NAM Taps Industry Veteran Kuhns as VP of Domestic Policy

The National Association of Manufacturers announced the addition of Jake Kuhns as a vice president of domestic policy at the association. Kuhns, a public policy professional with more than two decades of experience in federal government relations—including shaping policy for Cargill’s food business—will lead the NAM’s work on food and beverage policy, tax, corporate finance, health care, artificial intelligence and technology and immigration.

“Jake brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience from his more than 20 years working at the intersection of policy, politics and business, including his work on food and beverage issues that are vital to manufacturers nationwide,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “This is a pivotal time for manufacturers as our industry navigates a shifting policy landscape. The landmark tax bill signed into law on July 4 will stimulate investment across manufacturing, but these investments will require a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that builds on our tax win in order to achieve the law’s full pro-growth potential.”

For more than 13 years, Kuhns served as director of federal government relations for Cargill, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of food, beverage and agricultural products. In that role, he led advocacy efforts on food and beverage issues, antitrust and competition, labor and immigration, transportation and tax. He regularly advised Cargill’s senior leadership on the policy and political landscape, managed the company’s political action committee and represented the corporation before Congress, the administration and key federal agencies. His previous experience includes serving as a senior legislative aide to Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), as well as both association and campaign work.

Timmons added, “Jake is a veteran of our sector and understands the needs of manufacturers. Under his leadership, the NAM will continue to work with Congress and the administration to protect and implement H.R. 1, seize the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, address the rising costs of health care, support capital formation and good corporate governance, modernize and rebalance federal regulations and ensure that innovators across manufacturing—including biopharmaceutical manufacturers and companies throughout the food and beverage supply chain—can continue to innovate, grow and thrive here in America.

“As manufacturers look to build on recent policy wins and usher in generational change for the sector, we are excited to add Jake to our best-in-class policy team.”

With the recent passage of H.R. 1, Kuhns’ immediate attention will turn to the implementation of the tax package and advancing a comprehensive domestic manufacturing agenda that drives growth, competitiveness and innovation.

Kuhns joins the NAM’s powerhouse external affairs team under the leadership of Executive Vice President Erin Streeter, who oversees the association’s advocacy, policy, government relations and communications efforts. He will report to Managing Vice President Charles Crain, head of the NAM’s policy shop propelling the manufacturing agenda forward, and will work alongside Vice President of International Policy Andrea Durkin, Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen and Chief Economist Victoria Bloom.

Kuhns is the latest in a wave of 2025 hires across the NAM’s external affairs division, including Senior Director of Tax Policy Connor Rabb, Senior Director of Corporate Finance Policy Ted Allen, Director of Government Relations Sydney Fincher, Director of Health Care Policy Jess Wysocky, Director of Chemicals, Materials and Sustainability Policy Reagan Giesenschlag, Director of International Policy Kevin Doyle, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Alexa Lopez, and Director of Strategic Communications Christine Ravold. In addition to adding new talent to the NAM's team, veteran NAM staff members Jennifer Littlepage and Joseph Murphy have been elevated to vice president of human resources and director of strategic communications, respectively.

For more information, visit www.nam.org.