If You’re Not at
the Table, You’re
on the Menu
T
by Elizabeth Lowman
im Ehlert was recently hired as director of government
relations and public policy for Buffalo Wild Wings®,
and he brought an extensive resume with him. Prior to
joining the brand, he was a government affairs manager
for Target, where he was responsible for managing state and
local government relations within the Midwest region. He has
advocated nationally for family business owners and spent
several years in both federal and state government affairs at the
National Restaurant Association. He has also held a variety of
legislative-related positions in the state of Montana.
Ehlert has always had an interest in politics but it wasn’t
until he met a former member of Congress and a chief of staff
for a U.S. Senator that he became hooked. “They connected
me with my first job as an intern for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus,”
Ehlert explained. “This gave me a view of the entire political
process.” That experience inspired Ehlert to change his
major at the University of Montana from business to political
2014 Issue 3 |
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Getting To Know
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science and go on to complete four
additional internships during his college career. After seeing
the process from a variety of angles, he decided to engage at a
higher level and turn it into a career.
Ehlert acknowledges that dealing with public policy issues
can be a love-hate relationship. “My favorite part of government relations is the variety of people I get to work with
throughout the year. From individuals throughout the corporate
team to franchisees across the country, I get to interact with
people that make our brand what it is today.”
However, he says, “I am not thrilled with the extreme partisanship that can become a factor in the policy making process
across the country. It seems as though the days of compromise
are few and far between.” That said, he is always trying to find
ways to advance key issues, and admits sometimes that requires
a bit of give and take. “With very little middle ground found in
congressional, state and local legislative policy discussions, it
is becoming more difficult to move the needle. This is why it’s
crucial to engage in grassroots activity and support pro-restaurant in \