Today, Cassidy & Associates, a leading bipartisan, bicameral government relations firm, announced the hiring of Virgilio “Lio” Barrera as Senior Vice President. Virgilio comes to Cassidy with over ten years of public policy experience and has worked with Congress, federal agencies, trade associations, and private industry to craft and implement bipartisan legislative and regulatory strategies.
Lio has an extensive resume of accomplishments as Legislative Director for Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Legislative Assistant to Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), including the Great American Outdoors Act, the Energy Act of 2020, COVID relief packages, and Energy Storage and Transmission ITC legislation. His portfolio of issues included appropriations, transportation and infrastructure, defense, and energy and natural resources.
Most recently, Virgilio served as Director of Government and Public Affairs for Holcim, US, America’s largest building materials manufacturer. In this role, Lio helped shape and implement the company’s extensive climate and sustainability strategy by crafting policies that support industrial decarbonization and Buy Clean programs that support the deployment and adoption of low-carbon building materials.
“Lio has been an integral part of the Holcim US team,” said Michael LeMonds, VP, member of the US executive committee. “Not only has Lio helped lead the company’s transportation, climate and sustainability goals, but he has also provided invaluable counsel that has helped us advance our Accelerating Green Growth strategy. Lio’s work on Buy Clean policies, environmental justice, industrial decarbonization, and community relations at the state and federal level have left a lasting mark on Holcim US and the broader building materials industry. We wish him all the best.”
“Lio understands the Senate and has a track record of legislative achievement. I am so pleased that he has joined Cassidy’s dynamic and successful bipartisan energy and natural resources team. His deep background in energy and sustainability, infrastructure and appropriations, will provide tremendous benefits to our team and help Cassidy delivery for our clients,” said Cassidy CEO Kai Anderson.