Sarah Erickson

Partner, Lobbyist

Sarah Erickson has been a government relations and lobbying professional for eighteen years. For the past eight years, she has been a partner at United Strategies specializing in government relations and lobbying.  Prior to that, she spent ten years at the state capitol lobbying for local units of governments, the most recent in Saint Paul in Mayor Chris Coleman’s office where she worked as the city’s lead lobbyist and managed the city’s labor relations.

She works in the areas of education, energy, transportation, public safety, and health care.  Recently, she has been working on election reform issues, legalizing cannabis, and clean energy.  Sarah works well with both democrats and republicans and believes in bipartisan support and cooperation. She also excels at coalition building and bringing groups together to pass complicated and important pieces of legislation.  Most recently she was the operations director on Governor Walz's campaign team.

Sarah’s past experience also includes work for Metro Cities, the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and Small Cities. Sarah has a B.A. from Moorhead State University in political science and speech communications and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.

Kristen McMullen

Partner

Kristen McMullen has nearly two decades of experience in non-profit and political fundraising. She is an innovative fundraiser, raising over $300 million for ballot initiatives, candidate campaigns, issue campaigns, and nonprofit organizations.

In addition to raising money through digital campaigns, foundations, major gifts, direct mail, and merchandise sales, Kristen also has an extensive events background including managing three inaugurations, numerous galas, and major events for various non-profits and elected officials ranging from small meet and greets to singular events garnering $1M+. In 2020, she organized over 50 virtual fundraisers for her clients.

Kristen got her start in Wisconsin politics, as Finance Director and later serving as Campaign Manager for Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03). She later moved to Washington, D.C. to become the National Director of Candidate Fundraising with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, raising money and providing fundraising strategy for Congressional challenger and incumbent re-election campaigns. Later, in 2012, Kristen served as Minnesotans United’s finance director raising $15 million in a record-breaking statewide ballot initiative that successfully defeated a constitutional amendment limiting the freedom to marry.

Since founding United Strategies in 2013, she has been at the forefront of electing Democrats to office. Some of Kristen’s most recent successes include raising funds for Governor Tim Walz, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and congressional and local campaigns.

Kristen has a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Darby Cusack

associate

Darby Cusack began his work with United Strategies in January 2018. Since then, he has been involved in the successful fundraising efforts of candidates seeking election to local, state, and national offices.

In the summer of 2018, Darby took on the role of Deputy Finance Director with Joe Radinovich’s campaign for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th congressional district. Here, he facilitated the day-to-day fundraising operations—including call time management, list building, and event staffing—helping the campaign to raise a groundbreaking $2 million dollars.

In 2020, Darby played a critical role in the fundraising operations of Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Thissen, Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson, and the Ranked Choice Voting advocacy group More Voices MN PAC. The quick and efficient transition to a digital fundraising platform was integral to each campaign's success.

Darby graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021 with a BA in Political Science & History.

Amber Backhaus

Government Relations and Lobbying

Amber Backhaus brings over two decades of legislative and public policy experience with a demonstrated history of successfully executing advocacy campaigns and creating communications and grassroots components to move the needle. She has a reputation for being steeped in the issues and effectively communicating their impacts. She can bring together affected parties and build coalitions to find the win.

For the past decade, Amber served as the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association (MADA). During that time, she helped pass numerous pieces of legislation positively impacting the health of the industry, including franchise law updates, vehicle registration improvements, and electric vehicle incentives. She also effectively collaborated with stakeholders to find compromises on data and consumer protection issues. Policymakers recognized her value and appointed her to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles and the Legislative Task Force on Motor Vehicle Registration.

Before her time at MADA, Amber represented clients in the transportation, health care, energy, insurance, mining, and retail industries as a contract lobbyist. She also worked for trade associations representing trucking, railroad, and plastics manufacturing companies.

Amber’s passion for advocacy extends to her volunteer pursuits. For the past decade, she has volunteered with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, working to raise funds and improve the lives of patients living with these diseases. In 2017, she was elected to the Foundation’s National Board of Trustees, serving as chair of both the Advocacy and Mission Committees. In 2024, she is honored to serve as the chair of the National Board.

Will Kuball

Government Relations and Lobbying

Will Kuball joined the Lobbying and Government Relations team at United Strategies, LLC in December 2021. Prior to joining our team, Will served as the Deputy Director of Candidate Services at the Minnesota DFL Senate Caucus in St. Paul during the 2022 election cycle. In this role, Will partnered with the DFL endorsed slate of candidates and their teams wity graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021 with a BA in Political Science & Histoh specifically tailored guidance and resources to enable them to run successful races for the Minnesota State Senate. Will lent his expertise to targeted races across the state, contributing to the unprecedented flipping of the Minnesota Senate.

Before joining the DFL Senate Caucus, Will worked with Senator Amy Klobuchar on Capitol Hill, was Representative Ruth Anna Buffalo’s Legislative Correspondent at the North Dakota State Capitol, and in 2020 organized with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to successfully re-elect Minnesota Representative Angie Craig. In 2021, Will managed Minneapolis City Council Vice President Linea Palmisano’s re-election campaign and served as Field Director for Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman’s re-election campaign. Both were successful.

Will has been a tireless community organizer, coalition builder and strategic political advisor. He is dedicated, now more than ever, to supporting forward thinking organizations and individuals to advance worthwhile causes and spur lasting change in their communities.

Megan Verdeja

Lobbyist

Megan has been in the Government Affairs field for fourteen years. She spent the past nine years at the Minnesota Department of Commerce where she most recently served as Director of Government Affairs. Megan led the Department’s legislative portfolio for insurance, energy, telecom, financial institutions, securities, and enforcement. Megan also successfully advocated for and helped pass many key Administration priorities, including Minnesota’s signature Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, the Safe Seniors Financial Protection Act and Minnesota’s Insurance Data Security Model Act, as well as consistently getting strong outcomes during the Department’s budget negotiations.

In her time at the Commerce Department, Megan worked with many national associations including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). In her work with NASAA, Megan served on their Board-Level State Legislation Committee and the Board-Level Seniors and Diminished Capacity Committee. Megan also served as the Department’s delegate to Minnesota’s multi-agency Minnesota Business First Stop and was chosen to participate in the state’s Emerging Leaders Institute. 

Prior to joining Commerce, Megan spent time on the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s government affairs team and worked as a legislative assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives.