BIAW’s advocacy team is your voice in Olympia, working year-round to support the homebuilding industry in an array of issues including healthcare, land use, labor laws, environmental regulations, workers’ compensation and taxes.

BIAW’s Government Affairs Director Jan Himebaugh and Government Affairs Assistant Director Josie Cummings work closely with contract lobbyists Tom Kwieciak, Steve Gano and Brent Ludeman of Gano and Associates, Inc., and Bill Stauffacher and Nora Burnes of Stauffacher Communications.

Committed and experienced with long-term relationships on both sides of the aisle, BIAW’s team is second to none when it comes to advocating on behalf of members.

Jan Himebaugh is Government Affairs Director for BIAW, starting in 2011. She previously worked for the Washington Lodging Association and U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ campaign. Himebaugh graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) focused in Political Economy from Hillsdale College.

Josie Cummings is BIAW Government Affairs Assistant Director. Cummings’ lobbying portfolio encompasses natural resources and environmental issues, focusing mainly on water, climate and fish. In the past, she worked on forestry and recycling infrastructure legislation. She is Certified in Low Impact Development Design (LID) from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Cummings holds a BA in political science and public policy from Seattle Pacific University.

Tom Kwieciak, Tom Kwieciak Consulting, LLC, has over 20 years of lobbying experience in Washington state. He was the former director for BIAW’s retro and health insurance programs making his knowledge extensive in workers’ comp, labor and healthcare issues. Kwieciak graduated from Purdue University with a BA in political science and was a commissioned officer in the US Army.

Steve Gano, Gano & Associates, has been lobbying in Washington state since 1984. He was previously with the Washington Forest Protection Association as government affairs director. Gano’s ability to respect opposing viewpoints and work toward solutions has gained him respect throughout the lobbying community.

Brent Ludeman joined Gano & Associates in 2016 as a lobbyist. In addition to working at Gano & Associates, he owns Ludeman Public Affairs, a government affairs firm. Ludeman is also a partner in Northwest Initiatives, a political consulting firm specializing in ballot measures and initiatives for business clients. Ludeman graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Business Administration - Finance.

Bill Stauffacher, Stauffacher Communications, began his career in Olympia as a student lobbyist for Washington State University. Prior to establishing Stauffacher Communications, Stauffacher worked for the Democratic House Majority and has run several high-profile swing-district campaigns.

Nora Burnes is a lobbyist for Stauffacher Communications. Prior to joining the firm, Burnes was the top aide to former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. A graduate of the University of Washington with a BA in Philosophy and Military Science and Leadership, she is pursuing her MBA at Washington State University. Burnes served for eight years in the US Army and is an officer in the US Army Reserve.