DIRECTIONS TO OUR WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE:
750 1ST St. NE, Suite 1070
Washington, DC 20002

Our office is located on the “Senate side” of Capitol Hill, near Union Station.

We recommend that you catch a cab to visit our Washington, DC office. Or if you’re taking Metro, ride the Red line to the Union Station stop. We are on the west side of Union Station on the same street as the CNN Headquarters building. See map below.

• At the airport follow signs for I-405 North
• Travel 13 miles north on I-405
• Take exit 13B for NE 8th Street (and follow signs to go westbound on NE 8th)
• Go two blocks and we are on the right, 10900 NE 8th Street, in the Plaza Center Building

• Once you’ve crossed Lake Washington and Mercer Island on the I-90 Bridge, you will see signs for I-405 North
• Go 2.8 miles north on I-405 and take exit 13B for NE 8th Street (follow signs to go westbound on NE 8th)
• Go two blocks and we are on the right, 10900 NE 8th Street, in the Plaza Center Building

• Once you’ve crossed Lake Washington on the 520 Bridge, travel 2.7 miles until you see signs for I-405 South, toward Renton
• Go one mile on I-405 South and take exit 13B for NE 8th St., going westbound
• Go two blocks and we are on the right, 10900 NE 8th Street, in the Plaza Center Building

Strategists. Communicators. Advocates. Neighbors.

Our Team

Tony Williams
Partner & Chairman

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As W2A’s Chairman, Tony sets the vision and establishes priorities for the company.

Tony founded W2A in 2001 to continue growing his already 15-year career in federal policy-making and politics. At W2A, he has led the firm’s development of a portfolio of more than 40 clients and oversees the direction of the firm’s work.

He specializes in helping Pacific Northwest clients identify opportunities and successfully navigate the juncture of public policy and commerce.  High profile projects include helping Sound Transit acquire the federal assistance necessary to launch light rail in Seattle, partnering with Indian tribes and private shellfish growers to resolve a decades-long fishing dispute, and successfully lobbying the administration for $70 million in health care funds for Washington state.

He also serves as a strategic advisor to several elected officials, CEOs and top managers, helping them diagnose, resolve, and articulate sensitive internal and public issues.

During his time on Capitol Hill, he served as Chief of Staff to Senator Slade Gorton and the office of the Counsel to the Majority Leader. He worked as press secretary for two congressional offices, directed one senatorial campaign, and consulted to two others.  Roll Call, a newspaper devoted to covering Capitol Hill, twice named him as one of the Hill’s elite “Fabulous Fifty” staffers.

He has become active in numerous charities and community activities since moving back to the Pacific Northwest. In 2008 he was nominated by the White House and confirmed by the Senate to serve as a member of the National Council on Disability, an organization that makes recommendations to the administration and Congress on issues affecting Americans with disabilities. He is also a member of the Northwest Center Foundation, an organization that promotes the growth, development and independence of people with disabilities.

An Oregon State University alumnus, he also serves on the OSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees and its external relations committee.

Tony and his wife, Cindi, who works at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, live in Clyde Hill, WA, with their sons, Joshua (a special needs student at Clyde Hill Elementary) and Jacob.

Nina Collier
Managing Partner

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As W2A’s business manager, Nina manages the direction for the firm’s work and oversees the company’s operations.

Nina founded W2A, advancing her already nine-year career in politics, advocacy, and policy-making. A key strategist for the firm and its clients, Nina has been instrumental in building W2A’s business and ensuring the firm’s work successfully meets clients' goals. She has partnered with clients on a variety of initiatives involving communications, strategy, and government relations at the local, state, and federal level. Clients include Microsoft, the Russell Company, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Campbell’s Soup Company, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the City of Auburn, and the Yakima Growers and Shippers Association.

Prior to consulting, Nina worked for Senator Slade Gorton as the lead Legislative Assistant in the areas of federal budget, tax, general government, appropriations, and Indian Affairs. She also served in local government as a Legislative Analyst to the King County Council Budget Committee.

Nina is active in numerous charities and community activities. She serves on the boards of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, the Bellevue Downtown Association, and the Gorton Legacy Group. She is also a member of Bellevue Rotary.

From 2005-2007, she was a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She also served for six years on the Board of Governors including time as Board President for the CityClub of Seattle, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to informing citizens and building community leadership in the Seattle region. She has been a fellow of the Marshall Memorial Fund, a member of the Junior League of Seattle, and a volunteer advisor to the Bellevue YMCA Youth and Government Program.

Nina has a Masters Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies from the University of Washington.

Her husband Dave is a partner in the public accounting firm of Ernst & Young.  Nina, Dave, and their daughter live in Issaquah.

J. Vander Stoep
Partner

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A founding partner of W2A, J. specializes in helping clients with their strategy, government affairs, and communications goals. He is also W2A’s expert on helping organization’s prepare for and manage crises.

At W2A, he has worked with dozens of public agencies, public figures, and businesses as a communications consultant and strategist. Clients have included Microsoft, the Russell Company and Trident Seafoods.

Before starting W2A, J. built a 28-year career in politics, public policy, and communications. His political career in fact started at seven, when he was the Lewis County sign chairman for the campaign to elect Governor Dan Evans. At 21, he managed a successful legislative campaign. At 23, he won election to the Washington state House of Representatives, where he served for six years. As an elected official, he developed an understanding of the issues important to the Pacific Northwest as well as the fundamentals of policy-making and public communications.

After graduating from the University of Washington Law School, he joined Senator Slade Gorton in Washington, DC, working first as a Legislative Assistant and then as Chief of Staff.  In 1994 he managed Gorton’s successful $7.1 million re-election campaign, and soon after began his work as a consultant and lawyer. 

He lives with his wife and three daughters in Chehalis, Washington, where is a partner in his own law firm.

