The Portland Cement Association announced the addition of Rachel Derby to its Washington, D.C. staff.  Derby will serve as vice president of government affairs, focusing on legislative relationships and advocacy. 

PCA also announced that effective November 1, A. Todd Johnston has been promoted to executive vice-president of government affairs and that Collin Long has been promoted to senior director of government affairs.

“We are very pleased to have Rachel join PCA,” said James G. Toscas, PCA president and CEO.  “The addition of her considerable talent and experience is a significant step in the reorganization of the association’s advocacy team, following the recent addition of Michael Schon as vice president and counsel in charge of regulatory issues.  Our objective is to build a top-flight team in Washington to serve as the voice of the cement and concrete industry.”

Derby comes to PCA from the Toy Industry Association, where she was senior director of federal government affairs.  In that role she managed outreach with the White House, Congress, and other regulatory agencies and led the organization’s strategies on environmental sustainability, chemical regulations, and social responsibility. 

Prior to her work at TIA, Derby was director of government affairs with the National association of Police Organizations, and served on the staffs of former Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) and former Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL).  She holds a bachelor of science in marketing from Florida State University. 

Johnston, who joined the PCA team in January 2015, will oversee all of the association’s government affairs operations, including activities at both the federal and state levels. 

Long, who has been with PCA for three years, will continue his work of fostering relationships and representing industry interests, primarily in the legislative arena.