6-10 years

20+ years

Professional Highlights

Legislative Director to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, responsible for leading the administration's legislative and public policy agenda

Infrastructure Investment Coordinator, managing Alaska's implementation of the $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

AVP Government Relations for the University of Alaska, managing federal, state, and local affairs

VP External Affairs & Government Relations for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation

State Director for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and policy advisor in her Washington D.C office

Senior budget and appropriations staff for the Alaska Senate Finance Committee

Chief of Staff to State Senator Bert Stedman

Six-Sigma Black Belt at NBC Entertainment

National Director of Sales and Marketing at Sony-BMG Music

U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer

Research partner with the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) at UAF's International Arctic Research Center

Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Alaska Anchorage, College of Business and Public Policy

B.S. in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management

Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps Officer and U.S. Naval Academy graduate
State Director, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
Legislative Director, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
Senior Budget and Appropriations Staff, Senate Finance Committee
VP External Affairs, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation
VP Government Relations, University of Alaska System
Six Sigma Blackbelt, NBC Entertainment
Director of Sales & Marketing, Sony/BMG Music
Research partner, Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) at UAF's International Arctic Research Center
Adjunct Professor of Strategic Management , University of Alaska Anchorage, College of Business and Public Policy

Miles Baker is a second-generation Alaskan with 20+ years of experience in public policy, government relations, and strategic communications in the state. He has held leadership roles in the executive, legislative and congressional branches of government, and managed complex policy initiatives through a range of public and legislative processes. He is founder and Managing Principal of Miles Baker Alaska, a Juneau and Anchorage based lobbying and strategic consulting firm.

He was State Director for U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Legislative Director for Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, VP Government Relations for the University of Alaska System, VP External Affairs for the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, and a senior budget and appropriations staffer to the Alaska State Senate.

Miles was an entertainment executive in Los Angeles, a Six-Sigma Black Belt at NBC Entertainment, and National Director of Sales and Marketing with Sony-BMG's classical and jazz division. He began his media career in artist development at Island Records and Arista Records.

A former U.S. Marine Corps Captain, Miles holds a BS in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

11-15 years

Commonwealth North Board of Directors (Member)
USA Hockey Pacific District Board of Directors (Chariman)
USA Hockey Board of Directors (Member)
IIHF Representative - Team USA NTDP U-17 (Kazan, Russia)
Safari Club International (Past Member)

Kristopher Knauss is a fourth generation Alaskan. He graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Political Science and History. During his tenure at Arizona State, Mr. Knauss actively engaged in government affairs and politics, serving as intern to the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and then as campaign staff for the first female Governor of Arizona, Jane Dee Hull.

After returning to Alaska, Mr. Knauss served as a legislative aide to the Alaska State Senate President for two years. He became Chief of Staff to the Alaska State House Rules Committee and then Chief of Staff to Alaska State Speaker of the House where he served for approximately two years.

Because of Mr. Knauss' familiarity with state government from the executive and legislative branches, Governor Murkowski appointed him Director of Policy for the State of Alaska. In this role, he interfaced on a daily basis with the Governor, Chief of Staff, and Cabinet members. Additionally, Mr. Knauss represented the Governor and was his lead staff person with non-partisan organizations such as the National Governors' Association, Western Governors' Association, Council of State Governments, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, as well as partisan groups such as the Republican Governors' Association and the Republican National Committee.

Government Affairs is a constantly changing environment that requires a unique and first hand understanding to be effective and take full advantage of the opportunities involved and presented. Mr. Knauss has this understanding and in June 2005 resigned his position to join the private sector as the owner and principal of The Knauss Group, LLC, which specializes in government affairs consulting and lobbying the State of Alaska.

In his personal time, Mr. Knauss continues in his elected position on the Board of Directors for USA Hockey, and serves as Chairman of the USA Hockey Pacific District. In this role, Mr. Knauss oversees youth player development along the west coast and works closely with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Most recent, Mr. Knauss was elected to the Commonwealth North Board of Directors in his professional capacity.

The TAG network consists of the top lobbying firms across the US, public affairs specialists in various countries and specialty services.

US Members:
50-States
DC Council
US Congress

International:
Profile Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd (Australia)
Tactix (Canada)
Monarch Global Strategies (Mexico, Central & South America)
Kesarev (Russia, CIS, Central Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Turkey & Israel)
Instinctif Partners (United Kingdom & the European Union)

Specialty members:
Five Corners Strategies (Grassroots Advocacy & Public Affairs)
FOCUS, a Leonine Business (50-State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking & Analysis)
Select Litigation (Jury Selection)
Bullpen, LLC (Market Entry Strategy)
The Virtuous Cycle Collaboratory (Social Enterprise Business Development)
Law Offices of Mitchell D. Gravo, Inc. (Specialty Member)

20+ years

Dell Sales & Government Affairs Award
American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Service Award

BICKFORD PACIFIC GROUP (BPG) has over 25 years experience specializing in all aspects of government, legislative, state administration and local assembly/city council. BPG has been recognized as one of Alaska's top 10 lobbyists with a client list that includes Fortune Top 500 companies. BPG clients benefit from our trusted bipartisan relationships that have resulted in successful outcomes.

Whether you are seeking to enact or defeat legislation on a state or local level, BPG has a proven success record.

Firm Specialties:
Lobbying local & state
Digital/social media advocacy
Grassroots/grasstops
Strategist specialist
Communications/public relations
Crisis management

FRANK BICKFORD, before becoming a lobbyist was a staffer in the early 80's for then U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, Former State Senator Fritz Pettyjohn and managed Congressman Don Young's campaign in 1984. Frank has been a state lobbyist since the year 2000, with a host of clients and excellent reputation among Democrat, Republican and Independent elected officials.

0-5 years