Guidance at the start.
Strategy for the journey.
Every public policy journey begins at a trailhead. Early decisions, including how issues are framed, which stakeholders are engaged, and which paths are pursued, shape everything that follows. Trailhead Public Affairs provides a clear-eyed assessment of the terrain, helping clients start right and avoid missteps before they occur.
Public policy is rarely linear. As political dynamics shift and conditions change, Trailhead Public Affairs serves as a trusted guide, helping clients navigate obstacles, choose the right route, and adjust course with confidence. At the center of effective public affairs are the relationships that open gates and clear paths. We don't just understand the map — we know the people who maintain it.
Whether advancing an initiative, managing risk, or navigating change, Trailhead Public Affairs offers steady guidance to help clients move forward with intention, credibility, and confidence, focused on lasting outcomes and a foundation of long-term trust.
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We help clients understand where they are, what lies ahead, and which paths are worth pursuing. Trailhead Public Affairs helps clients assess the policy landscape, anticipate political pitfalls, and develop strategies grounded in experience and sound judgment. Services include:
Issue assessment and political landscape analysis
Strategic planning and positioning
Local government, legislative, and regulatory strategy
Risk identification and mitigation
Our approach is grounded in experience and judgment, not one-size-fits-all playbooks.
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Effective advocacy depends on credibility, relationships, and timing. We help clients engage the right decision-makers, in the right way, at the right moment to advance lasting goals while preserving trust and long-term influence. Services include:
Stakeholder mapping and advocacy strategies
Engagement with the full suite of decision makers and influencers
Coalition-building and partner coordination
Message development and refinement
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Policy outcomes are influenced as much by perception as by process. Trailhead Public Affairs helps clients develop clear, credible narratives that align communications with policy objectives and resonate with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public. Services include:
Public affairs messaging and framing
Communications strategy aligned with policy goals
Third-party and stakeholder engagement
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Many clients engage Trailhead Public Affairs as an extension of their leadership team, a trusted advisor they can call when questions arise or conditions change. This includes:
Real-time strategic counsel
Political and policy intelligence
Scenario planning and decision support
Long-term relationship and reputation management
SERVICES
KATIE PRENDERGAST
Katie Prendergast has been a transformative force in Arizona policy for nearly two decades, leveraging an unparalleled understanding of the state's governmental and political dynamics and an ability to authentically connect with people. Her ability to navigate complex policy and business issues, coupled with a deep network of relationships across Arizona's governmental, political, and business sectors, has made her one of the most influential public affairs professionals in the state.
Her extensive experience includes leading efforts that blend strategic leadership and strong relationships with a hands-on approach to advocacy. Katie oversees association advocacy work and management; leads local, legislative, and state agency engagement across a diverse set of policy areas including water, land use, and energy; and advises organizations and associations on how to navigate Arizona’s political landscape to effectively serve their constituencies and achieve their goals.
Katie’s leadership and management acumen were honed during her time at Horizon Strategies, a Phoenix-based lobbying and consulting firm; her tenure at the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA), where she successfully advocated for small businesses and entrepreneurs; and during her work at Arizona Public Service, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electric utility company. In these roles, Katie represented critical segments of the Arizona economy at the state Capitol and in city halls across the state, forging key partnerships and guiding successful outcomes to challenging policy issues. Katie’s unique ability to connect diverse stakeholders and identify mutually beneficial solutions has been a hallmark of her career.
She is a key leader of the Arizona Alliance for Golf (AAG), an organization dedicated to supporting and advancing Arizona’s dynamic golf industry. In this role, she plays a crucial part in advocating for policies that foster the growth and sustainability of this integral industry and building a sustainable framework for the organization.
Katie’s deep connections and influence extend beyond her professional roles. Her public service background includes serving several Arizona elected officials, including the iconic Senator Jon Kyl and beloved Governor Jan Brewer. In these roles, Katie played a critical part in developing policy at the federal, state, and local levels, while building a broad and diverse network with political leaders, community stakeholders, and advocacy organizations throughout Arizona and Washington, D.C.
Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Colorado State University. In addition to her professional achievements, she is an avid hiker and equestrian and enjoys exploring her native Arizona’s stunning desert landscapes on her Arabian horse. A dedicated animal lover, Katie is an active volunteer with the Arizona Humane Society and Healing Hearts Animal Rescue and lives in Phoenix with her husband Jeremy.