Passionate Pursuits. Principled Guidance.
At Avison Strategies, we advance awareness and pursue solutions that solve problems. We combine your passionate pursuits with our specialized expertise to deliver principled guidance for you. See why our Lighthouse Effect sets us apart and how we operate differently than other firms to deliver better results for our clients.
WHAT WE DO
A Full-Service Experienced Firm
We are a boutique government relations and public affairs consulting firm where you will receive the experience you expect with the personal attention you deserve that is focused on your priorities.
Policy Analysis
Creating effective enabling policy requires historical research, critical thinking, and thoughtful analysis. We are able to uniquely look at a problem and develop creative solutions.
Government Relations
A desired policy outcome will need the backing and support of policymakers. We know how to lobby key elected and appointed officials to get them to take action and champion your cause.
Public Affairs
Storytelling is compelling. We help you define a narrative and communicate with a voice that helps break through the noise. Articulating emotion resonates and is better remembered.
Business Development
We have experience consulting with businesses and creating strategic plans designed to solve problems, anticipate and avoid challenges, and position for new market opportunities.
Partnership Engagement
It sometimes takes a village. We help identify impactful relationships and cultivate influence with important stakeholders to partner with to collectively achieve more together.
Advocacy Campaigns
We help organize constituencies to leverage impact nationally and at the state and local levels. We show how solving key problems can have a cascading effect on communities.
Alan Knapp
Founder and Managing Principal
Led by industry veteran Alan Knapp, Avison Strategies is a government relations and public affairs firm with over twenty years of policy and political experience in Washington, DC. Alan has worked in senior positions on Capitol Hill, led government relations activities and departments for several nonprofit associations, and is now an aspiring entrepreneur, nonprofit executive, writer, and a respected national thought leader on matters that affect career resiliency, education, and professional development.
He founded Avison Strategies, named for his two daughters, in 2020 because he felt passionate about applying his years of experience and using his skills building coalitions, partnerships, and networks to impact issues that improve people’s health, livelihoods, happiness, security, and overall success.
He currently serves as President of the Government Relations Association and on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Career Transitions.
PRACTICE AREAS
Bring Us Your Challenges
We specialize in employee benefit plans and policy focused on the intersections of issues impacting outcomes on career resiliency, professional development, education, health, wellness, financial security, and leave for workers, and engagement and productivity for the organizations they work for.
Career Resiliency
Career Transitions, 127 Educational Assistance Programs, WIOA, Human Capital
Education Resources
529 Education Savings Accounts, Student Loan Debt Repayment
Health and Wellness
Mental Health, Employee Assistance Plans, Nutrition, Health Savings Accounts, ICHRA’s
Financial Security
Long-Term Supplemental Unemployment Insurance, Payment Protection, Debt Relief
Employee Leave
Paid Leave Insurance, FMLA, Caregiving, Returnships, Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Professional Development
Higher Education Certificates, College Career Centers, Internships
Our Commitment
Challenging the status quo is hard. Interests are entrenched. It doesn’t make change easy to make your pain points go away. We embrace taking on the hard challenges to find answers that make lasting change. We are in the business of finding solutions to problems. Solving problems gives us purpose.
In the beginning of the film Jerry McGuire, the main character has an awakening. In his personal breakthrough, he writes a mission statement challenging the status quo and pretentious nature of his industry acknowledging it needs:
“More personal attention”
Everyone agrees. He’s applauded. Then he’s cast off. His epiphany leads to success though because of his attention toward cultivating honest, caring relationships.
13,000+
Choice in Government Relations
There is no shortage of choice when selecting a government relations, lobbying, or public affairs firm to represent you in the nation’s capital. To date, there are over 13,000 individuals who are registered to do so. Here is a secret to let you in on; many overpay for an overvalued name who overpromise unprecedented access. They don’t make you their main priority or assign you their top talent. Avison Strategies wants to earn your business by offering you the personalized attention you would expect from a small firm, while providing big firm capabilities, for a fraction of the cost.
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Pro Bono Services
One of the fundamental rights provided to people under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the right to petition government for a redress of grievances. However, for some, the ability to exercise that right and effectively gain access to do so is limited by means. We believe every good initiative deserves a voice, just like those who can afford to pay a lobbyist. That is why Avison Strategies devotes 10% of its work toward pro bono services.
TESTIMONIALS
What Others Say About Us
Reputations are hard won but easily lost. Integrity and trust are our core principles and currency.
What I most appreciate about working with Alan is his deep understanding of the legislative process and how to leverage his knowledge to advance an organization’s interests. He proactively identifies strategies that build champions. He knows how to craft and deliver messages that reach the right people to get things done. He has strategic and tactical grasp of the issues from years of expertise and brings the right connections to the table.
Amy Coughenour Betancourt
I have known Alan for a little over three years. In that short time I have observed his exceptional leadership abilities and charismatic personality. Alan’s ability to inspire and empower those around him creates a collaborative and positive environment that drives success. He consistently models servant leadership throughout everything he does and always places others interests above his own. He will bring that same determination to your organization.
Russell Wolfe
COMPANY NEWS
Latest News And Emerging Trends
We believe in the power of owned media to convey ideas that shape persuasive narratives.
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Job Security Replacing Prices in Hierarchy of Anxiety
https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs-could-soon-replace-prices-as-focus-of-anxiety-3ca2416a?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1 According to Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator at the Wall Street Journal, “we’ve been simply defining affordability too narrowly. It is not just the…
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Avison Strategies LLC Announces Rebrand and Relaunch; Seeking Clients
We are excited to announce the website rebrand and relaunch of Avison Strategies LLC, a full-service boutique government relations and public affairs firm specializing in…