Strategic Public Affairs Services

Impact Public Decision Making at Every Level of Government

Effective Public Affairs Engagement

Elevate Your Public Advocacy

Working to effect change in government policies, particularly at the state and federal levels, is complicated. How and where you choose to spend time and resources needs to advance your goals.

Too often, however, organizations struggle to prioritize foundational parts of the work.

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs leverages extensive experience to help clients effectively engage stakeholders and successfully influence public decision-making processes.

Take a proactive role to ensure government works for you!

Effective Advocacy Is About Choices & Timing

Emmett is an experienced Public Affairs professional with an extensive record of successful regulatory negotiations, relationship building and organizational transformation at the local, state, and federal levels.

Emmett draws upon a unique blend of experience and emphasizes a proactive approach to transformational systems reform.

Emmett focuses on six areas of service:

Strategic Counsel;
Stakeholder Assessment & Engagement;
Communications;
Lobbying;
Business Development; and
Crisis Management

Understanding the Pieces of Effective Public Advocacy

· Working with any government to influence decision-making processes requires a knowledge of how government officials interact with one another, how they communicate, and how they interact with external organizations. Over decades of direct work for and with officials at each level, Emmett has developed an extensive knowledge of the varying roles and functions of different public sector organizations.

· Proper development and management of organizational resources is a foundational responsibility of leadership. In context of running government relations operations at the state and local levels for two Fortune 100 companies, Emmett has a deep appreciation for the challenge of successfully overseeing budgets encompassing staff, outside contractors, social media engagement, and community investments.

· An in-depth understanding of the processes, jurisdictions, and relationships around the Capitol is invaluable in effectively directing and supporting engagement efforts. A registered lobbyist himself, Emmett has successfully managed and worked in partnership with contract lobbyists in over a half dozen states to secure desired outcomes across State Legislatures and Executive Branch agencies.

· Effectively integrate all the tools of public affairs. Successful advocacy requires full use and coordination of all available resources -- such as communications plans, corporate giving and donations, and grassroots engagement -- to most effectively to advance awareness of public policy issues and leveraged to cultivate champions that advance the organization’s goals.

· Understand how to collaborate across organizational and board leadership. Over the years, Emmett has served on the boards of telecommunications industry associations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including as Vice President of the Minnesota Cable Communications Association during a substantial transition. Emmett has also served on the Boards of the St. Paul Chamber, the Midway Chamber, the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Friends of the State Capitol, and the Citizens League.

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs Client Partners

Emmett has worked with:

Housing First Minnesota & the Yes to Homes Coalition
University of St. Thomas School of Engineering & the Center for Microgrid Research
MSPWin Funders Collaborative
Minnesota Housing Partnership
Great River Energy
Greater Metro Workforce Council
Thor Companies
Minnesota Craft Brewers
Center for Economic Inclusion
AutoReturn
Circus Juventas
Dominium
Mesabi Metallics

Emmett's Previous Positions:

Comcast. Emmett served as the Vice President of External Affairs for a multi state region based in the Twin Cities.
Dell Computer. Emmett managed all State & Local Government Affairs.
US Representative Bruce Vento. Emmett served as a Legislative Assistant in Washington, D.C.
Tunheim Partners. Emmett served as a Senior Strategic Partner and advised leadership and the firm's broad portfolio of clients on public issue advocacy.

Recommendations from LinkedIn Profile

“Emmett has been a crucial partner for the Center for Microgrid Research....His interest in clean energy and technology innovation, deep knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes, and extensive relationships...has proven to be invaluable in our work. We simply could not have accomplished many of our goals without Emmett’s assistance.”

- Dr. Don Weinkauf, Dean of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas –

“I had the pleasure of rolling up my sleeves with Emmett...[he] is the ultimate Sherpa, safely, efficiently, and diplomatically guiding disparate parties to successful outcomes in one of the most burdensome regulatory environments in the country. Thoughtful, deliberate, and allergic to the typical trigger happy solutions, Emmett is the seasoned leader in the room. [In] 20 years of professional government relations work, he is one of the two best teammates I have ever had.”

- Keith Hall, Advisor to Telecommunications C-Suite Leaders –

“Emmett deftly handled legislative, regulatory, and executive management responsibilities in a complex, high tech industry. He had a deep understanding of technology and the telecommunications industry. He has an extensive network of contacts around the country, within and outside of the telecommunications industry. His deep technological knowledge coupled with his skill at mobilizing his social network provided Emmett with a rate combination of personal assets that few high tech executives possess.

Emmett was his ability to envision creative solutions to problems out of seemingly impossible circumstances. I witnessed this first hand during hard fought negotiations on contentious and critical business issues. Emmett had a keen understanding of how to utilize and leverage his intellectual and social assets to find a pathway to ‘Yes’ that left everyone feeling good about each other and about the deal when the deal was done."

- Anthony Mendoza, Attorney at Fredrickson & Byron

“Emmett is – and will remain – one of the most influential colleagues and mentors I’ve had in my professional career. While Emmett’s role was largely to lead our team through a tough regulatory environment, he understood the importance of grassroots advocacy and the need to stay involved and engaged in the community. Emmett wasn’t afraid of the changing landscape of government/public affairs—in fact, he welcomed it!—all while truly valuing his team members and bringing out the best in each of us.”

- Madline O’Phelan, Chief Marketing Officer at SpendHQ

Let's Connect

I believe that a good plan well executed always beats a great plan that is poorly executed. Take the first step towards effective, pro-active public advocacy today. Contact me and start a conversation.

I welcome any opportunity to sit down in person with prospective clients and discuss how a proactive approach to public affairs can help them effect public policy.

Coleman Strategic, LLC
A Full Service Public Affairs Firm

Strategic Public Affairs Services

Effective Public Affairs Engagement

Elevate Your Public Advocacy

Effective Advocacy Is About Choices & Timing

Understanding the Pieces of Effective Public Advocacy

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs Client Partners

Emmett has worked with:

Industries Where Emmett Has Extensive Public Affairs Experience

Recommendations from LinkedIn Profile

Let's Connect

Drop us a line!

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs

Strategic Public Affairs Services

Effective Public Affairs Engagement

Elevate Your Public Advocacy

Effective Advocacy Is About Choices & Timing

Understanding the Pieces of Effective Public Advocacy

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs Client Partners

Emmett has worked with:

Industries Where Emmett Has Extensive Public Affairs Experience

Recommendations from LinkedIn Profile

Let's Connect

Drop us a line!

Coleman Strategic Public Affairs

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