NFIB's Shawn Shouldice and Bruce Berke departing as state directors after two decades
Vermont Business Magazine After two decades of tireless advocacy for small businesses in northern New England, New Hampshire State Director Bruce Berke and Vermont State Director Shawn Shouldice will be departing from their posts at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The nation's leading small business advocacy association, NFIB announced the news today about the veteran lobbyists, familiar faces in the legislative halls and committee rooms of Concord and Montpelier, and a restructuring of the organization's efforts following their departures at the new year. The association also announced that its former Minnesota state director, John Reynolds, will assume a new, consolidated position directing its activities in both states.
"On behalf of our members and small business owners across New Hampshire and Vermont, we thank our longtime contract state directors Bruce Berke and Shawn Shouldice for their years of service to NFIB and Main Street businesses," said NFIB Senior State Director Christopher Carlozzi. "Bruce and Shawn are tireless advocates for the small business cause in New England and helped build strong programs in their respective states. These veteran lobbyists began their work with NFIB during the presidency of George W. Bush, and through war, economic boom and bust, a pandemic, an inflation crisis, six governors, and numerous swings in the political landscape, they have skillfully represented the voice of small businesses in countless policy fights in Concord and Montpelier. Our members are grateful for their many years of leadership and advocacy on taxes, regulation, and healthcare costs, and the numerous other challenges small owners face in starting, staffing, and growing their businesses."
NFIB's restructuring of the Northeast Region for State Government Relations on January 1st follows continued member gains in recent years, enabling the organization to dedicate additional resources to its advocacy efforts in New Hampshire and Vermont by creating a new, full-time position.
John Reynolds will pick up the organization's leadership as state director of both states following his effective tenure in Minnesota amidst similar economic and political challenges. As Minnesota state director, Reynolds led the opposition coalition fighting an onerous Paid Family and Medical Leave law and built a robust leadership council of its most active advocates while providing valuable programming to the more than 10,000 members in that state.
For more than 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
BOSTON, MA (Dec. 5, 2024) – NFIB
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