Menjivar is an experienced relationship and coalition builder who successfully bridges the needs of businesses, non-profits, and public agencies.

Los Angeles, CA – Michael Menjivar has joined Strategies 360 as Vice President of Government Relations for Southern California. He brings over a decade of experience in campaigns, fundraising, and advocacy at both local and statewide levels. With a focus on education, housing, and labor issues, Menjivar has developed a strong reputation for building relationships across interests – aligning people and causes.

“Michael is a passionate advocate known for finding win-win solutions that bring people together to advance political and policy goals,” said Jeremy Oberstien, Senior Vice President of S360’s Southern California practice. “Our clients will benefit from his great relationships, knowledge of the local issues, and skills in navigating multiple interests on some of LA’s biggest challenges.”

Most recently, Menjivar acted as Director of Strategic Relations for Central City Association of Los Angeles where he led the development of relationships across LA’s business and non-profit community. Before this, he served the Los Angeles Unified School District where he collaborated across government offices, labor and union associations, non-profits, business, and advocates, guiding the board of directors for the country’s second largest school district as they navigated policies and the changing landscape for education in the wake of the pandemic.

Menjivar has spent time working with housing advocates as the Public Policy Organizer for the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing and campaigned as a Field Director for the AFL-CIO. He began his career in progressively advancing roles in the University of California, Los Angeles’ development department, concluding his service to the university as Director of Development.

“Our practice in California is made stronger with Michael’s addition on our team,” said Andrea Deveau, President of S360, California. “His work with some of the state’s largest, most impactful institutions will offer meaningful insights and relationships for our clients across our five state offices.”

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley to parents who immigrated from El Salvador, Menjivar is a bi-lingual English and native Spanish speaker. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from UCLA and is a regular volunteer with local groups including serving as President of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats and Chapter Director of the New Leaders Council in Los Angeles. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Abundant Housing Los Angeles, LA County Democratic Party Central Committee, as an appointed delegate to the CA State Democratic Party Central Committee, and as Controller of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley.

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Former California Assemblymember Tom Daly and Government Affairs expert Debbie Daly join Strategies 360 as a team with over three decades serving Orange County at the local and statewide levels.

Sacramento, CA – Tom and Debbie Daly have joined Strategies 360s California team, as Senior Vice Presidents, bringing over three decades of deep political and business experiences to the company; Tom as an elected official and Debbie as a government affairs strategist. The Daly’s are known for finding collaborative solutions to local and regional issues, building relationships across multiple interests, and successfully delivering large, economically beneficial projects for their community.

“Tom and Debbie are stalwart public servants who have done incredible things for Orange County and the state of California,” said Andrea Deveau, President of S360 California. “Their impact is felt not only at a local and statewide level, but also with visitors across the globe whose experience of Orange County has been unforgettably impacted because of Tom and Debbie’s vision and work. They are a dynamic team that will successfully support our clients’ most ambitious projects.”

Tom Daly has joined S360 after stepping away from the California Legislature where he served a ten-year period in the State Assembly representing the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Orange. He was an influential, respected official on infrastructure matters, budget issues and insurance industry policies.  As Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee for eight years, he led efforts to resolve many contentious regulatory and consumer disputes.

As the Mayor of Anaheim (1992 – 2002), Daly is considered one of the most influential leaders in the city’s history. He oversaw major public and private investments in the city, including the dramatic creation of the Anaheim Resort. This included the new, expanded Disney Resort as well as a major expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center, with transformational transportation and beautification features.

Known as a prominent local lobbyist in Orange County with a record of problem-solving on behalf of wide-ranging business and governmental interests, Debbie Daly has represented noteworthy clients such as the John Wayne Family, Commonwealth Partners, AECOM and the Orange County Transportation Authority. She has worked on winning local and state campaigns, organized successful community projects, and served as a co-chair of the Orange County Public Affairs Association. She also served as a District Director for Orange County State Assemblymember Jose Solorio and earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Chapman University School of Law.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tom and Debbie as a powerhouse team to our firm,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “With their history in Orange County and proven track record of getting big things done, combined with S360’s award-winning team of professionals, our clients can be confident that their priorities are in capable hands.” 

