Twenty years ago, four friends came together to create a business. All had backgrounds in government, politics, media and corporate public affairs. Two were Democrats, two were Republicans. Each wanted to settle in their native states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. After a weekend meeting at a cabin in north Idaho, a few shots of whiskey and handshakes to seal the deal -- The Gallatin Group was born.
The name was a suggestion from a fifth friend, who thought it was the the perfect fit. Albert Gallatin was a top policy and political advisor to President Thomas Jefferson and played a key behind-the-scenes role in the American settlement of the Pacific Northwest.
Since then, we’ve added an office in Montana, and transitioned from the first generation of owners to the second. We changed our name to better describe what we do and who we are and we established a strategic partnership - WestNet - expanding our reach across the western United States. For a time, we even had a successful office on Capitol Hill – before a desire for simplicity set in. We’ve grown from “four guys and Shirley” (our first and long-time firm administrator), to a business with 25 full-time employees, 8 shareholders and 4 “of counsel” relationships. And in an industry of mergers and acquisitions, we’ve remained independent of the big national and international firms. We respect them – we just value our independence. While some of us are growing grey and bald, some of us are having babies. We are a team of seasoned men and women – a group of veterans and young Turks – spread across five offices in four states and two time zones in our hometowns of Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Boise and Helena.
To celebrate 20 years of helping clients overcome challenges, seize opportunities, win and grow, we’ve chosen not to bake a cake or throw a party. Like Albert Gallatin, who labored behind the scenes, we like to think acknowledging the quality and success of our clients over two decades is the best possible way to celebrate.
We’ve selected 20 client successes – one for each year – with whom we are proud to associate with.
Helping -
•Create a deeper Columbia River shipping channel
•Site and permit the country’s only primary cobalt mine – the Idaho Cobalt Project
•Permit the BNSF north Idaho fueling facility
•Secure the Boeing 7E7 project for Washington state
•Permit and construct the Montana Alberta Tie Ltd.
•Convey anhistoric Lewis and Clark property to the Idaho Parks Department
•Assist Idaho’s largest hospital system – St. Luke’s – expand in southern Idaho
•Bring Major League Soccer to Portland
•Site and construct Ridgeline Energy’s wind power projects in Idaho
•Secure key permits for the first new oil refinery in the U.S. in more than 30 years
•Expand the campus of Oregon Health & Science University along Portland’s Willamette River
•Rebuild the University of Idaho’s brand
•Secure a surplus federal building for the Pacific Northwest College of Art
•Move the restoration of the Rayonier Port Angeles mill site forward.
•Secure seafood industry jobs and improve water quality in Warrenton, Oregon
•Protect the Columbia River Gorge from casino development
•Build public support for the Kendall Yards development along the Spokane River
•Advance the Port of Centralia Opus development
•Turn back legislation that would hamper wind power development in Washington
•Build the advocacy/communications training program for 600 members of theMontana Non-profit Association
