DID YOU KNOW? PT. 6
When Denny decided to leave, he and Tom sat down, discussed what opportunities and industries were out there and what kind of impact Denny could have. With Tom's assistance, they targeted healthcare, labor, finance, small business, and manufacturing organizations.
The interviewing process began, and by the end, Denny had six job offers on the table. One was from a trade association representing the recreational boating industry, the National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA). This one intrigued Denny the most because he felt it offered the most significant challenge and opportunity.
Why?
Because this was a time - like now - where the U.S. off-shored good-paying manufacturing jobs that offered Americans and their families a chance for upward social mobility.
Additionally, this industry had the best story out of the other roles. The recreational boating industry is a uniquely American manufacturing industry that supports 700,000 jobs. And when you go out on the water, nearly 95% of recreational boats you see are made in the United States.
Denny felt that he could make an impact by increasing their presence and helping tell their story on Capitol Hill, so he took that role.
Over four years working for the industry, he would travel to 42 states across the country, working as a PAC manager, lobbyist, and executive director. He would sit down with business executives, learn from them, listen to their concerns, and fight for them in D.C.
NMMA even made a fun video featuring Denny!
It's important to note that Denny is a Democrat, but almost everyone he came across in the industry was not - and he admired that the most (Seriously, we think he likes Republicans more than Dems cause he keeps saying how fun/great these guys were!).
What he said gets lost in discussing the concerns about business owners across our country is how much they care about improving their workers' lives. Most of these manufacturing companies are homegrown/family-owned, and they employ their neighbors and friends. A costly regulation could lead them to sell fewer products, leading them to cut jobs, and each executive dreaded that.
Denny has also repeated during policy and debate prep sessions that the role of government is not to get in the way of small businesses but to foster an environment for them to succeed. And you'll see that thought process throughout his economic policies.
But, we'll stop there and leave you with one tidbit: Because of this industry, Denny met his wife Nicole, but that's a story for another day.
After this journey, he made his way to NYC.
Stay Tuned for Pt. 7
Vote #dennyfornyc on 6/28th!