Chris Wahl is the Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Strategies, an award-winning public affairs firm with a long track record of success on behalf of its clients. Over the past 20+ years, Wahl has helped secure and build more than $10 billion of infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, water and retail development.

High profile projects that he has helped approve include the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line, the revitalization of the Westfield UTC Shopping Center and the North Coast Corridor Project, a 27-mile improvement along Interstate 5. All of these projects faced considerable opposition before ultimately being approved. Wahl’s company has also developed and implemented numerous construction outreach programs for controversial assignments, including the Carlsbad Desalination Project.

Wahl is a skilled client representative and negotiator, often serving as the primary strategist, interfacing with government bodies on behalf of his clients. His unique approach of forming complex community coalitions of support to bolster controversial projects has been recognized numerous times on a national level. Wahl’s firm has won three prestigious Silver Anvils, the highest distinction bestowed upon professionals by the National Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Wahl has also been recognized in San Diego, winning the “Public Relations Professional of the Year” award in 2014 for his work on the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update. Wahl served as the lead strategist and spokesperson on behalf of San Diego’s maritime industry, leading to a successful citywide referendum that was supported by an overwhelming margin at the polls.

Prior to Southwest Strategies, Wahl served as President of Wahl Associates, Inc. where he worked extensively with Unocal Corporation and Tosco Refining Company on the Central Coast. Before forming his own firm, Wahl worked as a Vice President for a prominent Southern California public affairs firm. Additionally, Wahl worked in the government relations department for the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C.

Wahl is active in the community, volunteering for a number of local organizations and causes. He is a member of the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a lifetime committee member of the San Diego Bowl Association. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Wahl spends his free time adoring his three kids, playing golf, traveling with his family and dreaming of the UCLA football Bruins winning the Rose Bowl.

Elizabeth A. Hansen is a senior strategist and project manager with more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning and the implementation of community, government and media outreach programs.

At Southwest Strategies, Hansen assists a wide variety of private and public clients through the entitlement process, overseeing outreach programs related to land use, transportation and infrastructure projects for clients such as Tri Pointe Homes (FKA Pardee Homes), Starbucks, SANDAG, Caltrans, Poseidon Water and the City of Carlsbad. A veteran event planner, Hansen has coordinated some of the firm’s largest special events, including grand openings, community celebrations and ribbon-cuttings.

Hansen is a graduate of Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. In 2018, she was appointed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer to the City of San Diego’s Board of Library Commissioners, named one of San Diego’s Most Influential Women by The Daily Transcript and received the Deborah Baker Public Relations Professional of the Year Award from the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Prior to joining Southwest Strategies in 2000, Hansen was a staff writer for Arizona’s leading sports magazine and a photojournalist for San Diego Magazine.

Jessica Luternauer is an experienced public relations and public affairs professional with a strong track record of developing and implementing successful communications programs for a broad range of clients.

Luternauer has helped secure regulatory approvals for a number of controversial projects, including San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) completed Sunrise Powerlink transmission line and Protea Properties’ renovation of the Flower Hill Promenade shopping center in Del Mar. Both of these efforts received local and national awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

In her position as a Senior Vice President, Luternauer currently works with SDG&E, Cogentrix Energy, Westfield Corporation and other clients in the energy and retail industries. Her responsibilities include developing and overseeing the day-to-day implementation of strategic plans designed to achieve clients’ specific public affairs goals and objectives.

Luternauer specializes in crafting qualitative and quantitative research programs, as well as the development of messages, collateral materials and copy. She also manages Southwest Strategies’ in-house graphics department.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Luternauer held positions in marketing and public relations. Her duties included administering email marketing campaigns and refreshing website content.

Luternauer is a member of Public Relations Society of America, the Lincoln Club of San Diego County and the Coronado Council of the Navy League. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in English. Luternauer subsequently earned her M.A. in literature from the University of California, San Diego, where she taught writing and humanities at Revelle College.

A California native, Luternauer enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, friends and family.

Stephanie Dell serves as Senior Vice President at Southwest Strategies, combining her experience in government, community and media relations to deliver effective education and outreach campaigns for clients. At Southwest Strategies, Dell offers a wide range of support from reputation management and crisis communications to assistance in land use and entitlement matters.

In her role at Southwest Strategies, Dell is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communications plans for clients. Dell has played key roles in securing land use approvals for multiple residential communities and has successfully navigated complex annexation and boundary line adjustments.

Dell also has extensive experience in the energy industry having previously worked for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). In her role at PG&E, Dell drove positive media coverage, served as a company spokesperson on a variety of high-profile topics and supported internal communications for Gas Operations.

Dell has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with an emphasis in media arts from California State University, Chico and has received a certificate in land use and environmental sustainability through the University of San Diego.

Melissa Cameron has an extensive history in public affairs, public relations, community outreach and project management. She serves as a Senior Vice President at Southwest Strategies. Drawing upon her experience in government relations and communications, Cameron develops and implements strategic communications campaigns for clients, with an emphasis in guiding clients through multifaceted and comprehensive community and multicultural outreach. She also oversees major infrastructure projects for the company’s public utility clients, developing and managing the implementation of strategic outreach plans.

She has a broad range of experience in strategic planning, coalition building, public outreach, crisis communications, media relations, social media and event planning. She also has a strong background in environmental and regulatory law and land use, using her experience to direct developers through the entitlement process.

Before coming to Southwest Strategies, Cameron worked for the Exoro Group in Salt Lake City, which earned honors as Utah’s “Best of State” Public Relations firm, specializing in strategic communications and political outreach. Cameron has been volunteering and working on political campaigns since the age of 15, moving from stuffing envelopes to managing campaigns with hundreds of thousands of voters. She worked on a number of public bond campaigns in Utah, creating and implementing plans to educate and persuade voters on issues ranging from transportation infrastructure to arts and culture to public safety.

Over her career, Cameron has consulted with many nonprofits, and she continues to assist groups in their missions. She has created and published guides on affordable housing, formed collaborative arts groups, and aided nonprofits on how to effectively communicate with elected officials, the media and the community. Cameron has also worked with numerous start-up companies, guiding entrepreneurs through the world of government regulation, public relations and social media.

Cameron has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in local government and regulatory affairs. She is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha and the Public Relations Society of America, serving as President-Elect for the San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter.

Outside of work, you can find Cameron wandering around her Little Italy neighborhood with her husband and Yorkie puppy, trying out the latest recipe she found or catching up on her book club reading.

Ben Boyce’s love for politics began at a young age as manager of his best friend’s campaign for elementary class president. Several decades later, he is now Senior Vice President of Southwest Strategies, where he plays a leading role in the outcomes of many of the most significant issues facing California and the Western United States.

Boyce has supported his clients’ effort to address our nation’s housing crisis by helping to win government approvals for more than 25,000 homes across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. He has supported local, state and federal permitting of more than $2 billion in infrastructure projects as well, delivering the clean energy, water and transportation options that fuel sustainable economies and the jobs they support. He regularly advocates on behalf of hardworking customers for fair energy and water rates and to ensure families can attend the schools of their choice. His creative outreach programs have helped more than 10 million Californians understand the importance of conserving water and he was a key architect of a support coalition that led to the unanimous passage of San Diego’s landmark Climate Action Plan.

Boyce has been recognized with more than 35 awards for his efforts, including Orange County’s crisis PR of the year, top outreach program in the state, the nation’s best website for a government utility and San Diego Metro Magazine’s 40 under 40. Not to mention an undefeated record in elementary class president elections.

Hope Reilly is a Senior Vice President at Southwest Strategies. In this role, she oversees the strategic planning and implementation of communications and public outreach campaigns for a number of water, land use and transportation projects, and spearheads social media strategy for the firm. Her work has been recognized with more than two dozen local, state and national awards for public relations, public affairs, and marketing communications.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Reilly worked as a senior associate at Amplify Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. She began her career working for ABC News in Washington, D.C., where she co-authored ABC News’ The Note, the original morning news tipsheet, and reported on the 2008 presidential election. Reilly received her Bachelor of Arts in political communication from George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, with a minor in international politics and economics.

Malle Vaddi is Vice President of Finance at Southwest Strategies. In her role, Malle works closely with executive leadership to develop key financial modeling, reporting, analysis and metrics to effectively manage and grow the business. She is also focused on improving efficiencies and business strategy.

Malle brings with her more than 18 years of experience in accounting and finance and holds a bachelor of science in accounting. Prior to joining the firm, Malle held accounting positions in the technology, electronic tolling, distribution and hospitality industries. When not at work, Malle loves to spend time with her family, cook and meet up with friends.

Rachel Audino is a Senior Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies supporting public agencies on energy, air quality and other projects in Central and Northern California. Her varied background in government relations, health care and the more technical aspects of regional planning make her a vital asset to the team. At Southwest Strategies, Audino leverages her expertise to develop forward-thinking solutions for the challenges public entities face today.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Audino held positions at UCSD’s Qualcomm Institute, Fresno State and most recently served as Community Medical Centers’ Manager of Public Affairs. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Fresno State and a Bachelor of Arts in English and French Literature with a minor in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies from UCSD.

Ashley Johnson is a Senior Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies supporting clients in the housing, retail and energy sectors. At Southwest Strategies, she develops and implements strategic public affairs programs for clients using her experience in government affairs, stakeholder outreach, media relations and coalition building. Her ability to develop and implement effective strategy and tackle complex problems has made her a strong asset to our clients.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Johnson worked as a policy advisor in the U.S. Congress, with a focus on natural resources and environmental issues. There, she excelled at building relationships across diverse groups to advance legislative priorities. She began her career in Washington, D.C. working in the U.S. Senate after graduating from Utah State University with degrees in political science and psychology.

Tiffany Metti is a Senior Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies, specializing in land use entitlement and public infrastructure. Her background in the consumer, trade, redevelopment and nonprofit fields provides valuable comprehensive expertise to the team. At Southwest Strategies, Metti draws upon her experience to help clients navigate and communicate complex issues, conduct critical public outreach and develop important and longstanding relationships with communities and constituents vital to their work.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Metti held positions at Centre City Development Corporation, General Motors via global communications firm MSL, CBS Entertainment, as well as stewardship and advocacy at the YWCA. She holds a Master of Science in public relations from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a minor in psychology from Marist College and Connecticut School of Broadcasting credentials.

Cynthia Martinez is a Senior Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies helping a variety of clients to effectively communicate about land and air quality issues, major infrastructure projects, and state and federal regulations. A proud Central Valley native, Martinez brings a deep understanding of the diverse makeup and unique challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley, including evolving environmental and housing policy. She develops and implements successful strategic outreach programs for clients by leveraging her experience in public affairs, social media and digital advocacy, and community relations.

Prior to joining the firm, Martinez held positions at Murach Books and the State Center Community College District, where she led targeted communications and outreach programs that helped to change behaviors and achieve target outcomes. She studied mass communications and journalism at California State University, Fresno and served as publicity coordinator for the Hispanic Business Student Association.

Patrick Batten is a Director of Public Affairs for Southwest Strategies supporting public agencies and land use clients with entitlements and other complex issues. His background in public policy, community outreach and strategic communications make him an important asset to Southwest Strategies. As part of his work, Batten develops strategic partnerships and helps find creative solutions for clients.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Batten helped secure complicated entitlement approvals for clients across the Inland Empire. His clients included landowners, energy companies, environmental coalitions and public agencies. Batten has also worked on legislative staffs and managed political campaigns. He served as a policy advisor to San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn working with county departments and constituents to navigate the complexities of local government, and managed the district offices of then Assemblymember Patricia Bates. He also worked on two U.S. Senate campaigns, a gubernatorial election, and managed California Assembly and Senate races.

