In this week's blog, Michael Cmar of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium lets us in on his role as Government Affairs Manager and how he works to represent the Zoo's interests in politics.

Describe your role at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

I am the Government Affairs Manager at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. This was a newly-created role born out of a recognized need to make certain the Zoo’s interests are represented with our elected officials. Like so many others in the non-profit community, we have had to dramatically reduce the size of our staff over the last few months, so I have taken on additional responsibilities in our development department. Specifically speaking to my role as it pertains to Government Affairs, I help to craft the legislative policy here at the Zoo. That means I search and review proposed legislation and ordinances in the municipal, county, state, and federal governments. Additionally, I write and administer grants from state and federal sources. Finally, I forge relationships between the Zoo and governmental stakeholders and make certain our elected officials understand our value proposition and why Zoos matter.

What are the biggest issues that you address in this role?

Obviously, the biggest concern we have at the Zoo is the health and welfare of not only our animals, but of their relatives in the wild, and making certain we do our part to stop the extinction of animals. Zoos play a critical role in the propagation of species, as well as connecting our visitors to the wonders of wildlife and specific actions they can take at home to preserve habitats and species. Every single day, an astonishing 150 species of animals go extinct in our world. Without Zoos, that number would be even higher.

How has your role changed to ramp up for the election?

My role hasn’t changed too much, despite this being a major election year. My job remains centered on building relationships and making sure our message gets to the right people. That being said, I love elections. I love reading about candidates, studying their policies, and watching their ads (that is not a joke). Since we are a non-profit and not a political organization, I only watch as an observer. Even though most people are paying attention to the presidential election, Congressional representatives, PA State Representatives, and half of the PA State Senate are running to be elected this November. Those are the races that really have an impact on the day to day operations of our Zoo.

How will your role change after the outcome of this year’s election?

Honestly, probably not much regardless of the results. My job is to build relationships with elected officials, and change is a fairly constant concept in politics. When new people are elected, I will connect with them. It is important that I am able to effectively articulate the Zoo’s impact not only to those of us in southwestern Pennsylvania, but across the globe. Whether it’s our economic benefits, educational outreach, family entertainment, or positive impact on wildlife conservation, we offer something that resonates with virtually every stakeholder.

If an organization doesn’t have someone filling a role like yours, what do you suggest?

I suggest reaching out to your local elected officials and request a meeting with them. Having served in such a capacity myself, I can say for certain that not only do you want to get to know these people, but they want to get to know you as well. I worked for a State Senator and we fielded calls concerning anything and everything. Knowing more about local organizations helped me inform constituents and help them with issues they might have.