Julie Berge joined the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) in March 2017 and currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Communications. In this role, Julie leads a dynamic team of communications professionals and agency partners responsible for executing a wide range of strategic initiatives that advance WSPA’s mission and advocacy goals. This includes overseeing public affairs and digital campaigns, while also driving grassroots activation and stakeholder education. Additionally, her team works collaboratively across departments to amplify the organization’s narrative through coordinated message and content development, media relations, social media, and comprehensive outreach strategies.

With over 20 years of experience spanning corporate and consumer communications, media relations, and public affairs, Julie has a strong track record of leading integrated teams in diverse settings—agency, in-house, association, and start-up environments. Prior to joining WSPA, Julie held senior communication roles at VSP Global, where she managed integrated communications initiatives across social media, public relations, and corporate responsibility for its vision care and retail divisions. Before that, she served as a managing supervisor at global communications firm FleishmanHillard, focusing on agricultural and association clients, building bridges between consumers and California’s agricultural producers.

Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. She also earned a Certificate of Completion from the California Society of Association Executives leadership program in 2003 and a certification in Change Management from Cornell University in 2022.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Julie proudly contributes her energy and experience to support WEAVE’s Retail Advisory Board, which is dedicated to generating resources to support WEAVE’s mission of promoting safe and healthy relationships and providing assistance to survivors of domestic violence, abuse, and exploitation.