DSA CEO Dave Grimaldi Interviewed Live by ANMP Board Members

This live interview spotlights an open‑door, compliance‑first agenda and a national call to action for direct selling and network marketing professionals across the United States.

A recent episode of the Legacy Leadership Show, which was also broadcast live to members of the Association of Network Marketing Professionals (ANMP), featured key conversations with special guest Dave Grimaldi, CEO of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and several ANMP Board members, as he outlined a clear, field‑powered plan to defend and advance the direct selling channel across the United States.

This special interview was hosted by Tom Chenault, ANMP Fundraising & Membership Co-Chair and host of the Legacy Leadership Show; together with special guest hosts Lisa Grossmann, ANMP Communications & Media Co-Chair; and Donna Johnson, ANMP Ethics & Standards Committee Chair. This remarkable live virtual event was another major step toward greater collaboration between the DSA (for companies and corporate executives) and organizations serving field leaders, such as the nonprofit trade association ANMP, and its educational conferences.

In this landmark interview, Dave Grimaldi emphasized that the DSA’s mission is to keep pathways to entrepreneurship open while raising the bar on ethics and compliance:

“There’s a giant delta between perception and reality,”

he said, underscoring the need to myth‑bust with facts, use cases, and real customer and distributor stories.

“We are going to vigorously defend all four corners of the channel—and we’re going to do it with facts, use cases and stories.”

A Practical Plan—And a Standing Invitation

Throughout the conversation, Grimaldi described his open‑door leadership style and invited direct sellers, company executives, and industry advocates to share their experiences directly with him.

“I don’t sit behind a wall or in an office disconnected from the amazing people at our companies and in the field,”

he noted.

“Equip me with your stories.”

Grimaldi also outlined how the DSA is engaging state and federal policymakers on issues that affect the industry, from earnings‑claim standards to independent‑contractor status, while collaborating to fix proposals with unintended consequences. The goal: preserve legitimate opportunity, protect consumers, and ensure consistent, fair rules of the road.

Why the Timing Matters

Grimaldi cautioned that policy windows can shift.

“We’re in a moment that’s constructive for entrepreneurship. That won’t last forever,”

he said.

“Now is the time to plant seeds, unify, and show policymakers the real impact of direct selling in their districts and states.”

Dave pointed to recent advocacy milestones, including DSA’s Direct Selling Day on Capitol Hill, where industry participants met with Congressional offices the same day a committee advanced legislation to align independent‑contractor definitions in federal law.

“You cannot replace face‑to‑face,”

Grimaldi added, urging leaders to be ready for rapid mobilization in key states and in Washington, D.C.

What’s Being Asked of Field Leaders and Companies

Grimaldi laid out specific “marching orders” for the profession:

• Share your story bank. Send concise, authentic stories that demonstrate economic impact, flexibility, and community—especially from students, parents, retirees, veterans, and small‑town entrepreneurs.
• Be rapid‑response ready. When called, show up—whether it’s emailing a state senator, walking a capitol hallway, or joining a district‑office meeting.
• Model compliance. Keep claims truthful and typical, train proactively, and “self‑police” to protect customers and the opportunity for all.
• Unify across silos. Field leaders, corporate teams, trade organizations (including the ANMP), and DSA should collaborate—“coffee‑shop to boardroom”—around shared purpose.
• Engage locally and in D.C. If you can get to Washington, D.C., do it. If not, equip DSA with stories and data from your community.

“If I have to ‘break glass’ and pull the fire alarm, I’m not going to cry wolf,”

Grimaldi asserted.

“When we ask for help—whether in Rhode Island, Nebraska, Sacramento, or D.C.—we’ll truly need it.”

Background: A Consensus‑Builder at the Helm

Grimaldi became DSA CEO in January 2025. A self‑described moderate, pro‑business consensus‑builder, his career spans senior roles on Capitol Hill (including in House leadership for Rep. Jim Clyburn), service as Chief of Staff to a Commissioner at the FCC, and executive leadership in the digital assets sector. His connection to the channel began in college, where he built an ACN customer base—an early experience he credits with shaping his understanding of entrepreneurship and ethical, person‑to‑person sales.

ANMP Board Members Underscore Unity and Urgency

Show hosts and special guests Chenault, Grossman, and Johnson—speaking as field leaders and as ANMP volunteers and chairs—praised Grimaldi’s pace, accessibility, and willingness to partner directly with the field. They highlighted the need to stand together, elevate standards, and communicate the channel’s real‑world benefits amid a noisy, often divisive environment.

“Tension divides; shared purpose unites,”

Lisa Grossmann said, encouraging leaders to collect and contribute stories that “make everybody think.”

Tom Chenault added:

“We all want to step up to the plate and help Dave.”

Donna Johnson summed it up:

“Now more than ever, hearing the voice of the field is important, so that we are represented. And this window we have, of a pro‑entrepreneurial environment… we should not be resting on our laurels. This is when we really need to unite and partner together.”

Call to Action:

Industry leaders and field distributors who wish to support ongoing advocacy and share impact stories are encouraged to connect with the DSA through its official channels and to follow upcoming mobilizations announced by DSA and allied industry organizations.

As Grimaldi concluded:

“Bombard me. Avalanche me. All of it. I can handle it.”

About the Direct Selling Association (DSA)

The Direct Selling Association (DSA.org) is the national trade association for companies that sell products and services directly to consumers through an independent, entrepreneurial salesforce. For more than a century, DSA has promoted high standards, consumer protection, and policies that support millions of Americans who choose direct selling for supplemental income, flexibility, and community.

About the Association of Network Marketing Professionals (ANMP)

The Association of Network Marketing Professionals (ANMP.com) is the premier organization uniting network marketing professionals worldwide — from distributors and company owners to executives and strategic partners. The ANMP provides education, advocacy, and resources to elevate the profession’s public image, protect entrepreneurial freedom, and promote collaboration within the industry.