Chris Peterson

Senior Advisor, Nebraska

Chris Peterson specializes in public affairs and government relations. For 25 years, he has built a diverse portfolio of experience stretching from the Nebraska State Capitol to City Hall in Yuma, Arizona.

During his five years as communications director for Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns from 1999 to 2003, Chris managed media relations, wrote speeches, and served as chief spokesman. He was a senior advisor to the governor, involved in legislative and budget strategy, and crisis management.

Chris left the governor’s office to become executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party in 2004. From there, he joined Union Pacific Railroad as director of government affairs from 2004 to 2007, where he was responsible for state and community relations in Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Utah. When Mike Johanns resigned as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in September 2007 to run for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, Chris left Union Pacific to manage the campaign.

From 2009 to 2012, Chris held several key roles at BrightStar Education Group, most recently as vice president of strategic planning. During his tenure with the Denver-based, for-profit vocational education company, Chris successfully worked through state and local regulatory issues in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Chris Peterson earned his B.S. in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Nebraska
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