Our Team
Our Team
Cigar Association of America Staff Team
Scott Pearce
President
Scott joins CAA after serving over six years as the Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). He brings more than twenty years of experience in associations, with a strong track record of driving success and growth through the implementation of innovative strategies at both national and international levels.
Scott excels in uniting diverse stakeholders to form effective coalitions, serving as a spokesperson for organizations and industries, and providing a clear strategic vision that empowers stakeholders to collaboratively achieve goals. He has a proven history of developing high-quality, branded member experiences, generating non-dues revenue, and leading high-performing teams to deliver exceptional value propositions.
Scott holds a B.A. in English with a minor in Electronic Journalism from George Mason University and a Masters in Business Administration, with a focus on Marketing and Business Strategy, from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.
Patrick Anderson
Senior Vice President
Patrick Anderson is CAA’s Senior Vice President, overseeing State and Federal government affairs. He is a 20 year public affairs veteran, with extensive experience developing strategy and messaging for heavily regulated industries. Patrick has also worked as a lobbyist for several Am Law 100 firms supporting tobacco related businesses. As a former Congressional staff, he has experience in both the Senate and House of Representatives where he advised on appropriations, health and trade policy.
Patrick has a B.A. in Economics from St. Joseph’s University. He is a sporting clays enthusiast and an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Dan Cotter
Vice President of Finance and Operations
Dan Cotter joined the CAA team in 2015 and serves as the Vice President of Finance and Operations. He leads the financial and operational strategy for the association, overseeing accounting, budgeting, investment management, compliance, and audits. Dan also directs core operations including human resources, IT systems, regulatory reporting, strategic communications and digital engagement, vendor oversight, and data reporting. He manages the delivery of industry surveys and benchmarking reports to support CAA’s member companies and guides key administrative functions to ensure organizational performance.
With more than thirty years of experience in financial management, nonprofit and business leadership, and corporate strategy, Dan has led multiple successful turnaround efforts. He brings deep expertise in financial restructuring, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. Under his leadership, several underperforming organizations have been revitalized and positioned for sustainable growth and improved performance.
Before joining CAA, Dan served as a Financial Controller for various companies in Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area, and worked in nonprofit audits with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). He holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland.
Mudi Kpohraror
Director of State Government Relations
Mudi is a natural relationship builder and insightful political advocate, skills he puts to good use as a key member of the Cigar Association of America team.
He works closely with the CAA team to craft integrated lobbying and communications strategies and effectively implements those strategies at capitals across the country. Mudi’s work and ability to see issues from various perspectives ensures that CAA’s members are always well-represented and well-informed.
Mudi’s professional experience spans Twitter, the U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Senator John Hoeven, the North Dakota Republican Party, and the Special Olympics.
Mudi received his B.S. in political science from North Dakota State University and his MPA from the University of Mary.
Caitlin Buehrer
Operations Assistant
Caitlin provides wide-ranging support to the CAA executive team, contributing to office administration, bookkeeping, member relations, strategic communications with a focus on digital media, and event planning.
Her previous experience includes political media marketing and account management, where she gained skills in client communications, data analysis, and developing advertising strategies.
She is a recent graduate of West Virginia University, holding a degree in Business Administration with an area of emphasis in Digital Media Marketing. During her time in college, Caitlin was the president of her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. She was also recognized by the Beta Gamma Sigma and Order of Omega honor societies.
The CAA Advocacy Team
We believe in having the best team of advocates in place who have years of experience in their respective states and at the federal government level.
Our team ensures prompt responses and actions when governmental regulatory issues or proposed legislation arise that would negatively impact the cigar industry. Seeking the most favorable and timely outcome for our members is the top priority of our advocacy efforts.
Our federal advocacy team in Washington, D.C. works closely with one another on regulatory affairs and federal issues that impact our members. Our network of state advocates spans from coast to coast and includes: the Eastern, the Midwestern, and the Western regions.
Federal Advocacy
Our federal advocacy team focuses on monitoring and taking action on the following issues that impact our members.
Current Regulatory Focus
As an organization we are constantly making progress through our advocacy efforts on behalf of our members and the cigar industry. We make sure to prioritize our main regulatory issues concerning the FDA.
Federal Priorities and Positions
CAA engages with and educates policy makers and regulators on a host of issues that affect the cigar industry. Every year our team closely monitors the legislative environment to ensure that the industry remains unhindered, and industry products continue to be provided to millions of Americans.
Federal Tax Issues
We actively monitor, track, identify and act on the current tax laws and proposed changes to the tax laws that matter most to our member companies and the cigar industry.
State Advocacy
Eastern Region
The Eastern Region represents the largest number of states. In the Eastern Region, CAA has state affairs teams in these states:
Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maryland
Maine
North Carolina
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Midwestern Region
The Midwestern Region represents fifteen states. In the Midwestern Region, CAA has state affairs teams in these states:
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississppi
Montana
Nebraska
Ohio
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Wisconsin
Western Region
The Western Region represents twelve states. In the Western Region, CAA has state affairs teams in these states:
