Duties: Position is accountable for directing and managing the staff and operations of the association to ensure successful accomplishment of strategic goals, on behalf of the Board of Directors and membership. In that roll I’m responsible for grasping and effectively managing the overall mechanics of the ACCA. Knowing how the trains run—how membership relates to meetings, marketing, committees, and communications, and how this all relates to the strategic plan, and how to hire (or fire) the… Show more Duties: Position is accountable for directing and managing the staff and operations of the association to ensure successful accomplishment of strategic goals, on behalf of the Board of Directors and membership. In that roll I’m responsible for grasping and effectively managing the overall mechanics of the ACCA. Knowing how the trains run—how membership relates to meetings, marketing, committees, and communications, and how this all relates to the strategic plan, and how to hire (or fire) the right people to make it all work. Specifically, I oversee our meetings, membership recruitment and retention, board development and corporate sponsors. This also includes the business functions of marketing, finance, human resources and IT. Show less

Barton James is the Interim President & CEO for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. ACCA is the national trade association furthering the interests of HVACR contracting businesses and the broader HVACR Industry. In his role he serves as the chief strategist, lobbyists, and spokesman. He is responsible for developing the long term strategic plan, initiatives, and partnerships for ACCA, working with the Board of Directors, members, and staff, consistent with the vision and… Show more Barton James is the Interim President & CEO for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. ACCA is the national trade association furthering the interests of HVACR contracting businesses and the broader HVACR Industry. In his role he serves as the chief strategist, lobbyists, and spokesman. He is responsible for developing the long term strategic plan, initiatives, and partnerships for ACCA, working with the Board of Directors, members, and staff, consistent with the vision and mission of the association. He directs the staff in the development of programs to implement and accomplish those strategic objectives, with a focus on increasing membership and developing services that attack members and holding activities that provide value to members.This also includes recruitment and retention of corporate sponsors. Prior to joining ACCA, James spent 13 years as the Executive Director of the National Mitigation Banking Association, Director of Advocacy for the Land Trust Alliance, and Director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited. During this time, he designed and implemented strategic plans, built political advocacy campaigns, and directed lobbying activities to establish, maintain, and improve relationships with key policy makers.James has also worked as a staffer with former Congressman, Jay Dickey (R-AR), political operative, and served as a political appointee in the Bush Administration at the United States Small Business Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture.James grew up and received his education in southern Arkansas. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife Danielle and twin boys Palmer & Preston. Show less

Responsible for representing ACCA on industry issues before Congress and regulatory agencies, responding to legislative inquiries from members, providing information and support material to members on regulatory compliance issues, coordinating grassroots outreach within the industry, and overseeing the operations of ACCA-PAC.

• Lead lobbyist for association. Provided policy analysis and strategic counsel in development of the association’s legislative agenda and issue advocacy proposals.• Managed the day-to-day operations of the 100+ member association, including overseeing the annual budget, directing seven vendors and consulting firms, drafting marketing materials, internal and external communications and building membership development programs.o Increased association membership by twelve percent in six… Show more • Lead lobbyist for association. Provided policy analysis and strategic counsel in development of the association’s legislative agenda and issue advocacy proposals.• Managed the day-to-day operations of the 100+ member association, including overseeing the annual budget, directing seven vendors and consulting firms, drafting marketing materials, internal and external communications and building membership development programs.o Increased association membership by twelve percent in six monthso Onboarded a new association management firm• Established the first strategic planning process, which realigned the mission and public policy goals to double the membership by 2017.• Coordinated and supported the Board of Directors to aid in execution of the organizational objectives established in the strategic plan, specifically shaping public policy advocacy and outreach plans, and directing the six member-led committees. Served as a member of the Board of Directors.• Acted as the official spokesperson for the association. Show less

• Designed and implemented $1.67 million annual advocacy outreach initiative to identify and build relationships with state and federal elected officials to be leveraged to influence favorable outcomes related to the LTA’s policy agenda.• Directed lobbying activities to establish, maintain and improve relationships with key policy makers and coalition members to elevate conservation issues. Lobbying successes include:o Secured 188 U.S. House and 24 U.S. Senate co-sponsors to make… Show more • Designed and implemented $1.67 million annual advocacy outreach initiative to identify and build relationships with state and federal elected officials to be leveraged to influence favorable outcomes related to the LTA’s policy agenda.• Directed lobbying activities to establish, maintain and improve relationships with key policy makers and coalition members to elevate conservation issues. Lobbying successes include:o Secured 188 U.S. House and 24 U.S. Senate co-sponsors to make permanent the enhanced conservation easement tax incentiveo Inclusion of the permanent incentive measure in President Obama’s 2015 budget and U.S. House Ways & Means Chairman Camp’s tax reform proposal• Added cost-share waiver amendment giving land trusts more flexibility to satisfy match requirements through landowner donations resulting in an estimated $75 million annual savings to LTA members• Served as a member of the LTA’s Senior Leadership Team responsible for setting the organization’s overall direction and budget. Also, served as liaison to the Board of Director’s Policy Committee, and advocacy liaison to the Leadership Council (top 50 national land trusts) and the National Council (advisory committee of major donors and foundation executives).• Co-led 2014 election cycle effort with the Trust for Public Land to secure dedicated conservation funding through nine local ballot measures. Tasks included identifying relationships with key local elected officials in potential localities and managing the polling data to determine viability.• Drafted and executed grasstops communications plan, including internal and external strategies, in support of priorities.• Led and supervised a six member government relations team. Hired and directed diverse groups of external lobbying, polling, direct mail, and economic consultants. Show less

