SAN DIEGO–Leading California public affairs firm Southwest Strategies, LLC is expanding its services to meet the needs of clients on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.
Coming on the heels of its recent statewide expansion, this new binational focus marks the next step in the company’s continued growth and will further cements its role as a leader in binational partnerships and collaboration within the region and throughout the state.
Southwest Strategies’ services will provide clients in both the U.S. and Mexico with strategic counsel, helping them better understand the border region and the business opportunities it harbors. Additionally, Southwest Strategies will provide existing and future clients on both sides of the border with the tools necessary to better understand the complex economic and governmental structures and to build valuable relationships throughout the border region and California.
Southwest Strategies has appointed Pedro Anaya Jr. to lead the company’s binational efforts as the Senior Manager of Binational Affairs and Community Relations. A lifelong resident of the region, Anaya has a deep understanding of the border dynamic and the opportunities and constraints that influence binational relationships and collaboration. Having worked in San Diego’s Latino community for over two decades, Anaya has experience and relationships both locally and internationally. He has previously assisted clients with Latino and multicultural outreach initiatives throughout the state and represents the company through his involvement in key regional stakeholder organizations.
“We are excited to connect our clients to a multitude of new opportunities across a variety of business sectors that exist in our binational region, including tourism, transportation, energy, information technology, education and manufacturing,” said Southwest Strategies’ President Chris Wahl. “We are confident that Pedro’s experience in multicultural and binational relations, coupled with a talented team of more than 40 experienced public affairs professionals, will provide our clients with new and exciting opportunities on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.”
The team at Southwest Strategies is an accomplished group of professionals that specializes in helping clients conduct effective and engaging multilingual and multicultural community outreach and educating the public about complex projects.
The company has helped clients secure approvals for and construct more than $10 billion in infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, water and retail development. Working closely with its partners along the U.S./Mexico border, Southwest Strategies has led outreach efforts in a diverse region with an emphasis on communicating across languages and the unique border culture that exists in South San Diego County.
As part of this effort Southwest Strategies has launched a strategic partnership with Tijuana Innovadora, an organization and movement dedicated to promoting the best that Tijuana has to offer and to strengthen the relationships between the San Diego-Tijuana mega-region.
“Like Tijuana Innovadora, Southwest Strategies has always viewed our region as a dynamic mega-region that not only shares an international border, but shares an economy, environment and a unique bond,” said Chairman Alan Ziegaus. “Our team looks forward to working with partners like Tijuana Innovadora and our clients to advance the goals of our binational region.”
Southwest Strategies was formed by Alan Ziegaus and Chris Wahl in 2000. Now in its 17th year of operations, the firm’s principals have more than six decades of combined public relations and public affairs experience in California. Southwest Strategies recently expanded its presence with new offices in Central California and Sacramento.
The addition of a binational focus in conjunction with the company’s recent California expansion, allows Southwest Strategies to provide its clients with access to a statewide and international network, unique resources and a deep understanding of California’s binational culture.