Each year, we publish a special issue featuring the 500 most influential people in Washington. With changes in policy direction coming at breakneck speed, the expertise and strategic acumen of these power players have never been more crucial as they work to understand and shape rapidly shifting prio rities across the capital. Our selection process remains rigorous, and we acknowledge that there are far more than 500 influential voices in Washington. We focus on several key factors: individuals with deep subject-matter expertise who understand how to effectively drive action in DC; those who grasp the nuances and complexities of specific policy areas; and experts in fields that are experiencing particularly dramatic change under the current administration. We’ve maintained our practice of excluding those currently in elected office as well as Capitol Hill and administration staffers—the “influencees.” However, many on our roster have government experience, which affords them valuable insight into how to elevate issues effectively in times of flux. Others, we suspect, may enter government service in the future or have the ear of those scrambling to keep pace with policy developments. Our selections span the ideological spectrum, and we’ve deliberately avoided including big-name “hired guns” whose influence stems more from communication skills and networks than from genuine policy expertise. Some people or organizations may be viewed as having a controversial impact. We aren’t passing judgment on whether each person’s influence benefits the greater good—our goal is simply to highlight those who wield it. This year’s list features voices working around the clock to interpret and navigate the new land-scape, such as George Mason University’s Tyler Cowen, whose economic know-how helps leaders read the shifts in policy direction; Ylli Bajraktari, who’s working to ensure that the US stays competitive in the constantly changing field of AI; and lawyer Neal Katyal, who argued the crucial tariff case before the Supreme Court. Like everyone else on this list, they all seem to be working overtime. What unites these Washingtonians is their passion for understanding policy issues and their ability to move them forward—especially when the ground is shifting beneath everyone’s feet. —Catherine Merrill Washingtonian President and CEO To purchase a physical copy of our Influencers list, please click here. Antitrust Experts who ensure that businesses are competing fairly and that mergers are in the public’s interest Seth Bloom Bloom Strategic Counsel President and Founder Bloom has been a leading congressional adviser on antitrust and competition issues, advocating before lawmakers and administration officials on policy, legislation, and enforcement efforts. Hometown: Buffalo. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Things tend to work out in the end, so difficult decisions, especially career decisions, are generally not as consequential as they seem at the time.” Surprising thing on his desk or in his bag: Buffalo Bills schedule. Stoney Burke Aquia Group Founder and CEO A former chief of staff to Republican congressman Will Hurd, Burke has positioned himself as an experienced antitrust lobbyist who has worked on issues related to online sports gambling—just as scrutiny over the industry intensifies in Washington. Hometown: Roscoe, Texas. Education: Texas AM (BA in international studies, minor in political science). Song on repeat: “Kidz Bop Playlist. It’s always still playing after school drop-off.” Mike Davis MRDLaw/Article III Project Founder and Managing Partner/President The longtime Trump ally has helped companies navigate antitrust enforcement by appealing to the President’s broader economic priorities, including facilitating behind-the-scenes job-creation commitments that helped smooth a merger approval for Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Hometown: Des Moines. First job: “I worked for my family’s concession business. I prepared food and drinks at summer sporting events.” Song on repeat: “Bruce Springsteen’s ‘My Hometown’ has served as my iPhone alarm song for years.” Teddy Downey Capitol Forum CEO and Executive Editor Downey has become a prominent antitrust voice whose investigative reporting and podcasts regularly shape policy debates on monopoly power, tech regulation, and enforcement priorities. Education: Columbia. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Major in history, not English.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “Hanging out with my kids. They love to cook, draw, read, and just play.” Jason Kint Digital Content Next CEO Kint has been a leading industry advocate pressing regulators and lawmakers to rein in dominant digital platforms’ data and advertising practices to protect publishers’ revenue and users’ privacy. Hometown: Columbus, Ohio. First job: Newspaper delivery boy. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You don’t know anything yet, kid. Pay attention.” Barry Lynn Open Markets Institute Executive Director Lynn’s writings on the dramatic political and economic effects of the extreme consolidation of corporate power in the US have influenced policymakers’ thinking on both sides of the Atlantic, even as he remains a sharp critic of the Trump administration’s antitrust approach. Hometown: Miami. First job: “Cutting and packaging in a factory that made radio-controlled balsa-wood model airplanes.” Lesson from that job: “Be really careful when using the band saws.” Sara Razi Simpson Thacher Bartlett Partner and Global Co-Chair, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice Razi led Change Healthcare’s $13.8 billion acquisition by UnitedHealth Group through a high-stakes Department of Justice challenge, earning her a reputation as one of the city’s top merger advisers. Hometown: Jackson, Mississippi. Education: University of Colorado (BA, molecular, cellular, and developmental biology); American University Washington College of Law. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: Veterinarian. John Schmidtlein Williams Connolly Partner and Co-Chair, Antitrust Practice Group A veteran antitrust litigator, Schmidtlein has shaped enforcement debates through landmark cases, including representing Google in multiple monopoly trials, and through his work advising clients on complex merger clearances amid shifting political landscapes. Hometown: Alexandria. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Take more vacations when you’re young.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “Reading sports pages and watching Premier League soccer.” Randy Stutz American Antitrust Institute President Stutz drives aggressive reform advocacy, most recently in his appearances at public court cases and agency proceedings to push for stronger structural remedies against monopolies, cartels, and mergers in labor, AI, and digital-technology markets. Hometown: Rockville. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Take better care of your knees and back. You will need them later.” Surprising thing on his desk: “I keep a baseball on my desk and cycle through pitch grips off camera on Zoom calls. Curve, slider, change up, split-finger fastball.” Jonathan Yarowsky WilmerHale Partner and Co-Chair, Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Practice At WilmerHale, Yarowsky counsels clients on antitrust legislation such as HSR reforms while bridging Capitol Hill, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission on high-profile enforcement shifts. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Clinical psychology—starting with myself.” Surprising thing on his desk or in his bag: “An old-fashioned, small red daily diary to write down thoughts.” Historical figure he most identifies with: “Teddy Roosevelt, the original trustbuster.” Banking Finance People who advocate for stable and secure financial systems Tim Adams Institute of International Finance President and CEO As an integral convener between the world’s largest financial institutions and policymakers, Adams helps shape regulatory guidance and raises concerns about overly stringent SEC proposals. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Teaching history or economics.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be nice to your parents—you won’t have them around forever.” Last meal would be: “A Manhattan with good Kentucky bourbon.” Greg Baer Bank Policy Institute President and CEO Baer spearheaded an advocacy campaign that pressured the Federal Reserve to significantly scale back capital requirements for banks, by detailing how doing so would affect consumers and businesses. First job: Amusement-park ride attendant. Hidden talent: “I can fall asleep within three minutes at any time and any place.” Surprising thing always on his desk: “An extra-large Panera iced tea.” Anne Balcer Community Bank Advisory Services Principal Balcer was one of the architects of the regulatory road map that brought community banks into the digital age, turning the GENIUS Act—which modernized regulations on notices and disclosures—from mere legislation into reality for Main Street finance. Hometown: Baltimore. Cherished possession: “A pen my father gave me when I was admitted to the Maryland Bar. It belonged to his father, an immigrant without a high-school education who received it when he became a foreman at Bethlehem Steel. My dad never wanted me to forget where I came from.” Song on repeat: “‘Golden’ by HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters (I have a seven-year-old).” James Ballentine Ballentine Strategies Founder and CEO Ballentine leverages his extensive legislative expertise to lead advocacy efforts for the Electronic Payments Coalition. In this role, he successfully stalled the expansion of credit-card routing mandates that the banking industry argues would compromise security. First job: Working with the Women, Infants, and Children Program. Lesson from that job: “Everyone can go through challenging financial periods in their lives, and there’s value in having programs that can assist those in greatest need.” Best career advice he ever received: “Recognize that a hump in the road is not a mountain and you can overcome it.” Tim Berry JPMorganChase Global Head of Corporate Responsibility and Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Region Berry has spearheaded JPMorganChase’s $1.5 trillion Security Resiliency Initiative, a ten-year strategic plan to finance and invest in industries critical to national economic security, including advanced manufacturing and frontier technologies. Hometown: Silver Spring. Alternate career he’d pursue: “Something with art. I was a painting major, and I’ve always loved the process of creating something from start to finish.