MICHAEL R. GALE
2025 Carter Mill Way
Brookeville, MD 20833
(301) 774-6870
michaelgale@verizon.net
SENIOR EXECUTIVE – GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC POLICY
"The best government consultant is one that has a good track record, actual experience in the way the government works, a willingness to get into the trenches on a client's behalf, good contacts and credibility and a willingness to work toward not only resolving a current problem but devising a strategy to avoid future ones."
Senator William Kelley (DR-AL)
To flourish, or merely survive, businesses need to understand and shape government policies. With expert knowledge of the public policy process, help companies navigate the ever-increasing maze of legislative and regulatory challenges to achieve their objectives; develop and implement aggressive offensive and defensive strategies for government affairs; identify issues and opportunities that affect a company’s decision-making; find opportunities to enhance the bottom line of a company; successfully negotiate complex legislative provisions that advance the interests of the organization and provide practical business-focused solutions to help a company gain a competitive advantage.
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
* An expert in the public policy process, as well as an accomplished business strategist and skilled attorney, with a history of achievement at leading companies in diverse industries through the ever-increasing maze of legislative and regulatory challenges. Background includes repeated successes at achieving short- and long-term growth goals, driving a company’s top and bottom lines, gaining a strategic advantage over the competition and protecting and enhancing brand image and reputation. Industries include consumer product manufacturing, importing and retail, financial services, entertainment, packaged food products, as well as trade associations.
* Represent companies before the U.S. Government (Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, administrative and regulatory agencies), state governments, foreign governments and global trade organizations. Lobbying experience embraces managing multiple issues, including legislative and regulative, including such issues as taxes, trade, healthcare, employee benefits, product safety, environment, financial services, telecommunications, foreign and defense policy, etc. Proven ability to work effectively “both sides of the aisle.”
* Recognized for expertise in developing and implementing effective offensive and defensive strategies for government affairs, identifying issues and opportunities that affect a company’s bottom line, negotiating complex legislative provisions that advance the interests of the organization and provide practical business solutions.
* Additional experience includes The White House (Office of the President, Office of Public Liaison), Departments of Defense, Commerce and Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
> Led revitalization of a national trade association government relations program. Reestablished its presence on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch, administrative and regulatory agencies and foreign governments. Established the Association’s Political Action Committee.
> Saved a Fortune 500 manufacturer $2 million a year in duties by negotiating with Congressional staff to reach a compromise on a bill.
> Saved over 2,000 jobs at a Costa Rica-based U.S. manufacturer and a Costa Rican manufacturer, while enabling both companies to remain competitive and stay in business, by negotiating creative solutions and convincing U.S. and Costa Rican negotiators to include a special provision in CAFTA-DR.
> Convinced CBS’s 60 Minutes to air a segment to focus public attention on the United States’ loss of manufacturing jobs to Federal Prison Industries (FPI), which led to Congressional hearings and increased government oversight of the organization.
> Convinced U.S. Government officials to exempt certain imported goods from quotas.
> Minimized a company’s exposure to duty payments by creating a sourcing matrix allowing the company to maximize utilization of free-trade agreements and trade preference programs.
> Successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress on behalf of the Department of Defense to approve the development and sale of the FSX fighter to Japan.
CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
* Government Affairs/Public Policy
* Grassroots Advocacy/Key Contact Programs
* Lobbying/Negotiating Skills
* Regulatory Affairs/Compliance
* Legislative Expertise/Congressional Affairs
* Crisis Management/Corporate Strategy
* International Affairs/Trade Advocacy
* Innovative Problem Solver/Trouble-shooter
* State Government Advocacy
* Tactical & Strategic Planning
* Media, Community & Industry Relations
* Issues Management/Project Coordination
* Coalition Building
* Intellectual Property/Brand Protection
* Corporate Social Responsibility
* International Labor Standards Compliance
* Able to work effectively “both sides of the aisle”
* Political Fundraising/PAC Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Government Relations & International Trade Strategies
Brookeville, Maryland
2002 - Present
President
Government relations and international trade consulting firm
Represent the legislative and regulatory interests of a group of diverse companies before the Executive Branch, the Congress, administrative agencies, state governments and foreign governments. Assist companies to deal effectively in governmental arenas, utilizing strategies directly affecting corporate bottom line. Update corporate officials on legislative and regulatory agendas. Act as trouble-shooter when legislative or regulatory issues arise. Provide advice on political and fundraising activities.
