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Overview
Southwest Strategies is a California public affairs firm that designs and runs outreach campaigns for clients in the public and private sectors. They work from research and planning to visual materials and crisis management to influence public policy, opinion, and regulatory outcomes, especially in land development, energy, water, and transportation. Their approach is integrated, building coalitions through deep industry and community knowledge and a network of relationships to execute campaigns. Their goal is to help clients achieve public affairs objectives, secure approvals and funding, and shape policy and project outcomes.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- February 23, 2026 rebrand to Bodewell Group expanded to roughly 140 employees.
- Kiterocket added semiconductors, renewable energy, and sustainability, broadening revenue beyond California public affairs.
- The firm now covers San Diego, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle.
What critics are saying
- Sunsetting legacy brands in February 2026 risks client confusion and talent churn through 2027.
- Integration after four acquisitions since 2023 can disrupt service quality and margin discipline.
- A failed Bodewell integration would unravel the single-brand strategy and force expensive client reacquisition.
What makes Southwest Strategies unique
- Since 2000, Chris Wahl and Alan Ziegaus built California's best-known infrastructure public affairs shop.
- Bodewell unifies Katz, BergDavis, ColLAborate, and Kiterocket under one integrated communications platform.
- Its specialization in water, energy, transportation, and land use matches California permitting battles.
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