Amy Handlin: Be Your Own Lobbyist - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly and Associate Professor of Marketing at Monmouth University, and author of the very practical and outcomes oriented book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government, Amy H. Handlin Ph.D., shares her tips and techniques to help small business and non-profit organizations achieve lobbying success. Amy describes how to go about identifying and connecting with the right people at the proper level of government for the issue. She shares her three pronged approach of Targets, Tools, and Tactics, to enhance and maximize the message. She also dispels some common myths about lobbying and shares some methods for improving your communications through media and alternate channels.

Amy H. Handlin is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 9, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly and Associate Professor of Marketing at Monmouth University, and author of the very practical and outcomes oriented book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government, Amy H. Handlin Ph.D., shares her tips and techniques to help small business achieve lobbying success. You will learn:

* How to identify the right government officials and the proper level of government

* How to use the triple approach of targeting, tools, and tactics

* Why lobbying is important for small business and non-profits

* How to better communicate your message to government and the public



Amy H. Handlin (photo left) is the Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly. Dr. Amy Handlin has been at Monmouth University since 1991. She holds a BA from Harvard, an MBA from Columbia, and a PhD from New York University. She teaches marketing and advertising on the undergraduate level, and marketing management in the MBA program.

She has a particular interest in the ethical problems of prescription drug advertising, and has also written about survey design, message framing, information comprehension, and other marketing communication topics.

Amy Handlin is the author of Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government.

Dr. Handlin lives in Middletown Township.

My book review of Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government by Amy H. Handlin, Ph.D.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly and Associate Professor of Marketing at Monmouth University, and author of the very practical and outcomes oriented book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government, Amy H. Handlin Ph.D., as she shares her tips and techniques to help small business and non-profit organizations achieve lobbying success. Amy describes how to go about identifying and connecting with the right people at the proper level of government for the issue. She shares her three pronged approach of Targets, Tools, and Tactics, to enhance and maximize the message. She also dispels some common myths about lobbying and shares some methods for improving your communications through media and alternate channels on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government, Amy H. Handlin, Ph.D., small business lobbying, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Be Your Own Lobbyist by Amy H. Handlin - Book review

Be Your Own Lobbyist

How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government

By: Amy H. Handlin Ph.D.

Published: July 14, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 211 pages
ISBN-10: 0313381550
ISBN-13: 978-0313381553
Publisher: Praeger










"Here is the good news: to lobby effectively, you do not need political power or an 'inside track'", writes Deputy Minority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly and Associate Professor of Marketing at Monmouth University, Amy H. Handlin, in her very practical and outcomes oriented book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government. The author describes how the lobbying process is an essential survival skill for small business, and is a technique that can be learning the basic rules and tactics of working with elected and appointed officials.

Amy H. Handlin, as a member of the New Jersey legislature, understands the political process from the inside. She recognizes that lobbying is an important part of the political process, and is not just the sole domain of large corporations and special interest groups. Instead, the concept of lobbying is about building relationships with public officials to ensure that small business is not harmed, even in an inadvertent and well intentioned manner. Amy Handlin points out correctly that while it's usually unreasonable to demand a certain vote, action or legislation, but it is reasonable to expect clarity, honesty and respect from public officials. The author removes the air of mystery and secrecy that surrounds lobbying and opens up the concept to the light of day, as part of the political process in a working democracy. To that end, Amy Handlin dispels a number of myths that have grown up around lobbying, and share both ethical and honest techniques for helping the voice of small business be heard.



Amy H. Handlin (photo left) begins her discussion of lobbying for small business with the basics that all citizens should understand. They include knowing which level of government is responsible for the issue, which elected or appointed official is charged with that responsibility, and the appropriate action to take to be heard. The author presents a three pronged approach to small business lobbying:

* Target: Analyzing and connecting with the right person or body to assist you

* Tool: Identifying the best and most appropriate communications devices and channels

* Tactics: Crafting a message that gets heard and achieves the desired result

These tactics are essential, but the small business person or non-profit association representative must make sure that they approach is based on a clear understanding of the ethics involved, the procedure for approaching officials, and knowing how government operates at the state and local levels.

