The Cigar Association of America (CAA) today announced Brian Fojtik has joined the organization as Senior Vice President for Government Relations.

In this new role, Fojtik will be responsible for helping to develop and implement state and federal legislative strategies and policy initiatives, as well as managing CAA’s 46 state lobbyists and the federal lobbying team.

In a press release, CAA president David Ozgo said, “We did a thorough search and interviewed many highly qualified candidates from around the country. Brian’s extensive experience with tobacco issues and his enthusiasm for CAA and the opportunities that now exist within the cigar world made him stand out. I look forward to working with him.”

Fojtik most recently worked with the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) as the national Local Coordinator. He worked with state and local representatives and was often called upon to testify at state and local hearings regarding tobacco legislation. Prior to NATO, Mr. Fojtik was Director of Government Affairs at NJOY; a Senior Fellow at the Reason Foundation; a Legislation Consultant at RAI, Inc.; and Director of State Government Affairs at UST.

Fojtik added, “I am looking forward to working at CAA and with their great team. In my talks with David and several of the CAA members, they are making exciting changes and I look forward to being part of a dynamic organization.”

Fojtik received a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a JD from Loyola University of Chicago. He is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has three adult children.