What people are saying

  • “SCG is a model of honesty, humility and principles”

    — Theresa Philbrick, registered Nurse and candidate spouse

  • “By combining a smart political strategy with professional tactical support, [Ship Creek Group] has accomplished what few have been able to outside of both parties: prove it’s possible to win.”

    Nick Troiano, founding Executive Director of Unite America, to Politico Magazine, 1/12/2018

  • “Paula's reputation as Alaska's preeminent APOC guru is well deserved”

    – Assemblyman Zac Johnson

  • “[Suzanne] Downing and others also singled out one particular entity for its efficacy in Anchorage elections: the Ship Creek Group, a political communications and campaign management firm that has worked with a lot of successful Assembly candidates in the last eight years, in addition to taking on statewide and legislative races, along with ballot measures.”

    Anchorage Daily News, 4/10/2023

  • “What surprised me was how [Ship Creek Group] used direct mail paired with online video. [SCG’s] mail came day after day to my house. It looked great and it often had an engaging message — real, readable content rather than the usual bulleted points and meaningless political phrases you normally see… Heckendorn and his partners have found a way to make campaigns more meaningful and to win."

    Charles Wohlforth, Anchorage Daily News, 4/7/2016

  • “SCG does a lot of things right and the staff seems very dedicated and willing to go the extra mile to bring about success. I'm very appreciative of the work they did to come down to Ketchikan throughout the campaign, especially the "get across the finish line" help from staff willing to stand out in the cold holding signs and going door to door with GOTV efforts was amazing. Thank you!”

    – Rep. Dan Ortiz

  • “The biggest strengths have been the collaborative nature of working with a large team, and producing quality work products (mailers, graphics, branding) that are the best in AK politics… The team-oriented culture was fantastic on keeping me accountable and making me a better candidate”

    – Rep. Genevieve Mina

  • “A go-along to get-along consultant is very low in my books. The ones I like are the ones who —even at the risk of losing a candidate— have the guts to say, ‘That’s wrong, I’m not going to do it,’ or ‘I think that’s a big mistake.’ To argue back, that’s what you’re being hired to do, not just take the money.”

    Art Hackney, former Chairman of the American Association of Political Consultants, explaining his respect for Ship Creek Group to the Anchorage Press, 10/27/2016

  • “We don’t have a Ship Creek Group for conservatives. It is a hard thing to acknowledge,” Demboski said in an interview. “We’re getting outworked, outspent and frankly outplayed when it comes to these local elections.”

    Amy Demboski, former Republican candidate for Mayor of Anchorage, to the Anchorage Daily News, 4/10/2023

  • “Ship Creek was always honest and they have a strong team with very competent staff. The creative team is top notch. Through my campaign I witnessed all of the strong connections they have with folks throughout the state”

    — Rep. Maxine Dibert

  • “There was a lot of good advice from sharp people. It was a high-quality professional operation”

    — Rep. Cliff Groh

  • "I wish I could clone [them] so I could win about 50 races in November"

    Joelle Hall, President of the Alaska AFL-CIO, Anchorage Daily News, 4/7/2016

Media

Anchorage Daily News: For Mary Peltola, a sudden shift to national spotlight after winning Alaska’s special U.S. House election

Anchorage Daily News: Popp, Anchorage economic development official, latest to join mayor’s race

Alaska Beacon: How 26K+ votes left to be counted could impact the race to finish Don Young’s term

Alaska Beacon: In Alaska U.S. Senate primary, a race to finish fourth

The Alaska Current: On eve of petition turn-in, anti-ranked choice voting group faces more allegations of underhanded campaigning

Anchorage Daily News: Walker to hire political consultant Heckendorn as special assistant

Politico: How to turn a red state blue

Anchorage Daily News: Alaska needs more leaders like Gary Knopp

Newsminer: Alaska political experts give warnings about AI

Slate.com: Mary Peltola Alaska House Democrats

Anchorage Daily News: Bronson opponents take early sides in Anchorage Mayoral Race

Anchorage Daily News: Anchorage election results leave conservatives discouraged

Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Liberal and Moderate legislative candidates see fundraising leads in key races

Anchorage Daily News: One election down, three to go. Here’s what’s next in Alaska’s US House Race

Anchorage Daily News: Democrat Mary Peltola wins special US House election. Will be first Alaska native elected to Congress

Anchorage Daily News: A torrent of democratic absentee ballots could reverse Alaskas’s election night vote counts

Anchorage Daily News: Alaskans are already voting in the special US House race but the campaign is only just starting