News Releases & Statements

Genna Gent Joins American Beverage Association as Vice President of State and Local Affairs

March 18, 2010

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
ABA Press Office
(202) 463-6770

GENNA GENT JOINS AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION AS VICE PRESIDENT OF STATE AND LOCAL AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Susan K. Neely, president and chief executive officer of the American Beverage Association (ABA), today named Genevieve K. "Genna" Gent as vice president of state and local affairs for the association.

"This is a very challenging time for our association and we look forward to having Genna onboard to assist in communicating industry's leadership to policymakers across the country," Neely said.

With more than a decade of experience in state government relations, Gent most recently served as deputy chief of staff and Washington office director for Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. In that role, Gent oversaw development and implementation of the state of Michigan's federal affairs agenda and worked to ensure that Michigan's priorities were incorporated into federal lawmaking. Gent has been an integral part of Gov. Granholm's staff since 1999, where she began as a communications specialist and then acting communications director to then-Attorney General Granholm. Gent also served as communications director during Gov. Granholm's gubernatorial campaigns in both 2002 and 2006, moving on to communications director and deputy chief of staff for communications and planning once Gov. Granholm was elected.

"The ABA has been a well-respected and effective voice for the beverage industry for years," Gent said. "I look forward to helping ensure that state and local lawmakers across the country know about industry's public policy initiatives and positions, including the positive contributions our member companies are making on challenging issues."

As vice president of state and local affairs for ABA, Gent will be responsible for representing the interests of ABA members before state legislatures and regulatory bodies. The non-alcoholic beverage industry employs more than 220,000 people with a direct economic impact of more than $136 billion.

Gent succeeds James A. McGreevy III, who was promoted to vice president of government affairs where he will have broader management and strategic responsibilities to direct the day-to-day operations of the department's state and federal lobbying efforts.

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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States. For more information on ABA, please visit the association's Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.

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