MBK_PiledriverMagazine_engl_v2.qxp_Layout 1 23.05.19 10:07 Seite 6
reinforcement
solutions
cage welding machines
for the production of round
and square reinforcements
for driven and bored piles
VSM
LSM
ASM
RSM
HEADQUARTER
mbk Maschinenbau GmbH
Friedrich-List-Str. 19
D-88353 Kisslegg / GERMANY
Phone: +49 7563 9131 0
info@mbk-kisslegg.de
www.mbk-kisslegg.de
SALES
EUCONTEC
Mark A. Kraft
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Phone: +1 214 400 7671
markakraft@icloud.com
relations departments at the federal, state and local levels,” said
Fiorentino. “These companies recognize the importance in participating
in the government process because of the negative impact
it could have on their companies if they don’t.”
He holds Uber up as an example of a company that’s used political
engagement to its advantage.
“In most local communities and U.S. states, their business
model was not allowed. But city by city, state by state the company
was able to rewrite those laws so they were beneficial to the company,”
said Fiorentino. It took widespread diligence on a micro level
to help them grow the business on a global scale. “But to get that
growth, they had to change local ordinances and state law so they
could operate the way they do today. Now their business model is
commonplace.”
On the other hand, he says, some industries miss an opportunity
to influence policy. He points to the pharmaceutical industry
as one example.
“I’m sure there are reasons certain drugs are very expensive,”
said Fiorentino. But if that’s the case, it’s not a sentiment widely
understood across the U.S. “You have to tell a story about why you
feel your position is correct.” That needs to be shared with customers,
employees and all stakeholders. “And then you can tell that
story to an elected official so they have a better understanding of
the issue.”
Side benefits of involvement
“Becoming active in the government process can be a marketing
tool,” said Fiorentino. That means developing relationships
with people. “Business owners involved in the government relations
process are active in their communities. They want to know
who their representatives are and who their senators are, who
decision-makers are in their state capitals and at the federal level.
That puts them in touch with other like-minded people who also
have businesses.” That, he says, puts them in touch with other
like-minded people who also have companies that can create
business synergies.
Can you be “too political”?
Supporting particular politicians and regulations may seem like
falling in line with one political party over another. Fiorentino
doesn’t see that as a problem, necessarily. There’s nothing to fear
when it comes to taking a political stand, he says, as long as you
clearly articulate your story.
“The owner of XYZ company may be a fervent democrat or
republican or whatever, but if they’re a smart business person,
they’ll ask: ‘What are the political objectives that are good for my
business, good for my employees, good for my community, and
how do I look at the politics around that?’” He adds that businesses
will want to support the politicians and issues that are best
for their business, employees and community and allow them to
prosper and thrive.
Employees, too, need to be engaged in the process.
“They should know about issues that are important to the
company, since those issues are also important to them. That’s
true of shareholders and customers, as well,” said Fiorentino.
“If issues lean one way or another in terms of a political party,
then so be it.”
BUSINESS
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