515-985-9054
974 73rd Street, Suite 14, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, 
Subjects: All Subjects, Agencies/Regulations, Alcohol, Animals/Agriculture, Ballot Measures/Campaign Finance/Elections, Business/Commerce, Cannabis/Drug Legalization, Children/Family/Women, City/County Government, Corrections/Criminal Justice, Education, Energy/Utilities, Environment/Recycling, Gaming, Health Care, Housing/Real Estate/Development/Construction, Insurance, Labor/Unions, Manufacturing, Medicare/Medicaid, Non-Profit, Pharmaceuticals, Privacy/Internet, Professional/Vocational Licensing, Public Safety, Public Sector, RFP/Procurement, Science/Technology, Taxes, Telecommunications, Tourism/Hospitality, Transportation/Vehicles
Links:Website, LinkedIn
Nick brings experience from political campaigns at all levels and an extensive background in executing public relations, media, and issue campaigns statewide.
Specializes in tax, public safety, tourism, veterans, licensure, housing, utility, regulatory, and transportation issues at the statehouse.
Also supports all Advocacy Strategies clients with communications engagement, media relations, and navigating the administrative rulemaking process.
2) Alliance for Patient Access
4) American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
6) Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
7) CAFE Iowa Citizen's Action Network (Clean Air for Everyone)
8) CHAIN
13) Easterseals Iowa
14) Electronic Services System
15) EveryStep
21) Iowa Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO)
22) Iowa Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
23) Iowa Cosmetology School Association
24) Iowa Emergency Management Association
26) Iowa Occupational Therapy Association
31) Network Against Human Trafficking
33) Stride, Inc.
35) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
36) Wine Institute
0-5 years
Leadership Iowa Graduate
Nick is an experienced government relations, public affairs, and public relations professional with a successful history of executing lobbying and issue campaigns. He began his journey in the political arena at a young age and has had the opportunity to work a number of political campaigns at the local, state, congressional, and even presidential level.
Nick's career has included leading extensive public affairs issue campaigns, communications and public relations efforts, and marketing campaigns across the Midwest and country influencing state and federal policymakers and garnering media attention. He also spent a couple of sessions being fully immersed in the legislative process while working for a committee chairman in the Iowa House.
These diverse experiences have all culminated in Nick's successful ability to execute strategic plans to introduce, pass, block, or amend legislation at the Iowa Statehouse for clients and build strong relationships with lawmakers and stakeholders. From legislative agenda development and interim planning to PAC management and issue campaigns, Nick specializes in elevating a client's message and executing legislative strategies. Nick also leads Advocacy Strategies' administrative rulemaking engagement and media relations efforts on behalf of our clients.
Nick grew up in Byron, MN and made his way to Iowa through Simpson College's John C. Culver Public Policy Center where he was selected as a Fellow. He graduated Simpson with the highest academic honor with majors in Political Science and International Relations and a minor in Religious Studies and also received his Master's Degree in Public Policy and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Northern Iowa.
Outside of work, Nick is actively involved in his church community, local political activism, the Simpson College Alumni Association Board, and serves as the President of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center Alumni Association. He graduated from Leadership Iowa, the state's premier professional leadership development program, in June of 2022.
515-975-5299
974 - 73rd Street, Suite 14, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, 
Subjects: All Subjects, Agencies/Regulations, Alcohol, Animals/Agriculture, Appropriations/Budgets, Business/Commerce, Cannabis/Drug Legalization, Children/Family/Women, City/County Government, Consumer Protection, Corrections/Criminal Justice, Education, Energy/Utilities, Environment/Recycling, Health Care, Housing/Real Estate/Development/Construction, Insurance, Labor/Unions, Medicare/Medicaid, Non-Profit, Pharmaceuticals, Professional/Vocational Licensing, Public Safety, Public Sector, RFP/Procurement, Taxes, Telecommunications, Tourism/Hospitality, Transportation/Vehicles
Advocacy Strategies was founded in 2003 by Threase Harms to help organizations build and implement successful policies and strategies at the local, state, and federal levels through a wide range of government relations services including government relations, legislative strategy, public policy development, communication, constituency-building, management, and training. The firm has represented clients ranging from nonprofit organizations to Fortune 50 companies whose goals align with broad public interests.
Advocacy Strategies is an Iowa-based limited liability corporation specializing in government relations services, including lobbying, legislative drafting, navigating the administrative/regulatory process, strategic planning, grassroots advocacy, and providing public affairs and media assistance. Our firm consults with clients to provide the degree of assistance needed, from the planning of policy agendas and strategies to the implementation of those strategies to deliver results and ultimately, support the client's mission.
Advocacy Strategies has a full-time staff of professional experts with varying areas of expertise in a wide variety of issues, but equally important are the relationships we have with key legislators, policymakers, influencers and decision makers!
We use an inclusive approach to assisting you with your state legislative services. We would welcome the opportunity to work with your organization to determine the best plan for your needs before the Iowa Legislature, the Governor's Office, the Iowa Congressional Delegation, state agencies and regulatory committees.
We look forward to hearing from you and the opportunity to learn how we can help you accomplish your goals!
2) Alliance for Patient Access
4) American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)
6) Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
7) CAFE Iowa Citizen's Action Network (Clean Air for Everyone)
8) CHAIN
13) Easterseals Iowa
14) EveryStep
19) Iowa Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO)
20) Iowa Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
21) Iowa Cosmetology School Association
22) Iowa Emergency Management Association
23) Iowa Environmental Council
26) Iowa Occupational Therapy Association
31) Network Against Human Trafficking
34) Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
35) Wine Institute
20+ years
City Council Member, Windsor Heights
Leadership Iowa
Licensed Foster Parent
As President and CEO of Advocacy Strategies, Threase is responsible for the firm's overall business operations and strategy for delivering results. She has been serving clients before the Iowa Legislature for nearly 30 years. This experience has provided her with intimate knowledge of the legislative process and long-standing solid relationships with policymakers, staff, and key opinion leaders across the state. This allows her to tailor a strategy to meet the individual needs of our clients that deliver the best value to you. Advocacy Strategies' clients realize results when working with our team whether with a controversial legislative issue, securing and maintaining state appropriations, or working to find compromise to move issues forward.
In addition to lobbying, Threase has spent more than two decades developing and implementing successful public affairs and grassroots campaigns of all sizes from national campaigns across the country to smaller campaigns in Iowa communities. Her wealth of expertise in this area affords Advocacy Strategies a strong network of relationships with legislative and community leaders and a unique skill set in developing successful and innovative strategies to achieve policy goals that few firms can offer.
Threase started her lobbying career at the University of Northern Iowa as a student, then went on to work in the Iowa Senate on education issues before her employment with the American Cancer Society. From there, she took the position of Director of the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control division within the Iowa Department of Public Health, giving her the opportunity to use her passion to protect families from the hardships of illness and death from tobacco use. With multiple successes in the non-profit sector, Pfizer recruited her to be part of the Worldwide Alliance Development team. She has been an independent government relations contractor for 20 years helping organizations of all types and sizes.
Threase earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Iowa State University but remains loyal to her undergraduate alma mater the University of Northern Iowa where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies while serving as Student Body President. She also serves as an elected member of the Windsor Heights City Council and on many advisory committees and community organizations.
Threase and her husband, Rick live in Windsor Heights. They have four children and are avid cyclists and licensed foster parents.