Confluence Strategies, Inc. is the leading government affairs agency in Alaska. With over 100 years of experience, we represent the largest and most impactful entities that operate in the Last Frontier.

11-15 years

Commonwealth North Board of Directors (Member)
USA Hockey Pacific District Board of Directors (Chariman)
USA Hockey Board of Directors (Member)
IIHF Representative - Team USA NTDP U-17 (Kazan, Russia)
Safari Club International (Past Member)

  • - Harry McDonald, Saltchuk Managing Director, Alaska
  • - Aaron Schutt, CEO, Doyon Limited
  • - Andy Teuber, Chairman & CEO, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
  • - Charles Clement, CEO, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)
  • - Jim Hunt, City Manager - City of Whittier, Alaska
  • Kristopher Knauss is a fourth generation Alaskan. He graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Political Science and History. During his tenure at Arizona State, Mr. Knauss actively engaged in government affairs and politics, serving as intern to the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and then as campaign staff for the first female Governor of Arizona, Jane Dee Hull.

    After returning to Alaska, Mr. Knauss served as a legislative aide to the Alaska State Senate President for two years. He became Chief of Staff to the Alaska State House Rules Committee and then Chief of Staff to Alaska State Speaker of the House where he served for approximately two years.

    Because of Mr. Knauss' familiarity with state government from the executive and legislative branches, Governor Murkowski appointed him Director of Policy for the State of Alaska. In this role, he interfaced on a daily basis with the Governor, Chief of Staff, and Cabinet members. Additionally, Mr. Knauss represented the Governor and was his lead staff person with non-partisan organizations such as the National Governors' Association, Western Governors' Association, Council of State Governments, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, as well as partisan groups such as the Republican Governors' Association and the Republican National Committee.

    Government Affairs is a constantly changing environment that requires a unique and first hand understanding to be effective and take full advantage of the opportunities involved and presented. Mr. Knauss has this understanding and in June 2005 resigned his position to join the private sector as the owner and principal of The Knauss Group, LLC, which specializes in government affairs consulting and lobbying the State of Alaska.

    In his personal time, Mr. Knauss continues in his elected position on the Board of Directors for USA Hockey, and serves as Chairman of the USA Hockey Pacific District. In this role, Mr. Knauss oversees youth player development along the west coast and works closely with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Most recent, Mr. Knauss was elected to the Commonwealth North Board of Directors in his professional capacity.

    20+ years

    Dell Sales & Government Affairs Award
    American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Service Award

    BICKFORD PACIFIC GROUP (BPG) has over 25 years experience specializing in all aspects of government, legislative, state administration and local assembly/city council. BPG has been recognized as one of Alaska's top 10 lobbyists with a client list that includes Fortune Top 500 companies. BPG clients benefit from our trusted bipartisan relationships that have resulted in successful outcomes.

    Whether you are seeking to enact or defeat legislation on a state or local level, BPG has a proven success record.

    Firm Specialties:
    Lobbying local & state
    Digital/social media advocacy
    Grassroots/grasstops
    Strategist specialist
    Communications/public relations
    Crisis management

    FRANK BICKFORD, before becoming a lobbyist was a staffer in the early 80's for then U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, Former State Senator Fritz Pettyjohn and managed Congressman Don Young's campaign in 1984. Frank has been a state lobbyist since the year 2000, with a host of clients and excellent reputation among Democrat, Republican and Independent elected officials.

    DIANNE BLUMER

    (Alaska)

    Subjects: All Subjects

    Links:Website

    Dianne Blumer, principal of the company, is a homegrown Alaskan with 28 years of executive and legislative experience. She brings an array of professional experience with executive and legislative branches of state government. In addition to her recent experience as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Adviser with the Alaska State Legislature, she served as the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development managing issues including Alaska labor laws, Workers Compensation, vocational rehabilitation and workforce development.

    0-5 years

    THE ADVOCACY GROUP

    (50 states, Federal and DC)

    TAG is a one-stop, results-oriented network for clients with needs in a single state or multiple jurisdictions. The TAG network consists of one top firm per jurisdiction or specialty. Collectively we are 60+ firms including lobbyists across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries (Australia, Canada, Mexico, Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey, Israel, United Kingdom and the European Union) and specialty services (50-state legislative and regulatory tracking, grassroots, jury selection, market entry strategy and social enterprise business development).

    Each TAG member offers its clients a tailored strategy that will provide them with a solution. Our TAG members are an integrated team, both near and far throughout the world, yet offering insight within each location.

    The TAG network consists of the top lobbying firms across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries and specialty services.

