March 2020 - 35

KNOW SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE FEATURED?
Email Zeke Jennings at zjennings@greatamericanpublish.com
or call 616-520-2159
Spudman7
Q&A
WITH
Mark Szymanski
Mark Szymanski probably oversimplified his job as " easy, " adding that he's only responsible
for telling the world about the efforts of his fellow National Potato Council staffers. As the
NPC's new head of communications and media relations, making sure the correct message
reaches policymakers, their staffers and the press is anything but easy. It takes skill and
nuance. Szymanski is no stranger to Washington, D.C., nor the NPC. He was the director
of public relations from 2011-14. He rejoined NPC late last year. RJ Andrus, the current
vice president of legislative and government affairs, called Szymanski " the one that got
away " in welcoming him back during the NPC's annual meeting in January.
1
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small farming
community in western New York.
Part of the Szymanski clan owned
and operated a potato farm back in
the '50s and '60s, so when I started
working for NPC, my family joked that
the Szymanskis were finally back in the
potato business.
3
6
What does your
new role with
the NPC entail?
Kam, Mike, Hollee and Hillary
are doing an incredible job
advocating for and representing
the interests of the growing
community and the rest of the
potato industry. My job is easy:
I just tell the world what they're
accomplishing.
4
What is your professional background?
After college, I started a career in politics working in Albany, moved to
D.C., and eventually to Washington State while working on the BushCheney
campaign in 2004. After that, I worked in the Bush administration as a
speechwriter for EPA Administrator Steve Johnson, held communications roles
at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the NPC and also three separate veterans'
advocacy groups. I took a few years off by working as a brewer for two local craft
breweries, before finally coming back to NPC. After years of living in the District,
my wife, 2-year-old daughter and I just bought a house in Virginia.
2
What is your
No. 1 goal?
To raise the
profile of NPC, not just
in the potato industry
or even the greater ag
industry but as a voice
that policymakers and
their staffs need to listen
to when promulgating
rules and regulations.
5
What brought you back to the
industry?
One of the things that brought me back to NPC
was their interest in launching a new (Eye on Potatoes)
podcast and their desire to get beyond the potato bubble
by attracting listeners throughout the ag and policy
communities. I am among the 51% of Americans who listen
to podcasts (mostly sports and comedy) and find them as
a great source of information. To date, we've launched six
episodes, and our download and listen numbers are far
beyond our expectations. I think we're on to something.
Did you always know you wanted to work in D.C.?
It's funny but after 17 years of mostly living in and around D.C.,
I still don't see myself as a city guy. Growing up on 100 acres of
woods, fields and creeks is something that will always be a big part of me.
That said, when my family and I visited D.C. when I was a child, I remember
thinking to myself that I would someday live here. I've never felt the same
way about any other place. I think it's the history that walks among us or
the hope that it - sometimes - represents for America.
7
What is your favorite way to
eat potatoes?
I love to grill. So, whenever I have
it fired up, I like to cut up potatoes, onions,
garlic and whatever herbs I have growing or
laying around and wrap them in an aluminum
foil pouch. I throw that on while cooking the
rest of the meal.
Spudman * March 2020
35

March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2020