For me, the power of the book is how Amy Handlin puts her experience in state government to work is sharing how small business and non-profits can best get their message heard in the halls of government. She guides the reader through the critical steps that must be followed to achieve the desired outcome of the lobbying effort. From the very beginning of the process, the author shows the small business person how to prepare for lobbying success before beginning the actual campaign. Identifying and building relationships with the appropriate people, and understanding what they can and cannot do, are crucial to success.

Amy Handlin recommends lobbying the right way, through maintaining strong ethical values, and presenting the message openly and honestly. The book contains some valuable exercises to help the reader learn the insider methods to achieving lobbying results, before attempting the same tactics in the real world. The author also points out that there is no guarantee of success, but if the reader follows the advice offered in this helpful book, the playing field is indeed leveled for small business people and their message.

I highly recommend the helpful and informative book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government by Amy H. Handlin, to anyone in small business or non-profit organizations who is seeking a reliable guide to achieving success in lobbying government officials. This book, written by a a legislative insider, shares tips for connecting with the right people at the proper local or state level, through open, honest, and ethical means.

Read the valuable and idea filled book Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government by Amy H. Handlin, and discover the techniques and tactics for getting the small business message heard both in the halls of government and through the various media channels. This book teaches how to work with governments the right way, and to avoid the pitfalls that have hurt so many other small business lobbying efforts in the past.

Tags: Be Your Own Lobbyist: How to Give Your Small Business Big Clout with State and Local Government, Amy H. Handlin, Ph.D., small business lobbying, business book reviews.

Richard Troxell: Looking Up At The Bottom Line - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Homelessness advocate and Founder and Director of Legal Aid for the Homeless, and President and Founder of House the Homeless Inc., and author of the groundbreaking and societal transformational book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage, Richard R. Troxell, shares his concept of a Universal Living Wage. Using what he describes as a "continuum of flexibility" for each community. The goal is to ensure that every person can afford a reasonable apartment in their city. Richard Troxell has worked both with and against city councils, and the result has been that cooperation has been the most effective technique for everyone. Richard believes that the minimum wage is too low to rent a one bedroom apartment. His research points to the Universal Living Wage as a solution to homelessness while also providing additional benefits to the economy. The proposal doesn't cost taxpayers any money, and recognizes states rights and individuals. Richard describes many of the current approaches to homelessness as both counter-productive and expensive for taxpayers. All proceeds from the book go toward ending economic homelessness.

Richard R. Troxell is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, December 7, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Homelessness advocate and Founder and Director of Legal Aid for the Homeless, and President and Founder of House the Homeless Inc., and author of the groundbreaking and societal transformational book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage, Richard R. Troxell, shares his concept of a Universal Living Wage. Using what he describes as a "continuum of flexibility" for each community. You will learn:

* What it really means to be homeless in America and its many myths

* What the Universal Living Wage means for lifting people out of poverty

* How the Universal Living Wage is calculated and works in each city

* Why the proposals are common sense, savings for taxpayers and a stronger economy



Richard R. Troxell (photo left) is founder of House the Homeless Inc. will lecture and read from his new book, Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage!

Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage is an intense personal, political, and educational guide through the last 30 years of homelessness in America, a journey which presents Richard Troxell's workable solution to economic homelessness in America: the Universal Living Wage.

Richard R. Troxell on Twitter.

My book review of Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage by Richard R. Troxell.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with homelessness advocate and Founder and Director of Legal Aid for the Homeless, and President and Founder of House the Homeless Inc., and author of the groundbreaking and societal transformational book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage, Richard R. Troxell, as he shares his concept of a Universal Living Wage. Using what he describes as a "continuum of flexibility" for each community. The goal is to ensure that every person can afford a reasonable apartment in their city. Richard Troxell has worked both with and against city councils, and the result has been that cooperation has been the most effective technique for everyone. Richard believes that the minimum wage is too low to rent a one bedroom apartment. His research points to the Universal Living Wage as a solution to homelessness while also providing additional benefits to the economy. The proposal doesn't cost taxpayers any money, and recognizes states rights and individuals. Richard describes many of the current approaches to homelessness as both counter-productive and expensive for taxpayers. All proceeds from the book go toward ending economic homelessness on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage, Richard R. Troxell, Universal Living Wage, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Looking Up At The Bottom Line by Richard R. Troxell - Book review

Looking Up At The Bottom Line

The Struggle For the Living Wage

By: Richard R. Troxell

Published: September 16, 2010
Format: Paperback, 308 pages
ISBN-10: 1935514997
ISBN-13: 978-1935514992
Publisher: Plain View Press






"Fairness, a sense of morality of what is fair, needs to come into the work place as it relates to wages", writes advocate for the homeless and social engineer Richard R. Troxell, in his groundbreaking and societal transformational book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage. The author shares a personal memoir, stories of real homeless people, and provides an alternative to social programs that reaffirms the dignity of people, helps the economy, and saves money for the taxpayer.

