Washington Update

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Time: 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM MT / 09:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenters: Brian Cavey, VP of Legislative Affairs, NRECA, Lisa Van Doren, VP and Chief of Staff Government Affairs , NCFC
Moderator:
Learning Objectives:
A discussion around top policy issues for farmer co-ops.
Field of Study: Regulatory Ethics
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.
  Order Recording

Course Description

This CLN will be a discussion around top policy issues for farmer co-ops – such as farm bill implementation updates, environmental regulation, immigration and labor, and nutrition – and what is currently happening on those issues in Washington, D.C. This session will provide updates to the June 2014 CLN.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Brian Cavey, VP of Legislative Affairs, NRECA

Brian Cavey is the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Mr. Cavey is an accomplished legislative operative with more than 18 years experience on Capitol Hill, in the state capitols and in corporate government affairs and trade association management. Before joining NRECA, Cavey was a lobbyist with the Stanton Park Group. There he represented a diverse group of corporate, government and education clients on issues including energy, telecommunications, healthcare, education and transportation policy. Previously, he served as Director of Government Affairs for Washington Group International, a Fortune 500 engineering and construction management corporation. There, he represented the Infrastructure and Mining business units in securing federal authorizations and spending appropriations for transportation and water development projects across the nation and helped obtain necessary permits to facilitate mining operations in Mexico. In that capacity, he also served as Treasurer for the company’s Political Action Committee, more than tripling its receipts during his tenure. Before that, Mr. Cavey served as Executive Vice President of the Montana Motor Carriers, spearheading the enactment of state highway speed limits and reductions in licensing fees by the Montana Legislature. He was also instrumental in a regional effort by trucking associations to secure passage by the Western Governors Association of a resolution seeking harmonization of truck size and weight requirements. Mr. Cavey began his Washington career as a Legislative Assistant to Sen. Max Baucus (DMT), where he advised the Senator on a range of issues including agriculture, small business issues, federal land use, clean water, federal nutrition programs and reform of the Food and Drug Administration and telecommunications policy. In 1996, he successfully guided Sen. Baucus’s priorities through enactment in both the Freedom to Farm Act and the Telecommunications Reform Act. He was promoted to become Sen. Baucus’ Legislative Director, then Acting Chief of Staff. Before going into politics, Mr. Cavey was an educator, serving as Assistant to the Dean of the Montana State University College of Agriculture, where he was liaison between students and University Academic Committees. In that capacity, he initiated a recruitment program that reversed an enrollment decline in the College of Agriculture and helped develop matriculation agreements with Junior Colleges in the region to help simplify graduation requirements for transfer students. For five years before joining the College of Agriculture, he taught agriculture, biology and mechanics to junior and senior high school students in two rural Montana communities. A native of Missoula, Montana, Mr. Cavey graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agriculture Education from Montana State University. He lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Beth and his children Augustina and Michael. Lisa Van Doren serves as Vice President and Chief of Staff for Government Affairs at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC). In this capacity, she oversees NCFC’s government affairs staff and directs NCFC’s public policy agenda. She serves as NCFC liaison to the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus and coordinates the activities of the NCFC Government Affairs Committee. NCFC is a national association representing America’s farmer cooperatives. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose members include a majority of our nation’s more than 2 million farmers, ranchers and growers. These farmer cooperative businesses handle, process, and market agricultural commodities and related products; furnish farm supplies; and provide credit and associated financial services. Earnings from these activities are returned to their members on a patronage basis. Farmer cooperatives also provide jobs for nearly 250,000 Americans, many in rural areas, with a combined payroll of over $8 billion. Prior to joining NCFC in March 2008, Lisa served as Director of Public Policy for the National Corn Growers Association. She also served as Professional Staff for the House Committee on Agriculture. There she worked on the 2002 Farm Bill and managed numerous key legislative issues including food safety inspection programs, crop protection regulations, marketing orders for fruits and vegetables, energy, clean air, nursery crops and forest management. Lisa also worked in the personal office of former Rep. Charles Stenholm (D-TX) as a legislative assistant and was an intern for former Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX). A native Texan, Lisa was raised in Hondo, about 45 miles west of San Antonio, on a beef cattle and horse ranch. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development in 1998. Lisa also earned a Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University in 2002.

Presenter: Lisa Van Doren, VP and Chief of Staff Government Affairs , NCFC

Cost
$56.00 for NSAC Members / $70.00 for Non-Members

Delivery System

• All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
• Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
• Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
• All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
• There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Registration

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

Refund Policy

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Additional Information

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.