PCA Names Johnston as Government Affairs Vice President
Words: Dan Kamys
Portland Cement Association (PCA) named A. Todd Johnston as VP for government affairs, effective Jan. 19, 2015. Based in the association's Washington office, he will represent PCA and its members with the federal government. With offices in Skokie, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the PCA conducts engineering, research, education, market development, and public affairs programs on behalf of America's cement manufacturers.
Johnston comes to PCA with a strong record of experience and accomplishments in state government, industry, and in Congress. Most recently, he served as staff director for the Subcommittees on Environment and Energy under the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. In that capacity, Johnston lead a talented team whose primary focus was on the technical, scientific and legal underpinnings of the Environmental Protection Agency’s major regulatory initiatives, including: proposed greenhouse gas standards for power plants; proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone; and proposed changes to the scope of regulation falling under the Clean Water Act.
“It is vitally important that our industry maintain a practical working relationship with the various federal bodies that impact cement production, transportation and consumption, as well as the use of concrete,” noted James Toscas, PCA president and CEO. “We are very pleased to have someone with Todd's extensive experience leading this effort.”
From 2007 to 2013, Johnston worked on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), first as a senior advisor and staff director of its Clean Air, Climate Change and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee under Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH). After Senator Voinovich retired in 2010, Johnston became the full committee’s senior policy advisor under Senator James Inhofe (R-OK). Prior to joining EPW’s staff, Johnston was director of air quality for the National Mining Association and the environment manager for Kyanite Mining Corporation in Dillwyn, Virginia. Johnston also served as policy advisor and special assistant to the Secretary of National Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia under Governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore.