JDG Associates Fills Senior Position for the International Bottled Water Association
June 20, 2025 – Rockville, MD-based executive search firm JDG Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Jeremy Pollack as vice president of government relations for the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA). “Jeremy’s deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, successful track record with legislative fly-ins, and experience working with companies that are members of both IBWA and Water Quality Association gives him unique insight into our industry’s needs,” said IBWA president and CEO Joe Doss. “We’re confident that Jeremy will strengthen our government relations efforts and effectively represent our members’ interests at all levels of government.”
Mr. Pollack brings extensive government relations expertise and a proven track record of advocacy success that makes him an ideal fit for advancing IBWA’s legislative and regulatory priorities. He joins IBWA from the Water Quality Association (WQA), where he served as director of government affairs. In that role, he led WQA’s global government relations strategy, representing the industry before elected officials and regulators at the local, state, and federal levels of government. His accomplishments include managing government affairs operations, overseeing political action committee activities, and directing signature advocacy events, including the Water Resources Congressional Summit and state-level advocacy days.
In recognition of his leadership in the water sector, Mr. Pollack was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve as a water representative on the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) for the 2024-2026 charter. Notably, he has worked on several issues of direct interest to IBWA members, including efforts to add a water icon on the MyPlate nutrition guidance graphic. Prior to working at WQA, Mr. Pollack served as manager of federal and global government affairs at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He also worked as a lobbyist for Gephardt Government Affairs, where he worked with former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pollack supported state and national initiatives for former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and then-Congressman Jared Polis.
The International Bottled Water Association is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
JDG Associates has been providing executive recruitment services to Fortune 1000 corporations, associations and non-profits, federal, state, and local governments, research and consulting firms, and defense contractors since 1973. The firm’s research-intensive process and personal approach have resulted in more than 4,000 senior-level searches across a broad spectrum of industries and disciplines in the Washington, D.C. region and nationally.
Related: JDG Associates Recruits CFO for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Darren DeGioia serves as president of JDG. He conducts senior-level search assignments for research and consulting organizations as well as the public sector. His areas of expertise include information technology, accounting and finance, the quantitative sciences, operations / general management, marketing, and communications. Prior to joining JDG, Mr. DeGioia spent four years in the hospitality industry with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Sheraton Hotels.
Past Assignment
JDG Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Ben Price as the new president and CEO of The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. The assignment was led by Paul Belford. (NBCOT). “Ben is an excellent choice to lead NBCOT,” said Dee Berline, chairperson of the NBCOT board of directors. “He stood out from a large field of highly qualified candidates with his problem-solving skills and legislative advocacy. The board of directors and I look forward to working with Ben and continuing the legacy of leadership for occupational therapy.”
Mr. Price brings more than two decades of leadership experience in health care, credentialing, and public policy, marked by strategic innovation and organizational advancement. Most recently, he served as CEO of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), where he led the organization to growth in certification numbers, financial stability, and technological advancements. Before that, Mr. Price was the executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans, guiding legislative and regulatory efforts post the Affordable Care Act.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
