Sara Odendahl

Sara Odendahl, Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives

Sara is a veteran public affairs and government affairs professional having honed her political consulting chops at the Colorado State Capitol for the better part of a decade. Her policy expertise includes health care, non-profit and local government issues, specializing in children’s health, public health, early childhood education and local/regional economic development issues. Prior to her lobbying career, she worked for several advertising and branding agencies focusing on issue-based strategic communications. Since trading in her high heels in Denver for hiking boots in Bend, she and her husband developed and launched The Collective NWX, a community coworking office complex in the heart of NorthWest Crossing.

While Sara is a native Californian (don’t hold it against her!) she spent the majority of her adult life in Denver where she met her husband, Kent. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Masters degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from University of Colorado, Denver. Her professional skills include Policy Development, Nonprofit Leadership, Event Planning, Crisis Communications, Brand Development, Coalition Building, Public Speaking and Organizational/Strategic Planning. She is a community-minded problem solver, collaborator, negotiator, strategic thinker, and facilitator.

When Sara is not tuned into a City Council or State Legislative committee meeting on Zoom, she and her husband enjoy chasing around their two young daughters and exploring the great outdoors with Oliver, their sweet Golden Retriever.