Submitted by the Thurston County Chamber
Recognizing the increasing complexity of public policy and the impacts of policy decisions on Thurston County, the Thurston County Chamber is devoting resources to launch a new public policy division. Doug Mah of Doug Mah & Associates will be retained to lead this division beginning Oct. 1, 2016.
“We believe that coordinated and collaborative public policy initiatives help create a more vibrant community. Engagement in public policy issues on behalf of individual members and organizations is at the core of the Chamber’s mission,” said David Schaffert, Thurston Chamber President/CEO.
For over a decade, the Chamber has worked as a partner alongside local government, assisting in obtaining state and federal resources for regional projects. The Chamber’s Public Policy team will strengthen this ability to assist community partners. The team will coordinate the Shared Legislative Partnership, organize community resources and experts, and work with the entire Thurston County Legislative Delegation.
The team will also continue work on other public policy developments facing our region including land-use, permitting and regulatory issues.
In addition to Mah, the team will include legal counsel and a public relations expert to sharpen and focus the Chamber’s engagement.
Mah is a past Mayor of the City of Olympia, Washington (2008-2011) and served on the city council between 2001 and 2011. As a management and public affairs consultant with over 20 years of experience, Mah focuses on eliminating communication barriers, identifying emerging opportunities, and building strategic partnerships in the areas of technology, real estate, infrastructure and resource allocations.
About the Thurston County Chamber: The Thurston County Chamber is growing a prosperous economy and vibrant community by connecting people, ideas and resources. Our engagement in regional planning, education, workforce development, community infrastructure, and environmental stewardship are integral components of the Chamber’s mission
