The National Ground Water Assn. (NGWA) has named Lauren Schapker as its second-ever government affairs director to replace Christine Reimer, who is retiring after starting the position in 1993.
Schapker will begin with NGWA on Nov. 1, 2014, leaving her position as director of government and political affairs for the Portland Cement Assn. (PCA), an organization she joined in September 2009. Prior to joining the PCA, she was a senior policy adviser for Xenophon Strategies, a firm that provides government relations and public affairs services. She has a B.S. in finance and an M.A. in political science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
While Reimer worked out of NGWA’s Ohio headquarters, Schapker will work year-round in Washington, D.C.
“Ms. Schapker brings a wealth of experience, a strategic mind-set, and a can-do attitude that will serve NGWA and its members well,” said NGWA CEO Kevin McCray, CAE. “We were impressed with her proven experience at taking on legislative challenges and finding effective ways to achieve goals.
“We look forward to applying her determination and resourcefulness to advancing the interests of the groundwater industry, which is vital to our nation’s industry, agriculture, rural living and the environment,” McCray said.
Schapker’s chief responsibilities will be to:
- • Guide NGWA on its federal legislative and regulatory strategy and agenda;
- • Help develop policy positions;
- • Assist in developing federal initiatives that benefit groundwater and/or its businesses and professions;
- • Provide information on groundwater and the groundwater industry to members of Congress and staff of relevant federal agencies;
- • Understand and ensure NGWA meets requirements related to federal lobbying laws; and
- • Represent NGWA where necessary on government affairs-related issues.
