Amundson Strategies is a public affairs and government relations firm offering its clients high quality services in the areas of strategic communications, legislative advocacy, alliance development and community relations.

Our company brings longstanding experience working in the legislative process and political environments and a broad base of expertise in a variety of issue areas. Our experience combines public affairs, strategic development, government relations, previous local elected office, and key leadership positions in the legislative and executive branches of government.

We have strong and effective working relationships with House and Senate majority and minority leadership, legislative chairs and key staff, state agency officials, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Deputies and Policy Advisors, as well as federal and local officials across the metro region and state. We also bring highly effective collaborations with many lobbying partners and advocacy groups.

The Team

Kris Amundson

Owner and President

Kris Amundson has over 25 years of public affairs, advocacy, and legislative experience.

Kris established Amundson Strategies in 2008 to provide specialized services in community, media and government relations, legislative advocacy, and message development for a diverse client base. Prior to starting her own company, Kris was vice president of public affairs and a principal at the public relations/public affairs firm of Goff and Howard for nine years, where she worked with a wide range of clients on public and media relations, communications, lobbying, and alliance development.

Prior to her work in public affairs, Kris served as the Executive Director to the Minnesota House DFL Caucus, overseeing all House functions, and providing caucus-wide issue, political and strategy development. Her legislative experience also includes work managing policy development and analysis for a number of legislative committees in the Minnesota House and Senate, including the House Regulated Industries Committee and the Senate Education Committee. In 1996, Kris served as the Executive Director to the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party where she coordinated a successful strategy for U.S. Senate, congressional and state level DFL campaigns in that year’s elections.

Prior to her work with the DFL party, Kris also served as Campaign Director for the Minnesota House DFL Caucus, where she produced a winning campaign strategy that resulted in a majority of 87 House DFL seats in the 1992 elections.

Kris serves as one of the Governor’s public appointees on the Minnesota State High School League. She chairs the Marketing and Communications Committee.

In 2008, Kris Amundson was named by the Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal as one of their top 25 Women Industry Leaders. She served as a board trustee for the Metropolitan State University Foundation and the Trustee Candidate Advisory Council for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University, and a B.A. in Political Science, Criminal Justice and Sociology from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Lori Grivna

Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations

Lori Grivna has served Amundson Strategies as its Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations since 2011. Lori helps clients navigate the legislative and political environment the dynamics of the legislature and administration on a broad range of issues with a special focus on taxes, education, healthcare, and commerce. She brings a strong public policy background enriched with experience in local government, state agency, and executive branch work.

Before joining Amundson Strategies, LLC, Lori was appointed Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). In that role, she served as the Department’s liaison to the Governor’s office, and worked to advance the Department’s education priorities, working in collaboration with a number of national and state education organizations and entities.

Lori served two terms on the Mounds View School Board and in that capacity led implementation of a voter approved bond referendum for safety, classroom improvements, and indoor air quality district wide. She championed systemic change through the adoption of a policy governance structure and the successful implementation of Q-Comp (pay for performance) for district staff. Lori serves on the 916 Education Foundation Board and has served as Chair of the Association of Metropolitan Schools Districts and President of the Ramsey County League of Local Governments. She has a B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Minnesota.