About Us
Count on our team to guide you through the complexities of policy development, coalition building, lobbying, and advocacy.
Kris Knauss
Managing Partner
Kristopher Knauss is a fourth generation Alaskan. He graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and History.
During his tenure at Arizona State, Mr. Knauss actively engaged in government affairs and politics serving as intern to the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and then as campaign staff for the election of the first female Governor of Arizona Jane Dee Hull.
After returning to Alaska, Mr. Knauss served as professional staff to the Alaska State Senate President for two years. He became Chief of Staff to the Alaska State House Rules Committee and then Chief of Staff to Alaska State Speaker of the House where he served for approximately two years before being courted by the Murkowski Administration.
Because of Mr. Knauss’ familiarity with state government from the executive and legislative branches, Governor Murkowski appointed him Deputy Chief of Staff of Policy for the State of Alaska, serving as the youngest member of the Murkowski Cabinet. In this role, he interfaced daily with the Governor, Chief of Staff, and Cabinet members. Additionally, Mr. Knauss represented the Governor and was his lead staff person with such non-partisan organizations as the National Governors’ Association, Western Governors’ Association, Council of State Governments, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, as well as partisan groups such as the Republican Governors’ Association and the Republican National Committee.
Government Affairs is a constantly changing environment that requires a unique and first hand understanding to be effective and take full advantage of the opportunities involved and presented. Mr. Knauss has this understanding and in June 2005 resigned his position to join the private sector as the owner and principal of The Knauss Group, LLC, which specialized in government affairs consulting and lobbying.
In 2017, Knauss grew his professional portfolio by partnering and later acquiring Kent Dawson Company and becoming the present Managing Partner of Confluence Strategies, Inc. Since 2023, Confluence Strategies, Inc. has become Alaska’s leading government affairs and lobbying firm.
In his personal time, Mr. Knauss continues in his elected position of as Vice President of International Council for USA Hockey and serves as Chairman of the USA Hockey Player Development Committee. In this role, Mr. Knauss oversees the international program IIIHF) as well as player development working closely with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Most recent, Mr. Knauss is currently Chairman of the Commonwealth North Board of Directors, The Waterfall Foundation Board of Directors, and USA Hockey Foundation in his professional capacity.
Laura Stidolph brings over 15 years of experience in Alaska state government, legislative strategy, and public policy development. During the 33rd Alaska State Legislature she served as Legislative Director to Governor Mike Dunleavy, where she acted as the chief liaison between the executive branch and the Alaska Legislature. In that role, she led negotiations on complex policy initiatives and built coalitions across party lines to advance the administration’s priorities.
Prior to her appointment as Legislative Director, Laura worked in the private sector as Government Affairs Manager for GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications provider. There, she represented the company’s interests before state and local governments, with a focus on infrastructure, broadband, and rural connectivity policy.
Laura also served as Deputy Legislative Director during the 32 nd Alaska State Legislature and as a senior aide to House leadership. Her deep understanding of legislative dynamics and trusted relationships with lawmakers, staff, and agency leaders make her a highly effective advocate for clients navigating Alaska’s political landscape.
Laura was born and raised in Alaska and lives with her two children on Douglas Island across the bridge from Juneau. She studied at the University of Oregon and the University of Alaska Southeast. She is known for her strategic mindset, calm under pressure, and ability to find common ground in politically complex environments. When not in the Capitol building, you can find Laura foraging in the woods, fishing on the beach, and spending time at her family cabin in Excursion Inlet.
Laura Bess
Partner
Explore our Clients
Aristocrats
Alaska Salmon Aquaculture Association (ASAA)
History
Founded in July 2017, Confluence Strategies, Inc. was a merger between Kris Knauss and Royce Weller. In 2021, Confluence Strategies, Inc. finalized the acquisition of Kent Dawson Company, Inc. Together, Knauss and Weller have over sixty years experience with the State of Alaska and its Legislature.