Butner Joins IWFA

The International Window Film Association (IWFA) has added Lynwood Butner to its legislative consulting team. Butner is working with Col. Robert Suthard to learn the specific legislative obstacles facing the industry nationwide before Suthard retires at the end of the year. Suthard has worked on behalf of the IWFA for more than 10 years.

"We're very excited about having someone like Lynwood Butner with his credentials and his attitude," said Darrell Smith, IWFA executive director. "Even if he does the job as well or better than Bob Suthard, Bob Suthard will be missed."

Butner has worked in the Virginia state government for 35 years, first as a state traffic engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for 30 years, then spending the last five years of his career as the deputy commissioner of motor vehicles. With both VDOT and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Butner dealt with the state legislature and federal agencies on various issues related to traffic safety and operations, allowing him to participate on international boards for fuels, tax and national policy issues.

When Butner retired in 2003, Suthard approached him about working with the IWFA.

"[He] was concerned and has great respect for the window film industry," Butner said of Suthard. "He wanted to make sure there was continuity."

Between the AAMVA and many years of representing VDOT in the general assembly, Butner picked up the background for doing legislative work, a skill that he uses regularly both as legislative consultant for the IWFA and as vice president of Easter Associates, a government relations and lobbying group that handles all aspects of association management for bigger industries in Virginia.

Butner feels his previous lobbying experience is proving to be beneficial in his new role with the IWFA. Butner and Suthard look to individuals in the industry to help them be successful in the legislative arena, too. While Butner acknowledges that the association has been successful in addressing legislation once it is up for consideration by states, the two men are also launching a proactive stance toward dealing with legislation that is potentially harmful to the industry.

"There are states that have never, for whatever reason, accepted any type of reasonable tinting legislation, and there are states that put in legislation every year that we have to put time and effort into to make sure they don't hurt our members in those particular states," he said. "So our goal over the next year and beyond is to be more proactive, to work with states prior to legislation going to the general assembly."

Taking the reins from Suthard and having the opportunity to work closely with him is making the transition easy for Butner.

"He is, quite candidly, one of my mentors," Butner, who has worked with Suthard in other capacities for more than 20 years. "There's no one I respect more than Col. Suthard."

It is a sentiment echoed by others.

"While he's extremely charming and endearing, a true southern gentleman, at the same time, it's very clear that he's respected as being both knowledgeable and persuasive in the enforcement and inspection communities as well as the political arenas," said Smith. "Bob's a super guy."