Dustin Mcdonald Email & Phone Number

Irvine, CA, US

Orange County, California, United States

• Manage statewide business development opportunities of domestic and international companies establishing or expanding operations, creating or retaining jobs, and increasing economic stability within the state.
• Collaborate with economic development organizations, business innovation leaders, utility providers and local governments to plan resilient economic strategies across a 122-city, two-county, 13 million-population region.
• Link key growth industries (e.g. semiconductor, bio-tech, alternative energy and related infrastructure, vehicle manufacturing, aerospace and space tech, and circular economy) with state and local incentives, support.
• Developed dynamic statewide pilot program to offer free workforce training to employers.

Irvine, California, United States

• Provided cannabis policy solutions to state and local governments and the commercial cannabis industry across public health and safety, economic development, revenue and tax, zoning and land use.
• Helped associations of state and local government improve cannabis policy planning and outcomes utilizing analysis of policy deployed since 2014.
• Assisted private sector, non-profit and government clients organize innovative, multi-dimensional policy and advocacy strategies to achieve their federal, state and local government relations objectives.

Irvine, California, United States

• Increased association revenue through creation of advisory committee of physicians, patients and medical cannabis companies collaborating to improve federal and state cannabis reforms.
• Built strategy and messaging for 2021 campaign educating new White House departments and agencies on options to repair federal cannabis policies affecting patients, covering employment, housing, health insurance and.
• Led federal, state and local advocacy on cannabis policy reform issues, including financial services, licensed retail access, product safety and affordability, patient rights and social equity.
• Drafted federal legislation, testimony for state legislative and regulatory hearings, State of the States reports and monthly newsletters articles, calls to action, articles for third-party publications, and content.
• Led webinars and digital events sharing information about federal and state cannabis policy trends, emerging cannabis science and research, and served as the face of ASA in third-party webinars and digital events.

Irvine, CA

• Directed U.S. and international government relations and public affairs strategies to improve cannabis policy and market outcomes for governments, communities and licensed cannabis businesses.
• Built and led international and U.S. policy and government relations team, and oversaw department budget, contract lobbying and public affairs teams, and political action committees, while meeting key performance.
• Served as primary public-facing representative of the company, organizing and leading conference and panel discussions, and interacting with international and U.S. federal, state and local lawmakers and regulators.
• Led development of a suite of policy advisory documents to educate governments on cannabis policy covering revenue and tax, public health and safety, model ordinances, national overviews, and analysis of policy reforms.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Served as a member of management team, developed the organization’s priorities, strategic plan, multi-million-dollar annual budget, annual conference, training activities and general marketing efforts.
• Ran all federal advocacy and public affairs, steering key campaigns to include successful efforts to maintain the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.
• Wrote articles and issue briefs for the association’s numerous publications, website and municipal market press outlets, presented at national and state conferences and congressional panels, and ran webinars and.
• Drafted comment letters outlining GFOA’s priorities and concerns with legislation, regulations, testimony for GFOA witnesses at federal department, agency and congressional hearings, and advocacy materials.
• Managed Federal Liaison Center’s staff, including hiring, supervision, training and evaluation of all Center staff, and organized operational efficiencies to improve performance, reduce costs and increase effectiveness.

Washington, DC

• Provided federal advocacy services to a diverse group of clients, covering local governments, housing and community development authorities, transportation providers, public health and safety agencies, and.
• Helped secure key federal policy and millions of dollars in appropriations resources to advance key client projects ranging from community/economic development, housing, public health and safety, water infrastructure.
• Developed all necessary client materials, including issue papers, updates, advocacy letters, op-eds and articles for client publications, as well as talking points for engagement with Congress and administrations.
• Organized events and forums on key federal issues for client annual visits and conferences in Washington, DC.

Washington, DC

Provided federal legislative and regulatory advocacy services for local governments, housing and transportation agencies and Manufacturing Extension Partnership stakeholders covering economic and community development, multi-modal transportation and public infrastructure (including water and wastewater), housing, workforce development, energy conservation.