How does a “vocal minority” operating with no budget, no office, no experts, and no training, defeat a multi-billion dollar corporation? The answer will surprise you.

Corporate blind spots, inadequate policies, and non-existent field procedures stir up public anxieties causing more than 50 percent of NIMBY conflicts against corporations. In other words, more than half of the community conflicts begin at the corporate side of the equation.

The Slevin Group’s corporate consulting, social & political screenings, and project management services will immediately upgrade your field capabilities (policies, practices, and procedures). Our civic engagement programs will have an immediate impact in reducing site plan costs, protecting market share and enhancing your corporate reputation.

Call Patrick Slevin today to gain more control over your strategic growth plans. Mr. Slevin is available to discuss how his expertise can significantly impact your bottom line. Phone him today, 850.906.9888, or email pslevin@slevingroup.com to schedule an initial consultation.

Why continually roll the political dice when you can proactively pre-empt, mitigate, and neutralize community conflict known as NIMBY. As you know, NIMBY resistance delays projects, creates costly concessions, generates negative press, invites expensive lawsuits that lead to crushing political rejection, costing you potential millions in lost capital and market share. The lack of community goodwill and political cover, especially during an election year, can alienate both allies and elected officials to the point of rejecting even the most sustainable and green projects out there.

There’s a better, more cost-effective way of securing social and political capital. The Slevin Group’s project management and civic engagement practices will immediately begin to gain you more control over your strategic growth plans. Call Patrick Slevin today to discuss how his expertise can protect and promote your company’s bottom line.

Phone him today, 850.906.9888, or email pslevin@slevingroup.com to schedule an initial consultation.

The wasteful loss of shareholder value associated with community conflict toward development has triggered a growing trend of shareholder activism across the United States. The popular report, Outside the Box: Guidelines for Retail Store Siting, by Christian Brothers Investment Services and Domini Social Investments puts big box retailers and other multinationals on notice to enact site plan guidelines and social responsible practices to mitigate community opposition.

However, implementing these far-reaching guidelines is another story.

The Slevin Group’s expertise in civic engagement on behalf of corporations has created multifaceted strategies, procedures and practices that will significantly mitigate and neutralize community conflicts saving investment portfolios millions, if not billions in lost capital and market share.

Call Patrick Slevin to discuss how his consulting practice can turn principles into practices that will protect your funds’ financial viability today – 850.906.9888 or email him at pslevin@slevingroup.com.

Patrick Slevin has had the privilege of working with some of the best lawyers, planners, and land use consultants in the country. More and more land use professionals understand that earning social and political capital requires grassroots expertise. Mr. Slevin’s civic engagement practices secures the strategic high-ground to effectively neutralize community conflict and crisis.

Call Patrick Slevin today to discuss how he can help you and your project pre-empt, mitigate and neutralize community opposition threatening the approval process. Mr. Slevin can be reached at 850.906.9888 or email him at pslevin@slevingroup.com.

What Land Use Professionals Say About Patrick Slevin:

“I’ve enjoyed watching Patrick work. He defeats NIMBY’s with their own tactics by out organizing them.”
- Clay Henderson, Esq., Senior Counsel at Holland & Knight Law

“I wanted to thank you again for your efforts in managing the unmanageable. I know that most of us in the land use and development business understand that we need to cultivate the community leaders and supporters…but dam few of us have the gumption for the real work involved. Knowing how to get into the community, developing the trust that is essential to generating public support and being able to follow and monitor that as the project matures was critical to our success and it is a tribute to you and your hard work that we are where we are today. Thanks again.”
- Ted Brown, Esq., Partner at Baker & Hostetler Law Firm

“I strongly recommend and endorse Patrick as a highly knowledged, connected and practical expert. I will definitely hire him again.”
- Carter McCain, Esq., Partner at Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen

“Thank you for your remarkable success in generating awareness and public support for our project in a very challenging environment where members of the community were working hard to create an atmosphere of distrust. In looking back, I am not sure we could have done it without your help.”
- Brian Canin, President of Canin Associates

There are hundreds of clashes between citizens and developers occurring every week at public hearings in city halls across the country. These hearings are essentially Jerry Springer episodes. More often than not, the applicant is either oblivious to what is about to happen or intentionally indifferent. In either case, the stage is set for conflict occurring at city hall for full public view and media consumption.

