After a lengthy nationwide search, E2 has a new Director of Advocacy.
Grant Carlisle, pictured right, will join E2 in our Washington D.C. office beginning July 13. He will be responsible for E2’s federal advocacy and also will help oversee and direct our state advocacy efforts, working closely with E2 advocates in the Eastern States, Midwest, Rockies, Pacific Northwest and California.
Grant replaces Marc Boom, who nearly five years ago became E2’s first-ever staffer in Washington and helped shape and develop our advocacy efforts with aplomb – including organizing our DC advocacy trips; researching and writing member sign-on letters; and more recently, helping oversee our recent ramp-up in state advocacy work on the Clean Power Plan and other issues. Marc in June was named Associate Director of Government Affairs for NRDC – a reflection of his great work with E2 and with NRDC’s government affairs team over the years. Fortunately, Marc will still work closely with E2 in his new role.
Grant comes to E2 with experience working with businesses, members of Congress and nonprofits. Before joining E2, he was a government affairs specialist with the lobby and law firm of K&L Gates, where he handled issues including energy, environment, climate, natural resources, agriculture, transportation, defense and technology. Among his duties at K&L Gates was helping oversee the federal advocacy efforts of CERES, the business group that – like E2 – works on environmental and sustainability issues.
From 2010-2013, Grant worked for U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, who as co-chair of the Blue Dog Caucus sought to bridge party lines in the U.S. House. While working for Rep. Shuler, Grant focused on energy, natural resources, agriculture and other issues.
He also worked as a project liaison for The Majority Group, a boutique lobby firm in Washington, shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina-Asheville in 2008.
What’s Grant like? A sampling of the superlatives from those who have worked with him gives some indication:
“Really, really smart – a real quick study.”
“Just a terrific professional. Can’t say enough nice things about him.”
“He can take complicated issues and distill them into easy-to-understand language.”
“Definitely results-oriented. Will keep at it until he gets it done.”
In other words, all the things E2 needs in a Director of Advocacy.
– Bob Keefe is E2's Executive Director.