Minnesota’s Voice of Retail to Change Its Brand
October 27, 2008
Lobbying Team
The Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) is an advocate on behalf of the retail industry at the Minnesota State Capitol. MnRA analyzes proposed laws and regulations and testifies before committees and agencies to guarantee that the retail voice is being heard. MnRA also lobbies and educates government and the general public about retail issues and the concerns and priorities of retail business in the marketplace.
Our lobbying team, following the standards set by our founders in 1952, closely follows issues that affect retailers’ bottom line, using the collective clout of our membership to make the necessary changes in the political system, which adds value and profitability to doing business in Minnesota.
Our president and chief lobbyist, Buzz Anderson, is a former legislator and leads our lobbying efforts in conjunction with one of Minnesota’s premier law firms. Together they present a strong lobbying force at the state capitol to battle the issues that affect retail business in Minnesota.
BRUCE (Buzz) W. ANDERSON
651.227.6631 - buzz@mnretail.org
Buzz has been President of the Minnesota Retailers Association since 2001. His role is to lead this dynamic trade organization in its role as the voice of retail at the state capitol and to act as spokesman with the state’s print and broadcast media.
During the 10 years prior to Buzz joining the organization, he was a lobbyist on behalf of a large energy company. Prior to that, he spent three years as a legislative representative with Minnesota’s Rural Electric Cooperatives.
The MnRA executive was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1977-1985. He represented an area of Southwest Minnesota that included the communities of Pipestone, Worthington and Slayton. During that period he provided leadership in the areas of workers compensation reform, small business regulatory relief, revising DWI law, education reform, updating child sexual abuse laws, rural business development and agricultural promotion.
Buzz is also a former high school social studies instructor, having taught senior high students for more than a decade at Slayton High School.
He has been married for 31 years to his wife Linda and they have three children.
Richard A. Forschler
612.766.7429 - rforschler@faegre.com
B.A., University of Minnesota (1974); J.D. Georgetown University (1977).
Rich Forschler has practiced as a member of Faegre & Benson's government relations team since he joined the firm as a partner in 1989.
Sonnie A. Elliott
612.766.7429 - selliott@faegre.com
B.A., University of Minnesota.
Sonnie Elliott has been a member of Faegre & Benson for nearly a decade. Prior to joining the firm, Sonnie served as Deputy Director for Cabinet Affairs in the office of Governor Arne Carlson. Sonnie advised the Governor on legislative issues and lobbied legislators on behalf of the Carlson administration. She has represented businesses, education, nonprofit organizations, and trade and professional associations before the Minnesota Legislature, state agencies, and local units of government.
Kathryn S. Hahne
612.766.7429 - khahne@faegre.com
B.S., Northwestern University (1971); J.D. William Mitchell College of Law (1999).
Kathy Hahne has represented trade and professional associations and local units of government since 1989. She served as a Director in Governor Perpich's office in 1985 and at the Department of Employment and Economic Development from 1986-1989. Kathy also served as the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture in 1991. She has practiced as a member of Faegre & Benson’s government relations team since 2002.