Ysabel Bilbao is an owner and partner at Bilbao & Co., an Idaho based public and government affairs firm. She is an award-winning television news journalist specializing in crime, courts and the legislature. Ysabel served on Idaho’s Public Information Emergency Response team. She is trained in the National Incident Management System by FEMA and the Bureau of Homeland Security.

Ysabel started Bilbao & Co. in 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience in developing messages and disseminating information to inform and educate the public.

Through her extensive experience both on and off the airwaves, Ysabel is an expert in crisis management and message development as well as has an in-depth understanding of how to get ahead of a story.

Ysabel’s communications and grassroots campaigns have helped bring public awareness, outreach, education and engagement to several critical issues in both Idaho and Oregon. She played a key role in successfully stopping a national monument from threatening 2.5 million acres of public land in Oregon, she led the communications efforts in Governor Brad Little’s first gubernatorial campaign, and most recently she guided her comms team in the successful passage of mandatory minimum sentencing for fentanyl traffickers in Idaho.

In 2012 Ysabel was named one the Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished Under 40 and in 2018 she was nominated for Woman of the Year. Ysabel attended Arizona State University where she majored in broadcast journalism as part of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunications. She also minored in Spanish after attending Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (University of the Basque Country) in Bilbao, Spain.

Ysabel is a native of Nampa, Idaho. She is active in the Boise community, the Basque community and has served on the board of directors for several area organizations and non-profits.

Melissa Mione is an Emmy-award winning television news producer and avid storyteller, who loves forming lasting relationships. A self-described perfectionist, Melissa knows how to stay organized when working under tight deadlines, while ensuring the information is correct and the delivery of the message is on point.

Before joining Bilbao & Co, Melissa was a news producer for several leading newscasts at KTVB NewsChannel 7, including Wake Up Idaho, The 208, the News at 6, and the News at 10. It was there Melissa honed her writing skills and fostered her passion for working with and for the community.

Melissa also worked on the production side at KTVB. She oversaw the playout of both local and national content for 4 NBC-affiliate channels in Boise and Twin Falls, as well as ran the audioboard and cameras for every live or taped show and event.

Melissa grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho before earning her bachelor’s degree at Boise State University, where she studied communication and political science. Melissa lives in Boise with her fiancé, Matt, and their two cat roommates.

Sophie Robinson recently graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Political Science. Her academic experience strengthened her abilities in research, critical thinking, and narrative-driven storytelling. She is passionate about media literacy and the role it plays in shaping cultural and political awareness.

Before joining Bilbao & Co., Sophie interned at the Idaho State Treasurer’s Office, where she gained firsthand insight into Idaho’s government and political landscape. She also spent two years as an Operations Assistant at NAU, developing strong problem‑solving and communication skills through daily collaboration with peers and supervisors.

These experiences deepened her interest in the intersection of communications, politics, and public policy, while allowing her to continue growing as a writer and storyteller.

Outside the office, Sophie values time with friends and family, exploring new books, and traveling to new places. She spent a semester studying abroad in Spain, where she visited several cities and countries and broadened her global perspective.

A Boise native, Sophie is excited to build her career in the community she calls home and apply the skills she developed throughout her undergraduate studies to serve Idaho.