Wendy Strack, Mpa Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Riverside, Ca

Wendy J Strack Consulting LLC is a boutique government relations and public affairs firm serving Southern California. With nearly 25 years of experience, Wendy has created and delivered advocacy and outreach programs to support infrastructure projects across Southern California. Her work has included major freeway widenings and interchanges, transit and rail projects, road and bridge projects, innovative water cleanup technologies, water pipeline and maintenance projects, and major development projects in cities across Southern California.

Rialto, Ca

Developed and oversaw strategic communications, conservation, and advocacy programs for district including grants, public information and awareness, community involvement and events, print and electronic communications, media relations, social media, marketing and branding, event planning, legislative and regulatory programs, and conservation. Represented district with elected/appointed officials, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders and organizations, media, and general public.• Created district’s first strategic communications plan supported by research and evaluation with key messages to advance adopted mission, vision, and values with stakeholders through four main focus areas brand identity, internal communications, customer and external communications, and long-term planning.• Led two grant programs to complete 185,000 square feet of turf replacement projects in disadvantaged communities.• Oversaw transition to “self-certification” drought reporting, expanded conservation program offerings, overseeing SB 7x 7 (2009-10) 20 by 2020 requirements, organizing water loss audit reporting, and grew customer use of rebates.• Received 2017 CAPIO Award of Excellence for media focused messaging.

San Bernardino, Ca

Directed activities of combined legislative and public affairs department serving as liaison with elected and appointed officials, local, regional, state and federal stakeholders and agencies, community representatives, media, and public. Spearheaded all external communications as well as coordinated strategy and policy related to positioning, messaging, marketing, and branding. Developed outreach programs and related events for capital projects and agency programs, and developed and implemented strategy to achieve legislative objectives.• Led plans and strategies to secure approval of AB 914, SBCTA’s first sponsor bill, and partnered with statewide stakeholders on AB 194 (2015) allowing for both specific express lanes authority for San Bernardino County and authority for future projects statewide.• Developed advocacy strategies and helped develop grant applications securing $17,900,000 in grant funding through State’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital program and US DOT’s TIGER grant program for the Rail to Redlands project.• Re-established agency legislative program including designing and implementing a systematic process for updating state and federal legislative platforms, improved bill tracking and policy research, building SBCTA’s reputation in Sacramento and Washington DC, and building coalitions to advance agency priorities.• Completed redesign of public outreach, marketing and branding, and graphic design services to improve communications with the public and to enhance service delivery.

Hired as principal government relations representative in state relations department, promoted in January 2007 to state relations manager. Directed legislative activities and initiatives in Sacramento. Implemented priorities of board of directors including developing strategies and tactics, drafting legislation, and directing work of and managing contract for agency’s state lobbyist. Worked proactively with members of legislature, key staff, private sector organizations, professional organizations, local and regional elected and appointed officials, other public agencies, and interest groups. Developed materials as needed such as testimony, fact sheets, reports, correspondence, briefing materials, speeches, and talking points.• Presented issues and testimony before legislative bodies, elected officials, and stakeholder groups.• Customized annual legislative program, as well as worked on administrative or regulatory issues.• Oversaw plans and strategies to secure approval of numerous bills including but not limited to AB 807 (2011), AB X8 11 (2010), AB 387 (2008), AB 2906 (2008), and SB 1316 (2008).• Worked as part of coalition advocating for restoration of state funding for transit and re-enactment of gas tax swap.• Negotiated and secured amendments to SB 375 (2008) to protect local sales tax measures, secured special streamlining provisions for three Orange County projects in February 2009 special session budget in AB X2 8 (2009), and collaborated to secure amendments to SB 974 (2008) most reflecting needs of region.• Facilitated securing of $836,000,000 in funding from discretionary programs in Proposition 1B (2006).

Served as city’s first intergovernmental relations officer reporting to mayor, city, council and city manager. Established city’s first regional, state, and federal legislative program with special emphasis on transportation and goods movement. Developed, coordinated, planned, and carried out regional, state, and federal legislative initiatives for city. Researched, tracked, analyzed, advised, and coordinated tactics and strategy for pending intergovernmental policies and legislation at local, regional, state, and federal levels including passage and signature of AB 2823 (2004) and AB 453 (2005).

Oversaw $173,000,000 of city’s $565,000,000 budget and coordinated $423,000,000, six-year capital improvement program. Analyzed city operations and expenditures, and oversaw annual citizen survey. Monitored and updated city’s ten-year master financial plan, guided with selection of city’s constituent relations management software and program development. Administered city’s mobile home rent stabilization ordinance and related disputes, and participated in labor negotiations.

Implemented community and environmental public outreach programs for infrastructure and development projects for major public agencies and private clients. Developed project strategies and work plans, submitted proposals and scopes of work, built and maintained client relationships; managed project budgets, forecasted revenues, and built support for projects and programs amongst community leaders, business leaders, and elected officials; planned, prepared for, and facilitated public meetings; and wrote fact sheets, support letters, and reports.

Mpa, Local Government

Ba, Political Science