EPISODE · Sep 23, 2025 · 33 MIN
Every Member of Congress Has a Restaurant on Speed Dial — With Sean Kennedy
from Policy Wins · host Quorum Analytics
In the premiere of Policy Wins, host Patrick Kalie sits down with Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack one of the most significant grassroots victories of the past year: defeating a Massachusetts ballot measure to eliminate the tip credit. Sean walks us through how his team activated servers and restaurant operators across the state, coordinated a unified message, and achieved a 64–36% victory — all in one of the most progressive states in the country.But this episode is about more than just one campaign. Sean reflects on how public affairs has evolved since the ‘90s, why trust and authenticity matter more than ever, and how his team has built an enduring grassroots program that ensures every member of Congress has a direct line to someone in the restaurant industry. Plus, you’ll hear the surprisingly effective advocacy tactic involving orange frisbees — and why Sean never forgot it.Follow Quorum:LinkedIn → @quorum-analytics-inc- X → @quorumanalyticsFollow Patrick Kalie:LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/patrick-kalieThis episode was produced by QuorumEditing by Mollie BeckerVisual Design by Marcela ScarpelliSpecial thanks to Sean Kennedy and the National Restaurant Association
What this episode covers
In the premiere of Policy Wins, host Patrick Kalie sits down with Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack one of the most significant grassroots victories of the past year: defeating a Massachusetts ballot measure to eliminate the tip credit. Sean walks us through how his team activated servers and restaurant operators across the state, coordinated a unified message, and achieved a 64–36% victory — all in one of the most progressive states in the country.But this episode is about more than just one campaign. Sean reflects on how public affairs has evolved since the ‘90s, why trust and authenticity matter more than ever, and how his team has built an enduring grassroots program that ensures every member of Congress has a direct line to someone in the restaurant industry. Plus, you’ll hear the surprisingly effective advocacy tactic involving orange frisbees — and why Sean never forgot it.Follow Quorum:LinkedIn → @quorum-analytics-inc- X → @quorumanalyticsFollow Patrick Kalie:LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/patrick-kalieThis episode was produced by QuorumEditing by Mollie BeckerVisual Design by Marcela ScarpelliSpecial thanks to Sean Kennedy and the National Restaurant Association
NOW PLAYING
Every Member of Congress Has a Restaurant on Speed Dial — With Sean Kennedy
No transcript for this episode yet