The BLDUP Spotlight is a weekly feature where readers gain insight into high-profile developments around the city and get to know local industry leaders. Today we chat with Clark Fonda, Executive Director of Government Affairs at Sénne. Sénne is an industry-leading real estate advisory and investment firm with offices in Boston, New York City, and Washington D.C. The firm has grown exponentially since 2009 and has been named both a BBJ Fast50 and an Inc. 5000 company. Fonda spearheads all government affairs services for the firm including the Boston, Cambridge, and the Greater Boston area while monitoring city, state, and federal policies and initiatives to determine which concerns may affect Senné’s work and client projects.

BLDUP: Do you have a daily or weekly routine that you follow? If so, how do you feel it has contributed to your success? How has this routine changed/been adjusted given the current situation?

Clark Fonda: Before I joined Senné full time, I ran my own consulting LLC for close to three years. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an incredible adjustment for me to essentially have to create my own routine, hours and work pace to keep the business moving forward and make it successful. Before my LLC, I had worked for several years on Capitol Hill as a Congressional staffer. The Congressional work hours were long and unpredictable, but there was structure and office space. When COVID appeared, I was fortunately already adjusted to keeping my own pace and making the most of a workday without a brick-and-mortar office or a defined 9 to 5 structure. Of course, there were less physical events to attend during the pandemic, but having a personal routine helped my business survive, despite the social changes around me.

Now at Senné, I’ve brought my private sector experience and work ethic to the company to help drive its government affairs office. My core routine involves constantly compiling information related to what’s occurring on Capitol Hill. A day doesn’t go by where I’m not having discussions with Congressional staff to get a better understanding of the political landscape. I stay fresh on the issues with these discussions, as well as having regular discussions with candidates, polling companies, and other political stakeholders to understand how these issues are being discussed on a grassroots level, and what issues will be political priorities in the near term. Knowing political priorities provides excellent context for what types of issues may actually survive and make it into law via the legislative process.

These activities have become second nature to me, but they help me articulate issues and priorities to Senné leadership, which gives us priceless insight in terms of how public policy will impact the marketplace. It also serves as the core basis for Senné’s consulting services, as well, which we are looking to grow over the next several years.

BLDUP: During the course of your career, what was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? What other accomplishments hold a special place in your heart and why?

Clark Fonda: In 2013, I had lived and worked in Washington for seven years, and at the time, I was working at the Pentagon in the Army’s Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Office when my father suddenly became ill with heart disease. The heart disease exacerbated my father’s other mental illness and addiction problems, so I decided to drop my career in Washington and move back to California to try and help.

While I’m grateful for the time spent with my family, it was an incredible shock to my career. I did not immediately know if I had a path back to Washington, or what my next steps would be. With the free time I had at home, I ended up taking the LSAT, and a year later, I moved to New York for my first year in law school.

Desperate to continue a career in D.C., I worked hard and transferred to The George Washington University Law School where I finished my law degree as a part-time evening student. Right around the time I transferred, I also successfully regained full-time employment in Washington as a Congressional Chief of Staff.

It was a hard road back to Washington, and I really gained quite a bit of humility during that process. But I’m proud that I completed the journey.

In addition to law school, I also previously got my Master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College as a part-time evening student - so I ultimately spent seven years of my professional life attaining post-graduate degrees in the evening while working full-time. I’m proud of that and the discipline that was required to complete those programs.

BLDUP: What do you foresee for the future of Boston's development given mass vaccinations? The COVID-19 pandemic brought on a unique set of challenges, how has this affected your business in the short term. Do you expect to see long-term effects on your projects?

Clark Fonda: In the near term, the world will not see a scenario where there are zero COVID cases globally. Especially with vaccination rates that fall under the CDC classification of “herd immunity” thresholds, COVID cases will continue (maybe for years), and industries will have to learn to live with many of the changes and challenges we’ve encountered during 2020 and 2021.

At Senné, like many other entities across the country, our company was definitely impacted by COVID. However, the company has grown, diversified, and innovated; Senné recently reached the milestone of 100 employees.

But there are still lingering issues from the height of the pandemic. For example, supply chain problems persist, and we’re working closely with policymakers on the federal government’s supply chain task force to explain how these issues impact construction and development.

Cleanliness standards will also be important to uphold for any in-person business or events in the near-term. This comes at a financial cost, but I think it’s ultimately a good thing and a step forward for the industry. This has been a major issue that we’ve worked on with several Members of Congress, hopefully working to create a federal tax credit for sanitation-related expenses.

Lastly, I think the quick pivot and innovation required to reach customers and clients without in-person contact is a good thing that’s helped improve the value of Senné’s deliverables and services. We have been able to grow our client base, working with clients who may not be local or do not feel comfortable meeting in person. Our ability to reach new customers has never been stronger, and our marketing team really helps the company cut through the mix and get noticed, even with all the present challenges that exist in 2021.

BLDUP: What upcoming projects are you most excited about?

Clark Fonda: As Executive Director of the Government Affairs team at Senné, my work is not necessarily on a specific housing-related project. But I would say, in general, I really enjoy our work with the Financial Services and Banking Committees in Congress. I am also closely following the Boston Mayoral race, as the outcome will have a dramatic impact on real estate and housing issues in the city and surrounding areas.

Whether or not Governor Baker decides to run for reelection is also a fascinating, real-time issue to watch. We’ve seen other Republican candidates announce their intention to run for governor, which will ultimately make it more expensive for Baker if he decides to jump in.

BLDUP: What other types of projects are you looking for right now (if any)? Certain areas, project type/size?

Clark Fonda: Our Government Affairs office is located in Washington, D.C., and I would love to see the core business of Senné enter the Washington marketplace. When that happens, I would be in a unique position as the company’s representative in D.C. to not only lobby on financial services issues but also be able to point out development and other real estate projects that we may have right down the street. I can’t say there’s another government affairs representative in Washington who would have that sort of dynamic nature for their job.

BLDUP: Have you had a mentor or someone who has helped you during your career? What are the most valuable lessons you learned from that person?

Clark Fonda: In my time in Washington, I’ve certainly seen all kinds of different personalities - good, bad, and ugly. Rather than one specific mentor, I’ve tried to learn from every individual I’ve worked with over the years. Nobody does everything right, but you can take away tidbits from folks you work with and improve your own work product and presentation based on what you observe. Often, I’ve learned more from the difficult staff I’ve worked with, in order to have a solid understanding of how not to do something!

BLDUP: What policies or initiatives are currently in process that could have a large impact on development? Thoughts on anything upcoming (positive/negative)?

Clark Fonda: Tax issues are the predominant policy items that we’re currently tracking. On the federal side, there’s discussion about adjusting or eliminating 1031 like-kind exchanges in order to fund the upcoming Congressional infrastructure package. Certainly, if Congress were to eliminate the current 1031 standards, it would have strong implications for the real estate industry.

On the state and local side, we’re seeing all kinds of tax and fee structures being proposed that would make everything real estate-related much more expensive, and may actually exacerbate the affordable housing problems we’ve seen in Boston and elsewhere.

Part of the goal for our Government Affairs team and our consulting services is to, at minimum, be at the table when policy adjustments are made, and have a clear understanding of how and when those policies will impact our business. Our goal is foresight, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job thus far staying on top of the issues and political matters that impact our company the most.

BLDUP: What is a favorite quote that inspires you or you strive to live by?

Clark Fonda: I’ve always tried to live by a “do unto others” standard of life. I don’t like to treat others in a manner that I would not want to be treated or ask anything of others that I wouldn’t want asked of myself. I’ve applied this standard when I was running a Congressional office, running a business, and being an employee of Senné. It helps keep relationships balanced and improves the overall workplace quality of life.