Marek Gootman represents governmental and not-for-profit entities in dealings with federal executive agencies and congressional offices on a variety of topical issues affecting their funding and program operations. Utilizing his diverse experiences in policy development, program management, and public affairs at local, federal, and international levels, Mr. Gootman’s practice integrates counseling on the design of effective policies and programs with traditional advocacy for implementation through legislative or administrative action.

Mr. Gootman’s government clients include six of the 15 largest U.S. cities, among many other municipalities, regional infrastructure authorities and utilities, transportation agencies, and similar quasi-governmental entities. He also represents several national and local non-profit organizations, such as community development corporations, health and human service providers, museums, universities, and public television. Reflecting the very broad range of substantive areas for which these entities are responsible, Mr. Gootman is engaged in funding and policy activities related to homeland security and public safety, economic and workforce development, transportation, environment and water resources, housing, healthcare, education and social services, energy, technology, and taxation.

To achieve client objectives, Mr. Gootman’s specific activities entail seeking funds through Congressional appropriations, discretionary, or competitive sources; working with agencies to resolve problems or promote new initiatives; monitoring and analyzing the impacts of potential policy and regulatory changes; and executing government relations strategies to advance specific legislative action. He is particularly experienced in forming and managing issue-based coalitions to maximize impact, most recently on homeland security, housing, and community development topics.

Immediately before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Gootman served for seven years as an advisor on community development policy and intergovernmental affairs within federal agencies, principally in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In this capacity he focused on urban regeneration, strategic management, public-private partnership, and governance issues. Mr. Gootman’s responsibilities encompassed policy formulation, program implementation, and external relations for several major initiatives, including a lead role in the design and management of the Empowerment Zone / Enterprise Community program. In addition, he facilitated efforts to reform federal grant systems, financial management rules, performance measurement and evaluation, and technical assistance delivery.

Mr. Gootman’s international experience includes consulting on community development and public management issues in the OECD, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. For example, he served on a policy action team of the U.K. Prime Minister’s Social Exclusion Unit, as well as a five-nation expert panel of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Before entering the federal government, Mr. Gootman worked for a regional planning commission, consulted with Business in the Community in the U.K. on enterprise support policies, co-directed an award-winning non-profit organization that delivered entrepreneurship education programs, and taught business planning at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Business.

Professional Affiliations:
International Economic Development Council