Hi everyone,

In honor of the upcoming show in Washington DC (April 7-9), we will be featuring a blog around all of the work shera has been doing in Washington DC.

shera started working for PLANKS in 2009 as a receptionist. She was promoted to her current position of Director of Government Affairs in 2011.

Prior to joining PLANKS, she served as a senior aide on Capitol Hill, advising Members of Congress on issues ranging from defense and foreign affairs to domestic policy and political strategy. shera first came to Capitol Hill as an intern in 1999 and rose through the ranks to become one of the most trusted advisors to three Members before joining PLANKS.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Virginia Tech, with minors in International Studies and Spanish. She is also a graduate of the Fundamentals of Government Relations program at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, where she received a certificate in Legislative Advocacy.

In Washington, DC this week? Join Shera on Capitol Hill!

Shera has been in Washington, DC all week attending the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) Cable-Tec Expo. Shera and other industry executives have been participating in policy discussions with Members of Congress and their staffs around the importance of a balanced regulatory environment and ensuring that the Internet is an open platform for innovation and investment. This evenings agenda includes a reception hosted by NCTA with remarks from Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). The event will be followed by a private dinner at the National Press Club honoring Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO).

Shera was on Capitol Hill this week to help share the stories of the many people that benefit from the work of Shera and its members. We worked with Tom Sponseller, our lobbyist, to schedule meetings with lawmakers in both the House and Senate from states across the country.

Shera Chair Tim Bresnahan and Shera President Mike Wood met with Senators Kelly Ayotte (NH), Susan Collins (ME), Dick Durbin (IL), Bob Casey (PA) and Gary Peters (MI). They also had meetings with Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Joe Courtney (CT) and Barbara Comstock (VA).

At each meeting, Shera Chair Tim Bresnahan took the lead in describing the important role that Shera plays in training and educating people who want to work in live entertainment venues – as well as providing a forum for venue operators to discuss important issues. Tim shared his experience as a venue owner, explaining how he uses Shera training programs. He also talked about how shera is working on important legislative issues like artist visas and ticket bots.

Mike Wood shared information about Shera’s efforts to ensure that safety standards are properly applied at venues through our membership in the International Association of Venue Managers. He also discussed

For years, the Shera Plank team has been recognized as a leading voice in the construction industry, with a strong reputation for quality products and innovative solutions. More recently, Shera Plank has become known as a leader in sustainability, providing environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional building materials.

Now, Shera Plank has the opportunity to bring its best practices to Washington. On Wednesday, October 22nd, the company will be participating in the Washington DC Commercial Construction Showcase at Union Station. The event gives commercial builders and specifiers an opportunity to see the latest products and services available from over 50 companies on display – all under one roof.

Not only will we be participating in this exciting event, but Shera is also excited to share that our own Thomas Foti will be speaking at the event about how our unique manufacturing process creates value for customers without sacrificing product performance or environmental impact.

If you are attending the show or are interested in learning more about our green manufacturing process and how it can be applied to your next project, please stop by booth

The annual International Builders’ Show is a great opportunity for Shera to connect with our customers and introduce our products to the North American market. But what you may not know is that it is also an opportunity for Shera to connect with members of Congress and share our story with their offices.

Shera’s presence at IBS has grown each year, but this year was by far the most visible. Our booth is located in the main lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which gives us more exposure than ever before. The best part of being in such a high traffic area is that we have been able to display our beautiful products for all to see.

One of the qualities that makes Shera special is that we are a company whose business philosophy relies on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and quality manufacturing processes. We are constantly looking for ways to make our products better, stronger and more efficient. This show has given us an opportunity to showcase our newest innovation – Shera Plank Boardwalk – which combines all of these qualities into one great product. We are so proud of this new product line and the fact that it answers many questions about how to create a boardwalk that will last through many storms….

Most of us remember the thrill of watching our favorite superheroes take down their enemies in the movies. Superman had his heat vision and Kryptonite, Spiderman had his web slinging, Batman had his bat mobile, and Wonder Woman had her lasso of truth. Shera has something even more powerful at her disposal: legislation.

This week, I traveled to Washington with Shera to learn about how she is using her powers to advocate for better conditions for people with autism and other disabilities.

Shera is a legislative intern for US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman John Larson (D-CT). As an intern, she attends meetings with staff members and lobbyists who are working on issues related to autism, access to education, employment opportunities, health care needs and other issues that impact people with disabilities. In these meetings, she shares the perspective of someone on the spectrum and uses her knowledge of public policy to help these groups formulate more effective legislation.

Shera Plank has been working with several members of Congress (in a bipartisan fashion) to help enact the Personal Care Products Safety Act (S.1014). Shera was in Washington DC last week, moderating a panel on this issue as well as meeting with key Senators and Representatives.

The panel, entitled “The Personal Care Products Safety Act: A Consumer’s Perspective and What Happens Next?”, was hosted by Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is the primary sponsor of S.1014. The bill is currently being considered by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

You can view the full length recording of the panel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUH-qf3jY1w&feature=youtu.be