The Change Maker Podcast with Michael Shaffer "Creating Space for Everyone"
- S2
- 41:22
- January 17th 2022
Today on The Change Maker: Michael Shaffer. Michael is the Vice president of Government Relations and Chief Advocacy Officer at Augusta University. Michael has been involved with politics for years serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for such political figures as former Governor Nathan Deal, Representative Charlie Norwood, and Representative Paul Broun.
Michael speaks about how he got involved with politics and gives insight into the current political landscape, bipartisanship, and the 24-hour news media cycle. Michael is also instrumental in the development and the culture of the Georgia Cyber Center and creating a truly unique and welcoming space for the students and trainees there.
The Change Maker
The Change Maker is hosted by Deke Copenhaver. When Deke took over as mayor of his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, the city’s politics were broken and riven along racial lines. No group trusted any other group, so nothing got done.
From 2005 through 2014 Deke was a catalyst in helping to transform Augusta, attracting businesses to spur economic development, implementing social programs that impacted the lives of Augustans on a daily basis. He focused effort on communities that had been neglected for years.
No serving as the Principal of Copenhaver Consulting, Deke remains committed to being a Change Maker while helping others realize their potential to impact their communities for the better. For his work, he’s been recognized on multiple occasions by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.
Deke currently authors a monthly column on leadership published by the Georgia Municipal Association. Deke earned a BA in Political Science from Augusta College and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.
A passionate athlete, Deke has completed five Ironman 70.3s and several half marathons. He and his wife, Malisa, reside in Augusta with their dogs Sarah Bet, Buddy, and Johnny.