Strategic Elements welcomes seasoned strategic communications and labor expert Pete Rimsans to the firm as the Vice President of Policy and Business Development. Pete has years of experience working with government, business, and civic leaders to spur infrastructure investment and economic growth with a proven track record of media relations and coalition building to promote public policy.
Before joining Strategic Elements, Pete served as the Executive Director of the Indiana State Building and Construction Trades Council for more than a decade. In his role, Pete promoted economic development to benefit all of Indiana’s Building Trades Unions and their members, collaborating with government, business, and civic leaders to spur infrastructure investment, economic growth, and achieve public policy goals. With a national network of grassroots labor union connections and broad involvement in media relations, public affairs, and economic development, Pete brings a new eye to the firm’s award-winning team.
Pete previously served as the Deputy Commissioner for the Indiana Department of Labor. He has served on the board of directors of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. The Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana was a member of the Indiana Recycling and Energy Development Board and is currently the secretary of the Campus Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis.
“Pete is the perfect fit for this role,” Strategic Elements President and CEO Christine Stineman said. “He understands the complex policy issues at every level, he understands the unique approaches to labor negotiations from both the corporate and worker perspectives and has a firm grasp of the political optics on any given issue set.”
Pete was jointly responsible for creating Indiana’s first IRS Section 527 independent expenditure organization for use in state elections following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United. He has since successfully managed the engagement of IEs in elections on both sides of the aisle. Pete has also managed campaigns to pass local referenda.
“Pete Rimsans has strong relationships on the Hill, the Biden Administration, and organized labor officials in Washington D.C. and across the country. His high-level public policy ties coupled with Pete’s workforce negotiation expertise delivers a new layer of value to our clients,” Strategic Elements Co-Founder and Chief Strategist John Stineman said. “Pete masterfully navigates the workforce needs facing business and workers on the market today.”
In his new position, Pete looks forward to bringing his experience in labor, politics, economic development, and public affairs to Strategic Elements’ client strategy. Pete is thrilled to be joining the first-class team at Strategic Elements.
“From former journalists and public affairs experts to retired military officers, the team at Strategic Elements has all of the ingredients and know-how to deliver winning results for its clients,” Pete said. “I am honored to join a team that puts clients’ needs first with creative, high-quality solutions.”
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