"I’ve never been a traditional lobbyist,” said Mark Merritt of his tenure in Washington and inside prominent trade associations. Merritt offers a slightly different take from the top of a trade group. He’s a little cynical, especially when he talks about how Washington really works, lobbying strategies that tank, and returning real value to his member companies. He speaks of pursuing policies that resonate across the political spectrum – rather than catering to certain members of Congress. And when hiring, he looks for team members who have experience in leadership and accountability inside a trade group, and not necessarily the staff title they’ve brought with them from… Read More