Gerard Dehrmann currently serves as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and State & Local Government Relations. He is responsible for leading a team of over 50 public affairs professionals as they share a responsibility of translating Walmart’s mission of saving people money, so they can live better to state and local officials across the country. Gerard is responsible for shaping Walmart’s political strategy through all channels of state and local government. His team also works closely with Walmart Real Estate and Operations on Walmart’s local growth strategy.
Gerard served in various capacities with Walmart between 2002-2007 including Regional Manager of State Government Relations in the Midwestern US, Senior Manager State Government Relations in the Pacific Northwest/Rocky Mountain Southwest and Director of Public Affairs for the Midwestern US.
Prior to re-joining Walmart in 2008, Gerard served as the Senior Director of Government Relations for Diageo North America. Before joining Walmart in 2002, Gerard served as Vice President of the Ohio Grocers Association (OGA). In this role, he was responsible for crafting and implementing the legislative agenda for OGA’s 900 member companies.
Gerard spent over four years working in a variety of roles in the Ohio Senate including Legislative Aide to State Senator Dick Schafrath. In that capacity, Gerard worked closely with Senator Schafrath on policy issues ranging from education reform to electric deregulation.
Currently, Gerard serves on the Board of Directors of the State Government Affairs Council and The National Conference of State Legislatures Foundation.
Gerard is a graduate of The Ohio State University, receiving his B.A. degree in Political Science in 1998.
Gerard is a native of Ohio and currently resides in Rogers, Arkansas with his wife, Julie, and his son Owen (10) and daughter Avery (7).