Jennifer Hatcher
Chief Public Policy Officer and Senior Vice President Government & Member Relations
jhatcher@fmi.org
202-220-0734
Jennifer's passion for the value of community and business associations has deep roots, emanating from her family's ownership of three diverse small businesses in her native Knoxville, Tennessee. Here she experienced the valued camaraderie, creativity and the positive impact of trade associations -- goals she has sought to achieve throughout her professional career.
Jennifer serves as Chief Public Policy Officer for FMI - the Food Industry Association overseeing FMI’s federal, state and regulatory efforts on public policy, legislative and political issues impacting the food industry. Jennifer has supported the expansion and growing complexity of the association for the past two decades that now includes retail, wholesale and manufacturing operations reflecting the full spectrum of the supply chain. She has been involved in leading successful advocacy efforts to reform the debit card marketplace; legislate and implement the Food Safety Modernization Act; and to preserve the confidentiality of business data via a U.S. Supreme Court case, FMI v. Argus Leader.
Jennifer has been recognized by the industry as a Top Woman in Grocery, 2016; and as one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists, 2020, 2021. She was recognized in 2022 as Association Lobbyist of the Year by CEO Update.
Previously, Jennifer served as Chief of Staff to United States Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL), later Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee; Special Assistant and White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of the Treasury during President George H.W. Bush’s Administration; and a White House intern during President Ronald Reagan’s Administration. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Communication from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in Government from Johns Hopkins University.
In her volunteer work, Jennifer is immediate past Chair of the Board of the Friends of the National Arboretum (2019-2021), charting a successful path for growth for the organization during an incredibly challenging time for non-profits. She is also a member of the DC Board of Directors of Common Threads providing children and families cooking and nutrition education.
- Government Relations
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