A senior public affairs professional with over 30 years of experience, Jason Kreizenbeck has been recognized by peers and clients for his intricate knowledge of Idaho government and politics. Today, as president and CEO of Lobby Idaho, he leans on his unique background in the public and private sectors to assist clients with policy development, strategic planning, coalition building, communications, and more. Find out more about Jason in the Q&A below:
What does a typical day at Lobby Idaho look like for you?
My days vary depending on the time of year. When the Idaho Legislature is in session, typically January through March, I get into the office before 7:00 a.m. to review the committee meetings and discuss with my colleague and work partner, Carlie Foster, who will cover them. If there is a hearing on a client’s proposed legislation or a matter they want to oppose, I will review and make final edits to my testimony and prepare written documents for submission. Then, from 8:00 a.m. to about 10:30-11:00 a.m., we attend hearings and listen to floor proceedings. Lunchtime is generally reserved for hosting legislators to discuss our issues and learn more about their session priorities. Afternoons are filled with more committee hearings, client outreach, member and stakeholder meetings and negotiations, and sending copies of relevant legislation to clients. Evenings are reserved for attending receptions, engaging with legislators, and client dinners before going home to rest and do it all over again.
Lobby Idaho serves various corporations, organizations, and associations. Do you all specialize in specific industries or focus areas?
We are adept at covering all clients’ needs and making ourselves experts on an issue quickly, so we handle all varieties of interests. My work background has allowed me to build my experience and knowledge in the areas of state government, from technology and manufacturing to education and tax policy, with practical expertise in political campaigns. My Lobby Idaho colleague Carlie Foster is an attorney who is a phenomenal writer and an expert on the administrative rules process. Together, we make a good team that can tackle just about any issue.
How do your previous roles as Governor Otter’s chief of staff and Micron Technology’s director of government affairs lend themselves to your current public affairs work?
Both positions were crucial in my development as a contract lobbyist. When I was director of government affairs for Micron, I hired contract lobbyists. I gained valuable experience knowing what companies need and want with this service. Similarly, having briefed corporate executives for meetings with elected officials across the globe, I understand what information is helpful to provide to clients. Serving as Governor Otter’s chief of staff helped me better understand the state government’s inner office and behind-the-scenes workings, including identifying the right people to talk to about important issues. My tenure as chief also helped me sharpen my writing skills and frame issues to emphasize their importance to business leaders and legislators.
You’ve held many leadership roles for political campaigns and elected officials. Have these experiences influenced how you approach issues at the Idaho State Capitol today?
Working on political campaigns has been extremely valuable to my career and made me a better lobbyist. Campaigns have strict deadlines, which teaches you effective time management. Successful campaigns also rely on message discipline. You must know what people want and need to hear and say it succinctly for maximum impact. In addition, campaigns teach you how to pivot quickly. Recognizing that a message doesn’t resonate and changing it is as critical as having a good message from the start. Finally, campaigning taught me how to raise money, which is being willing to ask people non-offensively until they say yes or no. It’s similar to asking a legislator to vote for or against a legislation.
You serve as NASL’s treasurer and are a member of the standing committee on long-range planning. What do you see as the primary benefits of NASL membership?
NASL is an extremely important professional association because it’s the only safe place to discuss best practices and the challenges of running a business with peers in your industry. I learn so much at each meeting, just from talking with NASL members from other states. It’s also the best source of referrals for business, period.
Learn more about Jason and Lobby Idaho here.
