Seattle, Washington, United States
Experienced government relations, public affairs and strategic communications professional with decades of experience in local, state and federal public affairs. Experience includes work as the lobbyist for the City of Seattle to working on community engagement at Sea-Tac Airport, from decades with Seattle Public Utilities to time on Capitol Hill.
Oversee development of legislation and carry out legislative strategy for Seattle Public Utilities’ drinking water, drainage and wastewater and solid waste lines of business; develop and maintain strong relationships with City Council members, legislative staff and the Seattle Mayor’s office; brief City Council members and represent the Executive’s position on utility legislation; coordinate City Council and Mayor’s office staff briefings to ensure consistency with legislative strategy; write talking points and other briefing materials for the mayor and city council members; advise the SPU General Manager on legislative strategies to achieve business objectives; serve as the utility’s liaison on federal issues and lead internal processes to identify the utility’s federal priorities.
Managed the City of Seattle’s federal relations program for all departments, the Mayor’s office and City Council; oversaw department relationships and interactions with federal agencies to assure consistency with City strategy; staff the mayor at U.S. Conference of Mayors meetings and council members for the National League of Cities; made presentations about the City’s federal priorities and strategy to the city council; developed the City of Seattle’s federal earthquake recovery strategy which included meeting with the White House Chief of Staff and culminated in a $13 million appropriation for two key City of Seattle recovery projects.
Managed Port of Seattle’s government relations and community outreach strategy for local governments affected by construction of a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport; developed and maintained relationships with elected officials from five airport-area cities and the Highline School District; provided staff assistance to elected port commissioners on airport issues; wrote press releases and conducted media relations for Sea-Tac airport; Developed and implemented community relations plans for Sea-Tac’s Third Runway development project and the airport’s year 2000 aircraft noise study amendment.
January 1995 – January 1997 Coordinated planning activities of five Washington government agencies working on a 25-mile, bi-state light rail project in the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan region; managed relations between Washington jurisdictions and their counterparts with regional partners in Oregon; supervised Growth management planning for Clark County’s only transit agency; wrote speeches, talking points and briefing materials for city and country council members and other elected board members; supervised staff of five.
Managed community engagement activities a multi-year, county-wide community involvement and education campaign for a $237 million light rail construction project in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area; supervised growth management planning and coordinated staff activities of five state and local jurisdictions for Washington State portion of a 25-mile, bi-state light rail project.
Managed Washington, D.C. legislative staff for a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and served as staff aide to the committee; drafted several successful amendments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, surface transportation and aviation legislation; oversaw policy development and recommendations to the congressman; served as media spokesman communications advisor;