Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas Email and Phone Number

Public Policy | Technology | Decarbonization | Infrastructure | Divert | Ex Lyft @ Divert
Chris Thomas's Location
Greater Seattle Area, United States, United States
Chris Thomas's Contact Details

Chris Thomas personal email

n/a
About Chris Thomas

I am a results-driven executive and strong negotiator that thrives on solving complex problems and bringing opposing stakeholders into alignment. I help industry-disrupting companies implement innovations that reshape how society tackles its biggest challenges. My 25+ year career includes wide ranging experience in government relations, public affairs, communications, crisis management, corporate strategy, and business development. My expertise spans the fields of technology, climate tech, transportation & infrastructure, real estate development, and labor.I am on the executive leadership team of Divert, a climate tech leader that focuses on decarbonizing wasted food—a significant climate change contributor. As the head of public affairs, I lead all public policy activities including government relations, public engagement, and external communications. Divert's IoT and imaging technology platform collects data that helps customers meet waste reduction and climate goals by reducing their natural resources impact, optimizing sales, and increasing food donations. Divert is developing a nationwide network of Integrated Diversion & Energy facilities to decarbonize and transform wasted food into carbon negative energy.Prior to Divert, I was a senior leader on Lyft's Public Policy team. My signature achievement was leading a 15-month negotiation with organized labor to pass first-in-the-nation legislation that created new benefits for rideshare drivers and cemented their independent contractor flexibility. This historic legislation was the first ever negotiated deal between gig companies and organized labor. I also advanced legislation, coalitions, campaigns, political investment, media content, social impact, community engagement, and academic research in Lyft's Canada and western US markets. I led advocacy for the company's core policy issues, including worker classification, taxes & fees, sustainability, electric & autonomous vehicles, safety, data privacy, insurance, pricing, and healthcare.I held executive roles with two engineering giants. I led the government market at WSP USA. Before that, I led the US State & Local Government Relations team for CH2M (now Jacobs Engineering).I have been a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, founders, and two former US Cabinet secretaries. I am known for being a bipartisan voice with a local, state, and federal network extending to the highest levels of both political parties. I served on transition teams for incoming governors and mayors. I was a trustee and informal advisor to a 2016 presidential candidate.