Richard Troxell understands the pain and suffering experienced through homelessness, and has devoted his life to restoring a sense of respect and dignity to the less fortunate. The problem of homelessness, according to the author, goes far beyond the usual myths and stereotypes. Part of the problem, writes Richard Troxell, is that in a land of plenty, minimum wage workers simply can't afford even a small, modest apartment. The author shares stories of people without homes, attempting to change their lives through hard work, but are unable to escape the homeless trap. Richard Troxell describes how laws and regulations work against homeless people, through moving them from locations near their workplace, obstructing the reuse of closed military bases and other public properties to house homeless people. He also points out that instead of building self reliance, the various government policies and agencies create dependency rather than provide a leg up toward personal and family independence.



Richard R. Troxell (photo left) recognizes that the cost of renting a modest apartment varies from city to city, and the amount of wages required to pay the monthly rent must be different in every location. As a result, the author proposes his revolutionary concept of the Universal Living Wage. The universal wage rate is determined by a cost of housing valuation for every city. The wage guideline forms a base where people can earn sufficient income to achieve the independence of having their own apartment. Richard Troxell describes the idea not as one that is damaging to small business and to the economy, but as having the opposite effect. The Universal Living Wage adds money to the economy, increases spending and consumption, assists landlords in filling their rental units, and lowers the amount of taxpayer funds needs to sustain the formerly homeless person. The principle transforms people from needing social services to becoming taxpayers and supporters and full members of the local economy.

For me, the power of the book is how Richard R. Troxell combines his personal narrative, with first hand accounts of homeless people, as a background for building his case for the Universal Living Wage. The concept of the Universal Living Wage is based on common sense, and the principle that a job should pay enough to provide food, clothing, and shelter. The author points out that the reason many jobs are not filled by Americans is simply because the wage offered doesn't cover the basic essentials of life. The result of that failure of the market is to force people who are willing and able to work into homeless conditions. The author demonstrates, through the Universal Living Wage formula, that accepting a low paying job does nothing to change the homeless state. Instead of being self sufficient, and having the life affirming benefit of one's own home, an underpaid person is trapped into using social services that cost taxpayers money and time. The alternative offered in the book provides a system that saves taxpayers' money while building a stronger overall economy that works for everyone.

I highly recommend the revolutionary and must read book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage by Richard R. Troxell, to anyone seeking a workable and common sense solution to homelessness in America. After reading this book, and reading the stories of real people trapped in the limbo of not being able to afford a modest apartment, a person can no longer look at a person without a home in the same way. Instead of the homeless individual being the problem, the author points to a broken economic system that needs repair so all can enjoy its benefits.

Read the important and mind changing book Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage by Richard R. Troxell, and begin the quest for a Universal Living Wage. Instead of social services and homelessness, work toward a living wage structure that reflects the real cost of apartment rentals, and provides for the basic needs of life. The result is a stronger economy, dignity for all members of society, and a saving of taxpayer dollars. The concept works for everyone.

Tags: Looking Up At The Bottom Line: The Struggle For the Living Wage, Richard R. Troxell, Universal Living Wage, economics book reviews.

The Weekend That Changed Wall Street by Maria Bartiromo - Book review

The Weekend That Changed Wall Street

An Eyewitness Account

By Maria Bartiromo with Catherine Whitney

Published: September 7, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1591843510
ISBN-13: 978-1591843511
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin










"How could the best and the brightest in the financial services industry, with their huge compensation packages and ballyhooed brilliance, not see the meltdown coming?", writes Emmy Award winning CNBC business journalist Maria Bartiromo, in her provocative and insightful book The Weekend That Changed Wall Street: An Eyewitness Account. The author describes the tensions, the fears, and the near collapse of the American financial system in 2008, through compelling interviews with the leading players on Wall Street and in Washington, DC, combined with her own personal experiences of those dangerous months.

