After over a decade as one of the most prominent advocates for electronic cigarettes, Gregory Conley is set to join the United States Vaping Manufacturers Association. He will hold the position of Director of Legislation and External Affairs, overseeing government and media relations for the organization.
Matt Conley, who has a long history of speaking out for electronic cigarette consumers and the independent e-cigarette industry, served as the president of the American Vaping Association (AVA). He appeared in legislative hearings and on radio and television to deliver speeches. Conley will continue to lead AVA, which will shift its focus to voter education and outreach. Conley stated that AVA's name may change.
The American Vapor Manufacturers Association (AVM) was founded in 2020 by Amanda Wheeler and Char Owen, both small electronic cigarette business owners, who were attempting to navigate the complex FDA pre-market review process. Representing e-cigarette manufacturers from around the country, the organization has become one of the most well-known trade groups in the industry. Wheeler serves as the president of AVM and is herself a prominent advocate for electronic cigarettes. In a press release, Wheeler said, "Gregory is a key voice for the e-cigarette industry, understanding the tough environment facing adult smokers and former smokers due to the FDA.” “A billionaire is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a movement to end the e-cigarette industry. The stakes have never been higher and I'm glad he's on board fighting for a united industry.”
Conley's involvement with electronic cigarettes began as a consumer. While obtaining his law degree from Rutgers University, he quit smoking traditional cigarettes with the help of e-cigarettes and joined the newly-formed Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) in 2010 while still a student. Starting out as a volunteer, he quickly became a board member and then the first legislative director for CASAA.
In 2014, he founded the American Vaping Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting electronic cigarettes. Although the organization was mainly a one-man show, it has never been more essential, especially during times of crisis. Conley may go from writing op-eds to appearing on TV interviews and testifying in state legislative bodies, sometimes all in one day.
Gregory Conley Communicates with Government Officials.
Appearing on TV networks such as CNN, Fox News, and C-SPAN, he has proven himself ready with complex facts and quick responses that leave unprepared internet experts unable to refute. During one visit to a congressional office in Washington, he unexpectedly encountered Health Secretary Vivek Murthy, using the opportunity to interact with surprised officials from the Obama administration and provide them with a copy of a report from the Royal College of Physicians on e-cigarettes and harm reduction.
During his most notable television appearance, Conley found himself sitting on one of three chairs next to US President Donald Trump at a roundtable discussion about electronic cigarettes. The hearing, unexpectedly broadcast live by several television networks, included Conley alongside anti-e-cigarette activists Robin Koval from Truth Initiative and Matthew Myers from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. They succinctly but effectively explained the lung injuries associated with EVALI, the harm caused to small businesses by the FDA's PMTA process, and potential consequences of flavored e-cigarette bans. When Juul Labs' CEO publicly defended the FDA, Conley delivered a withering comment about regulatory capture and monopolies, earning a laugh from Trump.
In a statement today, Connolly said, "Over the last decade plus, I, like millions of American adults, have quit smoking through the use of electronic cigarettes. During that time, I have been proud to advocate for e-cigarettes from the perspective of a consumer and harm reductionist. In my new role at AVM, I will continue to push for appropriate regulation to ensure that American businesses are not replaced by a multibillion-dollar black market. I look forward to working with Amanda and her board to help develop AVM.
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