Prior to joining President Obama’s Administration, he was the Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and was in charge of finance and administration.

In the early seventies, Kerr moved to Washington, DC to do political and legislative work for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

During the Clinton Administration he worked for both Secretaries Reich and Herman at the Department of Labor, overseeing various agencies and ultimately serving as Wage and Hour Administrator.

After graduating from college, Kerr spent two and a half years in community organizing as a VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America). He has a BA from Tufts University and a Masters in City Planning from MIT.