He left active duty in December 2016 and retains the rank of Major in the USMC Reserves. Batten participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve. Batten graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and actively supports SDSU and the school’s athletic department.

Zach MacQuarrie is a Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies supporting public agencies on large-scale infrastructure projects in the San Diego Region. MacQuarrie utilizes his background in public outreach to ensure client projects connect with their stakeholders in a meaningful way. He specializes in public outreach, communications planning, and stakeholder communications.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, MacQuarrie worked with Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a political advocacy group that engages government on federal, state and local levels. During his time with AFP, MacQuarrie represented and managed several different organizations and advocacy campaigns. A graduate of Montana State University, MacQuarrie started his career with U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ successful bid for Montana’s at-large congressional seat in 2012 and has subsequently engaged in numerous federal and state elections across the country.

Timothy Howland is a Director of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies supporting clients with digital strategy and grassroots advocacy on public affairs campaigns. His prior experience with data analysis, creative content development, and public policy make him an asset to the Southwest Strategies team.

Howland brings nearly a decade of federal and state outreach experience to Southwest Strategies from his career in Washington, D.C. where he served as the lead product developer and creative content manager for the non-profit National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and Foundation. He graduated from Susquehanna University with a Bachelor of Science in social psychology and a minor concentration in political science and has presented at the Eastern Psychology Association in New York.

Ashley Brill is a Senior Manager at Southwest Strategies specializing in public outreach and strategic communications in land development, energy, water and transportation. Using her background in business and economics, she helps develop and implement strategic outreach programs to support client projects and creates innovative content to communicate with the public. Her clients include local governments and municipalities, energy utilities and various land developers in the residential and retail industries.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Brill worked at a commercial development firm where she supported the land acquisition and development team on multifamily mixed-use projects. She also spent time as a business consultant, developing investment packages, putting together press kits and creating digital content to support client branding initiatives. Brill holds a bachelor’s in business administration from San Diego State University and a master’s in applied economics from American University.

Cody Dixon is a Manager of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies and provides project support out of our Fresno office. He has more than 10 years of experience in public relations, stakeholder communications, public affairs and community outreach in governmental, private, consumer and nonprofit work environments. Dixon utilizes this experience to help clients within the energy, housing and air quality industries to develop and implement strategic outreach plans.

Before returning to Southwest Strategies, Dixon served as the public information officer for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Earlier in his career, Dixon worked as a public affairs advisor for a diverse client base, including a utility-scale solar developer, Pacific Valley, LLC; Wal-Mart and the City of Cambria Tourism Board. His work included providing insight on a range of land use and public affairs issues, methods and approaches, as well as overseeing the delivery of communications programs, including media relations, event organization, policy initiatives, crisis communication, stakeholder relations and developing strategic partnerships with key community stakeholders and elected officials.

Dixon obtained his Bachelor of Science in recreation administration from California State University, Fresno. Before becoming a Bulldog, Dixon was an international delegate for the American Field Service and lived in Belgium, where he became fluent in French. He is a graduate of Leadership Fresno, as well as Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals Downtown Academy. In 2014 was recognized as one of Fresno’s outstanding business professionals who have yet to reach the age of 40.

Jeff Meyer is a Manager of Public Affairs at Southwest Strategies specializing in communications and community outreach for large-scale infrastructure and transportation improvement projects in Southern California. In his role, he provides on-site public information support for regional and state-wide government agency construction efforts. His experience working within the business community, ranging from small startups to large international corporations, provides him with the knowledge of current industry challenges and opportunities to assist campaigns for energy and development projects throughout the region.

Meyer joined the firm after transitioning from the non-profit sector where he worked as the senior manager of member relations for the North San Diego Business Chamber, a regional 5-Star U.S. Chamber of Commerce accredited business organization in Rancho Bernardo. A San Diego native, Meyer received his Bachelor of Arts in english from University of California, Davis.

