about us
PRINCIPAL
DIANNE BLUMER
“Dianne provides clients with bipartisan, experienced counsel and advocacy, informed by an in- depth knowledge of state government and a longstanding commitment to the people of Alaska.”
EXPERIENCE
Dianne Blumer brings more than 30years of executive and legislative experience in Alaska state government to her government relations practice. A lifelong Alaskan, born in Ketchikan and raised on Prince of Wales Island, she has held senior leadership positions in both the executive and legislative branches, most recently serving as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor with the Alaska State Legislature.
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Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor, Alaska State Legislature
In this role, she drafted legislation, prepared and presented testimony, and negotiated with legislators to advance policy priorities. Her legislative tenure provides a comprehensive understanding of the lawmaking process and the relationships that shape it.
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Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Appointed Commissioner in 2012, Dianne directed the department's workforce development and postsecondary education initiatives, including the development of grant funding and educational programs. She partnered with communities statewide to establish apprenticeship programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, creating meaningful pathways to employment. She regularly testified before the Legislature on departmental programs and budgets, and through the Alaska Workforce Development Board, collaborated with local governments to align program funding
with the state's workforce needs.
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Director, Division of Personnel and Labor Relations, State of Alaska
Appointed Director in 2006, Dianne oversaw human resources, payroll and benefits, employee classification, and collective bargaining with all State of Alaska unions. She previously served for many years as a Labor Relations Analyst, acting as chief negotiator on state labor contracts and chief advocate in arbitration proceedings. This background provides her with substantial expertise in state employee relations, retirement benefits, labor law, and negotiated agreements.
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Approach
Dianne provides clients with bipartisan, experienced counsel and advocacy, informed by an in- depth knowledge of state government and a longstanding commitment to the people of Alaska. Her background helps clients navigate agencies, legislative priorities, and stakeholder relationships with practical insight and credibility.
CONTRACT SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR
ELIZABETH SHEA
EXPERIENCE
Elizabeth Shea is currently contracting with NavigateAK as a Senior Policy Advisor. She is an Alaska-based government affairs strategist and communications professional with more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of federal and state policy, tribal governance, technology, and rural Alaska community development. She advises tribal, nonprofit, and private-sector clients on state and federal funding, procurement, and compliance, helping them navigate shifting regulatory landscapes. She is known for turning complex policy and technical issues into clear, persuasive strategy.
Before entering the private sector, Ms. Shea managed multimillion-dollar federal grant programs and worked with local, state, tribal, national, and international partners across Alaska and the Arctic. She represented the United States in bilateral meetings with international counterparts on conservation, cultural preservation, and subsistence issues, and worked directly with tribal leadership across the Alaskan and Russian Arctic. Having worked on both sides of the funding process, she brings an insider’s understanding of how agencies make decisions and how organizations can position themselves to win.
EDUCATION & RECOGNITION
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Master’s in Strategic Communication and Innovation
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B.A.s in Political Science and Russian Studies from Vassar College.
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Gates Cambridge Fellowship awardee
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Technology of Participation (ToP) Certified Facilitator
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GOAL Leadership Academy delegate
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Alaska Journal of Commerce’s 2016 “Top 40 Under 40.”
