Did you know the Burning Man festival has a lobbyist? We are joined today by Rich Gold, who is a Partner at Holland & Knight, one of the largest lobbying firms in D.C., where he serves as a leader of the firm’s Public Policy and Regulation team. Rich shares his experience working for unique clients like Burning Man, and many more. Rich manages the firm's national lobbying team which has over 85 members, bringing in annual revenue of $25-30 million. Rich grew up in New York and New Hampshire He attended The University of Vermont for a B.S. in Business and obtained his J.D. from George Washington University. He served as a Staff Attorney, and later Special Assistant to Carol Browner at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rich served as a Special Assistant for Environmental Affairs to US Senator Lloyd Bentsen. He has worked at Holland & Knight for the last 25 years. “It’s really important in current times to understand that the process that we are involved in, advocating for public policy, is sacred, and something that most around the world don’t get to do.” Burning Man is an annual festival which takes place in Nevada on federal land, and Rich talks about the unique issues that arise with lobbying for one of the most famous music festivals in the world. At its height, Burning Man populates the desolate desert area with a population, comparable to a small city. Rich also provides tips on coalition building, and the key skills he looks for in potential employees. Holland & Knight takes on about six paid government relations interns in D.C. every semester! Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show.  Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.