Your IMRA representatives and what they do - International Mass Retailing Association

Discount Store News, May 16, 1994

Candid profiles of the people who get things done for you in Washington

CECILIA A. ADAMS DIRECTOR: TAX, BUDGET AND HEALTH CARE

An attorney and registered lobbyist, Adams has represented IRMA in appearances before Congress and the Administration on health care reform, tax and regulatory concerns and federal budget policy. She is editor of IRMA's Tax & Policy News monthly newsletter and chairs the group's Tax Advisory Committee.

Adams is a Pennsylvania native who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1990.

Prior to joining IMRA, she practiced tax law and accounting with Deloitte & Touche, Pittsburgh, then represented indigent clients in bankruptcy with Neighborhood Legal Services, Pittsburgh. In addition, Adams completed a Congressional Fellowship with Rep. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.).

During the fellowship, she helped to develop an alternative budget proposal and was responsible for analyzing alternative tax systems for the budget presentation. While with Congressman Santorum, Adams helped to draft HR 4130, a bill that established Medical Savings Accounts. HR 4130 was later endorsed by the Bush Administration as well as the House Republican leadership.

MOE CAIN VICE PRESIDENT: LEGAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Cain is a lawyer and lobbyist who has represented the legislative and regulatory interests of mass retailers since 1979 when he joined the staff of the Association of General Merchandise Chains which merged with the National Mass Retailing Institute in 1986 forming IMRA.

Generally, Cain is involved in most issues affecting mass retailing, including antitrust and competitive issues, labor and employee benefits, trade regulation, intellectual property and the like.

He is currently working on projects involving the American with Disabilities Act, civil rights, health benefits and labor law. He has also been dealing with such competitive issues as resale price maintenance, cooperative advertising programs and design copyright.

Cain serves on the Industry Sector Advisory Committee for Retailing/Wholesaling and on the Industry Functional Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property. The latter committee advises the Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative on international trade issues affecting the retail industry.

He is a graduate of Boston College and Georgetown University Law Center.

JOSEPH E. SAMORA JR. VICE PRESIDENT: POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Samora, an attorney, advises IMRA on all state and national political campaigns, coordinates the Association's political action committee activity, edits the political newsletter and lobbies as the group's liaison to the White House and Capitol Hill.

Prior to joining IMRA, Samora served former President George Bush in the White House as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. He was an intermediary between President Bush and various communities, interests and individuals. Samora worked to build public support for the President's programs and to ensure that these groups had the chance to present their policy concerns and recommendations to the White House. Samora also was appointed by President Bush as one of 12 members of the 1990-91 Class of White House Fellows.

Samora graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in communications and then earned a law degree from the university's law school.

JENNY KEEHAN DIRECTOR: STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Keehan oversees all state governmental affairs activities for IMRA, including representing individual members before state organizations, monitoring state legislative and regulatory activities and assisting members with state lobbying operations.

She also produces and edits State Capital Watch, IMRA's state legislative and regulatory tracking newsletter. Keehan closely follows a wide range of issues for IMRA members, including advertising practices, consumer issues, loss prevention, employment, taxes and topics pertaining to environmental policy.

Prior to joining IMRA in 1988, Keehan served as a legislative assistant for the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee, where she was working for chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.). In addition, she served as a legislative analyst for a Washington, D.C. law firm.

Keehan graduated from the University of Virginia in 1985 with a degree in government.

ROBIN W. LANIER VICE PRESIDENT: INTL. TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT

Lanier represents IMRA on international trade and environmental issues before Congress and the executive branch.

She has held the position since 1990, when she joined the association after a tenure of 11 years with the National Retail Federation.

At the NRF, Lanier was vice president, senior legislative representative.

Lanier is a recognized spokeswoman for the retail industry on international trade issues. She has represented retailing at negotiations and trade missions in Geneva, Brussels, Mexico City and in Washington, D.C.

Recently, she was elected to the board of directors of Consumers for World Trade. Since 1988, she has chaired the Congressionally chartered Industry Sector Advisory Committee on Retailing and Wholesaling, which acts as the principal executive branch advisory committee on international trade policy for the retailing industry.