Adams and Reese Partner Michael Berson has been appointed to serve on Alabama’s District Export Council (DEC). The Alabama DEC facilitates the development of an effective local export assistance network, supporting the expansion of export opportunities for local U.S. companies and assisting in coordinating the activities of trade assistance partners to leverage available resources.
Berson will serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2023. The appointment is based upon an individual's international trade leadership in the local community, ability to influence the local environment for exporting, knowledge of day-to-day international operations, interest in export development and willingness and ability to devote time to DEC activities.
Berson is a leading member of the Adams and Reese Government Relations Team. He has experience identifying, facilitating, and securing federal congressionally-directed spending through the budget and appropriations process as well as both federal and state grant funding, specifically as such relates to economic development projects and client priorities.
Berson has represented hospital systems, non-profits, institutions of higher education and charter school clients, port, airport, and housing authorities, and other governmental entities including water and sewer authorities, utilities boards and industrial development boards. He has developed and implemented federal policy and legislative funding and political strategies for defense, energy, telecommunications, higher education and local government clients on Capitol Hill and within various governmental agencies.
Berson formerly served as Director of Government Affairs and Associate General Counsel of the National Small Business Association in Washington, D.C. In this role, Michael oversaw all legislative activities including prioritization of issues, development of policy positions and formulation of strategies to advance small business interests before Congress and the White House. He focused on economic development, energy, environmental and regulatory affairs matters.