0-5 years

State-appointed utility regulator confirmed unanimously by the Washington state Senate in 2017

Highly skilled at building meaningful relationships and working with stakeholders to advance policy and regulatory priorities

Able to foster confidence in decisionmakers as a trusted resource for information and offer reasonable, clear and concise solutions to complex issues

Familiarity with the legislative landscape, politics and policy preferences of Western state governors and legislatures

Continuously maintain robust and constructive relationships with Washington state Democrat and Republican elected officials, legislative staff, executive branch staff and stakeholders with diverse viewpoints

Deep knowledge of state legislative budgeting and appropriations process with expertise in Washington state tax policy, transportation policy and budgeting

Ability to adapt and manage high-stress, time-sensitive and politically complex situations

Understanding of the importance of legislative and executive branch staff in shaping opinions of legislators and agency leadership for new initiatives

Jay Balasbas served as a commissioner of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission from May 2017 to March 2022. Jay is currently the President of JMB Strategies, an independent consulting firm that provides expert advice on utility regulatory process, utility and transportation policy, state tax and fiscal matters, general legislative advocacy and political perspective.

Prior to Jay's tenure as a commissioner, he served as senior budget assistant to the governor in the Office of Financial Management working in the General Government Section, Transportation Section and as lead analyst on revenue issues. Before that, Jay worked for the Washington House of Representatives in a variety of roles, including senior fiscal analyst, assistant director of policy and policy analyst on transportation and finance issues. He also worked for the Washington Department of Transportation.

Jay served as the chair of the Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety, co-vice chair of the Committee on Critical Infrastructure, and as a member of the Committee on Gas for the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC). He also served as a member of the Gas Technology Institute Public Interest Advisory Committee, the Washington Action Program and as an ex-officio member of the Washington Highway Users Federation Board of Directors.

Jay has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Science in finance from Seattle University.

Maizee Thompson grew up on a farm in the Northwest Quadrant of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been an advocate for people and animals and continuously works to uplift communities by volunteering locally and internationally.

She has over five years of customer service experience in various industries and has been politically active for the past year. While obtaining her political science degree at the University of Utah, she has interned for Senator Mike Lee in Washington, D.C., and Utah's Senate President, J. Stuart Adams, during the 2022 General Session.

During her internships, Maizee grew an immense interest in policy and government operations. She is eager to support and learn from the extraordinary team at Lincoln Hill Partners while she completes her degree. When not working, you will find her spending time with family and friends or taking any opportunity to spend some time in the great outdoors!

15-20 years

Chuck's wide range of political and policy experience are one of the greatest assets of the Montana Group. He specializes in grassroots organization, fundraising, and campaign management. Before becoming a lobbyist, Chuck served as the Chief Policy Advisor to the Republican caucus in the Montana House of Representatives. He also served four years as the Executive Director of the Montana Republican Party. During his tenure at the Montana GOP, Chuck oversaw a modernization of party programs, grew the party from three employees to twenty, and tripled fundraising.

Chuck joined the Montana Group in 2006. Denowh has managed dozens advocacy campaigns for corporate and non-profit organizations, as well as working on some of biggest political campaigns in the state. His most recent campaign work includes the successful 2020 elections for U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale. He served as state finance director for Congressman, now Governor, Greg Gianforte.

Chuck has managed four successful ballot initiatives, including two amendments to the Montana Constitution. Most recently he managed the CI-116 constitutional amendment, which was enacted with 65 percent of the vote, and the opposition to I-185, which was defeated by a 53-47 margin.

Chuck grew up in Sidney; he earned a BA in political science and an MPA, both from the University of Montana, and an MS in Applied Economics from the University of North Dakota.