Maria Bartiromo shares her revealing and very candid discussions with the movers and shakers who played major roles in the near disaster that befell Wall Street, and the entire global stock and bond markets, in those memorable late fall days in 2008. During that time period, with the demise of long time Wall Street icons Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers still in the headlines, the author provides inside discussions with the leading people in the industry. The story Maria Bartiromo uncovers is one of mistakes, greed, and tragic miscalculations of the real value of the securities and derivatives that formed the flawed balance sheets of the financially troubled firms. The week described so vividly in the book was one where decisions were very often made on the fly, the real reasons for the choices made were not discovered until later, and the fate of perhaps the entire global economy hung in the balance. Through it all, Maria Bartiromo asked difficult questions, while seeking and receiving some very revealing and telling answers.



Maria Bartiromp (photo left) utilized her vast list of finance industry and government contacts to recreate the tension filled atmosphere that permeated Wall Street's offices and trading floor during that fateful week. Drawing on that network of individuals, ranging from CEOs, to cabinet members, to regulators, to rank and file staffers, the author develops a fast paced narrative that captures the anxiety and near panic that engulfed both the financial sector and the United States government. The author paints vivid portraits of the many guilty people, whose greed and zest for fast living and little financial oversight, led to the near bankruptcy of some of Wall Street's most prestigious investment banks. The author points out that the problems with the investments were becoming known, but the high living investment bank community could not or would not admit there was a pending nightmare. They even deluded themselves into believing all was well, and the party would last a while longer. As Maria Bartiromo makes very clear, the end was much closer and much more perilous than anyone believed possible.

For me, the power of the book is how Maria Bartiromo presents an intimate and insider perspective of the near disastrous event of a week in late 2008. She brings her keen journalist's eye for detail, and her ability to ask the toughest questions, to extract revealing answers from the people involved. Many of those responses were unexpected, and resulted in responses that provided more information than expected at the time. The author creates a very compelling narrative that sweeps the reader along at the same breathless pace that overwhelmed Wall Street, the government, and the financial media.

Maria Bartiromo not only examines the issues of that fateful week, but also offers insights into the future of the financial community. She considers the very real possibility that the financial leadership failed to learn the fundamental lessons that she and others had gleaned from the events and their aftermath. The author also ponders the questions of the need for more regulation and oversight of Wall Street activities, and whether the choice of bailing out the troubled companies should relieve them of their mistakes. Maria Bartiromo is a firm believer in the capitalist system, and wants the market to operate efficiently but with rules that will prevent any other near disasters in America or the European Union.

I highly recommend the essential and must read book The Weekend That Changed Wall Street: An Eyewitness Account by Maria Bartiromo, to anyone seeking a first hand account of the events of the near financial collapse of 2008. The in depth interviews and conversations shared in the book give the reader a rare glimpse into the thought process of the decision makers at the time. The end result is a spectacular thriller that grips the reader from the very first page.

Read the important and authoritative book The Weekend That Changed Wall Street: An Eyewitness Account by Maria Bartiromo, and relive those dangerous days when Wall Street and the economy came very close to the abyss, and how the same events must be prevented from happening again. This book presents a balanced view, complete with a glimpse of how greed and terrible business practices can lead to disaster for any company, regardless of its size.

Tags: The Weekend That Changed Wall Street: An Eyewitness Account, Maria Bartiromo, Wall Street 2008 crash, business book reviews.

Essentials of Business Ethics by Denis Collins - Book review

Essentials of Business Ethics

Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance

By: Denis Collins, Ph.D.

Published: may 4, 2009
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0470442565
ISBN-13: 978-0470442562
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons












"Organizations of high integrity achieve superior performance because they attract and retain high-quality employees, customers, suppliers, and investors", writes Professor of Business Management at Edgewood College and ethics expert Denis Collins, Ph.D. in his brilliant guide to building an ethics based organization,
Essentials of Business Ethics: Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance. The author describes how to develop an ethical organization by providing the essential tools and guidelines necessary for achieving the highest level of ethical culture and behavior, while nurturing and enhancing a sustainable and profitable corporation.