    US Members:
    50-States
    DC Council
    US Congress

    International:
    Profile Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd (Australia)
    Tactix (Canada)
    Monarch Global Strategies (Mexico, Central & South America)
    Kesarev (Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey & Israel)
    Instinctif Partners (United Kingdom & the European Union)

    Specialty members:
    Five Corners Strategies (Grassroots Advocacy & Public Affairs)
    FOCUS, a Leonine Business (50-State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking & Analysis)
    Select Litigation (Jury Selection)
    Bullpen, LLC (Market Entry Strategy)
    The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (Social Enterprise Business Development)
    Law Offices of Mitchell D. Gravo, Inc. (Specialty Member)

    JAMIE ARAGON

    (Alaska)
    • 202-216-1583

    • 1640 Rhode Island Ave NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20009

    BRUCE BAKER

    (Alaska)

    JAMES BALLI

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    ELIZABETH BOLLING

    (Alaska)

    ELLIE BOOTH

    (Alaska)

    ROBERT BOSWORTH

    (Alaska)

    HEATHER BRAKES

    (Alaska)

    GREG CASHEN

    (Alaska)

    WENDY CHAMBERLAIN

    (Alaska)

    MEGHAN CLEMENS

    (Alaska)
    • 907-887-6229

    • 327 West Ship Creek AvenueAnchorageAlaska99501

    AOIBHEANN CLINE

    (Alaska)

    JOHN DRESCHER

    (Alaska)
    • 415-903-2800

    • c/o Politicom Law LLP, 28 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 2815SausalitoCalifornia94965

    Clients:

    EMILY EDENSHAW

    (Alaska)

    TRENTON ENGLISH

    (Alaska)

    DON ETHERIDGE

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    EPHRAIM FROEHLICH

    (Alaska)

    THOMAS GEORGE

    (Alaska)

    JULIA GONZALES

    (Alaska)

    LENNIE GORSUCH

    (Alaska)

    NORMAN GORSUCH

    (Alaska)

    REID HARRIS

    (Alaska)

    CHRISTOPHER HLADICK

    (Alaska)

    TERESA HOLT

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    1) AARP

    MICHAEL HURLEY

    (Alaska)
    • 9074404143

    • 645 G Street, STE 100-893AnchorageAlaska99501

    RYAN JOHNSTON

    (Alaska)

    CARISSA KEMP

    (Alaska)

    SAM KITO

    (Alaska)

    KRISTOPHER KNAUSS

    (Alaska)

    DON KUBLEY

    (Alaska)

    MORGAN LIM

    (Alaska)

    JIM LOTTSFELDT

    (Alaska)

    JERRY MACKIE

    (Alaska)

    GERALD MC CUNE

    (Alaska)

    DHARIA MCGREW

    (Alaska)

    LUKE MILLER

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    SIERRA MINDER

    (Alaska)
    • 907-347-1732

    • 121 W Fireweed Lane Suite 207AnchorageAlaska99503

    KARA MORIARTY

    (Alaska)
    • 9073511116 9072721481

    • 121 W. Fireweed Lane, 207AnchorageAlaska99503

    MATTHEW MOSER

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    EMILY NENON

    (Alaska)

    MICHAEL PAWLOWSKI

    (Alaska)

    SVEN PETERSON

    (Alaska)

    VANCE PUTMAN

    (Alaska)

    CHRISTIAN RATAJ

    (Alaska)

    NOAH REANDEAU

    (Alaska)

    JOSHUA REVAK

    (Alaska)

    CAREN ROBINSON

    (Alaska)

    MIGUEL ROHRBACHER

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    CHRISTOPHER ROSE

    (Alaska)

    MICHAEL ROVITO

    (Alaska)

    CAROLINE SCHULTZ

    (Alaska)

    BRANDY SEIGNEMARTIN

    (Alaska)

    PETER SKOPEC

    (Alaska)

    TONIA SORRELL-NEAL

    (Alaska)

    BRENDA STANFILL

    (Alaska)

    DONALD STOLTZE

    (Alaska)

    MARGE STONEKING

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    1) AARP

    GARY STRANNIGAN

    (Alaska)

    SARAH SUMADI

    (Alaska)

    ASHLEY SUTTON

    (Alaska)
    Clients:

    SHEELA TALLMAN

    (Alaska)

    ETHAN TYLER

    (Alaska)

    KELSEY WALLACE

    (Alaska)

    TRACY WELCH

    (Alaska)

    ROYCE WELLER

    (Alaska)

    CALEB WILLIAMSON

    (Alaska)

    SHELDON WINTERS

    (Alaska)

    EILEEN ZIMMER

    (Alaska)