CAPSTONE STRATEGIES
The Capstone approach is a hands-on, 365 day per year responsibility. Even though the Utah legislative session is only 45 calendar days, important work occurs throughout the year from March through January. Research, strategy development and individual face-to-face meetings with legislators and members of affiliated organizations during this time lays the framework for a successful legislative session
OUR TEAM
PRESIDENT
DAVID SPATAFORE
David Spatafore has represented clients at the Utah State Legislature beginning in 1975 as the voice of the Associated Students of the University of Utah. David represented Salt Lake City on a number of issues, eventually becoming Salt Lake City’s sole lobbyist in 1980. In 1985, David was retained by the Utah League of Cities and was the primary legislative lobbyist for the municipal league through the 2002 session. In the fall of 2002, David left the League of Cities and joined Capstone Strategies, LLC. During this time, David has become an experienced and successful voice for municipal government, law enforcement, fire chiefs, 911 and public safety communications, redevelopment agencies, and many entities in the building construction industry. For 49 sessions, longer than any other registered lobbyist, David has proven successful for clients on a number of important issues.
During the spring, you can find David on the little league baseball field, coaching. Since 1988, David has been a fixture in Salt Lake City’s youth baseball program. His dedication to our youth culminated when he spearheaded an effort to raise funds so Salt Lake City could develop an additional little league field on the corner of 1300 South and 700 East. That field today, Spatafore Field, is the home to many of SLC’s youth playing spring and fall baseball.
During the fall, if you listen to ESPN 700 University of Utah football games, you will hear Bill Riley vocalizing a “Spat Stat”. Dave has been the official statistician for the radio broadcasts of Utah football since 2004. A “Spat Stat” can be anything from numbers in a historical perspective to a unique look at what is occurring in the current game.
VICE PRESIDENT
ASHLEY SPATAFORE MIRABELLI
Prior to joining Capstone in 2016, Ashley worked as an urban designer, where she researched and developed proposals to improve cities and public spaces. As an architectural designer, she successfully designed and managed residential and retail projects throughout New York City and internationally. She also worked as a project manager for general contractors and a developer, managing and coordinating construction projects throughout Manhattan.
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With her varied expertise of the built environment, including planning, development and construction, Ashley’s background has proven especially beneficial to Capstone’s municipal government and construction trade clients. Her experience has greatly expanded Capstone’s communication and coordination capacity, ensuring our clients are always aware of and well positioned on issues. Her experience has also added to Capstone’s research capabilities, creative problem solving and long term legislative strategy development. Over the last six years, Ashley’s attention to detail, follow through, and ability to integrate multiple points of view into complex legislation has led to the successful passage of bills ranging from expanding affordable housing, refining redevelopment agencies and enhancing public safety.
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Ashley is an avid traveler. Whether backpacking through South East Asia or photographing the cities and towns of Utah, she’ll never turn down the opportunity to explore somewhere new.