About Our Firm
Dalton Advocacy, Inc. (DAi) is a female led and managed advocacy and association management firm. We pride ourselves on personal client service, strong and open communication and impassioned advocacy in the State Capitol and regulatory arena. The firm has built a reputation for delivering successful legislative and regulatory strategies for complex, progressive and aggressive agendas in Oregon. Our relationships run deep in the Capitol, Governor’s Office and State Agencies and every member of our team brings the experience of a legislative staffer to their advocacy work. In a time when lobbyists out-tenure the majority of Legislators and staff, an ability to build meaningful relationships rooted in experience, trust and honesty proves invaluable as DAi’s team delivers for our clients. It is this straightforwardness that has afforded DAi a seat at the majority of major negotiating tables over the past decade. Our client base includes issue leaders in the health care, employment, agriculture, technology and public safety sectors.
Meet Our Team
Amanda Dalton, J.D., President
Amanda Dalton is a lawyer-lobbyist with over twenty years of legislative advocacy, public policy and strategic planning experience. She has built a career in Oregon based on strong bi-partisan relationships and a solid reputation for hard work, open and responsive client communication and an eye towards Legislative strategy. Amanda brings the seasoned experience of a legislative staffer and campaign worker coupled with nearly two decades of providing contract lobby services and in-house corporate government affairs. Prior to forming Dalton Advocacy, Inc. Amanda managed in-house corporate government relations for Darden Restaurants on the West Coast and Mid-Western parts of the United States. She led efforts in 25 states directed towards protecting and enhancing the company’s reputation and relationships in markets with elected officials, community leaders, media, and the public at-large. As a practicing attorney, Amanda is able to pair her passion for advocacy and client results with an appreciation for legislative intent, history and policy. Her strong relationships allow for access to decision makers, but it is her commitment to understand her clients position and negotiate details with stakeholders that keeps her at the table and advances her clients interests. Amanda is a volunteer with Legal Aid Service of Oregon representing Petitioners in contested restraining and stalking order cases, primarily in Multnomah and Clackamas County.
Sabrina Riggs, Senior Vice President
Sabrina Riggs serves as an integral part of the DAi team serving as the firm health care issue lead. Her skills as a lobbyist have been shaped by serving as legislative staff, working campaigns and engaging in healthcare policy advocacy. She brings her 7-year experience in the Oregon Legislature to serve as account lead for DAi’s healthcare clients, which includes specialty physician groups and EMS providers and Children’s Advocacy Centers. She is an impassioned advocate for patient safety and statewide access to providers and is one of the few in the Oregon lobby that can claim two scope fight battle wins! Sabrina has built a reputation for delivering positive results for DAi clients, maintaining strong lines of communication and building important partnerships and coalitions within the house of medicine. Sabrina earned her Bachelor of Science from Western Oregon University.
Nicole Mann, Senior Legislative Advocate
Nicole Mann started her career as an advocate in Washington D.C. before returning to Oregon to serve as an advisor and policy analyst to senior members of the Oregon Legislature. A veteran of ten years, she has developed strong relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as key decision makers within state agencies. Prior to joining DAi, Nicole worked as a public affairs professional, providing strategic counsel and assisting in the execution of communications plans for a broad variety of industries and interests. Nicole draws on her diverse work history to provide clients with effective advocacy in the halls of the Capitol – both on offense and defense – and prides herself on always presenting clear and factual information in the midst of often politically charged policy discussions. Her DAi portfolio includes legislative and regulatory work focused on agriculture, timber, recycling and business clients.
Mia Noren, Legislative Advocate
Mia Noren brings the diverse experience of campaign work, legislative policy staff, and media relations to DAi clients. Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Mia worked for four years as a legislative staffer to a senior member of the Senate in both individual and leadership offices where she provided policy research, communication management and event coordination. She also played a key role in a Senate re-election campaign, serving as deputy campaign manager. In her time as a lobbyist Mia has worked on a diverse set of issues including general business, technology, employment and agriculture. Her well-rounded path provides unique insight into the legislative process as well as key relationships. Originally from Sonoma County, California, Mia moved to Oregon to attend Willamette University where she majored in Political Science with honors.
Shelley Shirley, Director of Membership & Events
Shelley Shirley brings over 20 years of project management and event planning experience to the associations DAi manages. Shelley works closely with DAi’s association officers to plan and execute annual CME conferences, oversee association finances, budgets and dues, coordinate meetings and manage websites. Prior to working with DAi, Shelley managed three non-profit networking organizations which included the East Portland Chamber of Commerce. Shelley earned her Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Chico.
Brandy Sweet, Association Manager
Brandy Sweet has over 17 years of experience working with non-profit associations, association management and for-profit companies. Brandy joined DAi in August 2022 and provides association management and support services to the Oregon Association for Home Care and other association clients. She is experienced in bringing together multi-disciplined groups in developing revenue generating income for non-profit associations and is highly skilled in membership coordination, meeting and event planning, and finance and budget management. She has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon.
Carole Skondin, Bookkeeper
Carole brings over 30 years of public sector experience in accounting, Special Education, grant writing, along with Administrative Assistant experience. She earned an MBA from Bushnell University.
Paving the Oregon Way...
Nan Heim
While today DAi may be one of the largest female owned and managed lobby firms...they weren’t the first.
Nan Heim & Associates Principal, Nan Heim, first launched her government relations firm in Oregon in the mid-1980’s, becoming the first female owned contract lobby firm in Oregon.
Her previous career path paved the way. After graduating from Northwestern University, Nan took a job on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as legislative assistant and press secretary to Congressman John Dellenback from Oregon. Her next career step took her to Oregon where she became government relations director for State School Superintendent Verne Duncan.
Nan Heim & Associates began with two clients: the Oregon Library Association and Oregon State Ambulance Association. Both clients stayed with Nan for over thirty years — and are still clients of Dalton Advocacy Inc. today! Nan Heim & Associates’ client list grew steadily over the years. She added association management to her firm’s services and became executive director of several organizations, including the Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology.
In 2017 DAi had the opportunity to partner with Nan Heim & Associates.
Nan will share with you that Amanda Dalton came along at the perfect time. After thirty-five years, Nan was ready to move on, a term she prefers to retirement. For Nan, it was the perfect transition from a career she loved. She is proud to be the first woman to manage a lobby firm in Oregon and proud to have that legacy continued with the women of Dalton Advocacy Inc.
