How SAF Will Keep Its Lobbying Power

Chris Beytes

When Lin Schmale retired from the Society of American Florists, it left a gap in SAF’s industry advocacy capabilities in Washington, D.C. Lin spent more than 20 years of her career effectively representing the floriculture industry on Capitol Hill and at USDA, EPA, the International Trade Commission and other agencies.

To help ensure the interests of SAF members continue to be addressed, SAF has partnered with Cornerstone Government Affairs, a public affairs firm specializing in government relations, strategic consulting and advocacy. It has a team of more than 50 senior professionals on staff, including Joe Bischoff, who spent three years with ANLA as Director of Government Relations. His team will include colleagues Hunt Shipman, Alice Gomez and Jeremy Witte.

“Cornerstone’s strategic vision and experience in legislative advice, politics and government issues will support SAF’s efforts to represent our growers and address their future challenges,” said SAF COO Drew Gruenburg, who oversees SAF’s government relations efforts.

SAF’s immediate focus will be on advocacy to increase research funding for the floriculture industry, through the Farm Bill and the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative; improve access to crop protection and production tools; and address import regulation challenges. Cornerstone will also advise SAF on regulatory issues affecting immigration.

In addition, Cornerstone will represent SAF on USDA-APHIS regulatory issues, including customs and border patrol, pests and diseases, and support efforts to innovate and sustain crop production tools, including biotechnology.

At the same time, Shawn McBurney, SAF’s Senior Director of Government Relations, will continue to represent the floral industry on Capitol Hill on issues that impact the broader SAF membership, such as health care, immigration reform, taxes, minimum wage, overtime and other labor issues. GT