Chris Thomas's Current Company Details
Divert

Divert

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Public Policy | Technology | Decarbonization | Infrastructure | Divert | Ex Lyft
Chris Thomas Work Experience Details
  • Divert
    Vice President, Head Of Public Affairs
    Divert Apr 2022 - Present
    Concord, Ma, Us
    I am on the executive leadership team of Divert, a climate tech leader that focuses on decarbonizing wasted food. As the head of public affairs, I lead all public policy activities including government relations, public engagement, and external communications.Wasted food is a major climate change contributor—responsible for nearly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Divert's technology platform collects data that helps customers meet waste reduction and climate goals by reducing their natural resources impact, optimizing sales, and increasing food donations. Divert is developing a nationwide network of Integrated Diversion & Energy facilities to decarbonize and transform wasted food into carbon negative energy. Divert has taken on new equity to develop 30 facilities within 100 miles of 80% of the US population by 2031. These facilities are putting carbon negative energy directly into existing utility distribution networks, displacing fossil fuel with a renewable energy source for homes, businesses, and hard to electrify industries. Divert is making carbon negative energy out of wasted food that would otherwise be harmful to the environment. Chris is proud to have advanced a new disruptive industry focused on finding productive agricultural and renewable energy use for material that was once considered waste. Chris is a leading industry voice, having been asked by the White House and other federal, state, and local leaders, NGOs, and academics to share insights and innovations. Chris is shaping new public policy in this arena. State and local organic waste laws are being increasingly enacted to preserve landfill capacity and curb emissions. Low Carbon Fuel Standards encourage clean fuel development and carbon credit trading to offset emissions output with renewable energy sources. Under Chris' leadership, Divert has become a clear policy leader in this space, focused on solving the climate crisis through innovative and sustainable solutions.
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  • Lyft
    Senior Director, Us West And Canada
    Lyft Jan 2021 - Mar 2022
    San Francisco, Ca, Us
    Responsible for leading public policy efforts for Lyft's US West (state & local) and Canada (local, provincial, and federal) operations. I lead public policy managers as the external lead for core policy issues and cross functional efforts.Core Issues: Led advocacy on worker classification, taxes & fees, sustainability, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, safety, data privacy, insurance, pricing, competition, and healthcareFuture of Work: Advanced new compensation and benefits policies that reimagine the social safety netCoalitions and Campaigns: Managed 501(c)(4) industry coalitions in CAN, CA, CO, and WA (President of Washington Coalition for Independent Work)Promoted and protected California’s successful Proposition 22 ballot initiativeRecruited industry peers, business organizations, and community organizations to join coalitionAdvanced driver polling, research content, website development, and media placementLed WA State ballot initiative committee formation and developed ballot language/voter pollingManaged Independent Expenditure PACs to support business-friendly candidates, invest campaign funds, and create political ads Public Affairs & Communications: Developed messaging for legislators, stakeholders, and mediaGenerated editorial, earned, paid, and social media placements and reactive responses where current events or platform incidents impacted company reputationWorked closely with media contacts to provide background, drive storytelling, and control narrativeSocial Impact: Coordinated company partnerships with local communities (i.e. disaster assistance, vaccine access, racial equity, voting access)Community Engagement: Cultivated relationships with community partners and presented on community impact and policy priorities at public eventsPolicy Research: Worked alongside research team and academics to validate policy objectivesProduct: Collaborated with engineering, ops, and reg compliance teams to implement product updates
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  • Lyft
    Major Markets Lead, Wa State/Seattle
    Lyft Feb 2020 - Mar 2022
    San Francisco, Ca, Us
    Lyft Co-Founder John Zimmer and former USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx hired me to execute a two-year strategy to preserve driver classification status. Lyft’s key policy objective is to reimagine the driver social safety net by creating new benefits while protecting driver flexibility and independence. This required an enormous public affairs campaign to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, including organized labor, legislators, regulators, and community/business organizations. Cultivated relationships within the legislature and labor community to secure a legislative compromise in Washington State. Served as a lead negotiator over a 16 month period to pass first-in-the-nation legislation that secures new benefits for drivers and preserves driver classification status. Led creation of a new industry coalition and set up a digital presence to highlight advocacy efforts, latest news, policy principles, and driver stories. Organized drivers and ensured their messages were heard by legislators, business/community organizations, and media. Advanced multiple research efforts, including driver and voter polling. Commissioned studies to examine driver hours, compensation, and benefit preferences, and assess how price sensitivity impacts ride volume and driver earnings. One signature academic research effort was a first of its kind study by Cornell University: Platform Driving in Seattle (2020). This study examined driver hours and overall earnings using Lyft and Uber data across a randomly chosen week in Seattle. The study estimated how time spent waiting for a ride and self-employment expenses such as personal vehicle use impacts overall driver earnings. The researcher concluded that the data challenged the commonly-reported narrative that TNC drivers are underpaid, demonstrating that TNC drivers earn more than the average worker in Seattle.
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  • Wsp Usa
    Senior Vice President, National Business Development & External Affairs Head
    Wsp Usa Aug 2018 - Feb 2020
    New York, Ny, Us
    I led National Business Development & External Affairs for WSP USA’s Property & Buildings sector where I was responsible for all sales and external affairs activities involving roughly 1/3rd of WSP USA’s clients. In this role, I led all business development, marketing, public affairs, communications, and government relations activities for the organization. I was responsible for leading a nationwide team of 25-30 business development, marketing, communications, and external relations professionals engaged in strategic pursuits and client development activities that support the broader organization. I served on the leadership team for WSP’s Property & Buildings organization and am responsible for executing a $300-400M public and private sector sales pipeline.In this role I applied expertise in a variety of infrastructure areas, including buildings, transportation, water, environment, energy, smart infrastructure, resiliency, sustainability, real estate development, and economic development.The WSP Property and Buildings team is a smart, driven group of engineers, designers, technologists, and sustainable design experts who are designing high-performance facilities that are reshaping our local community and building a better world. These include major skyline-changing commercial projects such as the World Trade Center and 2nd Avenue Subway; sports & entertainment arenas like the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA; cultural institutions like the National Museum of African American History and Culture; and numerous other hospitality, residential, civic, healthcare, science & technology, and higher education projects around the world.WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff) has more than 9,000 people in 150 offices across the US. WSP USA is the US operating company of 48,000 employee WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment sectors.
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  • Wsp Usa
    Senior Vice President, Government Market Head
    Wsp Usa Apr 2018 - Feb 2020
    New York, Ny, Us