As a co-equal team, Debbie and Tom will offer an extensive network of relationships and longstanding reputations of integrity to deliver results. They’ll work closely with S360’s offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and across the firm’s footprint to curate and services to best deliver victories for each client’s unique projects.

You can learn more about Tom here and Debbie here.

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Scolari joins the firm as Vice President of Government Relations bringing over two decades of advocacy experience, with deep expertise in important public policy arenas such as gaming, cannabis, renewable energy, and land use.

Las Vegas, NV – Strategies 360’s Nevada practice expands with the addition of government relations expert Brett Scolari. With over twenty years of experience, Brett has a proven track record of navigating complex regulatory frameworks through a blend of relationship building, legal knowledge, political savvy, and policy expertise. In his role as Vice President of Government Relations for S360 Nevada, Brett will advocate on behalf of clients to advance their interests in the Nevada Legislature and with key stakeholders at every level of government.

“Brett is a difference maker with a deep network of relationships and unmatched understanding of the government relations landscape,” said John Oceguera, Executive Vice President of S360 Nevada. “He will be a great asset to our clients here in Nevada and across S360’s footprint.”

Brett previously served as General Counsel and Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Tryke Companies where he oversaw their day-to-day legal, regulatory, political and government affairs activities and strategies. As part of Tryke’s founding Executive Team, he helped guide the company from a start-up to a pioneering 500+ employee organization. With over seven years of direct regulated cannabis experience and previous experience in land use, regulated liquor, gaming and privileged licensing markets, Brett successfully managed the legal and regulatory issues for the company and its multiple licensed operations in the states of Utah, Nevada and Arizona. This included overseeing Tryke’s critically important interactions with government agencies and elected officials in the highly regulated cannabis industry and leading the organization through a recent acquisition.

“I am impressed with Brett’s depth and breadth of work in government relations and am excited to welcome him to our industry leading team in Nevada,” said Ron Dotzauer. “He brings experience not only in regulated liquor, gaming, cannabis, and other privileged licensing markets, but also in land use and permitting, as well as clean energy. As the western US continues to lead in these emerging and growing sectors, Brett’s knowledge will be a critical asset for our clients.”

After earning his law degree from the Santa Clara University, Brett worked in private law practice in Nevada. He began his practice and was mentored at the Nevada based law firm Jones Vargas, focusing on state regulatory, land use, privileged licensing, gaming, taxation, redevelopment, clean energy and many other state and local government issues. Later on in his career he helped build the government affairs practice for Gordon Silver LLP. He also represented the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitor’s Authority for over ten years as its outside general counsel.

You can contact Brett at BrettS@strategies360.com

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Patricia Sanders joins S360 with over a decade of government and public affairs service for LA sports franchises and elected officials.

Los Angeles, CA – Strategies 360 welcomes Patricia Sanders as the Vice President of Government Relations for the firm’s Southern California practice. Sanders brings a deep understanding of local and statewide policies and is well-positioned to provide strategic insights on legislative analysis and advocacy. Her wide-ranging expertise includes land-use and transportation infrastructure, public safety, sports and entertainment, energy and environment, and community engagement.

“Patricia has a profoundly high-level of expertise on the most important issues that affect Southern California,” said Jeremy Oberstein, Senior Vice President of S360’s southern California practice. “Patricia’s commitment and deep well of knowledge to not just understand the issues but help shape public policy will allow S360 to continue working with clients to improve the landscapes of transportation, infrastructure, homelessness and housing throughout the region. We are thrilled she’s part of our team.”

Before joining S360, Sanders led the government affairs and community relations efforts on behalf of two of Los Angeles’ most storied sports franchises —the Dodgers and Galaxy. In these roles, Sanders was responsible for identifying, advancing, and representing the teams’ interests at the federal, state, regional, and local levels of government while engaging with and earning the support of numerous business and community stakeholder groups to elevate the organizations’ impact and influence across the country.

Prior to beginning her career in professional sports, Sanders served as a Policy Director for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, where she focused on a diverse portfolio of issues including city services, energy and environment, Homeland Security, and public safety.  Her experience also includes working as Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino’s advisor on all trade and infrastructure policy matters and as a Legislative Aide at the Port of Los Angeles.

“Patricia is an exciting addition to our team,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “She has extensive relationships across the state and deep knowledge of the public policies that inform her strategies for each client.”

