Strategic

Public Affairs

Lee

Stitzenberger

Chris

Lucker

Kathy

Gatherum

Lucker

Tanya

Gilbert

Peter

Bornholdt

Courtney

Minteer

Junior Account Executive Courtney Minteer works on projects for some of the Dolphin Group's major clients. With a background in persuasion strategies, research and technical and multimedia writing, she assists in the research, writing and editing of grassroots materials as well as database management.  Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Peter Bornholdt, Senior Account Executive, is an integral part of grassroots advocacy programs and acts as day-to-day manager of local level consultants and sub-contractors.  Peter manages the Dolphin Group’s information technology including extensive databases, e-mail communications and website creation.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with an emphasis on Foreign Policy and Securities from Boston University.

As Vice President and Grassroots/Grasstops Lobbying & Outreach Manager, Tanya Gilbert specializes in issue and crisis management, external affairs and oversees third party ally outreach efforts on federal, state and local grassroots/grasstops efforts.  She designs and implements government affairs programs and manages education and activation programs on critical legislation. Tanya also serves as the California State Coordinator for Government Affairs and Public Policy Outreach for Altria Corporate Services.

Kathy Gatherum Lucker, Executive Vice President and CFO, oversees the day-to-day management of a diverse portfolio of major accounts for the Dolphin Group.  From Wal-Mart’s Customer Action Network to the California Licensed Beverage Association and the Republican Local Elected Officials Committee, Kathy’s experience managing the varied needs of these and other important clients and her many contacts throughout the corporate and public affairs worlds are invaluable.

Senior Vice President Chris A. Lucker has been with the Dolphin Group since 1984 and has more than twenty-seven years of experience in political campaigns and issue management. Chris is an expert in strategic corporate planning, public opinion shaping and issue advocacy.  With decades of experience in land use, natural resource, water, energy and development issues, Chris’ greatest depth of knowledge is in managing local ballot elections and advocacy campaigns.

Lee Stitzenberger, Chairman and CEO, has successfully developed and orchestrated long-term advocacy and grassroots programs for major corporations and political campaigns, including Altria, Wal-Mart and Marriott.  A thirty-year veteran of political and legislative battles across the country, Lee is one of the top public affairs strategists in the business, especially sought after by clients who find themselves in hostile circumstances or facing unusually complex challenges.

Christine

Aghassi

Sandra

Yamane

Christine Aghassi joined the firm as Vice President in September 2008. She is a seasoned public affairs strategist with more than 15 years of experience tackling a broad range of issues for many diverse clients. She is a veteran of more than a dozen winning statewide ballot measure campaigns and has developed and implemented strategies for numerous issue advocacy and legislative outreach programs in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri. 

Ms. Yamane has extensive experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans for public and private sector clientele.  Prior to joining the Dolphin Group, she was a senior strategist with Marathon Communications, a Los Angeles-based public affairs firm where she organized broad-based coalitions to demonstrate public support for commercial and residential real estate projects.  She also provided corporate clients with a comprehensive range of communications services including direct advocacy and community relations.