Shannon Delaporta is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies. In this role, she uses her background in government relations, community outreach and event coordination to provide strategic communication services to a variety of transportation clients
.Before joining Southwest Strategies, Delaporta worked as an intern for local nonprofit organization Walnut Creek Downtown in Walnut Creek, CA. During this time, she aided in a variety of tasks including business expansion campaigns, event coordination and community outreach. Delaporta is a proud alumna of Northern Arizona University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and her Bachelor of Science in Political Science. While receiving her higher education, Shannon spent a semester studying Governance and Politics at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, where she strengthened her background in international relations and public policy with an eastern perspective.

Maria Gamez is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies. In this role, she uses her background in public relations, community outreach, event coordination, media relations and social media to provide strategic communication services to develop the best results for a wide range of clients.

Before joining Southwest Strategies, Gamez worked as a City of San Diego public information officer. During this time, she aided in various tasks, including event coordination, media relations and community outreach. Gamez is a proud alumna of California Baptist University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and attended National University, where she earned her Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. She enjoys an active lifestyle, traveling to new places and spending time with her pug.

Brian Nichols is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies, where he helps clients develop and execute strategic communication and outreach programs around energy and infrastructure. His past experience with project management, internal communications, nonprofits, and media makes him a valuable addition to the Southwest Strategies team.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Nichols developed and executed communications strategies for both national and international NGOs, and earlier worked as a research consultant for several successful political campaigns. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Seleyna Mendoza is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies where she provides support to clients in the public and private sectors throughout the state. She is experienced in community engagement, event planning and media relations. Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Mendoza held communications roles at Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and Madera Unified School District. She is an experienced media and communication professional with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Journalism with a focus on Public Relations and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from National University. Throughout her career, she has coordinated strategic marketing communications, including promotions, events, marketing, and public relations. As a result of her efforts, she received awards from the California School Public Relations Association. She is committed to helping clients reach their goals with clear and effective communication. Mendoza is confident in her ability to create meaningful connections between clients and their target audiences.

Wesley Fagundes currently serves as a Senior Account Executive with Southwest Strategies. In this position, she helps support a variety of the firm’s public relations and government agency clients. Prior to Southwest, Wesley was an Account Manager for MMS Strategies where she gained extensive experience in strategic communications programs, media relations, coalition building, grassroots outreach, stakeholder engagement, grant writing and event planning. Her clients have included local governments, healthcare, water districts, solid waste, transportation agencies, non-profits, and business improvement districts. Wesley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Grand Canyon University. She currently lives in Sacramento with her fiancé and two dogs.

Sammy Goldstein is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies specializing in public outreach and engagement. In this role, she supports strategic communications efforts for a variety of clients and leverages her experience in digital marketing, stakeholder engagement and event planning to effectively implement one-of-a-kind outreach programs.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Goldstein worked as a social media manager for an online networking application where she helped increase downloads through content development and third-party promotion. Goldstein holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication with an emphasis in Strategic Communication from the University of Utah.

Marisa Cesare is a senior account executive at Southwest Strategies, supporting public agencies with outreach, social media and event planning for local infrastructure projects, as well as specialized equity projects in the San Diego region. Her background in strategic communications and sustainability, as well as her experience with public agencies, make her a great addition to the team. At Southwest Strategies, Cesare applies her industry knowledge and communications experience with a positive attitude to deliver the best results for our clients.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Cesare worked as a program consultant for an energy solutions provider, where she facilitated energy efficiency programs, liaising between utility clients and relevant manufacturers and retailers. She also served as the communications coordinator at the Portland Water Bureau where she assisted with community outreach and social media to inform the public about upcoming water infrastructure projects, pertinent billing details and billing credit programs. Most recently, she worked as an account executive at a Bay Area public relations firm, where she developed and executed client PR programs, leading media relations efforts for several digital health, biotech and sustainability tech clients. Cesare earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in environmental studies from the University of Oregon, as well as a graduate certificate in sustainability from Portland State University.

