ISIS THORNTON-SAUNDERS
Associate
Professional Background
Isis is a government affairs professional and lobbyist who has built a reputation for delivering results, advancing client priorities through every stage of the legislative process, from crafting bill language and building bipartisan coalitions to coordinating grassroots campaigns and negotiating directly with policymakers on behalf of her clients. Her portfolio spans multiple industries with focus on arts & culture, insurance, local government and human services.
Isis brings a combination of policy depth and communications instinct to her work. She leads meetings with legislators, agency personnel, and coalition partners with equal fluency, and her ability to develop compelling testimony, comment letters, and strategic messaging has made her a trusted voice at Oregon’s Capitol. She monitors the regulatory landscape closely— regularly attending committee hearings, task forces, and coalition meetings to ensure her clients are never caught off guard by a shift in the political environment.
Before joining United Strategies, Isis founded ITS Consulting, where she managed lobbying and legislative strategy contracts for clients. Her work spanned policy analysis, ethics compliance, and direct advocacy. Prior to that, she served as Government Affairs Coordinator at Tonkon Torp LLP, where she supported more than fifty clients on legislative and regulatory matters across a wide range of industries.
Political Experience
Isis has a broad and hands-on background in campaign strategy and political operations, having managed multiple candidate and ballot measure campaigns spanning the political spectrum. Her campaign experience encompasses voter outreach, volunteer management, stakeholder communications, and political strategy, giving her a practical understanding of the electoral landscape that directly informs her legislative work.
On the legislative side, Isis has been instrumental in lobbying for key legislation, advocating for impactful policy changes, and consistently securing favorable outcomes for her clients. Her adeptness at navigating the political landscape, and forging strong relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and coalition partners across party lines, has established her as a trusted and effective advocate. Whether she is coordinating a multi-stakeholder coalition or shepherding a bill through its final committee hearing, Isis understands that winning in government affairs requires equal parts strategy, relationships, and persistence.
Community Engagement
Isis’s path into government affairs was shaped by earlier roles that gave her an unusually broad foundation in community-facing work. As Community Relations Coordinator at Travel Salem, she lobbied for the return of commercial air service at the Salem Airport. She also developed the organization’s business plan, annual report, and crisis communication plan, and served as spokesperson for media and industry outreach.
Prior to that, Isis served as Director of Annual Giving at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties, where she led a $200,000 annual giving program encompassing more than 500 donors. She built and managed corporate and individual giving programs, executed multi-channel marketing campaigns, and honed the stakeholder engagement and communications skills that now define her advocacy practice. Her 2021 Giving Tuesday campaign raised $29,117 in a single day, exceeding its goal by 94%, an early demonstration of what she can accomplish when strategy, messaging, and execution all come together.
Education
Kansas State University, Dual Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Sociology, Minor in Nonprofit Leadership Studies, Data Analytics Certification