As Chief of Staff for Congressman Robert Takeo ("Bob") Matsui, Neil Dhillon (https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/neil-dhillon) developed many of the skills as well as a network of political contacts that would serve him in the years to come. Bob Matsui was a Democratic representative to the United States House of Representatives from the state of California. He served 14 consecutive terms in Congress from 1978 until his death in 2005.
Bob Matsui was a third-generation Japanese American born in Sacramento, California, in 1942. When he was six months old, he and his family were taken to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center and interned. Many years later, he successfully fought to have the Manzanar Internment Camp designated as a national historical site as well as to have a Japanese-American memorial erected in Washington, D.C.
During his time in Washington, Matsui was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as well as a ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcomittee for Social Security. He was also a third-ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He was deeply opposed to privatization of Social Security, the Defense of Marriage Act, and the ban on partial-birth abortions. He also opposed the Private Securities and Litigations Reform Act.
While Neil Dhillon worked for him, Matsui's wife, Doris Okada Matsui, was also working in the Clinton administration. She became a deputy assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison for Bill Clinton. She later left to become a senior advisor and director of government relations at Collier Shannon Scott. After her husband's death, she was elected to his seat in Congress.
Bob Matsui was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This rare stem cell disorder causes the bone marrow to be unable to produce red and white blood cells or platelets. He was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital on December 24, 2004 and died on January 1, 2005.
Work With Matsui & Clinton
Neil Dhillon spent many years working with both Congressman Matsui and Bill Clinton when he was president. These two prominent men relied upon his knowledge and expertise in political matters because of his training and experience in the political arena.
Neil Dhillon (http://seekingalpha.com/user/40781985/profile) began his career in politics with his studies at The American University in Washington, D.C. There, he studied how public policy affects the citizens of the United States as well as other political topics. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1984 and almost immediately went to work on Bob Matsui's staff. By 1988, he had risen to Chief of Staff for Matsui's organization. He held that post for five years, until he was appointed to be Deputy Assistant Secretary of Government Affairs for the Department of Transportation by then-president Bill Clinton.
He performed his work at the department so well that Clinton named him the top Asian American appointee in a White House ceremony in 1993.
After working with Bob Matsui and President Clinton, he moved on to the private sector. There, he became the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the American Academy of Actuaries and Senior Vice President of Hill & Knowlton International Public Relations before starting his own firm.
Lessons Learned From Bob Matsui
During his time working with Congressman Bob Matsui, he learned a great deal about politics and how the system works in Washington. Politics in Washington are often conducted along very different lines than at the local or even the state level. Because laws enacted by Congress are often far-reaching in their implications, it is very important that representatives and senators in Congress understand the impact of their decisions. Lobbyists and other groups are often highly-motivated to sway the votes of representatives and senators because so much is at stake.
Becoming a lobbyist and Director of Public Affairs was a logical culmination of his career. Because he has spent his life working with men who are in the limelight, he has a deep and vital understanding of public relations as well as what it takes to gain the attention of those who vote for the policies and laws that affect the nation.
Because he has so much experience in this arena, he and his firm are highly sought after by those who want advice on how to influence national policy. He and his firm are often called on to consult on matters of national law and issues that impact large groups of people such as children or the elderly. Working as a consultant may be somewhat different from working directly for a man like Bob Matsui, but many of the same skills apply.
It also helps that he has been accurate in his predictions on national events of importance. For example, he correctly predicted the Republicans would take the Senate in the November 2014 elections, even though many analysts scoffed at the idea. He also correctly predicted, six months before the elections, that the Republicans would strengthen their majority in the House of Representatives, leaving Congress in control of one party and directly opposing the sitting President. His predictions, made some time before the events, are seen as a sign that he understands the political process on a much deeper level than some analysts.
Ultimately, his time with Bob Matsui, as well as his work with the White House, have deepened his belief in public service as a way to help preserve the democratic nature of American society. Because he has a deep and abiding love for our country, he has always felt called to work in the public and private sectors to support those who have the incredible burden of guiding our nation in its laws and practices. His work with Congressman Matsui, President Bill Clinton and others have allowed him to see the inner workings of this system and work for the changes that he and others feel should be made to protect the delicate balance of power and the work of public servants in making the nation the strongest on earth.
