WASHINGTON — Jacqlyn Schneider will be joining FGS Global as a partner in the firm’s food and agriculture practice in Washington. Schneider (pictured) comes to FGS Global following more than 16 years of leading food and agriculture policy on Capitol Hill, most recently serving as deputy staff director for the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry under chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. In her role leading the committee, she directed the chairwoman’s work on all food and agriculture issues including nutrition, with an emphasis on infant and child nutrition, as well as a broad portfolio including specialty crops, local, regional and organic foods, climate and conservation, dairy, labor, immigration reform and improving support for minority and underserved farmers.

NEW YORK — Grayling has hired Robert “Bob” Conrad as an executive VP and Alla Shkiler as a senior VP. Based in Washington, their appointments bolster Grayling’s public and corporate affairs capabilities in the region. Immediately before joining Grayling, Conrad was senior media & content director at Syneos Health. Shkiler joins Grayling after more than a decade at Ketchum, most recently as a VP.

WASHINGTON — Signal Group has promoted managing director Blake Androff to chair of public affairs. He also joins the firm’s management committee. Androff brings more than 15 years of experience working in press, policy, and politics. He has provided strategic guidance for the speaker of the House, two cabinet secretaries, and two congressional committees.

BOSTON — PAN Communications has promoted three members of its team. Matthew Briggs, a 13-year veteran of the agency, has been promoted to senior VP, as which he will lead a team dedicated to serving the healthcare industry. Kary Hulley, who joined PAN in 2018, has also been promoted to senior VP, as which she will lead a team dedicated to healthcare and technology clients. Meantime, Kathryn McMahon Arrigg has been promoted to VP after nine years with the agency, with a focus on creating integrated, data-driven communications strategies.

NEW YORK — Naomi Hoffner has joined UpSpring as a senior account executive. In her new role at UpSpring, Naomi will service clients in the B2B space. She joins the agency with previous experience in the architecture and design PR world, having most recently worked at Gensler where she helped lead external communications efforts for the firm's North Central region. Prior to Gensler, she represented a variety of clients, including specialty architecture firms, residential design firms, and industry organizations.