Kurt Etheridge
Kurt Etheridge is MRC’s Senior Writer of Development Communications. Joining the MRC in 2020, he is responsible for writing, editing, and overseeing correspondence to MRC donors and grassroots supporters.
Kurt’s road to the MRC is different than most. His background is primarily in marketing, broadcast communication, and entertainment. “As a creative marketer, I had a penchant for the written word. And yes, I used the word ‘penchant’ to prove I can write well,” he says jokingly. “It’s all about the hifalutin vernacular!”
After graduating from James Madison University with a B.A. in Management, Kurt returned to his home in Virginia Beach. He began a radio career, working in Sports, Top 40, and Country as a broadcaster, then marketer. “I loved working at Eagle 97. The country music audience is down-to-earth, friendly, and patriotic.” Kurt then jumped into the newspaper business to become spokesperson and marketing specialist at The Virginian-Pilot. “Enjoyed it immensely. Such a professional atmosphere, and seriously, I did not find any bias in that newsroom. Just committed journalists dedicated to the truth. If they could all be like that.” While at The Pilot, Kurt won numerous copywriting awards for print, TV, and radio ad copy.
After the newspaper, Kurt spent a decade as a mobile DJ/marketing director for Astro Entertainment. In 2020, Kurt moved from his hometown Virginia Beach to Manassas, Va., after his wife got her dream job in D.C. “I was starting my own DJ business and COVID hit. Time to hang up my headphones and ply my passions elsewhere.” That overarching passion was Kurt’s love for conservatism and the Constitution. "I inherited a love for animals from my mom and a love of country from my dad. My father was a man’s man, a former paratrooper in the 82nd airborne, an entrepreneur, a principled conservative, and an absolute patriot.” As a youngster, after his father took him to see William F. Buckley, Jr. speak, Kurt just couldn’t digest enough politics. “I was probably the only teenager watching Crossfire at the time. Pat Buchanan was a rock star to me.”
Then came Ronald Reagan and Rush Limbaugh. “The conservative movement was reborn and solidified by these two men. I think if they dedicated a 'Mount Rushmore' to modern conservatives, in addition to Rush and Reagan, you would have to add President Trump.” And the 4th countenance? “Brent Bozell. I’m a fan.”
When the opportunity at the MRC opened, Kurt jumped on it. “It was a culmination of all my experiences that led me here. The mission, the people — it is an amazing and supportive atmosphere. The talent in this building is phenomenal. An amazing place to work. My parents would be so proud that I landed at the MRC.” Kurt adds, “And our supporters are the salt of the earth — spirited patriots.”
Kurt is married with two children and two dogs. His Yorkshire terriers have a unique gift. “I taught them to sniff out and bark at liberals. They are like a Woke Warning System. Here in Northern Virginia, well, they bark a lot,” he jokes. He is the world’s #1 Arizona Cardinals fan and a lifelong ACC Basketball fan. He says, “I’m the rare breed who likes Carolina AND Duke!” In Formula One racing, Kurt throws his weight behind Scuderia Ferrari. He also cheers for the hometown Washington Nationals.
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