Frankie L. Trull, founder and president of PDI: Ms. Trull is also founder and serves as president of the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) and the Foundation for Biomedical Research. Ms. Trull enjoys long-standing relationships with key individuals and groups in the biomedical research and animal health communities. Over more than 25 years of working on these issues, she has developed excellent working relationships within relevant federal agencies and with congressional offices and committees, including the Senate Agriculture, Appropriations, and Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committees and the House Agriculture, Appropriations, and Commerce Committees. All of these committees have a degree of jurisdiction over FDA, NIH, CDC, EPA, and CMS, as well as the federal Animal Welfare Act, the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, and issues relating to research funding.

Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, senior counsel: Dr. Crawford served as Deputy Commissioner, Acting Commissioner and Commissioner at the Food & Drug Administration between 2002 and 2005. This was his fourth stint at FDA going back to 1975. He also served as Administrator of the Food Safety & Inspection Service at the US Department of Agriculture (1987-1991). In the academic world, Crawford served for 13 years in various capacities at the University of Georgia including Chairman of the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology. At Georgetown University, he was Director of the Center for Food & Nutrition Policy from 1997-2001. And he held positions of authority at the National Food Processors Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges in the 1990s.

Crawford is a Member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK. He is also a Fellow of the International Society of Food Science & Technology. He received the Award of Merit from the FDA in 1983 and the Presidential Rank Award from President Reagan in 1988 while he was at USDA.

Additionally, Crawford has served as an expert advisor to the World health Organization, the Singapore FDA and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He also served on the Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and/or the Scientific Advisory Board of a number of Corporations.

Lester Crawford is the author of over a hundred scientific publications and is the co-author of four books. His veterinary degree is from Auburn University (1963), his honorary doctorate is from Budapest University (1987) and he holds the PhD in pharmacology from the University of Georgia (1969).

At Policy Directions Inc., Dr. Crawford serves as Senior Counsel. He joined the firm in January of 2006.

Steve Kopperud, senior vice president: Mr. Kopperud has more than 25 years experience in government and communications. He is the former senior vice president of the American Feed Industry Association, where he was responsible for all state and federal government relations programs for the 700-company association, served as treasurer of its Political Action Committee, and oversaw issue management and communications strategies. A coalition builder, he led enactment of federal preemption of the Uniform Commercial Code "clear title" legislation for agriculture buyers; the Animal Facility Protection Act; the Animal Drug Availability Act, Animal Medicinal Use Clarification Act and first-time federal risk insurance for livestock producers. He has worked directly on omnibus farm bills since 1985, as well as on annual appropriations and budget legislation. He enjoys key contacts on House and Senate Agriculture Committees, House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and House Commerce and Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committees, as well as with key staff at USDA, EPA, OSHA and FDA. He is the founder and past president of the Animal Industry Foundation (AIF) - now the Animal Agriculture Alliance -- an education foundation representing livestock and poultry producers, animal science and agribusiness.

Mr. Kopperud is a former newspaper and magazine reporter and editor, and is an accomplished strategic communications expert, as well as a recognized public speaker and media trainer.

Steve Michael, vice president and general counsel: Mr. Michael is in-house counsel for PDI. He has 20 years of congressional and public policy experience. He served as legislative director to a Michigan member of Congress, and director of legislative and public affairs for an agency within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). He also provided legislative and congressional relations services for two other agencies within USDA. Steve has worked in the government relations field since leaving USDA, specializing in nutrition, medical and animal research, bio-defense, and FDA issues. He has also had considerable experience working with the appropriations committees both as an agency official and lobbyist for universities and other PDI clients. On the regulatory side, Steve handles regulatory policy issues and drafts public comments for our non-profit and corporate clients. He earned a master's degree in finance from The American University, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a resident of Maryland and a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Nicole Churchill, director of legislative affairs: Ms. Churchill has spent the last eight years in D.C. working on numerous aspects of health care policy. As a fellowship attorney and staff attorney at two leading non-profit organizations she focused on legislative analysis and policy recommendations on issues related to health and human services programs, education, the Bankruptcy Reform Act and appropriations. Her work with a former member of Congress continued to focus on health care policy, leading her to a government relations firm where she served as strategic counsel for a broad portfolio of clients. Her expertise includes biotechnology ethics, scientific research, education policy and federal appropriations. Nicole earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. She is a member of the California State Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar Association.

Jill Homer Stewart, director of government affairs: Ms. Stewart has ten years of combined Capitol Hill and government relations experience. She served as legislative director to an Indiana member of Congress, and staffed his work on the House Appropriations Committee. As director of legislative and public affairs for the Animal Health Institute, she steered the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) through Congress, and worked with coalition partners on appropriations, Farm Bill, bio-defense, and other homeland security issues. She works closely with staff on the House and Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees, as well as the House Energy and Commerce and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committees. Jill’s areas of expertise includes appropriations, agriculture, food and drug regulatory approval, and bio-defense.