Amelia Blackwood serves as Associate of Federal Affairs at Polaris Consulting, LLC. Her primary responsibilities include policy priorities for the firm’s multi-client base of corporations, trade and professional associations, academic, local government and industry coalitions. Blackwood specializes in coordinating and representing clients' interests in both the House and Senate and helps direct their legislative and political strategies in Congress. Blackwood began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). She moved to the private sector starting at one of the country’s largest corporate law firms as they initiated their federal marketing and government contracts practice and later to one of DC’s top 20 lobbying firms. Blackwood joined Principal & Founder Dan Gans as he launched Polaris Consulting in 2005 and has been with the firm since. Amelia is also avidly active in the community; her main charitable activity centers on her role as a key organizer for Taste of the South where she has served as Alabama’s Executive Board Member since 2004. This 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising money for deserving charities boasts a Congressional Host Committee comprised of the Members of the Congressional delegations for 13 southern states. Additionally, she has served as Sponsorship Chairman on the Board of the Alabama State Society since 2004. Amelia is also involved in a number of local charities including Food & Friends, Horton’s Kids, Project Northstar, Sister to Sister Foundation and the Capitol Area REACH Program (REACH), a local community-service based non-profit organization providing job training, scholarships and professional internships to disadvantaged youths. Born in Columbus, GA and raised in Montgomery, AL, Blackwood earned a double degree in Political Science and Psychology from Auburn University in May of 2002.