Heidi joined the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) in 2008 and brings with her over 20 years of federal government relations experience. She has directed well over 25 national advocacy day events in Washington, DC.
In addition to complementing NACDS federal government relations activities to support its 115 retail chain pharmacy companies and 1,000 associate member companies supplying front end products showcased in the aisles of pharmacies, Heidi directs and orchestrates strategic NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots programming, conducts field-based advocacy and grassroots trainings, and engages advocates on the grassroots, grasstops and key contact levels to support NACDS policy priorities.
Besides having worked for U.S. Senator Kennedy (D-MA), Heidi has also advocated on behalf of the National Community Pharmacists Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Psychological Society. Her 4-year effort advocating on behalf of physicians as Director of Federal Advocacy at the American Osteopathic Association led her team to an invitation-only strategic coalition of 5 with the White House during the nations largest Patients Bill of Rights debate. During her time there she increased participation in Hill Day Programs from 20 to 1,500 participants, and her concluding Hill Day program ushered in same-day House-passage of federal medical malpractice reform legislation. Heidi has spoken at hundreds of events to train advocates across the nation, as well as the world, when she addressed 80 countries at the International Congress on Physical Activity as the Executive Director of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity.