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In September, several Mackinac Center staff members attended the 22nd annual meeting of the State Policy Network in Denver. SPN is a network of more than 60 think tanks that promote free-market policies at the state level. Once a year, SPN hosts a conference to provide leadership training and mentoring of individuals in the public policy arena.
The Mackinac Center joined 900 attendees in Denver to share policy recommendations, marketing techniques and operational best practices. Several Center staff members contributed presentations: Center President Joseph G. Lehman moderated a panel discussion on collective bargaining reform; Executive Vice President Michael Reitz spoke 
about legislative relationships and building a strong team; Vice President for Legal Affairs Patrick Wright and Director of Labor Policy Vinnie Vernuccio also briefed think tank leaders on the Center’s work in securing public-sector labor reforms.
The Center’s work was recognized throughout the conference; our display booth promoting VoteSpotter received second place in the Audience Engagement Awards, which recognize promotional materials that communicate sound policy ideas in a creative fashion. Additionally, Vinnie Vernuccio participated as a finalist in Think Freely Media’s Great Communicators Tournament, a contest intended to promote individuals who articulate persuasive ideas in defense of the free market and founding principles.
