Experience

May  2014 - PRESENT

WineAmerica, Washington, DC - Director of Public Affairs

• Primary association liaison with the US Congress and Federal Agencies.

• Directed the work of professional lobbying firm to further the policy objectives of the association.
• Worked under the direction of the Board of Directors, including standing and ad hoc committees.
• Main point of contact for WineAmerica with state and regional winery associations under the State Associations Council.
• Represented the association in various coalitions and with other alcohol commodity groups, including the Wine Institute, Family Winemakers of California,  Brewers Association and Distilled Spirits Council.
• Represented the Association on various Boards, such as Free the Grapes and the National Grape and Wine Initiative.
• Directed the yearly Board of Directors election.
• Assisted in review of association’s yearly budget.
• Main point of contact for association on all wine policy matters.
• Recruited and retained winery and association members.
• Continued duties of Director of Communications.

August 2010 - May 2014  

WineAmerica, Washington, DC - Director of Communications

• Directed all external and internal communications for the association.  This includes newsletters, press releases, media interviews, social media and web communications.

• Represented the association at various industry trade shows/meetings, including speaking engagements.
• Planned and executed two major meetings/conferences for the association members.  This included a large scale wine event on Capitol Hill.
• Oversaw the redesign of the association website.
• Main point of contact for the association with the media, including specialized wine media and general media.
• Associations’ expert on federal wine issues.  

July 2006  - August 2010  

WineAmerica, Washington, DC - Manager of Regulatory Affairs

• Processed Certificate of Label Approval Applications (COLA) for wineries.
• Main point of contact for the association with the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
• Answered member inquiries regarding federal wine regulations.

October 2004 - October 2005

Marlowe and Company, Washington, DC- Legislative Aide

• Tracked legislation for firm’s clients
• Tracked news items pertaining to specific issues related to client/firm interests
• Researched potential new clients for firm.

June  2001 - July  2003

Griffin, Johnson, Dover and Stewart,  Washington, DC - Research Associate

• General legislative research for firm, including bill tracking
• Tracked news items for firm
• Researched potential new clients for moderate sized government affairs firm
• Supervised interns

Education

September 1999  - May  2001

American University, Washington, DC - MA in Applied Politics

• Assistant Director of the Public Affairs Institute at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.

September 1995  - May 1999

Rider University, Lawrencville, NJ - BA in American Studies/Political Science