showcases.

Born in Hawaii, Chelsey has lived in many places throughout the US and extensively traveled internationally as part of a Navy family. When she is not working or painting, she loves to cook, run, hike, ski, travel and find new adventures. Ask her about the time she went shark-cage diving.

Office Manager

Kathryn Binney is a purpose-driven leader who recently joined the Intesa team as Office Manager, bringing her experience from the vibrant San Diego Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. She excels at building connections and creating meaningful impact. With a sharp eye for detail and exceptional organizational skills, Kathryn has built a career focused on fostering teamwork, enhancing productivity and nurturing strong relationships with colleagues and clients alike.

Kathryn approaches every project with energy, creativity and a healthy dose of fun. Whether she’s streamlining workflows, planning events, forging partnerships or inspiring her team, she believes in the power of small, intentional actions to spark big, meaningful results.

With over 15 years in office management, Kathryn has led dynamic projects, executed numerous trade shows and events and has earned a reputation as a reliable and inspiring collaborator. For her, success isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about creating lasting value and making a difference.

When Kathryn isn’t busy driving results in the workplace, she’s embracing life’s adventures with the same passion and purpose. From exploring the vibrant markets of Morocco to driving deep into Baja California, she’s always up for a journey that expands her horizons. A lover of all thing’s health and wellness, she’s constantly exploring the latest trends in beauty and self-care.

Kathryn takes the most pride in her role as a mom to two amazing daughters. Fueled by family, global adventures and her love for animals, she lives with curiosity and a commitment to leaving every space better than she found it.

Communications and Social Media Intern
haijay@intesacom.com

HaiJay is a senior at San Diego State University (Go Aztecs!), where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a minor in digital and social media studies. HaiJay brings incredible enthusiasm and boundless creativity to the Intesa team. In her internship, she’ll demonstrate and learn best practices in digital and social media management, content creation, strategic communications and media relations.

Beyond the classroom, she serves as the vice president of finance for SDSU’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and works part-time for SDSU ticket operations. Her academic and extracurricular experiences have deepened her love for public speaking, interpersonal communication, networking and research.

HaiJay was born and raised in Orange County. As she embarks on her professional journey, she is focused on developing her expertise and growing her career in the PR industry.

When she is not working or attending school, she enjoys attending country concerts and sports games, going to the beach, traveling in and out of the country and reading books.