Pre-Conference Workshop

Strategies and Solutions to Overcoming and Neutralizing the Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) Mentality: “The NIMBY Matrix”

Patrick Slevin, Founder of Academy of Citizen Engagement, Head of SL7 Consulting

For over twenty five years, Amazon bestselling author and public affairs virtuoso Patrick Slevin has shared with organizational leaders, corporate executives, and real estate development professionals his secrets, strategies, and solutions to overcoming and neutralizing Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) forces.  

In his master seminar Breaking the NIMBY Matrix™ - this “NIMBY Whisperer” brings to light a deceptive reality responsible for the NIMBY chaos, conflicts, and controversies witnessed across the nation for decades. Slevin exposes what he calls the NIMBY Matrix™, a false construct that’s directly responsible for instigating  digital-NIMBY activism costing companies unreported millions, industries unmentioned billions, and our national economy unimaginable trillions of dollars in losses.

Seminar attendees will be taken on a mind-blowing journey by Patrick Slevin down the rabbit hole to:  

• Discover the NIMBY Matrix™ and how it manifests itself regardless of industry, project, or location
• Learn who really benefits from the daily controversies instigated by the NIMBY Matrix™
• Realize the insanity of conventional thinking
• Perceive the NIMBY Trifecta and how it gives the NIMBY Matrix™ its power and influence
• Meet the NIMBY Avatars and learn how they defeat developers in the virtual public square
• Recognize NIMBY opponents deepest, darkest secrets for opposing projects
• Defeat NIMBYism using the power of integrated public affairs and citizen engagement best practices
• Win the community-at-large’s license to operate by following simple formula for success

Patrick Slevin, Founder of Academy of Citizen Engagement, Head of SL7 Consulting

In 1996, Patrick Slevin was elected one of the youngest mayors in the country. At 27, he led the Tampa Bay city of Safety Harbor, Florida. As mayor in one the most urbanized counties in the nation, Slevin encountered anti-development opposition before ever hearing of the infamous acronym NIMBY (Not-In-My-Backyard).

Over the span of his 25-year career, Slevin has become a recognized expert in the field of integrated public affairs, while earning a national reputation as the “NIMBY Whisperer” for his uncanny abilities to turn NIMBY conflicts into project successes. 

Today, Patrick Slevin is the Founder of the Academy of Citizen Engagement, Co-Founder of Citizens for Responsible Government, and Past President of Network of Entrepreneurs & Business Advocates. He heads his integrated public affairs firm, SL7 Consulting, headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. 

Slevin is a two-time winner of the prestigious Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for Crisis & Issues Management. He was featured in Influence Magazine as a “Great Communicator”. He has been recognized by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as one of the nation’s top political “Movers’ & Shakers”.

Slevin is a multi-book Amazon bestselling author on NIMBY. His most recent book came out in 2023 titled, Breaking Out of the NIMBY Matrix™: Red Pill Successes in a Digital NIMBY World.  It became an instant Amazon bestseller. In 2021, Slevin published his first book on the NIMBY subject matter titled, Never Lose to NIMBY Opposition Again!: Master the Secrets, Strategies, and Solutions to Turn NIMBY Crisis Into Your Finest Hour, which became a #1 Amazon bestseller. 

He is a highly sought speaker on overcoming NIMBY forces. For nearly 20 years, Slevin has been presented as keynote, panelist, instructor, or moderator before real estate and business organizations from coast-to-coast including:

• Urban Land Institute (ULI)
• Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP)
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
• Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA)
• American Planning Association (APA)
• Iowa Finance Authority
• Texas Housing Conference
• Tennessee Municipal League
• As well as homebuilders, biomass, energy, local chambers, economic development councils, municipalities, and corporate/non-profit board retreats.

Slevin is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he honorably served in the security forces from 1988 to 1996 for both active duty and ready reserve.

Patrick Slevin resides in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife Sharon where they enjoy their two young grandsons Easton and Logan.