Lobbying World: Former EPA official joins American Chemistry Council

Ryan “RJ” Jackson will join the American Chemistry Council as its new vice president of federal affairs. Jackson most recently led government and political affairs for the National Mining Association and previously was chief of staff for the Environmental Protection Agency. He was also staff director for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee under its former chairman, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), who retired at the end of the last Congress.

FGS Global has hired Michelle Kirkman as a director. She joins following a stint as communications director for Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association named Kelly Cushman as its new vice president of political affairs. Cushman was most recently the vice president of domestic policy for the National Pork Producers Council and worked in former President George W. Bush’s administration.

Neil McKiernan joined American Defense International as vice president for government affairs. He was most recently chief of staff to Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Mehlman Consulting has hired two top Hill staffers: Alyene “Alye” Mlinar, most recently an aide to Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Erica Chabot, the majority staff director on the Senate Agriculture Committee under Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). 

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has hired Lauren Williams as associate vice president of government relations. Williams was most recently the director of government relations at the American Bakers Association, and before that, she was a professional staff member for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.