Pac/West Lobby Group is expanding its Communications team with the hire of George Plaven, a veteran in Oregon journalism who has covered some of the state’s most important natural resource and agriculture issues over the past decade.

For the past six years George has reported for the Capital Press, writing about agriculture, energy production, forestry, local government, and legislative policy across the Pacific Northwest. His writing and reporting has been recognized over his career with multiple first place awards in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspaper Contest.

“George has earned the trust and respect of readers and subjects alike through careful reporting and an creative approach to storytelling. His ability to explain how the details fit into the big picture and back it up with data will serve our clients well,” said Ryan Tribbett, president of Pac/West Lobby Group. “He has a strong understanding of both rural and urban audiences and the kinds of messages that resonate.”

George has a bachelor’s of science in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Before joining the Capital Press in 2017, he worked for the East Oregonian and the Montana Standard. He was an Oregon State University Food & Agriculture Media Fellow in 2022.

“I’ve spent my career interviewing and writing about interesting, innovative people and their work to improve their communities and industries,” said George. “I’m looking forward to helping Pac/West’s wide range of clients develop and share their stories with new audiences.”

George grew up in the Denver area and has carried a love for the outdoors with him his whole life. He enjoys hiking, fishing, and exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog. He also remains a dedicated fan of Denver sports.

The team at Pac/West Lobby Group has decades of experience advocating for diverse groups before the legislature, state agencies, and the relevant boards and commissions. We cover industries including health care, organized labor, agriculture, transportation, local governments, and more.