Storyteller in Motion. Communicator by Mission.

From finish lines to front pages—crafting narratives that move people

About Kevin

Kevin Montalvo is the proud son of Ecuadorian immigrants and a lifelong New Yorker, raised in of Queens. Best known as the Founder of Queens Distance Runners, he’s spent the last decade building community through grassroots races, including the Queens Marathon.

As a rising public relations professional, Kevin hopes to bring his passion for running to Japan—learning from its deeply resourced racing culture before returning home to elevate Queens' running scene on a global scale.

While friends went to Six Flags, Kevin was taken for day trips around New York City with his father. With a fascination for maps, and seeing the path less traveled, Kevin found himself fascinated with what the city had to offer beyond what we see in media.
On the simple premise that Queens lacked a true running calendar and community to call it’s own, along with his partner in life, Maria, the Queens Distance Runners aimed to introduce race events and networking opportunities.
Since 2013, Kevin has taken on jobs that allowed him the flexibility to prioritize the next steps for the Queens Distance Runners. From Personal Trainer, Housing Specialist, Copper Salesman, Social Media Manager to Construction Worker, Kevin’s path as a Communications professional was unconventional, but true to the core of every New Yorker.

Projects/The Process

ATTRACTION, NOT PROMOTION

Public Relations: The MILLER Framework

Enhancing Global Distance Running Metrics for Marketing Insights

Attraction, Not Promotion:

The Queens Marathon

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Informed by the Branding Campaigns course and principles from The Art & Craft of PR, Kevin shifted his thinking from traditional Promotion—communication designed to demand attention—to Attraction, where a brand organically draws people in through authenticity, consistency, and emotional connection. Rather than simply amplifying our message, he focused on building loyalty and curiosity around the Queens Marathon by creating meaningful experiences and leveraging media relationships built on mutual respect and shared values.

The Queens Marathon, QDR Half Marathon & 10K—our flagship event—embodies these principles. More than just a race, it’s a grassroots movement rooted in the unmatched diversity of Queens. Organized by a coalition of local leaders, it reflects the neighborhoods it runs through—from Astoria to the Rockaways. As the event prepares to expand to a new citywide route on December 7th, it stands as a growing symbol of what’s possible when community leads and media storytelling supports that vision.

Through this approach, earned media coverage was tripled in the last year alone, compared to all previous years since our founding in 2016. This wasn’t done through flashy promotion—it happened through relationships, relevance, and the patient work of building something people want to be a part of.

Communications Manager- Shekar Krishnan

January 2022- April 2025

Shekar Krishnan is the NYC Council Member for District 25, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Woodside, Queens, the most diverse immigrant communities in the world.

In 2022, Kevin stepped into the world of Communications through an opportunity with Council Member Shekar Krishnan, representing the most diverse district in New York City. As Communications Manager, he led the creation of a weekly newsletter that is now currently sent to 13,000 constituents—using insights from our team and Internal Communications class to deliver timely updates, media wins, and community flyers that made city government feel more accessible.

MILLER Framework

Mindset: Aligned every issue with the office’s core purpose: make government transparent, useful, and culturally responsive.

Insights: Mined staff knowledge and constituent feedback to learn what Jackson Heights & Elmhurst residents wanted most—clear service info, local wins, and multilingual resources.

Logistics: | Set a consistent weekly cadence in Mailchimp, built modular sections (legislation, media hits, event flyers), and ensured mobile-first, bilingual design.

Leadership: Secured the Council Member’s voice in each edition and trained district staff to feed hyper-local stories, creating shared ownership of the channel.

Evaluation: Tracked open rates, clicks, and event attendance; iterated layouts quarterly to keep engagement rising (now holding steady above 40% opens).

Revision: Used analytics and town-hall feedback to add new segments—mutual-aid spotlights, budget explainers, and immigrant-resource roundups—keeping content fresh and relevant.

This role taught Kevin how communications can be a powerful tool for advocacy: from expanding green spaces and uplifting immigrant communities to shaping conversations about equity and budget justice. Kevin used storytelling to build awareness around overlooked issues, while creating a platform that both informed and inspired action—from everyday New Yorkers to the institutions with the power to make change.

Learn more about Shekar

Enhancing Global Distance Running Metrics for Marketing Insights

As part of my graduate research project, Kevin conducted a self-directed, immersive study examining the intersections of distance running, community development, and brand marketing across global regions. My focus centered on Japan’s unique model of race organization, public-private collaboration, and cultural enthusiasm for running.
Over the course of seven visits to Japan, Kevin visited multiple prefectures with his partner Maria, participating in races, attending expos, and conducting informal interviews with race directors, runners, and local officials. These immersive experiences served as primary field research, allowing him to observe and engage firsthand with Japan’s running culture.
Kevin and Maria traveled as ambassadors of the Queens Distance Runners, promoting our New York City-based races, and advocating for cultural exchange through sport. In several cases, they were able to forge long-term relationships and invite Japanese runners to participate in our Queens-based events—bringing a piece of their world back to our community.
One of the most striking features of the Japanese running scene is the reliability and accessibility of public transit, which supports a steady rhythm of weekly races throughout the country. This infrastructure is not only a marvel in itself—it plays a critical role in democratizing access to racing opportunities for runners of all levels.
Kevin’s research highlighted how Japanese races are often supported by corporate sponsors, municipalities, and national brands. These partnerships provide essential funding, branding, and logistical support, resulting in high-quality events that also serve local economic and civic goals. This synergistic model stands in stark contrast to the fragmented and often underfunded racing ecosystems in cities like New York.
Item deI employed a qualitative research methodology grounded in ethnographic immersion, relational storytelling, brand analysis, and cross-cultural observation. This process allowed me to gather data not just on outcomes, but on lived experiences, values, and infrastructures that shape the global running ecosystem.
This research began with a central question: What makes a running culture sustainable and inclusive? To answer that, I had to leave my own community in Queens and engage deeply with another. What Kevin brought back wasn’t just data—it was a vision for how intentional design, corporate support, and community values can work together to build a more inclusive and thriving running landscape back home in Queens.