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “Hot sauce. The hotter, the better.” Michael Bright Structured Finance Association CEO Bright is a central voice in Washington on securitization and housing-finance regulation, regularly briefing Treasury officials and key Hill committees on how policy shifts could ripple through the $14 trillion–plus structured-finance market. Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio. Education: Johns Hopkins (bachelor’s and master’s in American foreign policy and international economics). What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Take as much math as you can.” Robert Broeksmit Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Broeksmit successfully championed the permanent preservation of the mortgage-interest deduction and the repeal of “trigger leads” to protect homebuyers from aggressive, unwanted marketing when a lender pulls a credit report that triggers notification to credit agencies. Education: Yale. Best career advice he ever received: “The best way to be promoted to the next level is to be the best at your current role, versus obsessing about what it takes to move up.” Hidden talent: Gardening. Reginald Brown Kirkland Ellis Partner, Litigation Brown has been using his crisis-management expertise to guide major financial institutions and universities through the surge of aggressive GOP congressional oversight inquiries, to help clients mitigate reputational risk. Education: Yale; Harvard Law. First job: “McDonald’s cook, then crew chief.” Best career advice he received: “Lloyd Cutler told me when I was a young lawyer, ‘Put on your jacket and go to lunch.’ ” Marc Cadin Finseca CEO Under Cadin’s leadership, the association advocated for the provisions that formalized permanent tax structures and maintained existing estate-tax exemptions. First job: Washing dishes at Little Ceasars. Education: Villanova; Catholic University Columbus School of Law. Most cherished possessions: “My Villanova lacrosse jerseys.” Kelvin Chen Consumer Bankers Association Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Policy Chen orchestrated an advocacy strategy on overdraft policy and real-time-payment innovation, navigating a regulatory environment involving billions in annual fee revenue and the modernization of digital transactions. Education: University of Pennsylvania; NYU Law. Bryan Corbett Managed Funds Association President and CEO Corbett spearheaded the MFA’s successful legal challenge against the SEC’s Private Fund Adviser rules, securing a landmark court victory that vacated regulations designed to increase transparency and oversight in the private-equity and hedge-fund industries. First job: Maintenance at a tennis club. First app he checks in the morning: ESPN. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Sports agent. Brendan Dunn PhronesisDC President Leveraging his experience as a chief architect of the 2017 Tax Reform, Dunn directs strategic advocacy for major financial institutions navigating tax policy, with a focus on preserving the corporate rate structure. Education: College of the Holy Cross; University of Notre Dame; Georgetown Law. First app he checks in the morning: X. Surprising things always on his desk or in his bag: “Multiple stress balls and fidget spinners.” Nicole Elam National Bankers Association President and CEO Elam has successfully fought to change new federal banking rules that would have unintentionally dried up vital funding for minority-owned banks and the neighborhoods they serve. Hometown: Indianapolis. Education: DePauw University and Howard law school. First app she checks in the morning: “My calendar. It helps me orient my day and be intentional about where my time and energy go.” Langston Emerson Mindset DC Partner Emerson has been instrumental in shaping investment policy, particularly in his advocacy for preserving key tax and banking provisions that facilitate private-equity investments in underserved markets. Education: Howard University; George Washington University Law School. Hidden talent: DJing. Amanda Eversole Financial Services Forum President and CEO As the leader of an organization representing the nation’s eight largest banks, Eversole convinced federal regulators to rewrite the massive Basel III Endgame rule that she argued would have made it significantly more expensive for everyday Americans to get a mortgage or a car loan. Best career advice ever received: “Say yes before you’re ready, and show up like it matters.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Stand by your principles, even when it’s uncomfortable.” Hidden talent: “Home renovation—thanks to my dad, who gave me tools every Christmas and taught me how to use them.” Sima Gandhi Coalition for Financial Ecosystem Standards Cofounder Gandhi shapes fintech regulation on issues including AI-driven lending, stablecoin oversight, open-banking frameworks, and systemic-risk management, regularly advising regulators while fostering public-private collaboration. Hometown: Mountain View, California. Worst career advice she ever received: “It’s important to work for companies with recognizable brands.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Ski patrol.” Teresa Goody Guillén BakerHostetler Partner and Leader, Digital and Innovate Markets Guillén is a primary architect of the Digital Markets Restructure Act of 2026, a legislative framework designed to establish a uniform federal system for digital-asset supervision and to end what she calls “regulation by enforcement.” Best career advice: “Dream big—if no one laughs at you, it isn’t big enough.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “People will underestimate you—learn to use that to your advantage.” Surprising thing always in her bag: A rosary. Bridget Hagan Blackstone Managing Director, Blackstone Credit and Insurance A central figure in shaping how the insurance industry invests, Hagan has successfully consulted new federal regulations to ensure that insurance companies can safely channel hundreds of billions of dollars into private credit and infrastructure projects. Hometown: Alexandria. Surprising thing on her desk: A Martha Stewart “Elf on the Shelf” doll. Productivity hack: “I sometimes take meetings in the Renwick or the National Portrait Gallery because I find it helps spark creative thinking on complex issues.” Richard Hunt Electronic Payments Coalition Executive Chairman Hunt is leading a campaign against major credit-card legislation in Congress, arguing that proposed government mandates would kill popular “cash back” rewards and compromise the security of every swipe. Hometown: Jennings, Louisiana. First job and a lesson from it: “White’s Auto Parts on Main Street in Jennings for $2 an hour. I learned that people were as clueless as I was about auto parts.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Don’t prejudge people, because everyone has had their own trials and tribulations.” Jeannine Jacokes Community Development Bankers Association CEO Jacokes champions the preservation of banks, credit unions, and other financial entities that spur local growth—amid Trump-administration targeting—even as the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund moves forward with plans to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars in awards to low-income communities. Education: Aquinas College; UNC–Chapel Hill. Lindsey Johnson Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Johnson blocked a $5 billion government cap on overdraft fees by arguing that the limits would force banks to eliminate the service, stripping low-income customers of a vital emergency safety net. Hometown: Pampa, Texas. First jobs: “I mowed lawns and was a lifeguard, swim coach, and barista.” Lesson from those jobs: “Hustle! And be an early riser.” Doug Kantor National Association of Convenience Stores General Counsel Kantor secured a significant victory for small businesses when, thanks in part to his efforts, President Trump publicly endorsed the Credit Card Competition Act, a move aimed at slashing the billions in “swipe fees” that merchants pay to big banks. Hometown: Pacific Palisades, California. First job: Teacher in the LA Unified School District. Most cherished possession: “A 1978-game baseball bat from [former LA Dodgers player] Ron Cey.” Dennis Kelleher Better Markets Cofounder, President, and CEO Kelleher is a widely cited opponent of both cryptocurrency and prediction markets—opposing what he calls their “wealth-extraction activities”—and instead supports economic growth fueled by community banks and small businesses. First job: Rescue-squad member/ambulance driver. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Slow down and pay more attention to what’s going on around you.” Career he’d pursue if weren’t doing what he does now: English professor. Edward Knight Nasdaq Executive Vice Chairman Knight is directing Nasdaq’s global push for “asset tokenization,” working with regulators to bridge the gap between traditional stock trading and digital blockchain technology to make settling trades faster. Hometown: Laredo, Texas. Education: University of Texas at Austin; University of Texas School of Law. Penny Lee Financial Technology Association President and CEO Lee successfully campaigned for “open banking” rules to ensure that tech-savvy Americans can more easily move their financial data between apps and traditional banks to find better interest rates and lower fees. First job: Waitress at the Windbreak Cafe in Wasilla, Alaska. Lesson from that job: “Never pick up a syrup bottle by the lid.” Most cherished possession: “My mother’s rolling pin. She was a state-champion pie maker.” Walton Liles Blue Ridge Law Policy Cofounder and Principal As a top behind-the-scenes strategist, Liles has made a legislative push for stablecoin regulation, helping lawmakers draft a framework that brings digital currencies into the formal banking system. Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama. First job: Law clerk for Judge Joel Dubina on the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Something involving real estate.” Summer Mersinger Blockchain Association CEO With decades of experience shaping financial regulation at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and on Capitol Hill, Mersinger was tapped last year to lead the crypto powerhouse as it drives for bipartisan legislation and regulatory clarity on digital currency. Education: University of Minnesota; Catholic University Columbus School of Law. First job: Executive assistant in the House of Representatives. Chris Morton American Land Title Association CEO Morton led a national campaign to increase protections against seller impersonation and fradulent property transfers, testifying before the House Financial Services Committee in support of incorporating fraud prevention into housing legislation. Hometown: Chicago. Education: Northwestern; University of Chicago. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, blues guitarist, PGA pro—one can dream, right?” Rob Nichols American Bankers Association President and CEO Nichols secured a significant regulatory victory, forcing the Federal Reserve to cut planned capital hikes by more than half—an effort, the ABA argued, that ensured banks could continue providing affordable mortgages and small-business loans. Hometown: Seattle. First job: Seattle Times paper boy. First app he checks in the morning: “Weather—boring, I admit.” Andrew Olmem Mayer Brown DC Office Managing Partner and Co-Leader, Financial Services Directing the legal strategy for major financial institutions to challenge what he calls “regulatory overreach” of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Olmem utilizes his expertise working at the White House and in the Senate to help reshape the federal government’s oversight of consumer lending. First job: His own lawn-mowing business. Hidden talent: “Presidential trivia.” Surprising thing always with him: “A journal of books I’ve read.” Eric Pan Investment Company Institute President and CEO Pan successfully lobbied to remove Section 899 (a “revenge tax” to counter foreign taxes) from the “Big Beautiful Bill,” worked with the SEC to modernize the Investment Company Act of 1940, and advocated for multiple ICI-backed bills through the House—cementing the organization’s influence on investor-focused regulation. Best career advice he ever received: “Take pride in what you do or do something else.” First app he checks every morning: Financial Times. Hidden talent: “I can fall asleep anywhere.” Ed Perlmutter Holland Knight Partner Perlmutter is currently leading the push for the SAFER Banking Act, navigating new Senate leadership in hopes of finally providing legal cannabis businesses with access to the federal banking system. Hometown: Denver. Education: University of Colorado Boulder (bachelor’s, JD). Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Park ranger or volcanologist.” Zach Pfister Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Principal, Public Policy Pfister helps clients navigate the evolving landscape around so-called junk fees and helps policymakers understand the practical impact of proposed regulations across industries. Hometown: Jasper, Indiana. Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t take yourself too seriously. Everyone in Washington was student-body president.” Surprising thing on his desk: “A Needoh Cube. I always have one sitting around or near my computer, especially for those ‘all news is breaking news’ type of days.” Brendan Reilly Barclays Managing Director and Head of US Corporate Affairs Reilly has been instrumental in aligning Barclays with the evolving US regulatory landscape, successfully leading efforts to harmonize transatlantic policies to support continued investment in the US. Hometown: Allendale, New Jersey. First job: Working on the loading dock for a window distributor. Best career advice he ever received: “Half of life may be showing up, but it’s what you do when you show up—have a presence and contribute.” Elad Roisman Cravath Swaine Moore Partner, Corporate Roisman guides major corporations through the “post-Chevron” legal era, helping them challenge aggressive agency rules in court now that federal judges have more power to strike down bureaucratic overreach. First job: Soccer referee. Best career advice he ever received: “Go into every meeting expecting to learn something new and to be impressed.” Productivity hack: “I make myself take a 15-minute walk every few hours. I find that I come up with solutions to problems as I walk.” Rebeca Romero Rainey Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Romero Rainey won a critical victory by securing an exemption for thousands of small community banks from the harshest requirements of new banking regulations, ensuring that local lenders aren’t buried under streams of red tape. Hometown: Taos, New Mexico. First job: Bank teller. Historical figure she most identifies with: “I identify with Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote ‘You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.’ ” Dan Smith Consumer Data Industry Association President and CEO Smith spearheaded the industry’s opposition to a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Board rule that would have banned medical debt from credit reports, arguing that removing the data would lead to less accurate credit scores and higher loan prices. Hometown: West Orange, New Jersey. First job: Working for Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Hidden talent: “I could throw a baseball over 90 miles per hour.” Alison Weiss MassMutual Head of Government Relations Weiss is leading the life-insurance industry’s effort to modernize retirement policy, successfully advocating for new tax incentives in “SECURE 3.0” that make it easier for small businesses to offer pension-like annuities. Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts. Productivity hack: “No multitasking—it’s a productivity killer.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: “Fast protein and electrolytes.” Candida Wolff Citigroup Head of Global Government Affairs Wolff helmed the megabank’s response to Trump’s credit-card interest-rate-cap proposal that she says could limit credit access for low-income borrowers and drive down consumer spending in retail, hospitality, and travel. Hometown: Canaan, Connecticut. First job: “Working for my dad in his plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning business, answering phones and handling billing/filing.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “I am as surprised as you are about where our career has taken us.” Kevin Wysocki Anchorage Digital Head of Policy Wysocki is attempting to establish the first formal safety standards for how banks can securely hold Bitcoin and other crypto assets for customers. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “Playing with my three kids.” Last meal would be: “I’m from Buffalo, so I have to say 20 wings with blue cheese.” Cherished possession: A Union Army Civil War cavalry saber. David Zell Bitcoin Policy Institute Cofounder and President Zell has rapidly transformed this nonpartisan nonprofit into a recognized policy institution that shapes cryptocurrency-regulation debates around financial freedom, innovation, and economic sovereignty. Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama. Education: University of Alabama. Business Labor These advocates fight to keep our commerce strong for employers and employees Elissa Alben Netflix Vice President, US and Canada Global Affairs Since leaving Pfizer earlier this year, Alben has begun steering the streaming giant’s strategy on antitrust, digital trade, and kids’ safety rules. First job: “Answering the tips line at a TV station in upstate New York.” Worst career advice she ever received: “When I was 22, a psychic at a party said being a lawyer would be too much for me and I should try something less intense.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: New York Times Spelling Bee. Nicole Austin Reinsurance Association of America Senior Vice President and Director of Federal Affairs When the Trump administration threatened deep cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Austin helped protect immediate operational funding for weather data that helps properly assess catastrophic risks from storms. Education: Hamilton College. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Don’t forget Philippians 4:13.” Hidden talent: “Figure skating. I turned professional at 18.” Brian Ballard Ballard Partners President Ballard’s firm has signed more than 130 new clients since the start of Trump’s second term, more than doubling its quarterly revenue, in part due to his proximity to Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles, who used to work at Ballard and brokered an early meeting with the President. Education: University of Florida (BS, JD). Danielle Beck Corn Refiners Association Vice President, External Affairs Beck has experience delivering Farm Bill and appropriations wins for agribusiness clients as she leverages 15 years in agriculture policy advocacy. First job: Assistant counselor at a summer camp for neurodivergent kids. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Put the pencil skirt down and walk away. You do not need to buy something just because you’re having a bad day.” Hidden talent: “Glassblowing and gardening are probably two of my favorite hobbies.” John Bivona Kalshi Head of Federal Government Relations Drawing on his deep ties as a former Biden White House liaison, John Bivona is spearheading Kalshi’s effort to establish its popular prediction markets as a responsible, mainstream financial asset amid a shifting regulatory landscape. Education: Florida State University. First job: Regional field director for the 2008 Obama campaign. Joshua Bolten Business Roundtable CEO Bolten was able to secure candidate Trump’s attendance at the group’s plenary meeting in 2024, which included close to 200 of the nation’s CEOs who are particularly interested in tax and tariff policy. Hometown: DC. Education: Princeton; Stanford Law. Hidden talent: Played bass guitar in a band called the Compassionates, including while chief of staff for President George W. Bush. Brent Booker Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Booker launched “Laborers Rising,” an initiative within LiUNA to boost participation by its half million members and to advance pro-worker policies while expanding apprenticeships for veterans and underrepresented workers within the union. Education: UVA. Best career advice he ever received: “Call everyone back, be honest with them, and if you don’t know the answer to something, say that and get back to them.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “ ‘Dude, it’s 1 pm—get out of bed and go to class.’ But, really, I wish I’d taken academia more seriously.” Neil Bradley U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy Bradley’s warnings on the economic damage from last fall’s government shutdown underscored his role in pushing lawmakers to consider the business community’s concerns about economic stability and growth. Hometown: Sapulpa, Oklahoma. First job: Staff member for then-representative Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Lesson from that job: “You can either be the person who always calls other people when you have a question or you can study and learn the topic yourself and be the person other people call.” Courtney Titus Brooks Retail Industry Leaders Association Vice President of Tax Brooks, dubbed by one industry colleague as the “Taylor Swift of Tax,” was instrumental in ensuring that lawmakers recognized retailers as full corporate taxpayers, thereby helping secure a 21-percent corporate tax rate that the industry claimed helped boost wages. Education: Elon University; George Washington University. Roxanne Brown United Steelworkers International President This year, Brown became the first Black woman president of USW, a historic first that represents a shift in the labor movement and reflects the current demographic of today’s workforce. Education: Howard University; University of Maryland. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Hold on—it’s going to be a bumpy but amazing ride.” Last meal would be: “I’m Jamaican, so it would be our national dish: ackee and saltfish, probably with a side of curry goat for good measure.” Ron Busby Sr. U.S. Black Chambers President and CEO Known as “America’s Black CEO,” Busby represents more than 300,000 businesses and advises policymakers on economic equity and ways to scale Black-owned enterprises. Hometown: Oakland. Best career advice he ever received: “That working harder than everyone else got you promoted.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be committed to God’s work.” Cory Bythrow American Federation of Government Employees Chief of Staff Bythrow is heralded as an integral thinker behind the union’s strategy to defend the civil service during unprecedented challenges, developing AFGE’s E-dues system, which helped the union mount its legal, legislative, and media campaigns. Hometown: Quincy, Massachusetts. Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t ask for advice.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “A small metal Slinky—if there’s a better way to expend nervous energy and restore focus, I haven’t found it.” Wayne Chopus Insured Retirement Institute President and CEO Chopus secured tax-deferral protections for retirement savings in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—building on IRI’s landmark SECURE Act victories from 2019 and 2022. Best career advice he ever received: “Each year, ask yourself, ‘Am I in the right industry? Am I at the right company? Am I in the right role?’ If the answer to any of those questions is no, do something about it.” First app he checks in the morning: “Oura, to find out how poorly it says I slept once again!” Most cherished possession: “A copy of my grandfather’s war log from his time as a POW in World War II, Stalag 17.” Stephen Ciccone Toyota Group Vice President, Government Affairs As the industry faces volatile shifts around electric vehicles and emission standards, Ciccone has been integral in keeping Toyota at the forefront of sustainable transportation and technology deployment. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Things will get better.” Hidden talent: “Headstands. With eyes closed.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “My Shakti acupressure mat. It’s like lying on a bed of nails but with plastic spikes that can’t puncture skin. Hurts like hell the first time, but once you get used to it, blissful relaxation follows.” Casey Clark National Association of Professional Employer Organizations President and CEO Clark has defended small-business tax advantages by securing business-income deductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax legislation. Education: University of Dayton. First job: Public-affairs assistant at the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. Suzanne Clark U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Clark is using the Chamber’s 250th-year platform to frame pro-market, pro-growth policies as the only path to national renewal while positioning the business community as the defender of dynamic capitalism against both populist protectionism and regulatory overreach. First job: At a Hallmark store. Hidden talent: Gift-wrapping. Best career advice she ever received: “If they can’t trust you to do the small tasks well, why would they trust you with the big ones?” Gentry Collins American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce CEO Collins has orchestrated opposition to the Credit Card Competition Act—which would break up the Visa-Mastercard monopoly on processing credit-card transactions—framing it as a threat to consumer rewards and a form of government overreach. Education: Iowa State University. Judy Conti Conti Strategies President and CEO Conti is helping the nonprofit Democracy Forward, one of her clients, with its congressional strategy against Trump-administration overreach. Besides pro-democracy efforts, her government-affairs and public-policy consulting firm specializes in workers’ rights and civil rights. First job: “Scooping ice cream at the Jersey Shore.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: “Crocheted flowers made by my oldest kid.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “I love musical theater, so I’ll turn on a cast recording and sing at the top of my lungs—where no one else can hear it.” Michaeleen Earle Crowell S-3 Group Principal A former chief of staff to Senator Bernie Sanders, Crowell now bridges progressive priorities with corporate strategy, most recently leading DoorDash’s advocacy on independent contractors and gig-economy labor regulations. Education: Boston University (BA, JD). Surprising thing always on her desk: “Seashells from my family’s ancestral home on Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland.” Steve Danon Restaurant Brands International Vice President and Head of US Government Relations and Community Affairs Danon sits at the tip of the spear for brands such as Burger King, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs, focusing on defending the franchise business model against joint-employer regulatory shifts. Hometown: San Diego. First job: Working the drive-through at Burger King. First app he checks in the morning: Punchbowl News. Doug Davenport DCI Group Senior Adviser The veteran of three Trump presidential campaigns has secured high-profile clients such as Meta and MIT while advocating on pivotal policy issues like “no taxes on tips” and labor reforms for DoorDash. Education: University of Vermont. Ashley Davis S-3 Group Partner Davis serves as a strategic connector for Fortune 500 clients, leveraging her White House experience to ensure that their interests are integrated into the legislative process at the drafting stage rather than just responding to finalized policy. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Work hard, maintain a good reputation, and build an environment where people want to work with you.” Hidden talent: “I can golf.” First app she checks in the morning: “Grok. I have it programmed to summarize clips I’m interested in every morning at 5 am.” Matt Foley Chipotle Mexican Grill Head of Government Relations A key strategist in navigating supply chain uncertainty in an effort to maintain prices for consumers, Foley led the company’s advocacy efforts on trade, tax, and agriculture in 2025. Hometown: Falls Church. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be more intentional about maintaining your friendships—time moves quickly.” Song on repeat: “Do It With Soul” by Soloman Ray. Kim Glas National Council of Textile Organizations President and CEO Glas led a successful campaign to end the “de minimis” loophole that allowed low-value shipments to bypass tariffs and customs, a change that produced major relief for US textile manufacturers. First app she checks in the morning: “Instagram, to start my day laughing at some reels.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Working in the Buffalo Bills front office, helping the team win a Super Bowl.” Surprising thing always in her purse: “A slingshot. A friend gave it to me to remind me that it’s David versus Goliath. Be the David.” Cedric Grant Avoq Partner and Government Relations Co-Lead Grant helps build a bridge between Fortune 500 corporations and House Democratic leadership, most notably shaping how major industries respond to Congressional Black Caucus initiatives and federal DEI standards. Education: Howard University; Columbia; Princeton Theological Seminary. Brigitte Schmidt Gwyn PepsiCo Senior Vice President, North America Public Policy and Government Affairs Gwyn’s efforts on the Farm Bill helped to, among other things, secure critical support for the adoption of regenerative agriculture, while she’s guided the company’s engagement on nutrition, trade, and sustainability. Education: University of Houston. First app she checks in the morning: “It’s hard to pick one, but I do prefer to settle down with the WSJ and read one full story on politics, business, and international affairs first thing in the morning.” Surprising thing always in her bag: “I’m a two-phone person. One for work and one for family.” Bruce Harris Walmart Vice President, Federal Government Affairs Harris orchestrated Walmart’s advocacy for the “Stronger Workforce for America Act” to modernize federal job training, and he leads the retail giant’s response to tariff and trade enforcement in the Indo-Pacific. Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Education: University of Arkansas. Eric Hoplin National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors President and CEO Hoplin focuses on supply-chain resilience, fair-trade practices, and modernization of the distribution industry, helping members navigate bumpy economic challenges. Hometown: Detriot Lakes, Minnesota. First job and a lesson from it: “I washed the hearse at a funeral home. I learned to do my best every single time, knowing that it would be someone’s final ride.” Most cherished possession: “When my great-great-grandparents immigrated from Norway in 1870, they brought a copper teakettle to use for cooking and to clean their clothes on the ocean voyage.” Roy Houseman United Steelworkers Legislative Director Houseman spearheaded efforts urging Congress to reauthorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to protect workers harmed by unfair global-trade practices, a measure still awaiting final congressional approval. Hometown: Great Falls, Montana. First job: Prep cook and dishwasher. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “There are many roads to opportunity, and they tend to connect. Don’t be afraid to take a few side roads—they can be more rewarding.” Ryan Jackson American Chemistry Council Vice President, Federal Affairs Jackson helped drive the defunding of the EPA’s IRIS program—an office responsible for identifying the health hazards of chemicals—while positioning the chemical industry as essential infrastructure for the administration’s deregulatory agenda and domestic-manufacturing revival. First job: “Sweeping the floor and cleaning up in my grandfather’s True Value hardware store in Oklahoma City.” Surprising thing always nearby: “I shouldn’t admit it, but a short list of passwords. Terrible memory on that.” Most cherished possession: His grandfather’s desk. Selina Jackson Procter Gamble Senior Vice President, Global Government Relations and Public Policy Leading PG’s response to conflicting US and EU sustainability mandates, Jackson works to ensure that US consumer-goods manufacturers aren’t forced into new legal requirements by diverging international laws. First job: In the White House scheduling office. Lesson from that job: “Always know where the bathroom is.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Either a walk with the dog or a big glass of wine. Sometimes both simultaneously.” Abby Jagoda ICSC Senior Vice President, Public Policy Jagoda has turned 50,000 shopping-center owners and developers into a political force—securing bipartisan wins on tax, land-use, and redevelopment policies that she claims drive billions in US investment. First job and a lesson from it: “Hostess at the Cheesecake Factory in White Flint Mall, in the heyday of the two-plus-hour-long wait. I learned how to say no in a nice way.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “This mall job is not a detour. It’s the origin story. One day you’ll spend your career defending the very places you’re serving cheesecake in.” Song on repeat: “Gypsy” by Fleetwood Mac. Chris Jahn American Chemistry Council President and CEO Jahn has been a leading force in securing the chemical industry’s deregulatory wins under Trump, including measures at the EPA and the Surface Transportation Board that cut billions in compliance costs. Education: Columbia; University of Maryland. Stephanie Johnson National Grocers Association Group Vice President, Government Relations Johnson has emerged as a leading voice on food-stamp policy, helping prevent additional SNAP cuts in HR 1 while advising states on navigating RFK Jr.’s controversial program restrictions. Best career advice she ever received: “Many wonderful things will never be done if you do not do them.” Hidden talent: Tap dancing. Songs on repeat: “Run!” by Daniyel and “No Broke Boy” by Disco Lines Tinashe. Kevin Keane American Beverage President and CEO Keane leads the $324 billion nonalcoholic-beverage industry, which supports 4.2 million American jobs at more than 4,000 facilities. Among his efforts is AB’s Good to Know initiative, which aims to give millions of consumers clear, fact-based information on beverage ingredients. Education: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. First job: Reporter at the Fond du Lac Reporter. Sean Kennedy National Restaurant Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Kennedy scored a win protecting the tip-credit compensation model in multiple states and fought against regulations such as the “junk fee” rule that targets hidden and misleading fees across industries. Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware. Alternate career he’d pursue: “Running a wildly unprofitable business restoring classic cars.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “A small piece of volcanic rock. It reminds me that no situation or challenge is as catastrophic as it may feel.” Stephen Lamar American Apparel Footwear Association President and CEO While Lamar was a key advocate for closing the “de minimis” loophole—arguing that the duty-free shipments let in some unsafe goods—he has since become a leading voice in urging the administration to replace those exemptions with predictable, smart trade policies rather than the sweeping reciprocal tariffs that have disrupted industry supply chains. First app he checks in the morning: “WhatsApp, to check for any cute grandkid photos.” Surprising thing on his desk or in his bag: “A small plastic toy soldier. For years, my sons and I have taken turns hiding it in each other’s rooms, and inevitably it ends up with me.” Marc Lampkin Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Shareholder Lampkin serves as an unofficial adviser to House leadership, reconciling conservative economic theory and corporate reality. Hometown: Providence. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Study hard and work hard. But do it with a smile and have fun. It’s important to create a pathway to success in your career and life, but it should be guided by a sense of joy.” Most cherished possession: “A signed Tom Brady jersey. Patriots, not Buccaneers.” Katherine Lugar Hilton/Hilton Global Foundation Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs/President As major events like the World Cup and the Summer Olympics come to the US, Lugar has led policy efforts to bolster international in-bound travel such as streamlining visa policies and reducing visa wait times. Hometown: Austin, Texas. Best career advice she ever received: “Feedback is a gift. It’s always important to give—and receive—candid feedback.” Surprising thing always in her bag: “A small angel and a cross—a reminder that while I love my work, it will always be second to faith, family, and the people I love.” Gail MacKinnon Motion Picture Association Senior Executive Vice President, Global Policy and Government Affairs MacKinnon directs the MPA’s global policy empire, leading 100-plus staff across six continents while shaping copyright, trade, and production incentive strategy and serving as Hollywood’s top liaison to the Trump administration and world leaders. First job: Receptionist in a congressional office. Lesson from that job: “Every role matters—even the small tasks affect the bigger picture.” Song on repeat: “Beautiful Things” by Megan Moroney. Rosanna Maietta American Hotel Lodging Association President and CEO Maietta has racked up major wins for the hotel industry, establishing tax breaks for hoteliers and pushing through workforce and franchising reforms that have reshaped hospitality policy nationwide. Hometown: Toronto. Best career advice she ever received: “Pace yourself.” Music on repeat: “Counting Crows’ August and Everything After. I can’t get them out of my head after watching the documentary.” Brittany Masalosalo HP Chief Public Policy Officer Masalosalo shapes HP’s positions on AI adoption, cybersecurity, human rights, and digital equity before Congress, federal regulators, and international bodies as she pursues outcomes aligned with the tech giant’s global business strategy. Hometown: Denver. First job: “Scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins.” Alternate career she’d pursue: “It’s always been a lifelong dream of mine to be a schoolteacher.” Ches McDowell Checkmate Government Relations Managing Partner His friendship with Donald Trump Jr. has helped the native North Carolinian land clients as diverse as Eli Lilly, UPS, FanDuel, and Canada’s Council of the Federation and to make an estimated $5 million in revenue in a single quarter, according to New York magazine. Hometown: Chadburn, North Carolina. Education: North Carolina State University; Campbell University School of Law. Jim McGreevy Coca-Cola Vice President, Public Policy, Government Relations McGreevy leads the “World Without Waste” initiative, successfully negotiating for bipartisan recycling infrastructure grants and defending the federal food-stamp program from beverage-specific purchasing restrictions. First job: Caddie at a country club. Lesson from that job: “You better show up on time or you won’t get any work.” Best career advice he ever received: “Learn to live with ambiguity.” Bill Miller American Gaming Association President and CEO Miller is leading a multi-state coalition of attorneys general to block prediction markets from bypassing state gaming laws under the guise of financial “event contracts.” Best career advice he ever received: “While I was working for Representative Connie Morella, she told me, ‘Attitude is altitude,’ and I think about it every day.