Mar 22, 2012
ARLINGTON, VA — March 22, 2012 — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today bolsters its portfolio of seasoned issue-experts, welcoming Hannah Walker as a director of government relations to represent food retailers on Capitol Hill.

In her role at FMI, Walker will focus on a portfolio of issues including payments, financial services, food assistance, data security and technology. Walker’s responsibilities at FMI will complement her years of experience serving as a federal policy advisor for the State of Florida Washington Office, dedicated to agriculture energy, tax, trade and environmental issues, and later to Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), who served on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and chaired the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry.

Walker worked on the 2008 campaign that brought Congressman Rooney to office, and then served as his legislative director until her most recent move to FMI. Walker helped to organize and build a successful legislative shop for an active Congressional office, advising the Congressman on issues and policy positions with both local and national implications.

Prior to her efforts serving the State of Florida Office on the Hill, Walker supported constituents of Palm Beach, as legislative assistant to Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), where she dealt with appropriations and other budget-related subjects.

FMI Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Jennifer Hatcher, commented on her addition to the team, saying, “Hannah has a history of translating her legislative experience to results. We are very pleased to have someone with Hannah’s skills, reputation and enthusiasm to advance FMI’s agenda in Washington.”

While a native Tennessean, earning her bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University and her J.D. from University of Memphis School of Law, Walker has lived and worked on Capitol Hill for more than a decade.