Longtime energy lobbyist honored for service to business community
OLYMPIA— Collins Sprague, manager of state government relations for
Spokane-based Avista Utilities, has been selected by the Association of
Washington Business to receive its 2010 Ron Gjerde award. The award,
one of five major honors AWB presents annually, recognizes the year’s
top business lobbyist.
Sprague, who serves as co-chairman of both AWB’s energy committee and climate change subcommittee, earned the recognition of his peers for his work advancing the business community’s position on some of the most important issues of the day, including climate change and energy policy.
“Collins’ leadership from a utility perspective, particularly over the last five years, has been invaluable,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “His expertise on state and federal climate change policy has helped our members understand not only the technical aspects of complex issues like cap-and-trade, but also figure out what it would mean to their business.”
Sprague has served as Avista’s manager of state government relations since 1990. Before that, he worked on staff for AWB, where he helped create the organization’s environmental affairs division. He is a current member of AWB’s Board of Directors, and is a previous recipient of AWB’s Heavy Lifter Award, which recognizes service above and beyond the call of duty in assistance to AWB Government Affairs staff.
AWB will make a formal presentation to Sprague next week during its annual Policy Summit in Blaine.
The Gjerde Award is named for the late Ron Gjerde, a longtime member of AWB’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. During his career, Gjerde’s clients included the Weyerhaeuser Company.
Previous recipients of the Gjerde Award include:
Sprague, who serves as co-chairman of both AWB’s energy committee and climate change subcommittee, earned the recognition of his peers for his work advancing the business community’s position on some of the most important issues of the day, including climate change and energy policy.
“Collins’ leadership from a utility perspective, particularly over the last five years, has been invaluable,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “His expertise on state and federal climate change policy has helped our members understand not only the technical aspects of complex issues like cap-and-trade, but also figure out what it would mean to their business.”
Sprague has served as Avista’s manager of state government relations since 1990. Before that, he worked on staff for AWB, where he helped create the organization’s environmental affairs division. He is a current member of AWB’s Board of Directors, and is a previous recipient of AWB’s Heavy Lifter Award, which recognizes service above and beyond the call of duty in assistance to AWB Government Affairs staff.
AWB will make a formal presentation to Sprague next week during its annual Policy Summit in Blaine.
The Gjerde Award is named for the late Ron Gjerde, a longtime member of AWB’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. During his career, Gjerde’s clients included the Weyerhaeuser Company.
Previous recipients of the Gjerde Award include:
•2009: Tim Boyd, TSBG Group, Olympia
•2008: Nancee Wildermuth, attorney and lobbyist, Olalla
•2007: Steve Gano, Gano & Associates, Lakewood
•2006: Bruce Beckett, Weyerhaeuser Company, Federal Way
•2005: Denny Eliason, Alliances Northwest, Normandy Park
•2004: Jean Leonard, attorney, Olympia
•2003: Clif Finch, Washington Food Industry, Olympia
•2002: Dan Coyne, Coyne Jesernig, Olympia
•2001: Kathleen Collins, Capitol Strategies, Olympia
•2000: Enid Layes, Retired, AWB Vice President of Governmental Affairs
•1999: Jim Halstrom, Halstrom Associates, Ellensburg
•1998: Vito Chiechi, Chiechi and Associates, Olympia
•1997: Curt R. Copenhagen, Longview Fibre, Longview
•1996: Greg Hanon, COMMUNICO, Sumner
•1995: Rob Makin, The Boeing Company, Seatac
•1994: Dick Ducharme, contract lobbyist, Starbucks
•1993: Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors, Olympia
•1992: The late Ron Gjerde, Olympia
About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,000 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.
