NATM Adapts Federal Advocacy in the Virtual World
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NATM Adapts Federal Advocacy in the Virtual World By Dennis Potter, Brody Garland, and George Riccardo, K&L Gates The last 18 months have been full of uncertainty and adaptation. Industries across the national and global economy have felt the strains of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been forced to adapt their operations to survive and thrive. For the government affairs community, everything that we thought we knew about advocacy has been challenged. For decades, “fly-ins” and conventions bringing dozens of people to Washington, D.C. and bringing legislators to large gatherings were staples of government engagement. In a matter of days last spring, traditional face-toface engagement with legislators and regulators was replaced by virtual backgrounds and video conferences. Despite unprecedented challenges, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) and its advocacy team have thrived in this new virtual era. NATM’s 2020 Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas came in what would be the final weeks before the world changed forever. When the pandemic hit, plans were underway for NATM’s annual Regulatory Roundup & Capitol Hill Visits in Washington, D.C. At that point, the dates were still several months away, and it was unknown how quickly a sense of normal would return. Over the summer, it became clear that in-person visits would not be possible, and NATM set to work planning its first-ever virtual fly-in. Dozens of NATM members from across the country participated in the virtual Hill Visits with legislators, including participation of Acting NHTSA Administrator James Owens in the virtual educational sessions. In the months since, NATM Staff and the K&L Gates team have attended meet and greets, hosted fundraisers, recorded webinars, and conducted dozens of meetings with congressional staff. NATM Members even joined a Member of Congress for an impromptu tour of the Capitol via his cellphone. Talk about Zooming through the year! The NATM team has helped to connect its members with key decision-makers in Washington, D.C. at a time of increasing instability. At a time where the expectation would have been
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for less engagement, NATM has done more. New relationships have been established, and old ones have been reinvigorated. Association members have stepped up as well, sitting in on conference calls with policy professionals on important issues ranging from side underride guards to trailer safety education. NATM’s members prove again and again that the industry has a strong voice and succeeds when we tell our industry’s story. NATM prides itself on being an outlet for connecting the industry’s best with the lawmakers and thought leaders who help shape public policy. There were many concerns at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how well advocacy could be achieved in a less intimate and more technologyreliant environment. NATM has proven its resiliency and the resiliency of its members. Outreach efforts have increased, member participation is flourishing, and the flexibility of virtual meetings has allowed for input from new stakeholders that would ordinarily be held back by geographic restrictions. There is no replacing the value of the face-to-face connection or the importance of coming together to tell our collective story, but as we look ahead to the end of 2021 and beyond, NATM can be proud of the work put forward, the valuable lessons learned, and the ability of its members to innovate, adapt and truly thrive. For more information about NATM’s Government Affairs initiatives, including information about this year’s Regulatory Roundup & Capitol Hill visits, turn to page 12 or contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com. Dennis Potter is a Government Affairs Counselor, and Brody Garland and George Riccardo are Government Affairs Analysts at the law and lobbying firm of K&L Gates, where they represent NATM and other clients on legislative, regulatory, policy, and political matters. Potter can be reached at Dennis.Potter@klgates.com, Garland can be reached at Brody.Garland@klgates.com, and Riccardo can be reached at George.Riccardo@klgates.com. www.NATM.com
