Michele Johnson Email and Phone Number

Provide legislative analysis, advice, and advocacy. Develop, recommend, and provide legislative strategy. Prepare testimony, talking points, and proposals. Deliver presentations. Develop and moderate programming for task forces, committees, and events. Coordinate with colleagues in regulatory affairs and state government affairs. Develop and maintain relationships with Senators and Representatives, key staff, and external coalition partners. Serve as primary contact with Senate Democratic offices and leadership. Communicate with key federal policymakers and provide expertise related to payments, data security, housing finance reform, patent reform, mortgage policy, credit union member business lending, bankruptcy reform, student lending, privacy notification reform, risk-based capital proposals, and regulatory relief. Represent credit unions at PAC events and national conventions. Recognized by Capitol Hill and the financial services industry as a leading advocate for payments issues (e.g., interchange, debit cards, credit cards, EMV, and data security): Developed key messaging for the Durbin Amendment, the Tester/Corker bill, and House letters on debit interchange, invited to brief policymakers and serve on panels for congressional staff briefings and industry events, provided strategy in grassroots campaign, and worked with the media. Represent credit union interests on a payments security task force and on an industry payments council. Managed patent reform witness preparation and testimony for a credit union CEO appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee (December 2013). Developed and implemented Senate advocacy plan on member business lending (MBL): Included lobbying and grassroots campaign focused on small businesses and job creation, coalition building, extensive media coverage, hearings, and Administration support. Resulted in the introduction of Senate bill in the 111th Congress (S. 2919), the 112th Congress (S. 509), and 113th Congress (S. 968).

Directed government affairs in 23 states, managed special projects, and developed relationships with elected officials, trade association representatives, and internal contacts. Developed Public Affairs department’s “Annual Report” scorecard for business line leaders.Accomplishments:• Implemented strategy for increased involvement with state attorneys general: Directed effort to engage in meaningful dialogue on emerging issues with state attorneys general. Steps included informational meetings with state attorneys general and key staff, managing national consultants, and working with CWAG, DAGA, NAAG, and RAGA.• Participated in the development of the national mortgage originator registration system: Represented the company’s interests in negotiations with state regulators, AARMR, and CSBS during design and creation of registration system.

Directed government affairs program for national energy trade association, worked with congressional offices and federal agencies, NHA members, and advocacy coalitions. Developed relationships with congressional committee staff and industry representatives.Accomplishments:• Directed successful strategic planning session and increased visibility in appropriations process.

Produced survey of state laws regarding political activity, provided strategic insight, and drafted materials for grassroots project for national political and lobbying firm.

Directed government relations program for country’s eighth largest bank, managed staff, provided legislative analysis, advice, and advocacy, and managed employee political action committee. Prepared testimony and witness for congressional hearing.Accomplishments:• Advanced the interests of the card payment system business line: Developed federal legislative strategy and advocacy in response to challenges to interchange and the purchase and travel credit cards used by employees of federal agencies.• Developed department policies and procedures manual and department web site.

Provided leadership in developing strategy and implementing business planning model. Focus included electric generation, transmission, and distribution, nuclear energy, natural gas, and corporate merger. Accomplishments:• Initiated and conducted meetings with more than 500 employees to discuss developments within the industry. Created and delivered the company’s message regarding supply reliability and restructuring to more than 2,500 corporate customers and community leaders during the external campaign.

Represented investor-owned utility on federal legislative level and promoted to serve as project director for business line at corporate headquarters. Built relationships with Senators, Representatives, and their staff and communicated with community leaders, major customers, and all levels of management and employees. Accomplishments: • Directed office during leadership transition and demonstrated meaningful legislative progress in nuclear and transmission issues. Recognized for responsive customer service to company’s business line leaders.

United States Senator Kent Conrad (D - North Dakota). Prepared legislation, speeches, and memoranda, analyzed regulatory and legislative proposals, managed correspondence staff, and communicated with constituents, lobbyists, advocacy groups, trade associations, and state and federal government officials and staff. Accomplishments: • Served as the Senator’s representative in Grand Forks following the 1997 flood disaster and worked with federal agencies and community leaders to facilitate recovery (see Congressional Record, 105th Congress, First Session, Volume 143, Number 159, Page S12642, November 13, 1997).• Negotiated with committee staff and conferees to improve the agricultural credit title of the 1996 Farm Bill. Served as an effective advocate for rural and economic development initiatives and various agricultural issues.

Provided general counsel and litigation services to state agencies. Wrote briefs, memoranda, and contracts, negotiated terms with interested parties, and counseled agency leaders. Portfolio included agriculture, transportation, natural resources, and human services.Accomplishments:• Represented the State in over a dozen appellate cases before the North Dakota Supreme Court.