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Don’t be in a hurry. It’s okay to not have it all planned out. There’s going to be plenty of days you have to put on a tie and jacket.” Hidden talent: DJing. Sara Neagu-Reed International Fresh Produce Association Director of Production and Environmental Policy Neagu-Reed has become a decisive force in shaping agricultural policy, cutting through Washington noise to elevate specialty-crop producers and pioneer a national benchmark for regenerative farming. Hometown: Oakland. First job: Internship with Governor Neil Abercrombie in Honolulu. Lesson from that job: “Not every email or policy debacle is an emergency. Don’t let fake urgency steal your life.” Alternate career she’d pursue: “Growing wine grapes in California. I’ve always respected people who grow things for a living.” Sean O’Brien International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President O’Brien partnered with Senate Republicans to introduce the Faster Labor Contracts Act, targeting corporate stalling tactics and mandating faster contract negotiations for workers. First job: “Hauling at Shaughnessy Ahern in South Boston as a member of Teamsters Local 25.” Best career advice he received: “Make certain you always tell the truth, regardless of whether it helps or hurts you.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Have more patience, and listen as much as you can before speaking.” Paul Richman Insured Retirement Institute Chief Government and Political Affairs Officer Richman has advocated for dozens of proposals aimed at strengthening the private-sector retirement system, including boosting lifetime-income options, modernizing disclosure rules for the financial industry, and preserving tax advantages for retirement savings. Hometown: Brooklyn. Productivity hack: “Short bursts of ‘planned procrastination,’ where I deliberately delay focusing on time-sensitive tasks for a short period. It creates a greater sense of urgency later and helps me focus.” Hidden talent: “I can play the piano and violin.” John Ring Morgan Lewis Partner Following his term as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, Ring returned to Morgan Lewis, where he leverages his insider perspective to help Fortune 500 companies navigate an increasingly complex labor environment. Education: Catholic University. Leslie Sarasin FMI–The Food Industry Association President and CEO Sarasin is a leading industry negotiator on SNAP, nutrition standards, and food-safety regulation, often serving as the grocery sector’s primary conduit to the USDA and key Capitol Hill committees. Education: Smith College; University of San Diego School of Law. Lee Saunders AFSCME President Saunders led efforts to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House, a pivotal legislative step to restore collective-bargaining rights for 1 million federal employees that’s awaiting Senate approval. Hometown: Cleveland. First job: “For the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services as a contract specialist, where I first joined a union.” Best career advice he ever received: “Always look for opportunities to learn and grow. No matter how far you get in your career, there are still things you don’t know and new skills you can hone.” Matthew Shay National Retail Federation President and CEO Shay has adopted a more pragmatic tone on tariffs, calling them “an extraordinarily important tool” while warning that the real pain for retailers comes from uncertainty over how tariffs are applied and what costs will be passed down to consumers. Hometown: Newark, Ohio. First job: “Potting roses, slinging bags of mulch, and cutting Christmas trees at a lawn-and-garden center.” Lesson from that job: “All bills must face the same direction in the cash drawer.” Liz Shuler AFL-CIO President Shuler launched a rapid-response network to give the AFL-CIO’s 15 million members a voice—by, for example, alerting them to emergency protests—to counter the federal workforce reductions imposed by the Trump administration. Hometown: Gladstone, Oregon. Education: University of Oregon. First job: “Union organizer for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 125, working on a campaign to organize clerical workers at Portland General.” Jacqueline Simon American Federation of Government Employees Policy Director Simon is the lead architect of the union’s response to the federal-workforce cuts, spearheading the legal and legislative defense of collective-bargaining rights and civil-service protections against DOGE. Worst career advice she ever received: “My father once told me no one was ever going to pay me for my opinions. I had to prove him wrong.” Hidden talent: “I am an excellent bowler.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: French teacher. Jennifer Stewart Stewart Strategies Solutions Principal Stewart has worked to shape artificial-intelligence and platform-transparency regulations, advocating for small-business protections before Congress. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I guess I’d be an actress.” Worst career advice she ever received: “You can do it ALL! The truth is you simply cannot, and I’m okay with that.” Productivity hack: “Playing a quick game of spades on my iPad in between completing tasks.” Erin Streeter National Association of Manufacturers Executive Vice President Streeter successfully lobbied for the extension of Trump’s tax cuts, telling Congress last year that the expiring provisions could have risked millions of jobs as well as manufacturing competitiveness in America. Hometown: Hiawatha, Kansas. Best career advice she ever received: “No job is beneath you.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Surround yourself with people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.” Chris Swonger Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and Responsibility.org President and CEO Swonger landed the “Zero-for-Zero” trade initiative, a temporary suspension of retaliatory EU and UK tariffs on American spirits, to avert $1 billion in projected retail losses. Hometown: Abilene, Texas. First job: Mowing lawns. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “United Airlines Million Miler coin.” Sam Tatevosyan McDonald’s Vice President, Federal Government Relations and Global Policy Tatevosyan mounted a robust defense of the franchise business model and successfully lobbied for federal “joint employer” standards that shield corporations from legal liability for the labor practices of independent franchises. First job: Starting a commercial-cleaning franchise. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You’re not having a bad life, you’re having a bad day. Keep moving forward.” Hidden talent: “I was a Greco-Roman wrestler and played piano—activities that turned my lack of attention and stubbornness as a child into patience and discipline.” Johnny C. Taylor Jr. SHRM President and CEO Taylor has become a go-to adviser for Fortune 500 CEOs and cabinet officials on workforce policy, testifying before Congress on skills-based hiring and AI while championing “untapped talent” initiatives across corporate America. Hometown: Fort Lauderdale. Education: University of Miami; Drake University (MA, JD). Al Thompson Intel Corporation Vice President, US-Canada Government Affairs Thompson helped secure nearly $8 billion in CHIPS Act grants, expanding Intel’s “Silicon Heartland” and establishing the National Semiconductor Technology Center, a public-private research consortium created to ensure American leadership in the semiconductor industry. First job: Playing pregame and between-innings music for the Savannah Cardinals minor-league baseball team. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: General manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Most cherished possession: Autographed picture of Willie Mays’s catch in the 1954 World Series. Jay Timmons National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Timmons helped land passage of a manufacturing law that permanently locked in the 2017 corporate tax rates and restored the ability to expense research and development costs, preventing what the National Association of Manufacturers projected would be a loss of 6 million jobs. First jobs: “Taking care of cattle on our farm in Ohio and cleaning bathrooms at a fast-food restaurant.” Best career advice he received: “Be authentic.” Most cherished possession: “A pothos plant given to my grandparents 70 years ago.” Joe Wall BlackRock Managing Director and Head of US Government Affairs and Public Policy One concrete signal of Wall’s impact is BlackRock’s move to double its Washington public-affairs team under his leadership, which reflects the company’s more aggressive engagement on private-credit and capital-markets advocacy. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Stay in college an extra year.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “Chasing my three kids around the house.” Hidden talent: “Competitive eating.” Civil Rights Criminal Justice Experts who help ensure that our country’s policies, laws, and programs are nondiscriminatory Erik Baptist Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel and Director, Center for Life Baptist has been at the forefront of high-stakes litigation, such as the challenge to the FDA’s deregulation of chemical abortion drugs, which seeks to reestablish strict federal oversight. Education: Vanderbilt; GW Law. