Q: Could the public component lead the organization to weigh in on issues that you ordinarily might not touch?
Nisenfeld: Frankly, most of our public officials have private sector backgrounds. And many of our private sector people are extraordinarily involved in a variety of civic pursuits. I have never had a sense in the year and a quarter that I’ve been there that it’s one versus the other. It’s a mosaic of perspectives and opinions.
Q: What have you heard from CREDC investors? Do they worry about the public influence or do they see it as value?
Nisenfeld: I’ve heard it both ways, but very few have voiced a concern about too much public influence. In recent years, for whatever reason, we have dealt with suspicion of government as a “mysterious other.” And the fact is, when you get down to it, the government isn’t an “other.” It represents us.