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Blue Spruce Strategies:
people and policy for a healthier world.
WHAT WE DO
Blue Spruce Strategies is a strategic government affairs and communications firm rooted in the Pacific Northwest.
We bring a creative approach to making change happen by electing great people, moving good policies forward, and communicating with the public. We deliver reliable service, thorough research, and practical strategic guidance.
Our clients are nonprofits, Tribal Nations, public interest campaigns, foundations, labor unions, political action committees, and Democrats.
MEET OUR TEAM
Lisa McShane
Lisa has written the strategic and communication plans to secure dozens of political and public interest campaign wins across the Northwest.
She worked for Conservation Northwest on state trust reform for 10 years, worked for Governor Gregoire's Campaign in 2008, and won a National Reed Award in 2014 for flipping a County Council—which ultimately helped block the largest proposed coal export terminal on the West Coast. She’s worked on criminal justice reform, a range of environmental policies, transportation funding, community organizing, and communications. Originally from a long line of wheat farmers in eastern Washington, Lisa lives on Samish Island.
She serves on the boards of Conservation Northwest and Whatcom County’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program (LEAD).
Also a professional oil painter, Lisa’s work can be found at www.lisamcshane.com.
Reach Lisa: lisa@blue-spruce.com
Founder and Principal
Michael Peñuelas
Michael has designed, directed, and won campaigns of all shapes and sizes. At Blue Spruce, he’s helped secure $100 million for childcare, protect thousands of acres of old public forests, flip critical state legislative seats, and pass bills to accelerate geothermal energy development and curtail toxic chemicals.
Michael is also the co-founder of the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad, a nonprofit dedicated to re-engaging the overseas American electorate. In previous chapters, Michael worked for candidate consulting firms, Democratic party organizations, and a range of independent PACs and community groups. He’s also sojourned as a staffer in the Washington State House of Representatives and as a policy analyst covering food and climate for think tanks.
Michael holds a Masters in Environmental Policy & Management as well as a Bachelors, with Honors, in Earth Systems, both from Stanford University.
Reach Michael: michael@blue-spruce.com
Senior Strategist
Our Partners and Clients
Tribal Governments + Entities
Lummi Commercial Company
Nez Perce Tribe
Nooksack Indian Tribe
NW Tribal PAC
Candidates + Elected Leaders
State Senator Lisa Wellman
State Senator Sharon Shewmake
State Representative Debra Lekanoff
Whatcom County Prosecutor Eric Richey
Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley
Whatcom County Councilmember Barry Buchanan
Whatcom County Councilmember Jon Scanlon
Candidate, State Senate, Carrie Blackwood
Candidate, State Senate, Tim Ballew II
Candidate, Whatcom County Executive, Karen Burke
Candidate, Bellingham Mayor, April Barker
Candidate, Bellingham City Council, Beth Hartsoch
Candidate, Whatcom County Council, Jaime Arnett
Advocacy + Nonprofit
Act Now Project
American Rivers
Caregiver Justice Project
Center for Responsible Forestry
Center for U.S. Voters Abroad
Chuckanut Health Foundation
Clean & Prosperous America PAC
Clean Water for Puako Reef
Conservation Northwest
Cultural Access Fund Coalition
EMS Saves Lives
Fair and Equal Whatcom
FUSE Washington
House Democratic Campaign Committee of WA
IAFF Local 106 — Firefighters Union
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Protect Whatcom Kids
RiverStyx Foundation
Sightline Institute
Washington Conservation Action
Washington Progress Alliance
World Wildlife Fund U.S.
Yes for Whatcom Kids
Zero Waste Washington
…and plenty more.
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