Denis Collins demonstrates how an ethical company is not only a more pleasant place for people to work, but is a much more profitable enterprise as well. The author recognizes that human nature, being not always positive, must be entrusted toward ethical behavior. Through an alignment of personal goals with those of the organization, where ethical actions are rewarded, an ethical company will out-perform an unethical company over the long run. Denis Collins, importantly points out that a very unethical business can be much more profitable over the short term, creating the incentive for some employees to adopt less favorable choices and work habits. To prevent this problem from taking root, the author prescribes a series of principles aimed squarely at hiring the most ethical people, and rewarding their ethical actions in a positive way.



Denis Collins, Ph.D. (photo left) presents the business person with clear activities and information, covering every aspect of the company, to ensure that the most ethical decisions and actions are encouraged and supported at all levels. As has been seen all too clearly in the business news, unethical companies that were seen as profit leaders over the short term, are now exposed as being money losing enterprises. Denis Collins offers a choice to avoid that disastrous course of action, through a strong support for ethics and for doing the right thing at all times. The author makes a powerful case that ethical business is good, sustainable, and profitable business, while unethical companies and employees are destined to fail. An ethical company starts by hiring the most honest and ethical people, and supporting them all through their tenure with the organization, with positive reinforcement and rewards for doing the right thing.

For me, the power of the book is how Denis Collins proves that not only is an ethical company more profitable and sustainable, but that ethics can be instilled in the people throughout the entire organization. The author provides a strong theoretical framework for creating and developing an ethical company. That outline is filled in with very practical and easy to apply techniques for hiring ethical people, for establishing ethical guidelines, for rewarding ethical behavior, and for setting and managing ethical goals. To support the premise that ethics forms the foundation of a strong and profitable company, the Denis Collins shares real world examples of the importance of ethics in building a strong company. On the other hand, the failure of some companies to embrace and reward ethical decisions and actions has ended in their decline and failure. The author includes important sections on designing and utilizing ethical performance appraisals, hiring guidelines, training in ethical behavior, and developing ethical leadership for the organization.

I highly recommend the landmark and must read book Essentials of Business Ethics: Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance by Denis Collins, Ph.D., to anyone serious about nurturing and developing an ethics based company. With customers preferring to conduct business with organizations and individuals who they know, like and trust, the present and future support the integrity of an ethical company. The record for unethical companies appeared strong in the short run, but that prosperity proved to be a mirage, and those businesses have either failed or suffered severe financial setbacks. The case, as demonstrated by the author, is clear that ethical business is good business.

Read the important and essential book Essentials of Business Ethics: Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance by Denis Collins, Ph.D., and create an ethical company based on honesty, integrity, and fair treatment of all people both inside and outside the company. The time for ethical business is definitely now, just as it always has been as well. This book will ensure that your company, employees, and everyone connected to it are people who are ethical, and worthy of the trust of everyone.

Tags: Essentials of Business Ethics: Creating an Organization of High Integrity and Superior Performance, Denis Collins, Ph.D., business ethics, business book reviews.

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: Georgia-Pacific Conservation Initiative - Interview

Senior resource specialist within the Land Program with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Debbie Hammel was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about the conservation initiative established by forest products company Georgia-Pacific and a number of environmental organizations including NRDC.

Thanks to Debbie Hammel for her time, and for her informative and comprehensive responses to the questions. They are greatly appreciated.

Georgia-Pacific along with several leading conservation groups has announced that it will no longer purchase trees from Endangered Forests and Special Areas, or from new pine plantations established at the expense of natural hardwood forests. What does this announcement mean?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: This means increased protection for more natural hardwood forests throughout the Southeast. Georgia-Pacific will no longer purchase pine harvested from plantations that could replace more than 90 million designated acres of natural hardwood forests. By taking this action, the company is doing its part to decrease the conversion of natural hardwood forests into industrial pine plantations – a trend that has significantly harmed the ecological values of natural forests in the region. The company has also agreed not to purchase timber harvested from 11 endangered and special areas in the Mid-Atlantic Eco Region, increasing protection for some of the region's most prized natural places. This commitment will be expanded to all of the areas that Georgia Pacific purchases timber from over the next few years.

