MYW Public Affairs
Youde & Associates | McClure Policy | Waskow Policy
About MYW Public Affairs
Firm Overview
Youde & Associates, LLC has combined forces with McClure Policy, LLC and Waskow Policy, LLC to provide the highest level of representation to advance our clients’ interests. Together, we bring more than 45 years of experience in public policy, government relations and communications in Idaho, Washington, DC and several states across the US. We have a proven record of helping organizations achieve their public policy goals, including passage of more than 100 bills, negotiating administrative rules and helping to secure state and federal appropriations. Our diverse portfolio of current and past clients in policy areas includes, but is not limited to, local government, state appropriations, healthcare, elections, criminal justice, education, natural resources, foster care, tax policy, and housing.
Our clients have included groups based in Idaho, as well as outside of the State, and our work has ranged from Idaho specific state government relations to managing multi-state legislative programs. With our support, our clients have been successful in the Statehouse, agency offices, and the public realm.
Our Approach
Honesty and respect – it’s a simple, straightforward approach that we apply to both our clients and state officials. We know our clients expect us to be upfront with them. We will make sure you understand the likelihood of success, potential pitfalls and how we plan to address both.
Honesty and respect is also the approach we use in the Statehouse. Through years of work, we have earned a reputation among elected officials and staff of being honest brokers on behalf of our clients. Government relations relies on trust. Our clients know that we hold ourselves to a high bar on how we represent you, and state leaders trust the expertise and professionalism we bring when working with them.
MYW Public Affairs Services
Our team has worked with clients across a variety of industries including education, healthcare, criminal justice, forestry, child welfare, and more! Each client has unique needs that require an individualized approach. We use a variety of tools to address client priorities including:
Government Affairs
- Monitor legislature and state agencies for activities and changes that are relevant to the client’s business
- Notify client of pertinent meetings of committees, boards, task forces, and/or other groups
- Initiate and foster relationships with public officials
- Reviews changes to agency rules and work with agency staff to positively influence rulemaking
- Draft legislation using legal expertise and knowledge of legislator positions
- Champion or fight bills that impact client issues
Communications
- Develop a communications plan and persuasive messaging campaign
- Pitch client stories to media outlets
- Draft and distribute press releases, op-eds, and other media materials
- Provide coaching and talking points for interviews
About Our Team
Blake Youde
Youde & Associates, LLC
Blake has more than 25 years of experience working in government relations and public affairs for the public, private and nonprofit sectors. He opened Youde & Associates, LLC in December 2017 after serving as the Chief Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education. Since launching Youde & Associates, much of his government relations work has focused on local government policy, healthcare, all levels of education, appropriations and federally recognized Indian Tribes. Prior to moving to Idaho, Blake was Executive Director of Access Academies, a St. Louis, Missouri based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing economically disadvantaged children with a college preparatory education and assistance with applying for college. Blake also served as the Deputy Superintendent of Institutional Advancement for the St. Louis Public Schools, in which he was charged with oversight of media, external relations and government relations. Prior to his time with the St. Louis Public Schools, Blake worked in government relations and public affairs at the local, state and federal level for a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization, a public affairs firm in Dallas, Texas, and the Texas Senate. This extensive experience has shown him that there is a tremendous opportunity to help clients affect positive change.
Emily McClure
McClure Policy, LLC
Emily is a fifth generation Idahoan and an attorney and lobbyist with a lifelong record of civic engagement and a passion for our community. She began lobbying in 2012, founded McClure Policy, LLC in 2015, and partnered with Blake Youde in 2017. Before that, Emily worked for five years as a lobbyist and attorney at Givens Pursley in Boise, clerked for Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Trott, externed for federal district Judge Edward Lodge and at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and served as a legislative assistant to Senator Mike Crapo in Washington, DC. As a lobbyist, she specializes in bill drafting and negotiation, coordinating large-scale policy campaigns, and directly lobbying state and federal policymakers and agency staff to advocate for her clients’ needs.
Hailie Johnson-Waskow
Waskow Policy, LLC
Hailie is a seventh-generation Idahoan with a passion for making positive change through public policy. She joined Emily McClure and Blake Youde in 2022 after forming Waskow Policy, LLC. Prior to her current position, Hailie worked as a lobbyist with Strategies 360 in their Boise office with clients from a variety of industries including healthcare, transportation, and housing. She started her career in state government by working in political communications positions, including three years as a Communications Director in the Idaho legislature. During this time, she formed close relationships with Idaho legislators, agencies, and local governments that she leverages when advocating for her clients. Hailie earned two bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science and an MBA with an emphasis in data analytics. She is motivated by learning opportunities and prides herself on becoming an expert in client issues. Hailie takes the lead in the administrative rulemaking process and spends a lot of time working with state agencies outside of the legislative session. During the legislative session, her specialty is working to ensure that proposed legislation does not negatively impact clients.