The founder of Empower Change Communications, Lisa Wade Raasch is a seasoned professional who has dedicated her career to promoting positive change through smart, inspired communication. Lisa's broad-based experience includes providing strategic communication counsel to political and advocacy campaigns, national and local nonprofits, Members of Congress, schools, government agencies, athletes and recording artists.

As communication director for a U.S. Senator, Lisa served as primary spokesperson and media strategist to promote the Senator's legislative agenda and subcommittee activity. Her efforts generated regular story placements and broadcast interviews with national, local and trade press regarding diverse topics such as health care, science and space, technology and natural resource policy. Lisa also wrote and edited speeches, investigative reports and issue papers to raise awareness on national and local concerns.

During her tenure as Vice President for Communication at the League of Conservation Voters, Lisa developed aggressive earned, paid and online media strategies to promote nationally recognized political, legislative and public education campaigns. She served as chief speechwriter and spokesperson, publication writer and editor. She also conducted media training workshops for students and nonprofit executives.

Drawn to political campaigns, Lisa served as the head TV satellite booker for the Democratic News Service at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, press secretary and issue director on a 1996 Congressional campaign, and as a campaign grassroots coordinator for a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, for whom she also worked as a congressional field representative.

Lisa's other professional endeavors include public affairs director for the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, public affairs specialist for the Defense Fuel Supply Center, fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and associate publicist for recording artists with Littlehorn Communications. She earned bachelor's degrees in communication and public relations from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., and a master's degree in political management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. For her graduate studies she earned the Henry D. Paley award for academic excellence given to the valedictorian of each graduating class.

In her spare time, Lisa is an adult literacy tutor, writer and photographer.