The Slevin Group believes the notice and hearing system does more to create NIMBY conflicts than it does to mitigate it. Here are few examples:

1. Bureaucratic notices only add to misinformation with legal jargon and abysmal reach.
2. Public hearings begin much too late in the process. Opinions are formed well before.
3. Developers are mostly not required under the old system to conduct third-party outreach.
4. Applicants are only focused on the legal path of the application process, ignoring the political fallout.

Cities do not have the resources to educate citizens. The Slevin Group advises public officials to take more control over the process. If they like a project and feel it will certainly add to the character of the community, then they should strongly encourage the applicant to meet with community leaders and discuss the merits of the project.

The Slevin Group provides corporations strategic consultation and civic engagement practices to educate community stakeholders. Consensus is the by-product of shared information and understanding. If you support a quality project, then refer the applicant to Patrick Slevin today to begin the process of helping your community grow in a smart, sustainable direction. Phone 850.906.9888 or email pslevin@slevingroup.com.

Patrick Slevin has spoken before countless organizations on the issue of Civic Engagement, NIMBYism, and Direct Democracy.

Mr. Slevin has given presentations and workshops before the following organizations:

• NAIOP
• ULI
• ICSC
• CREW
• HBA
• Tennessee Municipal League
• Florida Chapter of American Planning Association
• Florida Chamber Growth Management Short Course
• Association of Florida Community Developers
• Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County
• Florida Zoning and Planning Association
• Volusia County Alliance for Responsible Development
• Hillsborough County Bar Association

“Your session on NIMBYism was excellent – most certainly one of the best workshops of the conference. The information you provided was extremely beneficial to city officials as they plan for the future needs of their communities.”
- Tennessee Municipal League, Nashville, TN

“Patrick Slevin’s presentation on “Sustainable Civic Engagement” attracted a large number of development professionals, public officials, and citizen activists. He did an excellent job of educating the audience on why NIMBYism happens and what corporations can do to mitigate NIMBY conflict, while securing community support for quality, responsible development. Mr. Slevin’s civic engagement approaches and presentation received overwhelming approval by our diverse audience of members. It was quite clear, Mr. Slevin’s expertise in neutralizing NIMBYism is in high demand, and we recommend development professionals engage Mr. Slevin to learn first-hand how to secure social and political support for sustainable development.”
- Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD), Daytona, FL

“Your keynote presentation made the event a big success. It was one of the best ULI workshops ever.”
- ULI Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, FL

Call Patrick Slevin today to schedule a presentation for your next meeting or conference. Phone 850.906.9888 or email pslevin@slevingroup.com.

Patrick has managed and evaluated hundreds of NIMBY cases, as an elected official, Fortune 500 executive, grassroots lobbyist, consultant, researcher and writer. Mr. Slevin has been profiled as one of the country’s top “movers and shakers” in Campaigns & Elections. He is also the recipient of the PRSA Silver Anvil Award, the public relations industry’s highest honor.

Patrick Slevin is an expert on the NIMBY phenomenon and he available for live or recorded radio interviews, as well as standard press interviews. He offers a vast range of content and characterizations on NIMBY related matters:

• What is NIMBY?
• How developers are to blame for NIMBYism;
• How soccer mom activists are costing companies billions in losses every year due to expensive concessions, costly delays, negative publicity, lawsuits, and political rejection;
• Why public hearings have become Jerry Springer episodes;
• NIMBY activists are the new Goliaths, Developers the fabled David;
• Describe different NIMBY profiles;

Phone 850.906.9888 or email pslevin@slevingroup.com.