The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced today that Glynn Loope has officically joined PCA as the full time director of state advocacy. Loope will spearhead all state and local advocacy for the PCA in the continued fight against regulatory overreach, increased taxes, and smoking bans. Loope was most recently the executive director of the Cigar Rights of America.
“We could not be more excited to have Glynn join us as we shore up our government affairs team,” said PCA Executive Director, Scott Pearce. “Glynn brings an enormous amount of experience, industry knowledge, and political know-how that will be a major boon for us as we increase our proactive fight for retailers. I think everyone in the industry knows Glynn’s passion and we know that he will continue to be a stalwart advocate for the industry,” said Pearce.
John Anderson, PCA President, said the addition of Loope is a welcomed step to getting PCA’s advocacy team back to where it was pre-COVID. “I first would like to offer a sincere thank you to Joshua Habursky who has shouldered both federal and state responsibilities over the past year, and has done such a great job that we haven’t lost a step in that time. Now, thanks to some generous donations from our manufacturers and retailers, we are able to bring Glynn aboard. As we continue to progress in our advocacy programs, our members can be assured that we will continue to be an ever more productive voice for the industry,” Anderson said.
Loope, who spent 12 years as the executive director of the CRA, emphasized both his love for the industry, but also his excitement at joining PCA and the opportunity to build up a strong, vital advocacy program with Habursky and Pearce. “After more than a decade fighting for the industry, I could not be more pleased than to take everything I have learned and leverage it to the best use possible in fighting for retailers against state and local regulatory overreach,” said Loope. “Brick and mortar tobacconists across this country continue to face a deluge of unfair and misguided policies, and I consider it a great honor to fight for all these fine businesses.”
