1. Telling Your ESOP Story to Congress
TEA Presenters introduce themselves and then introduce guest speaker.
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Mike Shuey - Moderator
Restek Corporation
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Ryan Ball - Speaker
Vice President – Gov’t
IA/NE ESOP Association
Katie Brown
Senior Legislative Assistant
Congressman Thompson
PA 5th District

2. Preface
Please fill out a session evaluation form and drop it off at the table outside of this room Your feedback on topics and presenters is important and will be used to develop subsequent TEA programs Take a moment to silence your cell phone Remember to get your CPE sheet stamped before and after each session for CPE credit

3. Today’s agenda Why is it important? Contacting your representatives.
Scheduling a company visit.
Visiting your representatives on Capitol Hill.
Goals and follow-up.
Representative’s view of advocacy.
Additional resources.
Review the agenda. State this presentation is simply a tool to help with reaching out to your representatives and materials don’t have to be copied exactly to be successful.

4. Why is it important? Builds trust between rep and the ESOP community.
Establishes working relationship with ESOP company and representatives.
Builds Pro-ESOP support.
Co-sponsorship to current legislation.
It shows employees the rep cares about your company.
It shows representatives they have your support (votes).
Add example’s of yesterday’s hill visits and how they went.

5. Contacting Your Representatives
(Enter zip code in the upper right corner of the website) (Choose state in the upper right corner of the website) (Search current ESOP legislation by keyword or bill # and find out if your representative is a cosponsor, supporter of ESOP’s)
Click on links. Show audience how to navigate to contact info. Go to house web site first and put zip code to show multiple choices. Ask someone from a different state to give zip code for another example. Go to Senate web site next and choose PA and then another state in the audience. Show audience the different sections to submit info and gather info. It’s a good idea to sign up for e-newsletter as well.

6. Start local and develop relationships
Developing relationships with local, in-district staff will pay off in the long run.
Attend local town hall, fundraiser, hearing.
If able, ask question about the importance of locally owned. companies and employee owned companies to your local economy.
Meet the staff person that is with the Congressional Representative.
Request follow up call / meeting on ESOP agenda w/ local staff.
Work through local staff when coming to DC to help advance your conversations.

7. State Legislators and Elected Officials
State legislators are easier to meet with, less formal and you don’t need to travel to DC to do it.
Develop a State House lobby day at your state capitol.
Discuss importance of ESOP’s with as many legislators as possible, focus on key tax/finance committee members.
Mention legislative work to Congressional Reps.
Work with local State Legislators / Governor.
Work with your local legislator to contact Governors office and key members of congress.
Develop draft of a “Dear Colleague” letter from state officials to DC representatives in support of ESOP’s.

8. Contacting Your Representatives
Personal phone call.
Web site submission form.
Attend a local town hall or event.
Explain why you’re contacting their office:
Invitation for a company visit.
In-person office visit at DC office.
Purpose of your meeting:
Tell your ESOP story.
Review current Pro-ESOP legislation that may affect your company.
Discuss tax reform.
Follow-up with .
Discussion documents: one-pager about your company, bills that effect ESOPs, any documents about ESOPs: employee ownership foundation report. Attach referenced documents in thank you .

9. Scheduling a Company Visit

10. Scheduling a Company Visit
Reaching out to their office:
Be patient and persistent.
Accept any available opening.
A field representative may be sent instead of the official House/Senate rep.
materials to their office for visitors:
Complete agenda for visit.
Company one-pager.
All Pro-ESOP related materials.
Follow company protocol when planning visit.
Follow-up about once a month at the very least. It’s very difficult to schedule around representative. If they suggest time, take it!!!

11. Scheduling a Company Visit
Day of visit:
Send announcement to company.
Meeting attendees should include:
President & leadership.
Trustees and communications team.
Provide tour of company.
If possible, provide “hands-on” experience for visitor(s).
Conduct employee meet and greet.
Schedule time at end for group discussion of ESOP’s among leadership
Have employee tell why ESOP is important to them.
Take a lot pictures for, internal use, local media, TEA, etc.
Send follow-up “Thank you”.
ESOP discussion points - current bills in house or senate, tax reform, possible DOL issues.
Offer “swag bags” if available upon departure.

12. Scheduling a Company Visit
PA Congressman Glenn Thompson and PA Senator Pat Toomey visit Restek

13. Scheduling a Company Visit

14. Visiting Capitol Hill Reaching out to their office:
Be patient and persistent.
Accept any available opening.
A staffer may be appointed instead of the official House/Senate rep.
Pre-pare hand-out materials:
Complete agenda for visit.
Company one-pager.
All Pro-ESOP related materials.
Tax reform.
Follow-up about once a month at the very least. It’s very difficult to schedule around representative. If they suggest time, take it!!!

15. Visiting Capitol Hill - Logistics
Capitol Hill is a busy and many times confusing place if you are unfamiliar with the area and/or process.
If working to setup meetings with entire state congressional delegation:
Identify which HOB your Congressional reps office is located in.
SOB’s and HOB’s are on opposite sides of the capitol and a minute walk apart.
Schedule office visits to keep meetings on the House side, then move to Senate after to avoid shuttling back and forth.
Wear comfy shoes.
House Longworth Building and Senate Hart Building have best lunch/snack options.
Everyone you will meet with will be wearing suit/tie, so a sport coat is usually good practice, tie optional.

16. Visiting Capitol Hill
IA ESOP Association meets Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

17. Visiting Capitol Hill Senator Casey’s office
Company representatives have been trustees and EOCT members from Restek. It’s a good idea to bring a technical representative with you to cover all aspects of your ESOP. We brought our company valuator.
Senator Casey’s office
Congressman Barletta’s office

18. Goals and Follow-up Goals: Better understanding of ESOP and company.
How the ESOP community impacts local and national economy.
Better working relationship.
Pro-ESOP support.
Co-sponsorship with current bills.
Follow-up:
Thank you s and letters.
Stay in-contact to gain co-sponsorship to current bill.
Invite them to your company.
Work to follow up with local in-district staff to help with in-person visit and follow up with appropriate DC staff.

19. Representative’s View of Advocacy
Please welcome Katie Brown.
Introduce

20. Additional Resources
J. Michael Keeling, CAE, President - ESOP Association
Michael Keeling YouTube
TEA Advocacy Kit
TEA Congressional Visit Kit
TEA ESOP Advocates in House and Senate
TEA PA/DE Advocacy

21. Questions?
Ryan Ball VGM Market Data Iowa/Nebraska Chapter Officer Mike Shuey Restek Corporation PA/DE Chapter Officer
We’ll take business cards if you would like materials in packet ed to you.

22. Postscript
Please fill out a session evaluation form and drop it off at the table outside of this room Your feedback on topics and presenters is important and will be used to develop subsequent TEA programs Remember to get your CPE sheet stamped before and after each session for CPE credit