The team you want on your side when it matters most.

Chris Wahl is the Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Strategies, an award-winning public affairs firm with a long track record of success on behalf of its clients. Over the past 20+ years, Wahl has helped secure and build more than $10 billion of infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, water and retail development.High profile projects that he has helped approve include the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line, the revitalization of the Westfield UTC Shopping Center and the North Coast Corridor Project, a 27-mile improvement along Interstate 5. All of these projects faced considerable opposition before ultimately being approved. Wahl’s company has also developed and implemented numerous construction outreach programs for controversial assignments, including the Carlsbad Desalination Project.

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Wahl is a skilled client representative and negotiator, often serving as the primary strategist, interfacing with government bodies on behalf of his clients. His unique approach of forming complex community coalitions of support to bolster controversial projects has been recognized numerous times on a national level. Wahl’s firm has won three prestigious Silver Anvils, the highest distinction bestowed upon professionals by the National Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Wahl has also been recognized in San Diego, winning the “Public Relations Professional of the Year” award in 2015 for his work on the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update. Wahl served as the lead strategist and spokesperson on behalf of San Diego’s maritime industry, leading to a successful citywide referendum that was supported by an overwhelming margin at the polls.

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Prior to Southwest Strategies, Wahl served as President of Wahl Associates, Inc. where he worked extensively with Unocal Corporation and Tosco Refining Company on the Central Coast. Before forming his own firm, Wahl worked as a Vice President for a prominent Southern California public affairs firm. Additionally, Wahl worked in the government relations department for the American Bankers Association in Washington, D.C.

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Wahl is active in the community, volunteering for a number of local organizations and causes. He is a member of the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a lifetime committee member of the San Diego Bowl Association. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Wahl spends his free time adoring his three kids, playing golf, traveling with his family and dreaming of the UCLA football Bruins winning the Rose Bowl.

Ben Boyce’s love for politics began at a young age as manager of his best friend’s campaign for elementary class president. Several decades later, he is now Senior Vice President of Southwest Strategies, where he plays a leading role in the outcomes of many of the most significant issues facing California and the Western United States.

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Boyce has supported his clients’ effort to address our nation’s housing crisis by helping to win government approvals for more than 25,000 homes across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. He has supported local, state and federal permitting of more than $2 billion in infrastructure projects as well, delivering the clean energy, water and transportation options that fuel sustainable economies and the jobs they support. He regularly advocates on behalf of hardworking customers for fair energy and water rates and to ensure families can attend the schools of their choice. His creative outreach programs have helped more than 10 million Californians understand the importance of conserving water and he was a key architect of a support coalition that led to the unanimous passage of San Diego’s landmark Climate Action Plan.

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Boyce has been recognized with more than 35 awards for his efforts, including Orange County’s crisis PR of the year, top outreach program in the state, the nation’s best website for a government utility and San Diego Metro Magazine’s 40 under 40. Not to mention an undefeated record in elementary class president elections.

‍Jessica Berg’s background in campaign politics and media strategy led her from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco where she established the professional consulting firm BergDavis Public Affairs with her partner Evette Davis in 1999. Ms. Berg and Ms. Davis supervise a staff which offers the highest quality counseling in media relations, community outreach, government affairs, and lobbying.

Melissa Cameron has an extensive history in public affairs, public relations, community outreach and project management. She serves as Chief Client Officer at Southwest Strategies. Drawing upon her experience in government relations and communications, Cameron develops and implements strategic communications campaigns for clients, with an emphasis in guiding clients through multifaceted and comprehensive community and multicultural outreach. She also oversees major infrastructure projects for the company’s public utility clients, developing and managing the implementation of strategic outreach plans.She has a broad range of experience in strategic planning, coalition building, public outreach, crisis communications, media relations, social media and event planning. She also has a strong background in environmental and regulatory law and land use, using her experience to direct developers through the entitlement process.

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Before coming to Southwest Strategies, Cameron worked for the Exoro Group in Salt Lake City, which earned honors as Utah’s “Best of State” Public Relations firm, specializing in strategic communications and political outreach. Cameron has been volunteering and working on political campaigns since the age of 15, moving from stuffing envelopes to managing campaigns with hundreds of thousands of voters. She worked on a number of public bond campaigns in Utah, creating and implementing plans to educate and persuade voters on issues ranging from transportation infrastructure to arts and culture to public safety.

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Over her career, Cameron has consulted with many nonprofits, and she continues to assist groups in their missions. She has created and published guides on affordable housing, formed collaborative arts groups, and aided nonprofits on how to effectively communicate with elected officials, the media and the community. Cameron has also worked with numerous start-up companies, guiding entrepreneurs through the world of government regulation, public relations and social media.

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Cameron has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in local government and regulatory affairs. She is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha and the Public Relations Society of America, serving as President-Elect for the San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter.

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Outside of work, you can find Cameron wandering around her Little Italy neighborhood with her husband and Yorkie puppy, trying out the latest recipe she found or catching up on her book club reading.

Stephanie Dell serves as Senior Vice President at Southwest Strategies, combining her experience in government, community and media relations to deliver effective education and outreach campaigns for clients. At Southwest Strategies, Dell offers a wide range of support from reputation management and crisis communications to assistance in land use and entitlement matters.In her role at Southwest Strategies, Dell is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communications plans for clients. Dell has played key roles in securing land use approvals for multiple residential communities and has successfully navigated complex annexation and boundary line adjustments.

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Dell also has extensive experience in the energy industry having previously worked for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). In her role at PG&E, Dell drove positive media coverage, served as a company spokesperson on a variety of high-profile topics and supported internal communications for Gas Operations.

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Dell has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with an emphasis in media arts from California State University, Chico and has received a certificate in land use and environmental sustainability through the University of San Diego.