The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has named Larry C. Russell national field director. Working out of a regional office, Russell manages a team that focuses on providing ARTBA membership services, new member development, fundraising and expanding the association’s grassroots activities throughout the United States.

Russell and the field team are focused on building a national coalition of transportation design and construction firms around the country to actively engage in critical issues in the Nation’s Capital — particularly leading up to reauthorization of VISION-100 in 2007 and SAFETEA-LU in 2009.

Russell first joined ARTBA as director of western operations in early 2005. Previously, he led grassroots and field operations in Ohio for the Bush-Cheney ’04 re-election campaign. Russell also served as executive director of South Dakota “Victory 2002 and 2004” —the grassroots arm of the state’s Republican Party — at the request of now Sen. John Thune, R-SD.

During these campaigns, he worked daily with the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the White House. He managed 15 field offices, administered a multi-million-piece direct mail and coordinated phone program and implemented a statewide voter ID initiative.

He also built coalition relationships with statewide and national organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Russell spent five years on the staff of then Rep. Thune. He managed Thune’s congressional office and staff in the western part of the state and later was field director and statewide economic development director.

Russell has extensive experience as a grassroots consultant and lobbyist. He has conducted numerous grassroots training seminars for the Republican National Committee and state Republican organizations. He also directed grassroots campaigns for the Anheuser-Busch Companies in seven states.

Russell spent time as manager of business development of Cedar American Rail Holdings Inc., in Sioux Falls, SD. He served as the firm’s primary liaison with state transportation departments and was responsible for business development, government and public affairs and special projects in eight states.

He was involved in the development of North America’s largest rail project in a century — a $2.5-billion expansion into Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.

For more information, call 202/289-4434.

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