Jacob Snyder is a Senior Account Executive at Southwest Strategies. He specializes in community outreach, digital media and assisting clients with marketing on diverse projects both locally and across the state. His academic background in political science and extensive experience in digital media makes him a valuable asset to the team, aiding Southwest Strategies in supporting its energy, infrastructure and development clients with a broad spectrum of projects and initiatives.

Before joining Southwest Strategies, Snyder spent several years in digital marketing and content creation for organizations such as NFL Films, the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers, and Huntington Fine Jewelers in Oklahoma City. Snyder has also ventured into filmmaking through his own company, Turn 4 Films, producing a full-length feature film. He is a proud alumnus of UC Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minored in Global Studies – Europe & Russia. During his time at UC Berkeley, Snyder was a board member of the Senior Class Council and also served as chair of the social media committee and as legislative director for an ASUC Senate office. In his spare time, you can find him on the golf course, at the movies, hiking, or adventuring to find the best tacos in San Diego.

Viviann Benitez is an Account Executive at Southwest Strategies supporting project managers and specializing in community outreach, media relations and social media for the agency’s wide range of development, transportation, infrastructure, and energy clients. Her varied background in government relations, social media and marketing, and legislative policy make her a vital asset to the team.

Before joining Southwest Strategies, Benitez worked as an immigration intern at the International Rescue Committee, social media/marketing intern at the United Nations Association of San Diego, and a legislative intern for the San Diego and Washington, DC offices for US Senator Feinstein. Benitez is a proud alumna of UC San Diego, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science – International Relations and minor in Spanish Literature. A native San Diegan, you can find her taking pictures around town with her film camera, embroidering, gardening, or hiking.

Avery Johnston is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies supporting public and private sector clients across the state. Her background in marketing and journalism make her a great addition to the team. At Southwest Strategies, Johnston applies her knowledge to develop complex and innovative solutions for the challenges our clients face today.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Johnston held positions in journalism as a Staff Reporter for Central Valley newspapers The Rampage and The Collegian where she worked on a variety of controversial stories. She was honored with the Eli Setencich Journalism Scholarship for her work in the field. Most recently, she was a Marketing and Communications Intern for the Girl Scouts of Central California South where she assisted in graphic design, outreach and social media. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from California State University, Fresno, and an Associate in Arts from Fresno City College.

Paulina Sierra is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies. Her background in political science, journalistic writing and outreach initiatives makes her a vital part of the team. In her role, Sierra supports project managers with marketing and community outreach for a wide range of clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Sierra worked as an intern for South County Economic Development Council, where she helped strengthen the economic development of San Diego’s south bay area by supporting business outreach. She also served as an editor of the University of San Diego (USD) newspaper, where she worked to highlight marginalized voices and often-overlooked stories. Sierra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with minors in Political Science and Theater Arts from USD.

Janet Farala is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies specializing in digital media. She supports project managers by leveraging her background as a communications director, social media manager and graphic designer, and uses her experience in diversity, equity and inclusion to help our teams develop impactful outreach programs for clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Farala served as Public Relations Director of a San Diego hospitality company where she assisted with service restructuring and publicity campaigns. She also has experience supporting political campaigns throughout the Central Valley California, as well as brand management for restaurants, artists and the agriculture industry.

Farala received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications at CSU Bakersfield where she was elected to  serve as the Director of Diversity Affairs in the student government and the President of the local chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, cooking and practicing yoga.

Katrina Rohlfes is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies who utilizes her background in psychology, project management and event planning to be an asset to a variety of our clients. Rohlfes supports local infrastructure and transportation projects through community outreach and educational campaigns.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Rohlfes worked as an activities coordinator for a Northern California country club where she specialized in event planning, member communications and vendor relations. Rohlfes is passionate about using her skills to serve the local community through public outreach. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Project Management from California State University, Chico.

