Movers & shakers: Robert Kaplan

CAREER BACKGROUND

Finance director for more than 25 statewide initiative campaigns and has implemented more than 250 individual fundraising programs. Past clients include: California Trial Lawyers Association, California Nurses Association and the California Forestry Association.

PERSONAL

Age 40, Single. Graduated from Berkeley with an AB in rhetoric.

CLAIM TO FAME

Created a new fundraising niche through the use of traditional grassroots techniques in low and high donor programs; was the first to specialize in initiative and special interest fundraising.

BEST DAY

When I exceed my goaLs.

WORST DAY

No such thing. Knock me down and I'll get right back up.

TEN YEARS FROM NOW

Influencing public opinion through political, corporate and media communication programs.

IMMEDIATE GOALS

Teaching more people how to raise money to empower them in their interests; increasing focus on strategic planning and public affairs activities.

POLITICAL HEROES

Aristotle, Alan Cranston, Cesar Chavez, Natan Sharansky.

SECRETS OF SUCCESS

Hard work, humor, being a good performer.

BIGGEST GRIPE

When clients fear the act of asking for money more than they fear the outcome of not having enough money to communicate their message; when candidates and finance committee people think they can simply hire someone like me and step back from the process.

PREDICTIONS

The sun will rise, the sun will set and money will still be a factor in gaining a place for our individual and collective agendas at the table of local, state and federal governments. Campaign finance reform will continue to spread at the state and local level. Despite all the posturing, campaign finance reform at the federal level will remain elusive.

FAVORITE BOOKS

The Rhetoric & The Poetics of Aristotle, by Aristotle; On the Road by Jack Kerouac; The Prince by Machiavelli.

FAVORITE MOVIES

"American Graffiti," "Star Wars," "Windy City," "The Nutty Professor" (Jerry Lewis's original), any Three Stooges short featuring Curly Howard, "Damn Yankees," "The Big Chill."

BEST MOMENT IN A CAMPAIGN

When we reach or exceed our fundraising goals ... helping people do something for themselves they never thought they could do - and still have fun with the process.

WORST MOMENT IN A CAMPAIGN

When we fall short of our targets; it's a sad day when someone walks by our clients without the client's hand having been in their pocket; when clients do not want to pay compensation due - no matter whether or not we exceed our goals.