DON SCHELLHARDT
pioneerpath@hotmail.com
(804) 433-7268
1520 Porter Street
Richmond, VA 23224


GOAL

Challenging work in analysis, advocacy. Legislative, regulatory and/or political.
Federal, State, local and/or international.

STATUS

Government Relations attorney, presently writing Thesis for Cross-Cultural Politics M.A.
Expertise: Energy, environment, communications, social services. Pacific Rim politics.

Clients: Indian tribes, radio broadcasters, Amateur Radio emergency communicators.

Former clients, employers: American [Natural] Gas Association, Member of Congress, Congressional Committee, U.S. EPA, State PUCs, Legal Services, urban and rural courts.

CAREER SUMMARY

Washington lawyer: Major trade association, Congress, Executive Branch
Grassroots lobbyist [solo practice]: small radio stations, Amateur Radio operators (hams)
Trial lawyer: Guardian Ad Litem, representing children directly in court; judicial aide
Freelance writer: articles, novel, direct mail advertising, corporate Annual Report

EDUCATION

M.A. Liberal Studies (Cross-Cultural Politics), Hollins University, Roanoke, VA 2007
Emphasis: East Asian Studies, Women’s Studies
Includes semester at Center for the Pacific Rim, University of San Francisco, CA
J.D. George Washington University, Washington, DC 1975
Editorial Board, Journal of International Law and Economics (student law review)
Admitted to the Bar: VA 1975, CT 1994
B.A. Government (aka Political Science), Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 1971
Includes semester at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA

SPECIAL SKILLS OFFERED

Ability to act “ahead of the curve” (promoting global warming mitigation in 1990,
natural gas and electric vehicles in 1987, Electromagnetic Pulse shields in 1986)
Coalition and consensus building ability (uniting gays and evangelical Christians in
media reform group, negotiating “win/win” compromise bill in Congress)
Don Schellhardt’s Resume Page 2

Group facilitation ability (serving as Staff Executive, founding and leading new groups)
Cross-cultural training and experience (U.S./Asia, Anglo/Native American, male/female)
Superior writing skills (formal comments, briefing papers, articles, novels, screenplays)
Superior public speaking skills (speeches, briefings, guest college lectures, Seminars,
Congressional testimony, presentations to association Board of Directors)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Co-proposed, and successfully advocated, FCC authorization of new LPFM Radio
Service (community-focused radio stations of 100 watts or less): 1998-2000
Through testimony before Congress, and other lobbying, proposed and secured crucial
amendment to blunt thrust of a bill to ban the LPFM Service: 2000
Successfully pressed for State and local programs, promoting the use of natural gas
and electric vehicles, in LA, OK, TX, AZ and CA: 1987-1990
Conceived and negotiated win/win compromise allowing natural gas in new powerplants
(1st major energy bill in 15 years to pass all of Congress unanimously): 1986

CAREER OUTLINE
(Additional details, including list of published articles, available upon request)

Government Relations attorney in Washington, DC
Consultant (energy and environment), 1991-1992
U.S. EPA: Policy Advisor (global warming, energy efficiency), 1990-1991
American [Natural] Gas Association: Director of State, Local and Coalition
Relations, 1989-1990; Special Counsel and Assistant to Vice President,
Government Relations, 1985-1989; Director of Legislative and
Regulatory Affairs, 1979-1985; Staff Counsel, 1978-1979
U.S. Rep. Matthew J. Rinaldo, R-NJ (retired): Legislative Counsel, 1975-1977
House Republican Research Committee: Legislative Analyst, 1973-1974
Grassroots lobbyist [solo practice] in CT, VA and CO
Hams For Action, VA (EmComm): Founder and President, 2006-
National Antenna Consortium, CT office (EmComm): Vice President,
Government Relations, 2003-2004
The Amherst Alliance, CT, VA, CO (media reform): Co-Founder and President,
1998-2000, 2002-2005
Writer
Freelance writer, CT (articles, novel, direct mail advertising), 1992-1995
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Washington, DC: Public
Relations Consultant (press releases, bulk of Annual Report), 1975
Trial lawyer in CT and VA
New Haven court system, CT: Aide to various Judges (Juvenile, Criminal,
Habeas Corpus, Drug Rehabilitation and Civil Courts), 1995-1998
Blue Ridge Legal Services, VA: Staff attorney (Family Law), 1999-2000
Guardian Ad Litem (representing children directly in court), VA: 2000-2001
 

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