The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Washington, D.C., has appointed Capitol Hill veteran Michael R. Gruber vice president of federal affairs, effective Oct. 1. He will be responsible for managing all federal policy issues and advocacy activities on behalf of the food, beverage and consumer products industry, and report to Louis Finkel, GMA’s executive vice president for government affairs.

“Michael Gruber will be an excellent addition to our government affairs division, and I am pleased to welcome him to GMA,” says Pamela G. Bailey, GMA president and CEO. “His strong track record of building collaborative relationships on both sides of the aisle, ability to develop and execute winning legislative strategies, and expertise in food, agriculture and environmental policy make him the right fit for GMA. Our members will benefit greatly from his seasoned leadership and communications experience.”

Gruber has almost 20 years of experience in policymaking, advocacy and campaigns. He joins GMA from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he currently serves as senior policy advisor. In this role, his many duties include acting as primary budget and appropriations policy advisor to the full committee and as liaison to the Congressional Budget Office and House Budget Committee to determine the cost of legislative proposals.

Prior to his work on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Gruber worked for Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) for more than eight years, first as chief of staff and later as appropriations associate. He got his start in government as a legislative assistant for Rep. George Nethercutt (R-WA), later going on to serve as his district director. Gruber’s Capitol Hill experience is supplemented by private-sector stints in public relations and federal affairs.

“I could not be more pleased to be joining GMA,” says Gruber. “Every day, millions of American consumers rely on GMA member companies to deliver safe, nutritious and affordable products, which make the policies that govern the food, beverage and consumer products industry critically important. I look forward to working with the association staff, members and policymakers to craft responsible policy solutions that will help industry serve consumers more effectively than ever before.”