What groups were involved in this historic announcement? What was the background to arranging this conservation initiative between the many conservation groups and Georgia-Pacific?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: Georgia-Pacific worked in consultation with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Dogwood Alliance and Rainforest Action Network for more than six years to develop this policy. Georgia-Pacific approached the conservation groups for input and environmental expertise on how they could expand their forest policy to increase protection for natural forests.

How is Georgia-Pacific protecting such endangered species as the South's natural hardwood forests?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: Increased consumer demand for sustainably sourced products, paired with new mapping technologies, have allowed Georgia-Pacific and other companies to make ecologically sound decisions such as this without sacrificing profitability. Now more than ever, doing right by the environment makes good business sense.

How will this announcement protect hardwood forests and slow the conversion of forests to pine plantations?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: This announcement will provide an incentive to landowners to harvest timber sustainably. Likewise, it will not reward those landowners who choose to convert natural forests to pine plantations.



What are some of the environmental problems that are associated with pine plantations that will be reduced as a result of this historic initiative?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: There are myriad environmental problems associated with conversion of natural forests to pine plantations, including increased erosion, destroying habit for rare and endangered species, eliminating biodiversity, and -- perhaps most significantly -- eliminating vital carbon sinks and contributing to climate change.

Will this initiative help to protect endangered wildlife, improve habitat, and protect endangered wetlands?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: Pine plantations are not forests. Rather, they are industrial row crops, unable to sustain the rich natural life that thrives in natural forests. The South is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, to a great extent because of forest species. By keeping more natural forests intact, we protect the environmental integrity of the region, as well as the individual species -- many of them endangered -- which thrive there.

Does the conservation effort reflect a sea change in the corporate culture within Georgia-Pacific? How important is this shift in corporate culture and understanding of the environment for developing conservation programs with other corporations?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: By making this policy statement, Georgia-Pacific is committing to making company-wide changes to increase protections for forests. This shift in corporate thinking toward more environmentally significant practices is of great significance, and is indicative of the changing marketplace – incorporating sustainability into the business calculation is now seen by companies as a necessary part of being responsive to their customers’ needs, and therefore, their bottom line. We anticipate that we will see more and more companies making significant moves toward more environmentally sound practices, as market pressures increase.

What is the future of forestry environmental protection as a result of this historic conservation effort?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: As one of the largest purchasers of timber in the Southern U.S. – which is the largest timber producing region in the world – Georgia Pacific’s commitment will send a strong signal to the marketplace and have a significant impact on the practices currently employed in the region.

What is next for the Natural Resources Defense Council?

Debbie Hammel - NRDC: NRDC is committed to protecting critical forests in many different regions around the world. We depend on a variety of different tools to accomplish our work- from litigation to marketplace transformation. As we pursue the dual goals of forest protection and sustainable management, we will continue to look for opportunities to work with companies who share this same vision – in the U.S. South and more broadly.

**********************



Debbie Hammel - NRDC (photo left)

NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.

Since 1970 NRDC has been a strong advocate for, and defender of, the earth’s natural resources and public health. Over these nearly three decades NRDC has been a powerful catalyst for change and improvement of environmental policy in this country and internationally. NRDC’s vision is one of a sustainable world where human relationships with nature can be maintained indefinitely without causing the degradation of the biosphere. NRDC pursues this vision by designing policy solutions for genuine, lasting change—such as efficient energy use patterns and reduction of toxic wastes at the source—and putting them into place through advocacy, precedent-setting litigation, and direct negotiations with industry and government. NRDC has offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Beijing.

Debbie Hammel has been with NRDC for nine years and is a senior resource specialist within the Land Program. Based in the San Francisco office, she works on issues related to bioenergy and sustainable forest management. She has more than 25 years of experience in designing third-party environmental certification systems, and is an internationally recognized expert on sustainable forest management, supply chain management and chain-of-custody certification.

Over the last five years, Debbie has focused her energy on private sector initiatives – harnessing the power of the marketplace – to protect the forests of the southern U.S. - one of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world and threatened by a variety of diverse pressures including the international pulp-and-paper industry, mountaintop removal coal mining, climate change, subdivision developments and the emerging bioenergy industry.

She holds a degree in Conservation of Resource Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

Tags: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Georgia-Pacific, Debbie Hammel, business interviews.