Jeff Bjornstad
President of Federal Affairs and Strategic Communications

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As W2A’s President of Federal Affairs and Strategic Communications, Jeff leads W2A’s federal practice and plays a key role in developing effective legislative and communications strategies for clients.  He is based in the Washington, DC, offices of W2A.

A veteran of the Washington, DC, and Washington State political and policy arena for over 20 years, Jeff has helped to advise and shape key policies throughout the Northwest.
Known for his focus on customer service, problem solving, and energy, Jeff has had tremendous success building and managing strong teams and effective legislative and political efforts.  He is a sought after political and management advisor.

During his time on Capitol Hill, he served for four years as the Chief of Staff to Senator Patty Murray.  He also served as the Chief of Staff to United States House of Representatives Adam Smith and Rick Larsen.  He directed Senator Murray’s 2010 senatorial campaign and has managed numerous congressional campaigns.

Jeff and his wife, Christy, live in Washington, DC.  He earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law and undergraduate degree from the University of Washington.

Kristen Michal
Senior Associate

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Kristen is W2A’s strategic expert on managing and solving complicated public affairs challenges. She helps clients with strategic planning and project management, communications, coalition building, and local, state, and federal government relations. Among the clients she has worked with are the University of Washington, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the City of Auburn, the City of Mukilteo, Linn County Oregon, and StoneMor Partners. 

She joined W2A with a background in federal legislation and trade associations with an emphasis on health care and education issues. She served four years as the Director of Federal Policy and Advocacy at the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) and the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts (AWPHD). In that role, she represented hospital interests to Washington’s congressional delegation, the administration, and regulatory agencies.

Prior to her work with WSHA and AWPHD, Kristen spent six years in Washington, DC working for Senator Slade Gorton as the lead staff on health care, labor, and education issues and the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee. In 1999, she received the Terri Claffey Award for outstanding staff work.

Kristen is a founding member of the Friends of the Veteran’s Affairs Puget Sound Fisher House, a local non-profit supporting the Seattle Fisher House and the families of military and veterans who are receiving long-term treatment and rehabilitation at the hospital.  She also serves as Vice President of the Boyer Children’s Clinic Board of Directors.  Boyer provides early intervention services to children with disabilities.

Kristen has her degree from the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies.  She and her husband live in Marysville with their three girls.

Brittany Jacobs
Executive Assistant

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As W2A’s Executive Assistant, Brittany uses her multi-tasking skills to help the team stay organized through meeting scheduling, correspondence with clients, research and writing, event planning, and general executive support.

Prior to joining W2A, Brittany worked as the Managing Director for Worldchanging, an online publication dedicated to providing solutions to current global issues.  During her time with the organization she maintained comprehensive responsibility of PR efforts, executive travel, event planning, financial management, board relations, business development, and all major HR functions.  Brittany draws from her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and her prior work as Communications Director of a small non-profit to research and shape communications for W2A clients.

She has previously volunteered with Global Partnerships, a nonprofit supporting microfinance and Global Washington, a nonprofit promoting the global development industry.  During her stint with Global WA, she participated in a successful research committee focused on US foreign aid reform and global development, which convened at the request of US Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

Brittany is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the cutting-edge Bainbridge Graduate Institute, where she received her MBA in sustainable business.  In addition to working as a full-time executive and personal assistant for multiple clients, she spends most free time with her partner Zac, pursuing outdoor adventures and maximizing her enjoyment of the Pacific Northwest.

Kraig Naasz
Senior Advisor

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An experienced trade association executive, Capitol Hill veteran and previous client of the company, Kraig serves as senior advisor to W2A.

Kraig is the president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). AFFI represents 500 companies engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of frozen foods, valued at over $60 billion annually. Kraig directs the institute’s advocacy and public outreach efforts relative to food safety and security, child nutrition, immigration reform, international trade and other issues that affect the frozen food industry. In addition, Kraig directs the efforts of the Frozen Potato Products Institute, National Frozen Pizza Institute, National Yogurt Association and the Frozen Food Foundation.

Kraig is also an active member of several key groups that advocate for business in our nation’s capital, including the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC), U.S. Chamber of Commerce Association Committee of 100 (C-100) and National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Council of Manufacturing Associations. He’s also a member of the ASAE Key Industry Associations Committee (KIAC) and chairman of the National Energy Foundation.

Prior to joining AFFI, Kraig served for three years as president and CEO of the National Mining Association (NMA) advocating the interests of coal and mineral producers with combined annual sales of $200 billion. While working to modernize mining’s image, Kraig directed the association’s public policy efforts before Congress and the Administration, and set its strategic agenda for media relations, grassroots advocacy and political outreach.

Prior to NMA, Kraig served for three years as president of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) where he directed the industry’s efforts to address security concerns stemming from the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11. Kraig also founded the Nutrients for Life Foundation to better educate the public and policy makers about the benefits of fertilizer to society.

Kraig also served for four years as president and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association (USApple) advocating the interests of our nation’s apple growers and processors. He was named “Apple Person of the Year” in 2001 by Vance Publishing for having garnered an unprecedented $550 million in federal assistance for America’s apple growers.

Prior to USApple, Kraig served for five years as vice president of the Yakima-based Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC), where he represented the Pacific Northwest tree fruit industry on federal and international trade issues.

Kraig is a veteran of two presidential campaigns, and served as the Washington state executive director of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole’s presidential campaign. He also worked in various staff capacities on Capitol Hill for former U.S. Senators Daniel J. Evans and Slade Gorton, former U.S. Reps. Rod Chandler and Sid Morrison, and the House Agriculture Committee.

Kraig graduated from Washington State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and serves on the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees. A Yakima native, Kraig and his wife and daughter presently reside in Oakton, Virginia.