NRA President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson pointed out that as the focus on state legislation and regulation on key restaurant-industry issues intensifies, the association will strengthen its outreach to state legislatures and regulatory officials via its state restaurant-and-hospitality association partners and network of grassroots advocates.
"Tom has played an instrumental role in the many successes the Association has achieved on the state level, and I am confident there will be many more to come under his department leadership," said Anderson.
"The Association is well-known for its powerful influence on the national level, but many issues are now being driven on state and local levels. Tom's tremendous communications and public policy experience will be vitally important as he and his team continue working with our grassroots network, valuable state association partners, and state legislators and regulators on key restaurant industry issues. He has done a great job in establishing solid relationships with these constituencies, and working toward a common goal to benefit the restaurant industry's pro-employee/pro-employer public policy agenda."
Foulkes became director of state relations in 2003, after starting at the association in 2001 as manager of media relations responsible for coordinating outreach with national media outlets and acting a spokesperson on behalf of the NRA and the restaurant industry. Prior to his arrival at the Association, he worked on Capitol Hill, starting in Sen. Chris Dodd's (D-CT) press office and then as deputy press secretary to Sen. Richard Bryan (D-NV).
Originally from New York, Foulkes is a 1996 graduate of Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, and will report to the senior vice president of government affairs and public policy. He currently resides in the nation's capital with his wife Sara.
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