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Professional lobbying is about relationships. Trust is essential to building strong relationships and without meaningful relationships, it can become difficult to get to "yes". Qualities that set me apart from other lobbyists include practical skills which have enabled a solid record of success, a diverse education as a macro social worker and clinical therapist, and my rich experience as a listener and problem solver.

6-10 years

* Awarded Maryland Official Citation of Recognition in behalf of work advocating for mental health consumers. Lauded for "tireless efforts within legislative process."

* Advocated for and passed first legislation in over a decade establishing practice rights for commercial interior designers previously prevented from participating to the full extent of their education and experience.

* Legislative Sponsors received "Legislation of the Year" for Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions HB 177 at the 2018 Utah Council on Victims of Crime Annual Conference.

* Acquired additional resources for RFP process at the state, tribal, and community levels for South Dakota tribes by assisting with Title 4-E grant writing and funding through SAMHSA's SPF-PFS system.

* Promoted federal initiatives to support public education on mental illness and addiction, such as the Mental Health First Aid, Excellence in Mental Health, and Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Acts.

* Preserved funding for existing programs like the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Grant Block and worked with behavioral health providers to ensure eligibility for various incentives.

* Multiple presentations and relationships with the Utah State Legislature including the following committees: Health Reform Taskforce Committee, Business and Labor, House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee, Occupational and Professional Licensure Review Committee
* Dr. Joseph Miner, Executive Director Utah Department of Health
* Mark Steinagel, Executive Director, Utah Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing
* Utah County Commission
* Richard Nance, Executive Director, Utah County Department of Substance Use and Alcohol Treatment
* Voting member, Utah Multi-Disciplinary Trauma-Informed Committee, the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; Chair of the 2019 Victim Advocate Credentialing Sub-Committee
* Member of Influencing Social Policy; ACOSA
* 1st and 2nd Year Network for Social Work Management Policy Fellow from 2016-2018
* NSWM Annual Conference Paper Presentation 2017 (NYC); Presenter 2018 (San Diego)
* Participated in the Policy Practice Summit (SWIPI)
* National Behavioral Health Council (State efforts for Day on the Hill; opioid policy)
* USC Alumni Association
* Speaker at the 2015 National Republican Liberty Caucus Conference, "Minority Outreach"
* Member; Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault's Sexual Violence and Suicidality Workgroup
* Served as Chair of Frm. Rep. Ken Ivory's (UT-47) Trauma-Informed Legislative Workgroup (2018)
* Brigham Young University School of Social Work Capitol Hill Day (annual)
* Senior Advisor & Campaign Manager, Smigiel for Congress, 2015 to 2016
* 2015 National Republican Liberty Caucus Conference, Nashua, New Hampshire. Speaker, "Minority Outreach "and Moderator of panel on "Federal Reserve and U.S. Debt".
* Our America Initiative 2016, Colorado and New Mexico, "Promoting Liberty" Speaking Tour.
* 2016 IIDA Legislative Symposium, Denver, Colorado "Lobbyist Panel" and Featured Speaker, "Defining Success in Advocacy".
* Council of Delegates Annual Meeting 2016, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Interior Design Lobbying and Advocacy National Speaker Panel

Amy Coombs is setting a new standard when it comes to creating policy, advocating for clients, and conducting ethical government relations. Her commitment to trauma-informed processes is changing the way the criminal justice system interfaces with consumers, victims of crime, staff and government. As President of Prestige Government Relations & Consulting, Amy is credited with passing landmark occupational and professional licensing legislation, featured as a national expert in IIDA's 2017 Faces of Advocacy Report and participated in the Social Work Policy Institute's (SWIPI) Policy Practice Summit. As a Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) Policy Fellow, her co-authored editorial was published in the Human Resources Organizations, Management, Leadership and Governance Journal.

Amy is dedicated to improving access to safe and ethical mental health services for all. She received an Official Citation of Recognition from the state of Maryland in January 2015, in recognition of her tireless efforts within the legislative process on behalf of consumers of mental health services. In 2018, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed HB177, Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions, into law. Amy currently serves as a voting member on Utah's Multi-Disciplinary Trauma-Informed Committee, under the direction of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. She recently completed her service on the National Board of Directors for the Council for Interior Design Qualification, whose members include state and provincial regulatory boards.

Amy is a proud alum of University of Southern California where she received a master's degree in Social Work. In addition to her lobbying and consulting work, Amy has practiced as a clinical therapist at Utah County's Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment and continues to see clients via private practice. She enjoys regular speaking invites at universities and colleges across the country.

An integral member of the Colorado business and political communities since 1991, InterMountain is one of the region's leaders in government relations, strategic communications/public affairs consulting.

Perhaps the firm's greatest strength is its roots in the local market. InterMountain was founded by Fred Niehaus and Tom Schilling, executive director and communications director, respectively, of the Colorado Office of Economic Development under former Governor Roy Romer. Today, Mr. Schilling - also a former business reporter for the Rocky Mountain News - serves as the company's CEO. His colleague Scott Spendlove has been a trusted Governor's aide, congressional staffer, and policy analysts with a Washington, DC think tank. InterMountain maintains working relationships with a network of professionals in a variety of fields including research, polling, grass roots development, and attorneys to round out any team a client might need.

As a firm, InterMountain is a member of, represents clients at or otherwise has close ties to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry, Economic Developers' Council of Colorado, Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Counties, Denver Regional Council of Governments and Public Relations Society of America/Colorado chapter. For reach beyond the state border, InterMountain is pleased to be the Colorado partner of The Advocacy Group.

Our experience and vast connections in the arena's of business, government and media allow us to deliver services ranging from legislative and regulatory advocacy to stakeholder outreach to crisis communications to media relations. We utilize strong relationships across the political spectrum to advance the cause of our clients. We boast a long-term track record of legislative accomplishment based on professionalism, issue knowledge, integrity and a well earned reputation working across the political aisle to get the job done.

Firm Specialties:
InterMountain works with our clients to develop a legislative agenda to address their interests and concerns. InterMountain notifies clients when specific bills are scheduled for hearing dates. We then organize testimony of clients and affected parties. Through this process, InterMountain is continually developing alliances with other groups that share interests similar to those of our clients. InterMountain's up to the minute monitoring and research of the bills that are important to our clients allows us to anticipate vote counts and lobby individual legislators accordingly.

Legislative Advocacy and Monitoring
Regulatory Consulting
Local Government Advocacy
Third party organization relations and alliance building
Strategic Planning & Messaging
Media Relations & Media Training
Crisis Communications/Rapid Response

SCOTT J. SPENDLOVE serves as the Director of Government Relations at Intermountain Public Affairs. A native of Lakewood, Colorado, Spendlove is an invaluable presence at the State Capitol for InterMountain's government relations clients. He assists these clients in developing and implementing legislative strategy and works with legislative leaders and various state departments to advocate beneficial bills and defeat measures that would be adverse to client needs. He monitors legislative and political developments on behalf of major corporate employers such as Union Pacific Railroad and Bridgepoint Education, as well as governmental entities such as E-470 Public Highway Authority.

Spendlove brings a diverse background of public policy and legislative relations experience to the clients of InterMountain. In his 18th year with InterMountain, Spendlove has served the past 10 years as the primary lobbyist for the firm. He previously held several positions in Colorado Governor Owens' administration, including Deputy Director of the Governor's Office of Legislative Liaison, and Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor. Most recently, Spendlove was a Program/Policy analyst for the State Department of General Support Services, promoting efficiencies and cost savings in state government. Preceding his tenure in the Owens' administration, Spendlove worked in Washington D.C. for a state legislative nonprofit organization on energy and environment issues. Scott is proud to have served 6 years on the Board of Directors for Colorado Youth for a Change, including one year as Board Chair. CYC is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the youth drop-out problem in Colorado. Scott is active in his son's Boy Scout troop as a Committee member, and a has served for 7 years on the elementary school Accountability Committee. Spendlove is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a BS in International Affairs. He is married to Jenna, with a son Logan.

JASON BADELL

(Utah)
  • (801) 910-2772

  • 124 South 400 EastSuite 310Salt Lake CityUT84111

KATE BRADSHAW

(Utah)
Clients:

MARK BUCHI

(Utah)
Clients:

MOLLY DAVIS

(Utah)
  • (801) 901-0310

  • 785 E 200 SSuite 2LehiUT84043

FRANCIS GIBSON

(Utah)
  • (801) 361-0082

  • 208 south 680 westmapletonUT84664

KENDRIK GIBSON

(Utah)

SPENCER GRAY

(Oregon)

DOUG HAMMER

(Utah)
  • (801) 442-3431

  • 36 South State StreetSalt Lake CityUT84111

CHRISTOPHER KYLER

(Utah)

NAHUM TADESSE

(Utah)
  • (385) 887-6000

  • 36 South State StreetSalt Lake CityUT84111

JOHN WARD

(Utah)
  • (801) 560-9801

  • 4732 Bayview DriveSouth JordanUT84009

CRYSTAL YOUNG

(Utah)
  • (801) 652-0737

  • 1356 S 1000 E26 S Rio Grande St Suite 2072Salt Lake CityUT84105

RICK YOUNGBLOOD

(Idaho)
  • 12612 Smith Ave.NampaID83651