John Hoel is Managing Director, Federal Government Affairs for Altria Client Services, LLC. John and the federal team are responsible for all federal legislative and regulatory activity affecting Altria Group, Inc. and its operating companies. The range of issues John manages includes corporate and excise taxes, product regulation and a variety of litigation related legislation. John is also responsible for managing the African American, Hispanic, tobacco grower, and labor outreach. John joined Altria in 1996 as Director, Federal Government Affairs. For three years, John served as a Director in Altria’s State Government Affairs department represented the interests of Philip Morris USA, Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing Company in 14 states. During his time with State Government Affairs, John also served as the lead liaison with the National Association of Attorneys General and the National Governors Association. Prior to joining Altria, John served a Congressman Bart Gordon’s (D-TN) counsel and Associate Staff on the House Rules Committee from 1990 to1996. John received his Juris Doctor in 1990 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Dispute Resolution. During law school, John clerked for the Washington office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. John is a member of the bar in Missouri and Washington, D.C. John received his undergraduate degree in 1984 from Pitzer College in Claremont, California.
