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Profile: From Capitol Hill to Weyerhaeuser |
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Written On: September/October 2005 |
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Written By: by Paul Schlienz |
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Weyerhaeuser’s Federal Way headquarters, its buildings set amidst acres of woodland interspersed with meadows, is the home turf of Creigh H. Agnew, Weyerhaeuser’s vice president of government affairs and corporate contributions, who has made a career of promoting responsible land use.
Born in Everett, a city created and sustained by the timber industry, Agnew graduated from the University of Washington with two degrees. After graduation, she and her husband, an attorney, relocated to Washington, D.C., where she first became involved with government affairs.
In late 1979, Agnew began working for Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., as a legislative assistant. She managed his work on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Forest Service budget. Agnew became Dicks’ staff expert on natural resource issues.
"It was a fascinating time to work in Washington, D.C.," Agnew remembers. During the year she worked for Dicks, Mount St. Helens erupted and she became immersed in disaster relief efforts for the state. "Senators Jackson and Magnuson were still there, and Congressman Dicks worked closely with them to appropriate more than $1 billion in relief funds for the state. Sen. Magnuson was chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and Sen. Jackson was chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. They were a great team that did so much for our state."
A year later, momentous change came to Washington's senatorial delegation when voters replaced Democrat Magnuson with Republican Slade Gorton. In an era when partisanship was less intense, Gorton crossed the aisle and recruited Agnew. Thus Agnew began working natural resource policy issues for Gorton.
In 1982, Agnew worked closely with the entire Washington delegation to pass the bill establishing the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Two years later, she again worked with the entire delegation to successfully pass the Washington State Wilderness Act that set aside 1 million acres of wilderness. Sen. Gorton was a leader on both bills and Agnew played a key role.
"I am very proud of those two accomplishments and grateful to Sen. Gorton for the opportunity he gave to me. He was a mentor to me and I learned a great deal from him on how to reach across party lines to work toward consensus on complex natural resource policy issues."
President Reagan recognized Agnew's contribution to the passage of the wilderness bill. "I am sure that Senator Gorton arranged it, but the President sent me a personal letter and gave me the pen he used to sign the bill into law," Agnew recounts. "I have both of them hanging on my wall at home. They are special reminders of a very unique period in my life."
Weyerhaeuser, which worked closely with Agnew on both bills, was also impressed with her knowledge of natural resource issues and the legislative process. In 1986, Agnew joined the private sector and lobbied for Weyerhaeuser in Washington, D.C.
After six years lobbying in D.C., Agnew returned to the Northwest and lobbied for Weyerhaeuser in Olympia. Then, in 1986, she became Weyerhaeuser's vice president of government affairs and corporate contributions.
With her vast experience and knowledge of the workings of government, Agnew is a powerful advocate for the entire business community. Recently, she was nominated to serve as AWB’s board chair for 2005-2006.
Nevertheless, there is much more to Creigh Agnew than her impressive career. "I’m a mom, and that's my number one priority," Agnew stated. When Agnew is not working, you're likely to find her enjoying the natural world with her husband and two sons.
"We’re big boaters and kayakers," she says, wistfully looking forward to the family's yearly cruise to British Columbia's glorious Desolation Sound — a fitting vacation for someone who has done much to preserve our natural legacy.
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