Bob Matsui was a third-generation Japanese American born in Sacramento, California, in 1942. When he was six months old, he and his family were taken to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center and interned. Many years later, he successfully fought to have the Manzanar Internment Camp designated as a national historical site as well as to have a Japanese-American memorial erected in Washington, D.C.
During his time in Washington, Matsui was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as well as a ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcomittee for Social Security. He was also a third-ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He was deeply opposed to privatization of Social Security, the Defense of Marriage Act, and the ban on partial-birth abortions. He also opposed the Private Securities and Litigations Reform Act.
While Neil Dhillon worked for him, Matsui's wife, Doris Okada Matsui, was also working in the Clinton administration. She became a deputy assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison for Bill Clinton. She later left to become a senior advisor and director of government relations at Collier Shannon Scott. After her husband's death, she was elected to his seat in Congress.
Bob Matsui was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This rare stem cell disorder causes the bone marrow to be unable to produce red and white blood cells or platelets. He was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital on December 24, 2004 and died on January 1, 2005.
Work With Matsui & Clinton
Neil Dhillon spent many years working with both Congressman Matsui and Bill Clinton when he was president. These two prominent men relied upon his knowledge and expertise in political matters because of his training and experience in the political arena.
Neil Dhillon (http://seekingalpha.com/user/40781985/profile) began his career in politics with his studies at The American University in Washington, D.C. There, he studied how public policy affects the citizens of the United States as well as other political topics. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1984 and almost immediately went to work on Bob Matsui's staff. By 1988, he had risen to Chief of Staff for Matsui's organization. He held that post for five years, until he was appointed to be Deputy Assistant Secretary of Government Affairs for the Department of Transportation by then-president Bill Clinton.
He performed his work at the department so well that Clinton named him the top Asian American appointee in a White House ceremony in 1993.
After working with Bob Matsui and President Clinton, he moved on to the private sector. There, he became the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the American Academy of Actuaries and Senior Vice President of Hill & Knowlton International Public Relations before starting his own firm.
Lessons Learned From Bob Matsui
During his time working with Congressman Bob Matsui, he learned a great deal about politics and how the system works in Washington. Politics in Washington are often conducted along very different lines than at the local or even the state level. Because laws enacted by Congress are often far-reaching in their implications, it is very important that representatives and senators in Congress understand the impact of their decisions. Lobbyists and other groups are often highly-motivated to sway the votes of representatives and senators because so much is at stake.
Becoming a lobbyist and Director of Public Affairs was a logical culmination of his career. Because he has spent his life working with men who are in the limelight, he has a deep and vital understanding of public relations as well as what it takes to gain the attention of those who vote for the policies and laws that affect the nation.
Because he has so much experience in this arena, he and his firm are highly sought after by those who want advice on how to influence national policy. He and his firm are often called on to consult on matters of national law and issues that impact large groups of people such as children or the elderly. Working as a consultant may be somewhat different from working directly for a man like Bob Matsui, but many of the same skills apply.
It also helps that he has been accurate in his predictions on national events of importance. For example, he correctly predicted the Republicans would take the Senate in the November 2014 elections, even though many analysts scoffed at the idea. He also correctly predicted, six months before the elections, that the Republicans would strengthen their majority in the House of Representatives, leaving Congress in control of one party and directly opposing the sitting President. His predictions, made some time before the events, are seen as a sign that he understands the political process on a much deeper level than some analysts.
Ultimately, his time with Bob Matsui, as well as his work with the White House, have deepened his belief in public service as a way to help preserve the democratic nature of American society. Because he has a deep and abiding love for our country, he has always felt called to work in the public and private sectors to support those who have the incredible burden of guiding our nation in its laws and practices. His work with Congressman Matsui, President Bill Clinton and others have allowed him to see the inner workings of this system and work for the changes that he and others feel should be made to protect the delicate balance of power and the work of public servants in making the nation the strongest on earth.