    I am also the Government Market Head for WSP USA's Property and Buildings sector. This is a national role serving our federal, state, and local clients across the country and growing our government facilities business across these markets.WSP currently provides a wide range of building engineering and consulting services to several government clients, including the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, General Services Administration, and many civic, institutional, and transportation clients. In this role, I am responsible for expanding our consulting services with these clients as well as other federal, state, and local clients around the US. In my interaction with these government agencies and public officials, I apply expertise in a variety of infrastructure areas, including the built environment, transportation, water, environment, energy, smart infrastructure, resiliency, sustainability, real estate development, and economic development.WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff) has more than 7,000 people in 100 offices across the US, and is known for iconic buildings and transportation projects such as the new One World Trade Center and California High Speed Rail. WSP USA is the US operating company of 42,000 employee WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment sectors.
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  • Ch2M
    Senior Vice President
    Ch2M Mar 2009 - Feb 2018
    Englewood, Colorado, Us
    I had two roles with CH2M; a national role in government relations/public affairs and a regional role responsible for a market’s financial performance.As the Managing Director of US Government Relations, I was based in Washington, DC and led an internal team of government relations executives as well as 20-30 outside political consultants. I was the primary strategist for policy and political activities within the US and its territories and also led many federal affairs efforts with Congress, The White House, and federal agencies. I led government/community relations, public affairs, and crisis management activities and as one of the firm’s chief compliance officers, I managed all ethics/compliance, political fundraising, and lobbyist activity. I was often the first called in to gauge the political and business climate ahead of company investment in new markets. In 2015, I was one of 42 company-wide executives chosen to lead the firm’s largest public and private sector markets where infrastructure investment was exceptionally strong. These leaders were tasked to achieve two-year growth initiatives ahead of a company IPO, merger, or sale. This position combined external relations, business development, and client management and gave full financial accountability to each of these markets’ chief executives. I chose to lead our 300 person Seattle market because of its enormous infrastructure potential as the fastest growing US city. In the first year, I re-designed our local business development organization and our team achieved 230% year over year sales growth. For the second year, with a company-wide re-organization and consolidation of several business groups, our team sustained that performance with a 20% year over year growth. This model was very successful in meeting the firm’s overall growth objectives, and CH2M completed its sale to Jacobs Engineering in late 2017 with a 66% premium on its stock price.
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  • Clark Construction
    Director
    Clark Construction Aug 2003 - Feb 2009
    United States, Us
    Responsible for project development, government relations, public relations, public policy, and project advisory activities on behalf of Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate, a group that provides development services for transportation and infrastructure related public-private partnership projects.Responsible for corporate strategy and government relations activities on behalf of Clark Construction, the largest privately held construction company in the U.S.Led political outreach strategy for various public-private partnership project pursuits, coordinating meetings with various federal, state, and local elected officials and staff, as well as community groups, associations, and individual stakeholders. Directed project-related public relations initiatives, securing grassroots and grasstops support for project procurements by drafting press releases, holding press briefings, securing public testimony and support letters, and making community presentations.Led legislative outreach strategy for various legislative initiatives, coordinating meetings with elected and appointed officials, drafting legislation, securing House/Senate sponsorship and executive branch support, providing testimony to committees, and assisting the executive branch with development of regulations.Analyzed legislation, regulations, appropriations for issues impacting company and overall construction industry. Aided business development functions through tracking federal, state, and local project appropriations and authorizations. Developed various market reports for executives and Board of Directors, highlighting key mergers/acquisitions, market trends, and new opportunities in construction industry. Recommended new strategy for national business development, resulting in major reorganization of corporate structure. Created media and website content for new product service lines. Served on Executive Committee’s Innovation Steering Committee.
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  • U.S. House Of Representatives
    Special Legislative Assistant
    U.S. House Of Representatives Sep 2001 - May 2003
    Washington, Dc, Us
    Congressman Ray LaHood, Illinois 18th District.Conducted issue research (Transportation, Infrastructure, Financial Services, Homeland Security, International Relations, Judiciary, Environment, Energy, Telecom). Helped Congressman obtain co-sponsors for legislation and provided ongoing constituent support. Implemented constituent/legislative services on congressional website, significantly reducing office time/expense.
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  • Jones Lang Lasalle
    Project Manager
    Jones Lang Lasalle Oct 2000 - Aug 2001
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Responsible for development management activities for Bank One (JP Morgan Chase) account on team managing bank’s entire Chicago area commercial real estate portfolio, including owned office towers, leased space, and retail banking centers.
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  • F.H. Paschen Group
    Project Manager
    F.H. Paschen Group May 1998 - Oct 2000
    Responsible for competitive bidding, contract negotiation, field superintendent/contractor management, scheduling, material procurement, and client development for major construction company.
  • Exxon
    Project Engineer
    Exxon Jul 1997 - May 1998
    Us
    Responsible for constructing/maintaining Marketing Department’s fuel distribution facilities. Position involved project development/design/construction management, permitting, competitive bid review, contract negotiation, and financial control.
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Chris Thomas Skills

Government Strategy Public Policy Management Project Management Leadership Contract Negotiation Public Relations Business Development Marketing Media Relations Legislation Proposal Writing Fundraising Business Strategy Politics Governmental Affairs Policy Lobbying Community Outreach International Relations

Chris Thomas Education Details

  • The George Washington University School Of Business
    The George Washington University School Of Business
    Strategic Management & Public Policy
  • The Wharton School
    The Wharton School
    Executive Mba Coursework
  • University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Civil & Environmental Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Thomas

What company does Chris Thomas work for?

Chris Thomas works for Divert

What is Chris Thomas's role at the current company?

Chris Thomas's current role is Public Policy | Technology | Decarbonization | Infrastructure | Divert | Ex Lyft.

What is Chris Thomas's email address?

Chris Thomas's email address is ch****@****h2m.com

What schools did Chris Thomas attend?

Chris Thomas attended The George Washington University School Of Business, The Wharton School, University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What skills is Chris Thomas known for?

Chris Thomas has skills like Government, Strategy, Public Policy, Management, Project Management, Leadership, Contract Negotiation, Public Relations, Business Development, Marketing, Media Relations, Legislation.

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