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Michael Madriaga is proud of his family’s humble beginnings. One of his grandmothers was known as the fastest grape picker in Delano, California. But just two generations later, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would give Madriaga’s parents a personal tour of the state capitol. At the time, Madriaga had just started his political career as an intern in the governor’s private office. The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on Madriaga’s father.
“I had told my dad that I wanted to be president when I was pretty young,” explains Madriaga, the current vice president of government and industry relations at the J.M. Smucker Company. “My dad was trying to be realistic and told me that someone from a family of field workers doesn’t get to be president. After that tour, he had tears in his eyes and asked me to forgive him. He told me I could do anything I wanted and expressed how proud of me he was.”
Madriaga’s father wasn’t being cruel; he was being practical. While Madriaga’s journey hasn’t included the White House yet, the public affairs veteran has already lived numerous careers that ultimately led him to Smucker nine years ago.
So how does someone with a long history of supporting legislative work (along with the Office of the Governor, Madriaga worked in the California State Senate, the California State Assembly, and the County of Santa Barbara prior to moving to the corporate sphere) wind up as a government relations expert for a company best known for its jelly?
“The first question I get when I tell people that I’m a lobbyist is invariably, ‘Why does Smucker need a lobbyist?’” Madriaga says. “We’re a large company, and so we have to carefully consider a range of matters from taxes and tariffs to import and export issues, pensions in support of our organization and strategic business areas of coffee, frozen handheld and spreads, pet food, and snacks and sweet baked snacks, among many others.”
The VP understands that the term “lobbyist” can have a negative connotation, but he noted that this largely stems from a lack of understanding of what the role truly does, and the positive impact those in the role can drive. He also reflects on his pride in representing the company’s rich history and its employees. Madriaga works toward legislation, policy changes, and implementation that serve those who are proud consumers of the company’s products as well as the people who work for Smucker.
“At the end of the day, I get to act as an advocate for all of those voices that represent our company—from our leaders and employees to our industry partners and shareholders,” Madriaga says.
His success at Smucker is a tribute to his predecessor, Julia Sabin, who spent over forty years at the company. Sabin, Smucker’s VP of government relations, was an early advocate for Madriaga. When he was offered a promotion that required a move to company headquarters in Orville, Ohio, he asked Sabin if she thought it was a good idea.
“I wasn’t just asking about the job,” the VP explains. “I’m a gay Latino, and I wasn’t sure how I would fit in at this company culturally. Julia had the perfect response. She told me she would never offer me something that she herself hadn’t done. She had a history with the Smucker family and knew how great the leadership team truly is.”
Madriaga also attributes his success to the support of his husband, Bryan. Both are native Californians and Madriaga reflects his appreciation for his husband’s willingness to travel and allow him to realize all he has in his professional career, specifically at Smucker.
“The best way to find a new opportunity to grow is to try something new and be of service to others.”
Michael Madriaga
From California to Ohio and now Washington, DC, Madriaga’s purview has expanded exponentially at Smucker. His proximity to federal lawmakers is part of a strategy to build a stronger presence in the Beltway. His responsibilities now include industry relations, as he supports the company’s involvement in interest groups like the Pet Food Institute, the National Coffee Association, and the Consumer Brands Association. Madriaga also serves as a liaison on many of those boards and committees. In addition, Madriaga is a board member of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, the Pet Food Institute, and the Conference Board, and he is a council member of the Issues Management Council. He is also proud to be helping launch the foundation arm of the LGBTQ Congressional Caucus.
For younger Latinos looking for their first board service opportunities, Madriaga recommends following their passion. The nonprofit sector offers so many opportunities to serve that he says it’s easy to lose energy if you’re not committed to the cause. Passion is important. It may sound rudimentary, but if you want to help an organization, your heart needs to be in it.
The VP says you also need to be willing to raise your hand. “If you’re not where you want to be, you should never hesitate to put your hand up,” he says. “The best way to find a new opportunity to grow is to try something new and be of service to others.”
Madriaga has also played a direct role in supporting inclusivity and opportunities for others at Smucker as one of the founders of the Pride Alliance Employee Resource Group (for LGBTQ+ employees) and Raices (representing the company’s Latino/a/x employees and allies).
“I am incredibly proud of the journey our organization has been on to promote inclusivity and an environment for all employees as well as the incredible impact these and all of our employee resource groups have made,” he says.
When he’s not building relationships across DC, Madriaga is pursuing his personal interests. He was recently accepted for the Gay Men’s Chorus in Washington, DC, and served as captain for his gay cornhole league team. Madriaga and his husband, Bryan, have a French bulldog named Tippi that is a big fan of the Milk-Bone products his company produces, bringing all new meaning to the idea of work/life balance.