A lifetime Los Angeleno, Sanders holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Humboldt State University.

Get in touch with Patricia at patricias@strategies360.com

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This annual Seattle Kraken camp in Anchorage was part of the multi-year deal S360 helped negotiate between BBNC and the Seattle Kraken. Strategies 360 began exploring partnership opportunities with NHL Seattle in February 2020. For more than a year, we worked on developing a strong relationship to move Bristol Bay Native Corporation towards a partnership that was mutually beneficial to all parties. Once NHL Seattle officially became the Seattle Kraken, the details of that partnership took shape. That included one of the 13 food marketplaces within the new Climate Pledge Arena that serves wild Bristol Bay salmon and Bering Sea cod.

S360’s multi-year and multi-service engagement

Communications and Media

S360 led the announcement for the partnership from Anchorage, Alaska on June 15, 2021. With local youth hockey players as the backdrop, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Lieweke and BBNC CEO Jason Metrokin shared the news with the world. S360 ran media relations, communications, community engagement & digital marketing for the announcement. The event garnered significant media coverage across Alaska.

On September 15, 2021, at an event at Seattle Center, S360 led the announcement for the new “Bristol Bay Wild Market” which includes a menu serving Bristol Bay salmon and Bering Sea cod dishes to millions of arena visitors each year. The marketplace is a joint venture with BBNC, Bristol Wild Seafood Company and Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA). The event coordinated by S360 included Climate Pledge Arena executive chef Molly DeMers, BBNC CEO Jason Metrokin and the infamous Pike Place Market fish tossers.

S360 ran media relations, communications, community engagement & digital marketing for this announcement as well.

Branding and Design
The S360 design, marketing & communications teams also led the creation of the actual marketplace as well as the messaging/branding for the marketplace and the partnership. S360’s design team created a full brand for the marketplace from scratch. Blending elements of BBNC’s visual identity and brand narrative, the Bristol Bay Wild Market is instantly aligned with the organization while offering a distinct point of view that celebrates the regional food culture. We created a space that not only highlighted the food, but also the people of the Bristol Bay region. Visitors to the marketplace will get the chance to learn about sustainably sourced wild fish while picking up their food.

Continued success

Strategies 360 deeply values the incredible partnership of cultures and communities that has arisen from the BBNC and Seattle Kraken relationship. S360 proudly supports projects that add a multitude of benefits for the communities in which we serve and look forward to the continued success of the Kraken and BBNC. Our teams have the skills and passion to support complex projects wielding our full suite of services to deliver successful results.

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Gina Plate brings over a decade of education expertise across California to her role as S360’s Senior Vice President of Education Services for the state.

Sacramento, CA — Gina Plate has joined Strategies S360 to lead Education Services in California. With unapparelled experience working in all manner of education in the state, Gina brings an understanding and familiarity to a complex sector. In her role as Senior Vice President of Education Services, she will advise clients in the education sector on policy and strategy, as well as advocate for their needs at local and state levels.

“Gina brings so much passion to her work within the education field,” said Andrea Deveau, President of S360 California. “As the sector grows with new and relevant ways to engage students and families in the learning process, Gina will be an amazing resource for our education clients as they navigate those changes and meet the needs of our communities and our kids.” 

Prior to joining S360, Gina served as the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Special Education at the California Charter Schools Association.  She served as the primary liaison for all special education issues for more than a decade.

Gina was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) and held the position of Chair from 2011-2019. As Chair of the Commission, Gina had the unique opportunity to bring together expertise from County Offices of Education, traditional school districts, and charter schools statewide.

“Gina’s ability to bring multiple interests together to create winning solutions for our educators and the families they serve is especially needed for our clients,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “Her experience has led to strong partnerships with state agencies and education institutions to provide world-class, equitably accessible education for Californians.” 

Gina has provided expert testimony in California Senate and Assembly hearings and acted as an advisor to the Governor’s Administration and State Agencies on a range of educational issues. Her interest and advocacy work has focused on issues including inclusive education, integration of Medi-Cal services into schools, and inclusive preschool and Pre-K.

Gina received her undergraduate degree and her Masters in Special Education from the University of San Diego. She holds Multiple Subject Clear Teaching and Special Education Credentials, and has specific authorization in serving students with significant mental health and behavioral health challenges.

Connect with Gina Here. 

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Theo Ellington brings a successful track record of community building for affordable housing and mixed-use developments, homeless services, and social impact to his role as S360’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations. 

San Francisco, CA – Strategies 360’s Northern California practice welcomes Theo Ellington to the firm as Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations. In this role, Ellington will lead community development activities on behalf of clients across the region. With experience in public, private, and non-profit organizations, Theo understands how to bridge multiple interests to create win-win solutions for communities.

“Theo’s dedication to connecting people and policy to find common ground solutions to complex issues has helped create successful outcomes time and again,” said Timothy Burr Jr. Senior Vice President of S360 Northern California. “Our clients will benefit from his deep understanding of community relations to successfully implement their large-scale projects.”

Prior to S360, Ellington led The Salvation Army of San Francisco’s efforts to double its impact on homeless services and redevelop its real estate portfolio as the Director of Homeless Initiatives & Community Development. Before that, Ellington served as the first Director of Public Affairs for the Golden State Warriors where he spearheaded the community organizing efforts and political strategy for the privately financed $1.2 billion-dollar Chase Center and mixed-use development for the Warriors move to San Francisco.

In public service, Ellington was appointed to several commission positions by three successive San Francisco Mayors – Gavin Newsom, Edwin Lee and London Breed. Most notably, he served as Commissioner for San Francisco’s Office of Community Investment & Infrastructure, where he led the creation of over 1,000 affordable housing units and worked to reinstate over $50m in community investments for housing, jobs, arts, local infrastructure, and long-standing development initiatives.

“Theo is driven to make an impact in his community with every project he takes on,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “We are very fortunate that he has joined the S360 team to bring that passion to our client’s most important challenges.” 

Ellington got his start in organizing as a Field Director for multiple local campaigns, a community organizer to end Stop-and-Frisk practices, and as a founder of the Black Young Democrats of SF, now named Black Citizen. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University in Political Science and a Master’s of Urban Affairs from the University of San Francisco.

Connect with Theo Ellington here.

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Pele brings 15 years of experience working at the intersection of law and policy to her new role as Senior Vice President of Strategies 360 in Arizona.

Phoenix, AZ – Pele Peacock Fischer has joined leading public policy and communications firm Strategies 360 as Senior Vice President, running the firm’s Arizona practice. Over the past decade, Pele has been intimately involved in some of the most complex and impactful policies in Arizona. Her extensive work in government relations has earned her wide recognition as an Arizona policy expert and a highly successful lobbyist with unwavering ethics.

“Pele is an ideal leader for our Arizona practice,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “She has been at the forefront of major policy wins in the state. Our clients can now access her insights paired with our winning team and full-service model – a powerful combination to move policy priorities forward.”

Prior to joining S360, Pele was the principal and founder for the government affairs and legal consulting firm, Peacock Legal, PLC. Her work there included advancements in telemedicine, health information exchange reforms, Medicaid restoration and expansion, the Arizona Opioid Act, restoration of KidsCare, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act. She is also involved in the efforts to defend independent elections, among other important state policies and initiatives.

She has previously served as Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs for the Arizona Medical Association where she directed strategies in legal, political, and regulatory development and advocacy. Pele has also served as a Senior Policy Advisor and Staff Attorney for the Arizona House of Representatives, and she began her legal career as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Senate.

“I am thrilled to be joining Strategies 360 and this team of advocates, community builders, and change makers who have executed impactful policies across the Country,” said Pele. “I look forward to collaborating with everyone at S360, leveraging the platform of services to deliver exceptional results for our clients. Our combined skill sets, and expertise will be impactful.”

Pele and the S360 team have worked together on past major policy issues that have led to collaborative, statewide wins. She brings deep expertise in health care and public health, as well as human services, construction, and real estate, and voting rights.

“Pele’s expert navigation of Arizona’s legislature and policy is a huge benefit for clients,” said Eric Chalmers, Vice President at S360 Arizona. “S360’s Arizona team and clients can expect top tier professional and advocacy services from Pele and our team.”

You can learn more about Pele here.

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The former lawmaker and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure will serve as Senior Advisor with Strategies 360’s British Columbia practice.

