Remodeling requires a unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen and people skills. This makes finding and retaining key team members, like a lead carpenter that can “do it all,” a tall task.
A similar dynamic exists in the lobbying arena. Representing the interests of NARI members requires a unique blend of technical expertise, political acumen and people skills. Chris Spear of the firm Nelson Mullins –NARI’s lobbyist over the last year –is leaving to be a full-time lobbyist for the American Trucking Association.
To represent NARI’s interests moving forward, the NARI Government Affairs Committee has chosen Dickstein Shapiro –a team that employs a “team of experts” approach. With 30 team members in their lobbying practice, four former Congressmen and a blend of Republican and Democratic perspectives, the committee feels that the “team of experts” approach blends the unique disciplines required to best represent NARI.
The main contact at Dickstein Shapiro will be Randi Fredholm Hutchinson and former Senator Tim Hutchinson (bios below).
- Randi Fredholm Hutchinson
- She served as a staff assistant on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in 1984. She provided assistance on the Water Resources Development Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Superfund legislation. During 1985, she was a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. In 1986, she worked in the Majority Office of the New Jersey General Assembly.
- From the fall of 1986 to 1993, she served as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt. She was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the legislative agenda in the congressman’s personal office, working closely with the Public Works and Transportation Committee.
- From 1993 to 1997, she was Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Tim Hutchinson. While directing the congressman’s staff and overall legislative program, Randi had specific legislative responsibilities in the areas of transportation, infrastructure, environment and welfare reform. Upon the congressman’s election to the U.S. Senate, she moved to Little Rock, Ark., to work in the state office. From 1997 to 1998, Randi continued serving as a senior advisor to the senator, including service as State Director. She had responsibility over the senator’s state offices and continued her work on infrastructure and environmental projects.
- Senator Tim Hutchinson
- He began as an Arkansas state representative in 1985. In 1992, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Four years later, he became the first Republican ever popularly elected to the U.S. Senate.
- While in the House of Representatives, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Education and Labor Committee and the Veteran’s Affairs Committee. He was the original sponsor of child tax credit legislation, a key figure in reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform law and chaired the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
- In the Senate, he continued his leadership on educational issues. Senator Hutchinson has also played an active role on health care issues, as well as homeland security issues. He has frequently appeared on television programs like “Larry King Live,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” and “Crossfire” to discuss these issues.
More information about the new lobbyists or the NARI Government Affairs Committee can be found here.