VP, Government Affairs
Resume:
ETHEL V. KNIGHTON
***** ******* *****, ***** *******, Maryland 20878
**********@***.***
QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE
Highly talented, dedicated, and accomplished senior executive offering more than 25 years of experience in State Government Affairs, Political Compliance, Advocacy, and Public Relations. Demonstrates in-depth knowledge in State Executive branch and legislative lobbying in the biopharmaceutical, Pharmacy Benefits Management, Mail Service Pharmacy, and insurance industries. Recognized as a skilled negotiator and public speaker. Possesses a wide-range of relationships in the government, corporate, and private sectors. Displays a keen expertise in building highly effective coalitions. Outstanding ability to manage and direct multiple complex issues simultaneously.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Lobbying and Public Relations
- Health Care Reform–State and Federal
- Superior Presentation and Negotiation Skills
- Building Key Alliances and Partnerships
- Problem Resolution and Decision Making
- Strategic Visioning and Planning
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
EMD SERONO, INC. - WASHINGTON, DC
Senior Director, State Government Affairs 2007–Present
Direct and coordinate all State legislative activities concerning biopharmaceutical and foreign companies in the United States and Puerto Rico. Evaluate the substantive policy and legislative issues associated with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Develop and implement strategy to influence state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to research, development, marketing and access to prescription drugs and biologics. Work collaboratively to incorporate state government affairs and policy activity into strategic business planning. Develop and cultivate relationships with patient organizations in key therapeutic areas such as multiple sclerosis, AIDS, infertility, and cancer.
Notable Achievements:
- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge in legislative issues pertaining to infertility, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis.
- Developed and implemented a political compliance program to span the entire company.
- Secured additional funding for the state AIDS Drug Administration Programs in California.
- One out of 20 recipients of President’s Award in 2011 for securing six (6) million dollars in tax cuts for the Company in Massachusetts.
- Gained comprehensive experience in health care reform implementation in the states, on such issues as expanded Medicaid rebates, supplemental rebates, Medicaid MCO rebates, Medicaid expansion, basic health plan, health exchanges, essential health benefits package, and the potential impact on biopharmaceutical companies.
- Commended for reversing a Massachusetts tax statute that would have treated foreign corporations adversely, and would have cost the companies millions of dollars a year in taxes.
- Utilized strong negotiations skills in amendments with the California Board of Pharmacy regarding electronic pedigree and track and trace of pharmaceutical supply chain.
MEDCO HEALTH SOLUTIONS, INC. - FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ
Senior Director, Government Affairs 1999–2007
Supervised daily activities of three Directors of Government Affairs to assist them in developing their lobbying strategy on state regulatory and legislative issues. Managed daily activities of 37 contract lobby consultants across the country. Positively influenced legislation addressing key business issues, such as confidentiality of patient information, licensure of mail service pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers, drug pricing, and formulary management. Regularly interfaced and consulted with the senior management committee and other departments on the impact of pending legislation/regulations. The Company serviced 150 Fortune 500 corporations, labor unions, health maintenance organizations, Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans, insurance carriers, local and state employee health plans, and FEP, the largest federal employees program.
Notable Achievements:
- Active builder of coalitions with trade associations and patient organizations on key issues.
- Recipient of the President’s Award for outstanding achievement in protecting the company bottom line.
- Recognized for defeating legislation to regulate pharmacy benefit managers in Illinois, Texas, Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia.
- Instrumental in lobbying legislative and regulatory issues in all 50 states with special emphasis in California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, New York..
- Implemented an internal state government affairs strategy for the company.
PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE
MERCK & CO., INC. - WEST POINT, PA: 1980–1999
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 1993–1999
EXECUTIVE SALES REPRESENTATIVE 1981–1993
EDUCATION
JURIS DOCTOR
- William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
- Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
PhRMA | BIO | Democratic Governors Association | Republican Governors Association
American Legislative Exchange | National Governors Association
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Volunteer for Mothers2Mothers, an organization that trains HIV positive women to counsel other women in the importance of taking the HIV/AIDS drugs, and how to deliver their babies without them becoming HIV positive.
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