Lobbying for Small Business with Jim Farrell

The Discussion LOBBYING - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly We all know a little about LOBBYING. It is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by the government by individuals or more usually by lobby groups; it includes all attempts to influence legislators and officials, whether by other legislators, constituents, or organized groups. But how can SMALL BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM LOBBYING, how can solopreneurs benefit from LOBBYING AND HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED WITH LOBBYISTS IN YOUR BUSINESS SPACE? Jim will take us through these and other really interesting aspects of this highly influential aspect of our democracy. Jim’s Bio Jim FARRELL WAS RAISED ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAINT PAUL IN A BLUE COLLAR NEIGHBORHOOD MADE UP OF POST-war ramblers and expansion bungalows built on 50’ wide city lots. He graduated from Hill-Murray High School in 1978 when the annual tuition was just shy of $300. His father was the sole breadwinner working as a railroad engineer while his mother stayed at home to raise Jim and his younger sister. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota. The difficult job market caused by the recession of the early 1980’s stirred Jim to become a member of Vice President Mondale’s field staff during the Presidential campaign of 1984. With an economy still digging its way out of negative growth, Jim entered William Mitchell College of Law where he earned a Juris Doctorate. The sudden death of Jim’s father resulted in his mother struggling to obtain access to affordable health care at age 54. In an effort to focus political attention on the issue of health care access, Jim ran and won a seat among the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives where he served for 4 terms. Jim has also practiced law as an Assistant Ramsey County Public Defender, an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an Executive Director of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association.