The Midwest Cigar Summit is proud to annouce a speical guest for Friday, July 30th. J. Glynn Loope, executive
director of Cigar Rights of America, will be in attendance to accept CRA’s induction into the Midwest Cigar Summit Hall
of Fame, help recruit new members, and update festival attendees on the latest news in cigar taxes and smoking bans.
An avid cigar enthusiast, Glynn brings over twenty years of government relations and public arena involvement to CRA.
Prior to assuming his role as CRA's executive director, Glynn was the founder and president of Commonwealth
Advance, LLC in Virginia - a leading government relations and business development consulting firm.
Although Glynn had carved out a niche in raising government funds for worthwhile public and private sector projects, it
was working for the Cigar Association of Virginia that brought him to the world of "the politics of cigars." Since 2006,
Glynn has represented the Cigar Association of Virginia, working with the state's professional tobacconists in amassing
a pro-business coalition to fight intrusive smoking ban legislation.
Glynn also worked as a Legislative Assistant to former members of the Virginia House and Senate, for the University of
Virginia's Center for Public Service, as well as, local and regional government organizations.
For anyone who has ever had the opportunity to meet or speak with Glynn, it doesn’t take long for his enthusiasm and
passion for cigars to come through. More so than cigars, however, Glynn is a firm believer in personal choice.
Hopefully through the actions of CRA, their staff, directors, ambassadors, and members, we will once again return to an
era of personal choice in the USA.
The induction ceremony for CRA will be held Friday night at 7:30 PM. Glynn will be on hand for the event, and will be
ready and willing to answer any questions related to cigar legislation.