Vancouver, B.C. — Claire Trevena has joined Strategies 360 in British Columbia after nearly two decades in public service as an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for the province. Trevena brings a wealth of political and communications experience to her new role as Senior Advisor.

“Claire’s body of work on behalf of the people of British Columbia is extraordinary,” said Michael Gardiner. “She has the ability to work across political interests and with innovative ideas to effectively move projects in our province forward.”

Trevena’s successes as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure include introducing ride hail to British Columbia; developing and implementing the province’s first active transportation strategy; and developing a framework for project for labor agreements.

As an MLA in the New Democratic Party (NDP), Trevena represented the large rural constituency of North Island. Her legislative career included a broad range of opposition roles when the NDP was the minority party.

In these roles, she addressed issues from women’s rights through childcare to social development and, of course, transportation and infrastructure. She spent time working on Legislative committees for Children and Families, Finance, and Sustainable Aquaculture. Trevena also served a term as a Deputy Speaker of the BC Legislature.

“Our clients can trust Claire’s ability to see the big picture and blend social and community focused needs with policy and business to create win-win-win outcomes,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “We are thrilled to have her on board to share her expertise, ideas and passion for creating positive change.” 

Prior to entering electoral politics, Trevena worked as a lead on strategic communications projects both domestically and internationally. She was a spokesperson with the UN, was the Chief Communications Officer in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo as well as in Canadian and US sponsored missions abroad. She has also worked on voter access for Iraq, corporate governance in Macedonia and projects from Guatemala to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her roots are in journalism where she was a reporter, producer and editor for the BBC, The Guardian (UK), and the CBC among other organizations.

Get to know more about Claire Trevena here.

About S360
With offices in 13 western U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, B.C., Strategies 360 is a leading public affairs, communications, research, and marketing firm. The firm also owns and operates its own in-house creative design and marketing practice. With experts drawn from the worlds of government, politics, the news media, quantitative and qualitative research, advertising, marketing, and design, S360 crafts and executes the winning strategies that help clients succeed in shaping policy and business across western North America.

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Albert (Al) Gerow, former elected Chief of the Burns Lake Band, brings three decades of knowledge, collaboration and relationships to his role as Senior Advisor with S360 Canada.

Vancouver, B.C. — Albert (Al) Gerow has joined Strategies 360 as a Senior Advisor in the firm’s Vancouver, B.C. office. Al has over 30 years of experience and leadership across multiple sectors, with expertise in forestry and natural resources, human resources management, governance, education, and community economic development.

“Al approaches his work with a deep commitment to building collaborative relationships with government at all levels, First Nations, business and industry, and community-based organizations,” said Michael Gardiner, President of S360 Canada. “This scale of engagement, with so many different interests, is what sets Al apart as an effective strategist for our clients.”

Born and raised in Burns Lake, British Columbia, Canada, Al is a member of the Carrier/Sekani Nation and former elected Chief of the Burns Lake Band. During his term as Chief, Al focused on education, economic development, financial stability, and employment opportunities for band members.

In previous roles, Al has built strong working relationships with First Nations bands, industry, and all levels of government. He also has deep roots in forestry, from harvesting to finishing, including an understanding of nano/nano crystalline fibre research. With experience in the public, private and community sectors, Al has a unique depth of knowledge which he has drawn on throughout his varied career, including as a business owner, college instructor, economic development and elected school board trustee, and municipal councillor.

“We are so glad to have Al bringing his depth of knowledge to enhance our team,” said Ron Dotzauer, Founder and CEO of Strategies 360. “His body of work and relationships are an incredible asset to our clients, as is his ability to build consensus to get big things done.”  

Al holds a diploma in Business Administration from the University of Victoria. He is also a certified Lead Auditor in ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, a certified Employment Counselor, and certified in Emergency Spill Response. Al graduated from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy in 1979.

More information about Al can be found here.

About S360

With offices in 13 western U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, B.C., Strategies 360 is a leading public affairs, communications, research, and marketing firm. The firm also owns and operates its own in-house creative design and marketing practice. With experts drawn from the worlds of government, politics, the news media, quantitative and qualitative research, advertising, marketing, and design, S360 crafts and executes the winning strategies that help clients succeed in shaping policy and business across western North America.

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