Al Ralston has been selected as president of the Renton Rotary Club for 2023-2025.
He is vice president and partner at Gordon Thomas Honeywell – Governmental Affairs, the largest governmental affairs firm in the state of Washington. He joined GTH-GA after serving two years as president of the Washington Research Council, Washington state’s premier public policy research organization.
With over 50 years of lobbying and public policy experience at the federal, state, and local government level, Ralston’s network of relationships and knowledge base on issues is unprecedented.
“It is with great pride that I have been asked to serve as the next president of the Renton Rotary and to continue the work of this first class service organization in our community. Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Since the first meeting in 1943 when 26 business and professional people formed the Rotary Club of Renton, until today with over 120 active members, we have enjoyed a rich tradition of caring for our neighbors as close to home as Renton and around the world with Rotary’s polio eradication program. From the Renton River Days Rubber Ducky Race to the Rotary CAPER Auction, Renton Rotarians are proud of the significant impact we’ve had on our community,” said Ralston.
According to the Seattle Business Magazine, at one point, Ralston was considered by many to be the single most powerful lobbyist in Olympia. Ralston’s career is best defined by his 21 successful years as the senior political strategist, corporate leader and lead lobbyist for the Boeing Company regionally. Between 1986 and 2007, Ralston organized and implemented winning government relations strategies for Boeing. In this role, he worked at all levels of government: local, state, federal and foreign. His accomplishments are many, including being the lead lobbyist on the aerospace incentive legislation, which resulted in having the 787 “Dreamliner” program in Washington state.
Prior to working for Boeing, Ralston served as the senior representative for government relations of Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, the director of intergovernmental relations for the City of Seattle, the program development director for the National Indian Activities Association, and research analyst for the Washington State House of Representatives.
Active in civic and community affairs, Ralston has served on the boards of the Association of Washington Business, Washington Research Council, Washington Council on International Trade, Associated Oregon Industries, Pacific Northwest International Trade Alliance, Highline Community College Foundation, the Youth and Government program of the YMCA, and the Western Washington University Alumni Association and Foundation. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University. Ralston and his wife, community leader Renton City Councilmember Ruth Perez, live in the Springbrook Neighborhood of Renton with their two dogs, Frida and Pablo.
