Bio

An expert in strategic communications, Sara Ellis brings over 20 years of experience in public
affairs, government affairs, organizational management, and community development. At sje,
Sara leads strategy, research, messaging, and campaign planning and implementation for multiple
businesses and organizations in California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to sje, Ellis served as Vice President of Public Affairs at an international integrated communications agency where she led strategic communication planning and stakeholder consensus outreach for the nation’s largest land developers and homebuilders on high-profile community development projects.

Previously, she was a commerce and real estate lobbyist, including a decade focused on issues related to environmental regulations of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). With a focus on community development, she has worked on critical issues associated with community planning, community preservation, transportation, land planning, real estate entitlements and protection of private property rights in over 150 local jurisdictions, both the California and Nevada State Legislatures and Office of Governors, Federal and State Departments of Environmental Protection, State Lands Commissions, Water Quality Control Boards, California Coastal Commission and the complex land use regulatory process found throughout the West. 

Sara is completing her M.A. in Communication and Leadership with a credential in Strategic Communication and Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. She received her B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Nevada.