You’ve been at the Farm Bureau for 20 years now. How has the advocacy world changed in that time?

There’s something a professor in grad school said that I have never forgotten. He said that society regularly goes through periods of political realignment, driven in part by philosophical changes, economic adjustment and, in particular, technological changes. This happens every 15, 20 or 30 years. But at this time, it seems to me, we’re seeing this pace of realignment and change accelerated. One aspect of this period of accelerated change, as so much survey data shows, is that trust in institutions — in government, for example — has declined. A key takeaway for me is this: If, as an organization, you maintain solid relationships with your members — your constituency — that trust will be there. You have to be able to understand the environment and adjust to new forms of communication, for example, which makes it all the more important that you maintain your organizational integrity — that you know what your values and mission are and remain true to them. This becomes more important in times of accelerated change.

You’ve been involved in Council activities for some time. You’ve spoken at conferences. You’ve earned your certifications in Public Affairs Management and in Grassroots and PAC Management. How has this involvement helped you adjust to the changes you’ve spoken of?

All of it has been valuable, but there’s one aspect of this involvement that I’d emphasize. Being able to network with public affairs professionals who are facing similar challenges is huge. They might be trying to take advantage of opportunities that won’t be exactly the ones you are trying to take advantage of, for example, but you can still find something that is relevant and benefit from. They might be facing comparable obstacles. So my advice is to pursue networking opportunities and learn from the best practices of your peers.