ARLINGTON, VA – FMI – The Food Industry Association is pleased to announce two staff changes that will enhance the association’s federal, state and local government advocacy efforts on issues of critical importance to the food industry.
Christine Pollack has joined FMI as the association’s new vice president, government relations. Pollack will lead FMI’s federal legislative advocacy efforts on range of key policy areas critical to the food industry. Additionally, FMI Senior Director, State Government Relations, Elizabeth Tansing has been promoted to Vice President, State Government Relations. In this capacity, Tansing will oversee the association’s state issue management as well as the resources and support for member companies and state association executives on the wide range of state public policy challenges that impact the food industry.
FMI Welcomes Christine Pollack
Prior to joining FMI, Pollack founded Pollack Consulting, a full-service government affairs, advocacy and communications consulting agency providing strategic advice on a range of issues including international trade, health care, tax, retail commerce and the supply chain and workforce. She also served as vice president for Horizon Government Affairs, and before that as vice president, government affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Additionally, her career includes congressional experience, having worked as legislative director for Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL) and as senior legislative assistant for Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA).
FMI Chief Public Policy Officer and Senior Vice President Jennifer Hatcher commented on Pollack’s new role at FMI, stating, “Christine is an accomplished professional who brings a deep understanding of the policy issues and political landscape on key issues for the food and retail industry. We look forward to leveraging the knowledge and insights Christine brings to FMI to effectively advocate for policies that support our industry’s efforts to continue being a destination for health and well-being for all Americans.”Pollack received her bachelor’s in history and political science from the University of Delaware.
FMI Elevates Tansing to Oversee State Government Relations
Tansing has a long history of working in the food and retail industries. She joined FMI in 1997 as manager, state government relations. Since then, she has been promoted to director and then senior director, state government relations. During her tenure, she has led FMI’s efforts on dozens of state legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the grocery industry. She regularly produces newsletters, studies, research, testimony and presentations to assist FMI member companies and state associations as they tackle legislative and regulatory issues of importance in the state and local realm.
Tansing previously worked as manager, state government relations, for the Retail Industry Leaders Association and began her career at the Association of National Advertisers in the government relations department.
Earlier this year, Progressive Grocer named Tansing as a 2021 Top Women in Grocery award recipient for her efforts in assisting FMI members navigate state and local government policies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Said Hatcher, “Elizabeth’s experience and passion for local and state issues has made her a well-known resource with FMI members and within every state retail and grocer association across the country. It is often her connections to the state associations and insights into their legislative priorities that allows FMI to forecast federal legislative issues. We’re thrilled to recognize Elizabeth’s accomplishments and contributions to FMI over the years through this well-deserved promotion, and we know she will continue to elevate FMI’s state and local contributions in her new role.”
Tansing received her bachelor’s in political science from Radford University, where she played Division I field hockey.
FOR MEDIA:
Headshots of Pollack and Tansing are available here.
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