Wilhelm Meierling

About Wilhelm Meierling

Organizations in transition need leaders who have cracked the code on growth – for more profits, memberships or policy advances. With my strategic prowess, out-of-the-box advocacy and communications, and deep relationships, I bolster bottom lines and steer mission-driven organizations to results.Advocacy and Engagement Accelerator | Evolution Igniter | Membership Multiplier | Aggressive FundraiserThe largest membership association of U.S. state legislators was facing obsolescence when I stepped in as Executive Vice President. I designed a pivot for the American Legislative Exchange Council focused on advocacy and legislator engagement, and we went from losing 86 corporate members in 2012 (pre-tenure) to gaining net 28 the following year – and bringing in $7.6M in just three years.Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member Kimberley Strassel recognized my hire as key to the turnaround in her bestselling book, The Intimidation Game: “Meierling couldn’t have arrived at a more important time.”It’s amazing how easily change can happen when a leader casts a vision for the future and helps people imagine and embrace an organization at its best.Audience Engager | International Communications Director | Crisis ManagerWith a website relaunch, I drove traffic from 120K unique visitors in 2014 to 2.6M in 2020 and pushed a cumulative audience to 722.8M. A podcast I kicked off became the Top 10 in Government and Policy, rivaling “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.”When disaster strikes, I have coordinated international responses. As spokesperson and international communications leader, I drove 1,248 United Way chapters into singular action following Hurricane Sandy, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, and Haiti 7.0 earthquake.“Bill Meierling has helped UPS better understand and navigate activist pressure, shareholder and ESG issues in an increasingly complex environment. His awareness of the landscape and ability to generate positive outcomes under intense pressure is invaluable.”~ Mike Kiely, President, UPS Global Government Affairs

Experience

1. Senior Vice President, External Affairs

   National Automatic Merchandising Association

   Aug 2023 — Present · Arlington, VA, US

   Lead strategy for federal, state and local government affairs, grassroots advocacy, public affairs, marketing and communications. Accountable for an expansive portfolio of NAMA programs and products to ensure the convenience services industry is a recognized, valued and essential resource to businesses and consumers.Key Results:• Policy Advances: Secured a pathway for convenience services operators to accept SNAP as a form of payment, increasing the potential for operator business revenue and consumer access to nutrition. Developed partnerships with the Congressional Hunger Caucus/Center and Family Enterprise USA to advance industry policy objectives. Developed and implemented multi-year strategy to deliver equitable state sales tax policy in 13 states, securing bill introductions in two states in 2025. Identified issues and leveraged NAMA resources to advance industry policy objectives in 11 states.• Advocacy Operations: Reconstituted association grassroots and PAC programs to elevate industry influence and connect small business owners with decisionmakers through facility tours, legislative briefings, state and federal fly-ins, and financial contribution. Repackaged research and developed dynamic, member-value products to spur adoption and action, growing access to federal and state programs, rebates and credits, and operator revenue.• Public Affairs: Introduced outward-facing public engagement strategies including public opinion polling, earned media and industry positioning to grow awareness and influence. In 2024, Launched aggressive campaign to evolve public and decision-maker understanding of the channel, resulting in coverage by USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Harper’s as well as state-focused editorials pursuant to legislative objectives.

Education

• Hampden-Sydney College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science and Spanish

  2000 — 2004

• The George Washington University

  MPS, Political Management

  2007 — 2008

• Hampden-Sydney College

  BA, Political Science, Spanish

  2000 — 2004