Cashmere High School

Director of Communications- Strategies 360 (Public Relations, Government Relations, and Marketing firm)

Blair Fjeseth brings experience running successful campaigns and a strong background in political and public policy communications to Strategies 360.

Previously, Blair served as communications director for Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch. During that time she developed strong relationships with press and media contacts, legislators, state agency directors and county administrators throughout the state. She created a nationally recognized website and outreach program geared towards civic engagement in youth education. Blair also worked on key policy issues for the Secretary of State, including the expansion of voting access and land use & energy issues as McCulloch’s lead staffer for the Land Board.

Blair’s campaign experience includes leading efforts to pass a ballot initiative to cover approximately 30,000 of Montana’s uninsured children. The Healthy Montana Kids initiative passed with 70 percent of the popular vote. Blair also helped develop a strong grassroots outreach effort and aggressive statewide media campaign for Montana’s Six Mill Levy, a property tax to help fund Montana’s colleges and universities.

Blair has developed strategic communications plans for corporations, non-profits and small businesses throughout the state, including building communication strategies around securing TSEP grants and engineering bids for a statewide engineering firm. Blair has worked with the Montana Land Reliance on a social media campaign designed to raise awareness and engagement. In less than one year, the Montana Land Reliance achieved unparalleled social media success, increasing their Facebook “Likes” from 330 to more than 17,000 under Blair’s management.

Originally from Alaska, Blair graduated from Carroll College with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and public relations. At Carroll, Blair served as student body president, was chosen as class graduation speaker and received the Robert Hopper memorial award. She and her husband Andy have two sons Sven and Olan.

Blair serves on the board of the Helena YWCA and PowerHouse Montana. She writes a monthly column for the Montana Parent Magazine and has recently started a parenting blog.

High School: Cashmere High

College: Carroll College

Advice for students: Manage expectations. 

Managing expectations in life will save you disappointment and help you set realistic goals. You won't be making 100k right out of college and you will have student loans. That's life. The big house with a flexible schedule come in time, not in your 20's maybe not even in your 30's. It will come after you have worked your butt off in that 9-to-5 job for years. Be the first one in and the last one to leave. Say yes to taking on more, make yourself indisposable.  The goal in life is to work your way up and not skip steps. I loved my first house, my husband and I ate ramen for months to afford a down payment. I appreciated my home more for doing it. I appreciate my new house because I had a little home to begin with. I love my job now, but It didn't come easily or quickly. It's all about the process and making the most out of every step of the journey.