• Drafted and executed federal and state strategic plans, including legislative, political and communication strategies, to ensure the organization’s public policy goals were passed into law.o 2012 Surface Transportation Extension Act accomplishments include:• Inclusion of the RESTORE Act - a precedent setting provision dedicating 80% of Clean Water Act fines from the 2010 oil disaster to the Gulf Coast for restoration• Co-led Vanishing Paradise, a grassroots and grasstops effort… Show more • Drafted and executed federal and state strategic plans, including legislative, political and communication strategies, to ensure the organization’s public policy goals were passed into law.o 2012 Surface Transportation Extension Act accomplishments include:• Inclusion of the RESTORE Act - a precedent setting provision dedicating 80% of Clean Water Act fines from the 2010 oil disaster to the Gulf Coast for restoration• Co-led Vanishing Paradise, a grassroots and grasstops effort that signed on 700 national, state and local hunting and fishing organizations and businesses to advocate for the RESTORE Act o 2008 Farm Bill accomplishments include:• An additional $4 billion in new funding for the Conservation Title• Renewal of two key waterfowl conservation programs totaling $2.3 billion• A new voluntary, $50 million state-administered program providing incentives to landowners to allow public hunting & fishing access• Led federal lobbying efforts on water resources, climate and energy policy. Additionally, acted as coalition representative and internal staff team organizer on same issues.• Secured $100K yearly advocacy grant to fund an educational program related to nationalizing Louisiana coastal restoration. Administered grant budget and ensured legislative and advocacy goals were met.• Managed the policy deliverables for research and advocacy partnerships totaling approximately $16M.• Maintained, activated, and directed a network of federal, state, and local legislative and political grassroots contacts.• Oversaw the development of earned and paid media activities to further public policy goals.• Acted as liaison with White House (CEQ, OMB, USDA, DOE, DOI, EPA, NOAA, CORPS) and other key conservation and sportsman groups and coalitions.• Designed grassroots strategies and communications on agriculture, tax, coastal loss, hunting, climate change, energy policy, clean water and other key policy initiatives. Show less

• Served as deputy to the Associate Administrator, Entrepreneurial Development, managing SBA’s technical assistance programs that provide information, training and business counseling, as well as national disaster assistance.• Negotiated with Congressional staff to authorize the continuation of Agency programs.• Organized, managed and led briefings for Congressional staff and Members of Congress.• Arranged and managed public events with senior agency officials and Members of… Show more • Served as deputy to the Associate Administrator, Entrepreneurial Development, managing SBA’s technical assistance programs that provide information, training and business counseling, as well as national disaster assistance.• Negotiated with Congressional staff to authorize the continuation of Agency programs.• Organized, managed and led briefings for Congressional staff and Members of Congress.• Arranged and managed public events with senior agency officials and Members of Congress.• Prepared official correspondence, proposed legislation, budgetary justifications and briefing materials for senior managers testifying before Congress and meeting with Members and staff.• Initiated and led discussions with SBA and external stakeholders on policies affecting Federal procurement and disaster assistance for small businesses.• Monitored and researched small business legislation and issues to identify political ramifications and vulnerabilities. Show less

• Developed campaign strategic plan, organization and message.• Prepared and implemented $500K budget.• Hired, supervised and directed all staff, volunteers and vendors.• Interacted, assisted and strategized with all local and statewide candidates.• Coordinated the get out the vote efforts, including absentee ballots, media buys, and poll workers.• Acted as media spokesman.

• Assisted the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Members of Congress, and their principle staff members with Risk Management issues.• Initiated, planned and facilitated meetings between Under Secretary, Agency Administrator, officials of the Department and Members of Congress and their staffs to resolve complex issues.• Researched emerging agricultural issues to identify the political ramifications for specific Members of Congress and concerned public and… Show more • Assisted the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, Members of Congress, and their principle staff members with Risk Management issues.• Initiated, planned and facilitated meetings between Under Secretary, Agency Administrator, officials of the Department and Members of Congress and their staffs to resolve complex issues.• Researched emerging agricultural issues to identify the political ramifications for specific Members of Congress and concerned public and private groups. Show less

• Provided opposition research for the Republican National Committee and Bush for President Campaign.• Researched, wrote, investigated, and edited media/campaign pieces by using Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, Internet, Library of Congress, FEC, and National Archives. The data collected went to such sources as, NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CNN’s “Inside Politics,” Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” MSNBC’s “Equal Time,” The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall… Show more • Provided opposition research for the Republican National Committee and Bush for President Campaign.• Researched, wrote, investigated, and edited media/campaign pieces by using Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, Internet, Library of Congress, FEC, and National Archives. The data collected went to such sources as, NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CNN’s “Inside Politics,” Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” MSNBC’s “Equal Time,” The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Associated Press.• Worked with the Bush/Cheney Campaign Manager for Arkansas and the Executive Director for Victory 2000 as an RNC representative to organize campaign efforts in two of the 13 targeted counties. Also coordinated two rallies in Arkansas, one of which had over 12,000 in attendance. Show less

• Served as the district/constituent liaison between Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.• Worked with constituents by educating and assisting farmers, foresters, and private landowners in district on federal regulations, programs and compliance issues.• Personal assistant to Rep. Dickey in his 1996 bid for Congress and campaign scheduler in 1998.