Have there been instances where you needed to advocate for your business with a state legislator, agency administrator, or member of Congress, but don’t know where to start? Did you suddenly see a new rule or regulation take effect, which is detrimental to your business and wonder “how did that happen?” Learn how to improve your business process and growth by understanding how to become adept at maneuvering the political process. See how you can employ some of the same lobbying tactics as the large companies in your industry, to maintain a competitive edge.
- Why, when, and how to best engage in the political process
- How to build and maintain political relationships
- The use and effectiveness of coalitions
- Examples of how small and medium businesses are using developed relationships to their advantage
- Key lobbying techniques and how to use them to further your business interests
- Research techniques to better understand your competitors’ political agenda
- Lobbying as a federal contractor
- Ethics- How not to land on the front page of the Washington Post for the wrong reasons
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Darlene Richeson is President of MaZie Global Solutions, a specialty domestic and international government relations firm, founded in 2003, in Washington, DC. Coordinating with clients, such as Johnson & Johnson, Government of Bermuda, and Georgetown Partners, Darlene advocates policy, promotes business, and develops relationships with Members of Congress, the Administration and stakeholder organizations. She has over 25 years of business experience and has excelled as an executive with several of the top corporations in the United States including Travelers Insurance, AT&T, GTE, and Verizon. Darlene is a Brookings Institution Congressional Fellow, holds a B.S. Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Marketing/Management from Widener University, Chester, PA. She has completed executive management programs at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University in NH and Columbia Graduate School of Business in NYC. Darlene serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations and enjoys career development mentoring.