Selected Accomplishments
* Saved more than 2,000 jobs by negotiating creative solutions and convincing U.S. and Costa Rican negotiators to include special provisions in Central America/Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), allowing a U.S. manufacturer located in Costa Rica and a Costa Rican manufacturer to remain competitive and stay in business.
* Saved more than $200,000 annually for client by helping them obtain and manage Chinese quota allocations, allowing client to continue production in China and avoid costly shift in sourcing to another country.
* Worked successfully with U.S. Government officials to convince Chinese officials to investigate theft of intellectual property saving client millions of dollars in lost revenue.
* Compiled sourcing matrix allowing company to maximize utilization of free-trade agreements and trade preference programs.
* Convinced U.S. Government officials to exempt certain imported goods from quotas.
Warnaco Inc.
Washington, D.C.
1998 - 2001
Vice President, Government Relations and International Trade
Leading Fortune 500 manufacturer, importer and retailer of consumer products
Aggressively represented the legislative and regulatory interests of the company before the Executive and Legislative branches and administrative and regulatory agencies at the federal, state and local levels as well as before foreign governments on issues such as trade, taxes, employee benefits, labor, energy, the environment, etc. Tracked and monitored legislative and regulatory actions that affected the company both domestically and abroad; advised company officials on potential impact on company operations; and offered strategies for company actions. Recommended to company officials and implemented proactive strategies and actions to further company’s interests in the U.S. and overseas. Provided advice on political and fundraising activities that would benefit the company.
Selected Accomplishments
* Saved this Fortune 500 manufacturing company $2 million annually in duty fees by successfully negotiating with Congressional staff to reach a compromise on a bill.
* Successfully lobbied U.S. and Mexican officials to prevent use of a NAFTA provision that would end company’s ability to produce key product duty-free in Mexico.
* Instrumental in convincing Congress to pass the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, a unilateral trade preference program similar to NAFTA.
* Capitalized on prior business relationships with foreign embassies to expedite timely delivery of critical imports.
* Formed ad hoc industry group to defeat proposal being considered by the World Customs Organization that would, if adopted, adversely affect the manufacturers, importers and retailers of key consumer product by significantly increasing duties.
* Cut more than $250,000 from division’s budget, while significantly increasing company's government relations visibility and effectiveness.
* Created tracking system for legislative and regulatory actions that could potentially affect the organization.
American Apparel Manufacturers Association
Arlington, Virginia
1994 - 1998
Director of Government Relations
National trade association comprised of 400 members representing approximately 80% of wholesale apparel sales of U.S. companies
Represented legislative and regulatory interests of the American apparel industry before federal and state executive and legislative branches and governmental agencies. Developed and implemented effective systems to track legislation and regulations critical to member companies. Established Association’s political action committee (PAC), formulated the annual budget of the Government Relations Division and acted for Association President as directed.
Selected Accomplishments
* Restored visibility and effectiveness of trade association with members of Congress, Congressional staff, Administration officials and regulatory and administrative agencies.
* Successfully spearheaded efforts to lobby the Administration and Congress to become more involved in issues affecting the U.S. apparel industry.
* Planned Congressional visits to members’ facilities in the U.S. and overseas.
* Focused public attention on the loss of manufacturing jobs to Federal Prison Industries (FPI) by convincing CBS’s 60 Minutes to air a segment on FPI that generated Congressional hearings and resulted in increased Congressional oversight of the organization.
* Recognized the need for a comprehensive and standardized industry-wide code of conduct to combat allegations of sweatshop conditions in foreign factories of member companies. Persuaded Association members of the need for an industry-wide uniform code of conduct.
* Convinced U.S. Government officials to exempt certain clothing imports from imposition of quotas.
ADDITIONAL WORK HISTORY
Greenberg Traurig Hoffman Lipoff Rosen & Quentel, Washington, D.C. ~ Of Counsel
The Jefferson Group, Washington, D.C. ~ Vice President for International Trade and Financial Services
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Washington, D.C. ~ Acting Assistant Secretary/Deputy Assistant Secretary/Director
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense/Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C. ~ Special Assistant for Foreign Policy
U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Technology Security Administration, Washington, D.C. ~ Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Washington, D.C. ~ Senior Legislative Assistant
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C. ~ Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs
Office of the President, Office of Public Liaison, The White House, Washington, D.C. ~ Deputy Special Assistant to the President
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Washington, D.C. ~ Legislative Liaison
EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATION
The American University, The Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., Juris Doctorate
The American University, School of Government & Public Administration, Washington, D.C., Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)
Admitted to Practice Law in the District of Columbia, Member of the Washington, D.C. Bar |
