Capitol Hill Veteran Jacky Usyk Joins NMMA as VP of Government Relations, Bolstering the Association’s New Advocacy Structure

NMMA announced today the hire of Jacky Usyk as its vice president of government relations based in its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Usyk takes on a newly created leadership role within the association, overseeing an integrated state and federal lobbying team that is driving NMMA's member-driven policy and legislative agenda in Washington and in state houses across the nation.

With responsibilities spanning both federal and state operations as well as advocacy and political engagement, Usyk will help guide the political engagement and advocacy programs that rely upon many industry, coalition, and stakeholder partnerships. Usyk, who joined the association the first week of February, reports to Robyn Boerstling, senior vice president of government relations.

With 12 years of experience shaping national policy and having served in senior leadership roles for both House and Senate offices, she brings a significant depth of expertise to her new role and proven ability to lead policy and legislative issues over the finish line. This includes having been a key member of senior U.S. Senator Patty Murray's (D-WA) leadership team. Prior to her time in the Senate, Usyk served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), where she advised on critical issues relating to health care, tax, trade, and economic development.

"We are excited to welcome Jacky to the NMMA team with her deep experience and leadership in advocacy, coalition-building and shaping policy," said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president and CEO.
"Jacky brings a proactive, solutions-focused approach to our industry, having successfully guided highly complex policy negotiations in bipartisan environments throughout her career."

Usyk fills an important leadership role within NMMA's expanding government relations team, anchoring a newly integrated lobbying division under Boerstling.

As NMMA furthers its emphasis on issue-responsive, proactive advocacy, the association unveiled a three-pronged, enhanced government relations structure and promotions of key staff:

Federal and State Affairs, Political Advocacy and Engagement
Led by Usyk, the Federal and State Affairs, Political Advocacy and Engagement team drives the recreational boating industry's access, infrastructure, sustainability, and manufacturing agenda in the nation's capital and at state houses, in addition to federal and state government relations, Usyk will lead the industry's BoatPAC and American Boating Congress.

The team includes Ben Murray, director of state government relations, managing Jesse McArdell, who was recently promoted to senior manager of Midwest government relations, Sam Romano, manager of Northeast policy and engagement and Emily Villanueva, manager of Western region policy and engagement. Erica Crocker serves as senior director of legislative advocacy and political engagement with Cameron Nelson in a new role as manager of political advocacy and federal operations. Joshua Jamison, manager of federal government relations, maintains the association's focus on the House of Representatives side of Congress.

Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs
To ensure the proactive development of positions and policies across the recreational boating industry, the Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs team will be co-led by Jeff Wasil, who has been promoted to vice president of environmental compliance and marine technology, and Clay Crabtree, who has been promoted to senior director of public policy. Together with their deep industry knowledge and experience leading critical recreational boating policy and regulatory affairs, Wasil and Crabtree will lead NMMA member policy development alongside NMMA members, coalition partners and internal teams.

Joining this team is Lauren Hyland, who takes on a new role as senior manager of industry policy engagement. John McKnight continues in a part-time capacity assisting with the environment, health and safety regulatory portfolio.

Public Affairs
With a focus on driving industry messaging and priorities across the association's public policy and government relations work, Molly Drenkard leads the Public Affairs team as vice president of public affairs, with enhanced integration across the government relations department. NMMA will soon begin a search for both public affairs director and manager level positions.

Bryan Spadaro continues to report directly to Boerstling as senior director of advocacy strategy and integration.

"Expanding and strengthening our government relations work has been the NMMA board's top priority and this reorganization represents a response to growing industry needs for proactive engagement as marine manufacturers and associated businesses face a rapidly changing policy and regulatory landscape," said Hugelmeyer. "With this strong team of experts at the helm of our work across public policy, regulatory, public, federal and state affairs, as well as political advocacy and engagement, we are committed to serving our members' businesses on the state and federal level to ensure the growth and success of the recreational boating industry."