The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) announced that James P. (JP) Toner, Jr. has joined IBWA as director of government relations. His responsibilities include IBWA's government affairs work at the state and federal levels, working with legislators, IBWA members and allies to help shape sound legislation, regulations and public policy for the bottled water industry. Toner will work closely with Dan Felton, IBWA's vice president of government relations.
Toner comes to IBWA after serving as manager of external affairs for the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the association of the nation's shareholder-owned utility companies. In this role, Toner managed grassroots activities, Internet advocacy and state and local government and third-party group relationships. Before EEI, Toner worked as director of grassroots consulting for Aristotle, an international public affairs consulting firm, supporting clients in their efforts to improve their grassroots, PAC and advocacy programs.
He also served as manager of political involvement programs at the Public Affairs Council, the country's premier association for public affairs professionals, where he was the main resource for grassroots, community involvement, corporate philanthropy and international public affairs for the council's members.
JP's first foray into the political world came in his home state of Connecticut where he worked on the campaigns of then State Representative Norma Gyle. He eventually joined her in Hartford as her aide and served as staff for the General Assembly's Public Health Committee.
Toner is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with B.A. in political science. He lives in Fairfax, Va. with his wife Cheryl and two daughters, Alexandra and Meghan. He can be reached by phone at 703.647.4616 or by email at [email protected].
