Skiles_Wes-headshot-PR

DENVER, COLORADO – Michael Best Strategies announces Wes Skiles expands his role to Principal at the firm in Colorado. Skiles previously served as senior advisor.

In his new role, Skiles will be able to dedicate more of his time in assisting clients with legislative and regulatory issues as well as state and federal health policy issues that impact Colorado. Skiles recent work with Michael Best Strategies includes groundbreaking legislation evaluating the process health insurance plans go through to increase premiums in primary care and provide them with guidance on how to better invest healthcare dollars for care given in the right place, right time, and with the right provider.

“We have worked on a number of successful client projects with Wes in the past and are excited that he is bringing his knowledge of health policy and Colorado government to the Strategies team full-time,” said Rob Marchant, President at Michael Best Strategies.

Before joining Michael Best Strategies, Skiles spent nearly eight years at managed healthcare leader Kaiser Permanente Colorado, the first three years as the company’s in-house lobbyist at the Colorado State Legislature, and the last four years as Director of Government Relations. During his tenure, Skiles helped transform Kaiser’s approach to political advocacy from reactive to proactive and helped it shape health policy.

“Our healthcare clients will only benefit more now with him on the team full-time given his acumen,” said Jeff Thormodsgaard, partner at Michael Best Strategies in Colorado. “Wes is incredibly strategic while maintaining a jovial humility that makes him an asset to any legislative effort. He is well respected and liked from both sides of the aisle.”

“I’m thrilled to be a part of Michael Best Strategies,” said Skiles. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to build deeper relationships with the dynamic and hard-working Strategies team here in Colorado and make a big impact on behalf of our clients.”

Earlier in his career, Skiles worked in the Colorado State Legislature for more than five years, briefly serving as Press Secretary for the House Minority Office before becoming Legislative Director for the House Minority Leader where he served as primary political advisor and liaison to lobbyists, state agencies, officials, and the Office of the Governor.