Emily Fagundes is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies. She leverages her background in social media marketing and communications to support a wide range of clients, including utilities and transportation agencies.

Prior to joining the firm, Emily worked as an intern for Gaslamp Event Management. She also worked as an intern for Southwest Strategies where she developed professional skills that allowed her to transition into a new position at the company. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of San Diego.

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming" - John Wooden

Ernesto Castañeda is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies, where he supports project managers and specializes in community outreach, media relations, and social media and marketing for the agency’s wide range of development, transportation infrastructure, and energy clients.  

Castañeda is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is also a graduate of UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy where he earned a Master's in International Affairs.

Joseph “L.J.” Maull is an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies. In this role, he assists with the implementation of communication and public outreach campaigns for water, land use and transportation programs. Through developing engaging and innovative content for social media, newsletters and other collateral, Maull cultivates community awareness and support for important projects.

Maull is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2020. He then went on to earn a Master’s in Strategic Communication from California Baptist University in 2022. Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, Maull was a Public Information Officer for the San Diego Association of Governments.

Erin Tooley serves as an Account Coordinator at Southwest Strategies, where she provides invaluable support to project managers in the areas of community outreach, media relations, social media and marketing for the agency’s diverse clientele, which encompasses the energy, transportation infrastructure and development sectors. Her background in strategic communications as well as her experience in public relations make her a great addition to the team. At Southwest Strategies, Tooley applies her public relations knowledge and experience to her work with a positive impact, making her a great addition to the team.  

Tooley is proud alumna of the University of Oregon, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a minor in Nonprofit Administration. Her dedication and exceptional work were acknowledged when she received the Work Ethic in the Public Relations Major Award from the School of Journalism and Communications upon graduation.

A Senior Design Manager at Southwest Strategies, Evyn distills creative ideas into clean, impactful work. She has an acute attention to detail and vast experience developing print and digital materials. At Southwest Strategies, she focuses on the target audience, helping guarantee effective and engaging final products for her clients.

Prior to joining Southwest Strategies, she was a graphic designer for HD Supply, one of the largest industrial distributors in North America, where she developed high end brochures, catalogs, and trade show graphics. Before that, she was a graphic designer at ONE Industries, a world leader in moto graphic kits, working alongside the product development team to design eblasts, seasonal workbooks, and assisting on product photo shoot. Evyn received her Bachelor of Arts in graphic design from California State University, San Bernardino.

A Senior Design Manager with Southwest Strategies, Samuel Rivera helps create high impact design solutions to reflect the vision and integrity of clients. He enjoys collaborating with colleagues and exchanging creative concept ideas with clients to produce strategic graphic designs that effectively communicate clients’ messages and goals. Design is his personal passion, and he invests himself in studying typography and historically impactful design, as well as current design and digital marketing trends.

At Southwest Strategies, Rivera has served as lead designer in developing full-scale outreach campaigns for PG&E in several California territories. Incorporating a bold typographic approach with beautiful scenic imagery, Rivera created a library of graphic assets building on PG&E’s branding guidelines. The multifaceted outreach campaigns consisted of quarterly direct mail newsletters, print materials such as flyers, and ads for local publications, digital ads and social media marketing. Rivera also helped develop the award-winning branding and marketing materials for the new Carlsbad Desalination Plant.

An experienced artist, Rivera came to Southwest Strategies after having spent several years as a senior designer for the award-winning agency, RedBeard Communications. While there, he developed high-profile ad campaigns for prominent financial institutions. In addition to his work with RedBeard, Rivera established himself as a freelance designer, curating authentic designs and complete brand development for companies such as Original Grain and Crafters Glass. He also spent time as a book cover designer, working with The New York Times bestselling authors. He holds a bachelor’s in media arts.

Eddie Villanueva is a Designer at Southwest Strategies with a passion for design as well as the desire to use his skills towards an innovative and useful purpose. Villanueva finds that good design is not only about beauty, it has to work. He likes to keep it simple and get to the root of the problem to come up with the best solution. Villanueva believes that there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing companies grow through the power of design, and that is something he strives for in his everyday work at Southwest Strategies. He is committed to staying current in the design landscape and constantly challenges himself to learn more.

Villanueva’s design experience ranges from working as an inhouse designer at Competitor Group to working on a variety of design projects for Rock n Roll Marathon, VeloNews Magazine, Brooks Running, United Airlines and Westin Hotels. He also has an agency background having worked as a UX/UI Designer at local respected agency Made by Grizzly. He contributes as a visual design independent contractor for a variety of local companies and organizations with work ranging from branding, web design, interaction design, print design and video/animation.

Villanueva double majored in graphic design and marketing at California State University, San Bernardino.

Mayra Ortiz is a Designer at Southwest Strategies. She is a firm believer in a “less is more” design philosophy, which dictates that design doesn’t need to be adorned with lots of colors, shapes and photos to be good. Rather, she believes that design needs only two things to be successful: beauty and functionality. Ortiz loves feeling challenged and enjoys staying current on design trends, drawing inspiration from design blogs and podcasts. 

Her design experience ranges from working as a lead designer in a small firm in Tijuana to freelancing at places like BASIC, Grizzly and her small design studio, Fenotipo, which specializes in identity design. Ortiz holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from UABC Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería y Tecnología.

Aimee Dillon is a Finance Manager at Southwest Strategies. Aimee oversees accounts receivable, budget tracking and financial reporting for the firm. She has over 5 years of accounting and administrative experience in public relations and the entertainment industry.

A Southern California native, Aimee graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. In her free time she enjoys the beach, music, traveling, and viniculture.

Suneetha Vadlamudi is the Senior Staff Accountant at Southwest Strategies. In her role, Suneetha works closely with our team to coordinate and support our financial processes and accounting services. Suneetha brings with her more than 10 years of experience in account and finance and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Nagarjuna University in India. Prior to joining the firm, Suneetha has served as an accountant in the electronic tolling, horticulture, solar, and technology industries.

In her free time, Suneetha loves to spend time with her family and take walks on the beach with her dog, Bandit.

Lisa Ferma is a Senior Executive Assistant at Southwest Strategies, supporting the CEO and leadership team. She brings several decades of experience supporting c-suite executives in the legal and biotechnology fields. Her background includes assisting both public and private companies in a broad range of matters, including initial public offerings, corporate finance, capital market transactions and mergers and acquisitions. Lisa also has extensive experience as a Firm Administrator managing multiple law offices.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys traveling, cooking and classic cars.     

Mary Carmichael is a Senior Manager of Administration at Southwest Strategies. As a seasoned office administrator, Carmichael brings several years of problem-solving experience to the firm. In her role, she provides administrative and operational support for all offices and staff members, supports the firm’s business development program and coordinates special events.

Carmichael began her career in hotels, where she learned how to tackle a wide variety of challenging situations. She transitioned into the recruiting industry and found her niche as an office administrator. Carmichael graduated from Eckerd College in Florida and holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and international business. Out of the office, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

Breanna Nelson is the Office Coordinator at Southwest Strategies. She brings more than 15 years of customer service and office administration experience to the firm. In her role, Nelson is responsible for greeting clients, answering phone calls, coordinating catering/lunch deliveries, maintaining office supply inventory, mail distribution, and assisting with various administrative tasks.

Nelson began her career in the health care field as a CNA, but later transitioned into office administration. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a receptionist/pro tem administrative assistant for a non-profit organization in New York City, where her role included greeting clients, preparing correspondence, scheduling and maintaining multiple executive calendars, coordinating office events and providing administrative support to the training and organizational development officer. Outside of the office, Nelson enjoys baking, travel and exploring her new surroundings in San Diego.