Sean McBride

Founder & Principal
DSM Strategic Communications

Sean directs DSM’s efforts to shape marketplace and public policy solutions for the consumer goods sector. With two decades of experience, he’s worked alongside top executives to ensure safe, affordable, and nutritious food choices for millions of Americans. Sean’s career includes leading strategic communications at the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Beverage Association. His background in presidential campaigns and roles at the White House Transition Office and the Republican National Committee have made him a trusted voice in both corporate and political circles. 

Benjy Sarlin

Washington Bureau Chief
Semafor

Benjy leads Semafor’s political coverage with the Principals and Americana teams. Benjy is a veteran in the Beltway and on the campaign trail, having spent over nine years at NBC News, where he covered the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns as well as major legislative battles in Congress, from immigration reform to the Inflation Reduction Act. He later served as Policy Editor, working under Meet The Press moderator Chuck Todd to shape on-air and online coverage. He previously covered national politics for The Daily Beast and Talking Points Memo. Benjy edits Principals – Semafor’s daily politics newsletter – as well as Dave Weigel’s twice-weekly national politics newsletter, Americana. 

Christopher Gindlesperger

Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications
National Confectioners Association

Chris heads NCA’s award-winning communications team. His two-decade journey as a leader in the field includes stints in public affairs, political campaigns, and crisis communications, with notable chapters written in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Beverage Association. Chris is always on the lookout for ways to elevate NCA partnerships. His efforts create a lasting impression on consumers and industry members alike, and his work in strategic communications has sweetened America’s chocolate and candy sector through authentic, realistic narratives.

Jim Jones

Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

James “Jim” Jones joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2023 as the agency’s first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods.

In this new executive position, which reports directly to the FDA Commissioner, Jones leads the charge in setting and advancing priorities for a proposed, unified Human Foods Program (HFP), which includes food safety, chemical safety and nutrition activities. He will exercise decision-making authority over all HFP entities, including resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy, policy, major response activities involving human foods, and related Office of Regulatory Affairs activities. He currently oversees the leadership of the agency’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and Office of Food Policy and Response until the proposed HFP reorganization is implemented.

Hank Cardello

Executive Director, Leadership Solutions Program for Health + Prosperity
Georgetown University

A noted author, Hank is a leading expert on consumer health and societal issues related to the food industry. His insights have been featured in numerous prestigious publications and broadcast media. For more than three decades, Hank was an executive at some of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, including Cadbury-Schweppes, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and General Mills. Most recently, Hank was senior fellow and director of the Food Policy Center at Hudson Institute.