The Team
Amanda Dalton, J.D.
President & CEO
Amanda Dalton is a lawyer-lobbyist with more than twenty years of legislative advocacy, public policy and strategic planning experience. She built her career in Oregon based on strong bi-partisan relationships and a solid reputation for hard work, open and responsive client communication and an eye towards Legislative strategy. Amanda brings the seasoned experience of a legislative staffer and campaign worker coupled with over two decades of providing lobby services and in-house corporate government affairs.
Mia Noren
Legislative Director
Mia Noren brings the diverse experience of campaign work, legislative policy staff, and media relations to the Northwest Grocery Retail Association. Prior to becoming a lobbyist, Mia spent four years as a legislative staffer to a senior member of the Oregon Senate as well as in the Oregon Minority Caucus Office where she provided policy research, communication management and event coordination. She also played a key role in an Oregon Senate re-election campaign, serving as deputy campaign manager.
Sandra Wilken
Director of Operations
Sandra oversees Northwest Grocery Retail Association/NFM operations and member programs – BottleDrop PLUS program and promotions, NFM Cart Retrieval Service, and the NFM Coupon Redemption Program – as well as NWGA membership and member communications. Sandra has been part of the NWGA team since 2001.
Bonnie Mohr
NWGA's Finance Coordinator
Bonnie Mohr joined the team in 2021 and is the Northwest Grocery Retail Association/NFM Finance Coordinator. She brings more than 19 years of experience in all aspects of full-service bookkeeping, including payroll, billing, customer service, office management, company taxes, and human resource administration.
Sara Marin
Administrative Assistant / Project Manager
Sara assists the Northwest Grocery Retail Association team with office administrative duties and special projects. She also monitors and dispatches abandoned cart reports and tracks the NFM’s Cart Retrieval Service and BottleDrop PLUS kiosk maintenance statewide.
Katrina Diaz
NFM Statewide BottleDrop PLUS Kiosk Manager
Katrina Diaz joined our team in 2022 as the NFM Statewide BottleDrop PLUS Kiosk Manager. Katrina's responsibilities include managing the kiosk maintenance of all PLUS participating retailers throughout Oregon. She comes to us with many years of customer service and retail grocery experience.
Shawn Miller
Oregon Lobbyist
Shawn started lobbying in Oregon in 1994, founded Miller Public Affairs in 1998 and joined the Northwest Grocery Retail Association lobby team in 1999 where he has influenced the outcomes of countless pieces of legislation. Shawn has earned a reputation in the halls of the Capitol as one of the hardest working lobbyists in Oregon.
Marian Dacca
Washington Lobbyist
Marian has over a decade of government affairs experience having represented both private and public entities before the legislative and executive branches of Washington State government. Marian’s business advocacy experience also includes serving as the State Relations Manager for the Washington Hospitality Association, working on several issue areas including taxes, labor, tourism and liquor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington.
Brandon Houskeeper
Washington Lobbyist
Brandon brings more than 15 years of contract lobby experience on issues of tax, energy, environment and employment. He previously tracked small business policy issues for Association of Washington Business and was a policy analyst with Washington Policy Center, focusing on environmental, land use, energy regulation, and small business issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington.
brandon@houskeeperpublicaffairs.com
Melinda Merrill
Idaho Lobbyist
Melinda Merrill has worked closely with the Northwest Grocery Retail Association for better than 15 years. First with Fred Meyer Government Affairs, and as our Idaho Lobbyist for the past 5 years. She has more than 25 years of experience in government relations and public relations for clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. She provides her clients with advocacy in local, state, and federal government as well as media, reputational, and crisis communications counseling.