Emelie East - Partner - CBE STRATEGIC

Emelie East

Partner

Emelie East has a diverse background of local and federal experience in politics, public affairs and advocacy that she brings to the partnership of Ceis Bayne East Strategic. Prior to starting CBE Strategic, Emelie served the City of Seattle as Director of Intergovernmental Relations where she managed the city’s relationships with regional partners, the state, the federal government, and with international governments. While at the City she also served as Mayor Nickels’ Director of Council Relations.

Before returning to her hometown of Seattle in 2005, Emelie was a co-founder of McBee Strategic Consulting, a Washington, DC lobbying firm where she represented the interests of public and private Northwest entities with the federal government. Prior to her work in the private sector, Emelie served as professional staff for five years on the United States Senate Appropriations Committee, working for Senators Murray, Byrd, Inouye, Hollings, and Leahy on the Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies; Defense; Military Construction; and Foreign Operations subcommittees. Before working as Committee staff, Emelie worked in the office of Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA). Emelie is a Seattle native, attended Roosevelt High School, has a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and is a member of the Washington State bar.

Emelie’s community activities in Seattle include: Wellspring Family Services board member and 2017 Board Chair, Seafair board member and 2014 Board Chair, and King County Conservation Voters board member.

Emelie specializes in coalescing different voices towards a shared goal. Some of her top work has been done working with public sector partners like the City, the County, Sound Transit and the University of Washington in bringing together the community, regional partners, state supporters, and federal partners in advancing and financially supporting major infrastructure projects that have dramatically impacted our region. Emelie has also developed an expertise in supporting and advancing institutions central to the core of the Seattle Center, including the Seattle Storm WNBA ownership group, EMP (now MoPoP), Pacific Science Center, and for the last two years, Emelie has been on point to the NHL Seattle / Oak View Group team for all public affairs matters, supporting their redevelopment of KeyArena and the introduction of the 32nd NHL franchise to the City of Seattle. Emelie is proud of these and her many other clients, current and past, some of which include: Car2Go, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Starbucks, the Port of Seattle and many others.