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “After tucking the kids into bed, I read the Bible, check out the news, and catch up with friends—while relaxing in my massage chair.” Surprising thing on his desk: “A 20-pound dumbbell because, Anchorman jokes aside, you never know when you can sneak in a few reps between meetings, during Zoom calls, or as a break from writing briefs.” Brad Bondi Paul Hastings Partner, Litigation, and Global Chair, Investigations and White Collar Defense Bondi, the brother of former US attorney general Pam Bondi, specializes in securities and financial cases and scored recent victories for the Cruise Line Industry Association, crypto billionaire Justin Sun, and Truth Social. Best career advice he ever received: “Audentes fortuna Iuvat (Fortune favors the bold).” Song on repeat: “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. Most cherished possession: “A personally signed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird.” Emma Brown Giffords Executive Director Brown runs this nonprofit started by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, which is designed to shift the culture, perception, and policies around gun violence and to support community violence-intervention programs. First job: “I worked for Hillary Clinton on the 2016 presidential campaign right out of school.” Productivity hack: “I keep a running list of things to worry about later so they aren’t weighing on my mind when I’m trying to concentrate. That’s been a game changer, but it’s also alarmingly long.” Surprising thing on her desk: “A pocket US Constitution. I use it more than you’d think.” Kris Brown Brady President Brown was deeply involved in drafting nearly 50 gun-violence-prevention bills—27 of which were signed into law—and secured a successful $62 million victory in a suit against Hanover Armory, the largest ever against a gun company in US history. Education: Virginia Tech; George Mason University (JD). Best career advice she ever received: “Come to work as your authentic self—to show your true personality, values, and spirit—regardless of the pressure you’re under to act otherwise.” Hidden talent: “I love words and trivia. Take me out for your game night!” Melanie L. Campbell National Coalition on Black Civic Participation President and CEO Campbell has transformed criminal justice by spearheading national coalitions that integrate Black civic engagement with systemic reform, specifically leveraging her connections with Black women to drive federal policy on policing equity. Hometown: Mims, Florida. Education: Clark Atlanta University. Sheryll Cashin Georgetown Law Professor of Law, Civil Rights, and Social Justice An author and commentator who focuses on Black history and civil-rights enforcement, Cashin was a lead commentator in the PBS documentary Becoming Thurgood, about Thurgood Marshall, and is working on her sixth book, which examines historical founding figures. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Don’t be afraid to take out loans to go to your dream school or major in areas you’re passionate about.” Most unusual productivity hack: “I jump rope for five minutes and feel the adrenaline for hours.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Visual artist. I studied painting at the Corcoran and am currently represented by Zenith Gallery.” Mark Chenoweth New Civil Liberties Alliance President and Chief Legal Officer Chenoweth directs legal strategy at the New Civil Liberties Alliance, litigating constitutional challenges to ensure that federal agency actions remain subject to judicial oversight and legislative authority. First job: Usher at a movie theater in his hometown of Olathe, Kansas. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Yale is going to be a culture shock, but you should go anyway. And remember Grandma’s advice not to measure yourself in someone else’s half bushel.” Last meal would be: “Burnt ends, beef brisket, barbecue beans, cornbread, and other Kansas City BBQ specialties.” Terrence Cunningham International Association of Chiefs of Police Deputy Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer Cunningham helped push IACP resolutions urging transparency from ICE, specifically calling out concerns over federal agents who cover their faces and warning against “inflammatory rhetoric” from public figures. Education: Northeastern University; New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management at Babson College; FBI National Academy. First job: Part-time special police officer at the Wellesley Police Department. Alternate career he’d pursue: “I’d still be in policing. I spent 36 years as a police officer, including 17 as a police chief.” Justin Hansford Howard University Executive Director, Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center Hansford advocates for global reparations and racial-justice frameworks as a leading member of the UN Permanent Forum. Lesson from his first job (as an intern for GOP congresswoman Connie Morella): “Her stances differed from her party’s on human rights and diversity. You can’t judge character by party affiliation alone.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Since childhood, I’ve had a love for reading. I could see myself being an English teacher.” Hidden talent: “I can remember samples from little-known songs and identify them in music production.” Cedric Haynes NAACP Senior Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs Haynes directs legislative strategy with the goal of securing federal voting-rights protections and ensuring that racial equity is centered in national economic and criminal-justice policies. Education: Tougaloo College; Mississippi College School of Law. First job: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leaders Intern in the office of Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi. Damon Todd Hewitt Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law President and Executive Director Hewitt champions racial equity by litigating high-stakes voting-rights cases and pioneering “school-to-prison pipeline” reforms to protect marginalized students’ civil rights. Hometown: New Orleans. Education: LSU; University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Debra Katz Katz Banks Kumin Partner Katz has pushed for stronger legal protections for whistleblowers and employees facing retaliation, especially under changing regulations in the Trump administration. First job: Teaching tennis at a tennis camp. Lesson from that job: “To encourage each student to succeed, regardless of their level.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Walking in nature.” Janet Murguía UnidosUS President and CEO Murguía has pushed back against federal budget cuts that would harm Latino families and has championed legislation to expand affordable homeownership, underscoring her focus on economic mobility and community resilience. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “At the University of Kansas, I earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In a different life, I might’ve been a television reporter.” Best career advice she ever received: “Be more concerned with using a compass than a watch.” Hidden talent: “I’m a good poker player.” Elizabeth Murphy Sandy Hook Promise Senior Vice President, Federal Policy and Partnerships Murphy has secured bipartisan support for school-safety legislation and mental-health funding, including the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and is now working to oversee the law’s implementation. Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut. Productivity hack: “If I need to listen closely on a call, I sometimes draw or color. It helps me concentrate and retain what’s being said more than taking notes.” First app she checks in the morning: Wordle. Tara Murray National Urban League Executive Director, Washington Bureau, and Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy Murray is a ferocious advocate for police accountability and economic justice and leverages her White House experience to move policymakers in her direction. Education: Howard University; Harvard Law; Georgetown Law. First job: Law clerk for Richard W. Roberts in the US District Court for DC. Jim Pasco National Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director At the nation’s largest police organization, Pasco helms a legislative program focused on officer safety, crime, and criminal justice. He’s a key voice on public safety and policing issues, with strong bipartisan influence. First app he checks in the morning: Google News. Productivity hack: “I talk issues with my dog. He calms me and puts me in a more productive mode.” Most cherished possession: “A picture of me with Fred Willard, the greatest improv comedian in history.” Nico Perrino Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Executive Vice President Perrino’s nonpartisan organization defends First Amendment rights by spearheading national campaigns against campus speech codes and what he calls government “jawboning” of social-media companies to censor online speech. Hidden talent: Mario Kart on Nintendo 64 and Wii. Most cherished possession: “My grandfather’s 1949 Martin acoustic guitar.” Surprising thing on his desk: A sound machine. David Safavian Unify.US Chief Operating Officer Safavian drives conservative support for criminal-justice reform, advocating for the First Step Act and state-level policies that reduce mandatory minimums and recidivism. Hometown: Grosse Ile, Michigan. Surprising thing he always has on hand: “I always have one or two cigars with me. That’s my guilty pleasure. Sparking one up when I need to think, pray, or strategize gives me clarity.” Historical figure he most identifies with: “Lazarus. He came back from the dead, much like my career after I served time in prison.” Patrice Willoughby NAACP Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs Willoughby advances the NAACP’s federal legislative agenda by integrating racial equity into financial services, technology policy, and oversight of AI-driven civil-rights protections. Hometown: Cleveland Heights, Ohio. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Prepare to say something substantive in meetings even if you’re there to take notes.” Hidden talent: “I am not talented, but I am an enthusiastic figure skater and started skating in midlife.” Mike Zamore American Civil Liberties Union National Director of Policy and Government Affairs Zamore leads the ACLU’s effort to counter executive-branch overreach, specifically defending the right of Congress members to conduct independent oversight of federal agencies without facing retaliatory prosecution or intimidation. Education: Brown; Harvard Law. First app he checks in the morning: “Usually Signal, sadly. Sometimes the Athletic.” Climate Environment From the impact of climate change to sustainable energy, these subject-matter pros advocate and promote policies that balance economic growth with our planet’s future Alexandra Adams Natural Resources Defense Council Chief Policy Advocacy Officer, Center for Campaigns Organizing In spearheading advocacy for the Arctic Refuge Protection Act, Adams has framed the fight to permanently bar oil and gas drilling as an urgent defense of Indigenous rights and ecological heritage against Trump’s renewed industrialization push. Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “You’ll think you took a wrong turn, but you didn’t. It’s just the scenic route.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: Grape Waterloo sparkling water. Margie Alt Climate Action Campaign Campaign Director Alt’s accomplishment of helping pass federal climate laws unlocking $1 trillion in private investment has faced Trump 2.0 rollbacks, such as frozen grants and revoked tax credits, prompting a shift to state-level defenses and litigation. First job: Page in the public-library children’s section. Worst career advice she received: “Don’t work for one of these do-good groups. Make a lot of money and then you can give it to groups and causes you care about.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “At this point in my life, I would open a coffee shop.” Angela Barranco Climate Group Executive Director, North America Reacting to the Trump administration’s hostility toward climate initiatives, Barranco pivoted to forging coalitions with states, cities, and hundreds of private firms to ensure sustained climate-aligned investments. First job: Andrus Planetarium presenter and guide at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, New York. Productivity hack: “Do the work in the meeting—don’t circle back.” Surprising thing always in her bag: Chipotle napkins. Greg Bertelsen Climate Leadership Council CEO Bertelsen has advanced a bipartisan carbon-dividends plan and carbon border-fee policies such as the PROVE IT Act and Foreign Pollution Fee Act, driving Republican-led climate bills that harness market forces to obtain emissions cuts. Hometown: Bethesda. Historical figure he most identifies with: “Marty McFly. Always trying to meet a deadline, and love a good puffy vest.” Surprising thing always on his desk: “A Galton board, courtesy of a colleague after I used the phrase ‘the peak of the bell curve’ one too many times in predicting the timeline for getting a policy passed.” Sydney Bopp Boundary Stone Partners Managing Partner Bopp has worked to safeguard viable climate projects through bipartisan infrastructure funds and private financing in order to sustain commercialization momentum for net-zero-emissions tech. Hometown: Huntington, New York. Hidden talent: “I was a professional ballet dancer before I went to college.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I would open a bakery.” Isaac Brown Founders Policy Group Partner Leveraging his background as a former House legislative director, Brown is a bridge between the federal government and the private sector, helping startups and established clean-energy firms navigate the complex federal regulatory landscape. Education: Brown. Surprising thing always on his desk: “A Lego model of the Apollo 11 spacecraft my son built.” Carol Browner Covington Senior of Counsel The former EPA administrator under President Clinton, Browner makes use of nearly four decades of expertise to advise on cutting-edge environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, driving strategic clean-energy and sustainability solutions for global industries. Hometown: South Miami. Education: University of Florida (BA, JD). Annie D’Amato Invariant Senior Director, Energy and Environment D’Amato helped coalitions navigate the Trump administration’s “efficiency first” regulatory overhaul, maintaining critical tax-credit eligibility for domestic recycling and sustainable manufacturing infrastructure. First job: Counselor and sailing instructor at a girls’ camp in Wisconsin. Lesson from that job: “Creating and fostering camaraderie with coworkers is important. Also, always watch out for sandbars.” First app she checks in the morning: “My dog’s Fi collar app so I can see how many more uninterrupted hours of sleep she got compared to me. Spoiler alert: It’s a lot.” Matthew H. Davis League of Conservation Voters Vice President of Federal Policy Davis has worked on efforts to defend and strengthen Environmental Protection Agency clean-air standards, including protections related to interstate ozone and “Good Neighbor” requirements, and to oppose rollbacks that would increase harmful air pollution. Education: Swarthmore College (BA); Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (MPH, public health). First job: New England field organizer for U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group). Ross Eisenberg American Chemistry Council President, America’s Plastic Makers Eisenberg proposed a three-point plan before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee that called for modernized recycling infrastructure, federal recycling standards, and US leadership on a global agreement to curb plastic pollution. Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Don’t wait a decade to marry that girl you’re in love with right now.” Favorite DC restaurant: “Wawa. My Philly roots run deep.” Radhika Fox North Star Strategy Principal Fox led the implementation of a $500 million federal program that helped about 1,500 underserved communities access funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, while promoting climate resilience and modernized water systems. Hometown: Clifton, New Jersey. Education: Columbia (BA); UC Berkeley (MA). Productivity hack: “I know you ‘should’ separate your work space and personal space, but some of my best writing happens when I’m lounging in bed, versus sitting in my office.” Raúl García Earthjustice Vice President of Policy and Legislation García recently led a coalition to block “anti-environmental riders” in the 2026 appropriations bills, thereby preserving agencies’ statutory authority to monitor pollution despite significant funding cuts. Hometowns: Mexico City and Summit, Illinois. First job: Construction. Hidden talent: “I can sing a good mariachi song anytime. Mariachi music is close to my heart and brings back a lot of good memories from my childhood in Mexico.” Rich Gold Holland Knight Partner and Leader, Public Policy and Regulation Gold specializes in helping clients—particularly in the manufacturing sector—chart investment strategies that account for policy volatility, from IRA funding cuts to the retreat on electric vehicles and renewable-energy incentives. Hometown: New York City. Best career advice he ever received: “The most important skill in life is learning how to read people in seven seconds in order to be able to influence them.” Most cherished possessions: “My watch collection and my ’69 red Corvette.” Chris Moyer Echo Communications Advisors Founder and President Moyer worked with a bipartisan coalition of conservation groups to stop congressional efforts to sell off public lands in 2025. Hometown: Hampstead, New Hampshire. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Red Sox beat reporter.” Productivity hack: “I turn off almost all notifications from my phone.” Angelo Villagomez Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Villagomez successfully rallied thousands of Pacific Islanders to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous-led management practices in federal deep-sea-mining regulations to protect the Pacific Ocean. Hometown: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Surprising thing always on his desk: A ukulele, which he brings to conferences. “I’ve brought one to the White House at least three times.” Most cherished possession: “A shell necklace called a sinahi. It’s carved out of a giant clam and represents my dedication to my Chamorro culture and my family.” Economic Policy Top local minds who advocate to make certain our economic system works Kate Bahn Institute for Women’s Policy Research Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research As a leading expert on monopsony power in the labor market—meaning a market with one main employer—Bahn argues that limited employer competition, especially in sectors like education and healthcare, depresses wages and exacerbates gender and racial pay gaps. Best career advice she received: “You learn a lot about your profession working in different positions, so you should only stay at your first job two or three years.” Hidden talent: Making vegan dinners. Historical figure she identifies with: Former worker-rights advocate and Labor Secretary Frances Perkins. “She was short like me.” Dean Baker Center for Economic and Policy Research Cofounder and Distinguished Senior Fellow Baker, a major critic of intellectual-property rules and “protectionist” licensing for highly paid professionals, has argued to policymakers that restructuring these rules would lower the cost of living and education. Education: Swarthmore College (BA); University of Michigan (PhD). Emily Cadik Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition CEO A leading voice shaping federal affordable-housing policy, Cadik has leveraged tax-credit advocacy and bipartisan partnerships to expand housing access for more than a million low-income Americans. Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas. Hidden talent: “I love to cook. I’ve been learning how to make tortillas, since I miss the fresh tortillas from the Tex-Mex restaurants where I grew up.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Travel writer. I recently met my goal of visiting 40 countries before I turn 40. If you need to know where to eat in Ljubljana, I’ve got you covered.” Oren Cass American Compass Founder and Chief Economist Cass has helped form Trump 2.0’s MAGA-centric economic agenda through advocacy for tariffs, as well as changes to industrial and labor policies to prioritize American manufacturing. Education: Williams College; Harvard Law. First job: Consultant at Bain Company. Tyler Cowen George Mason University Mercatus Center Chairman and Faculty Director Through his popular, hyper-intellectual podcast, Cowen promotes “state capacity libertarianism” with research urging efficient deregulation, innovation incentives, and immigration reforms to boost economic growth. Hometown: Hillsdale, New Jersey. Lesson from his first job (as a chess teacher): “Most chess players do not really want to work hard at getting better.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You are on the right track.” Robert Doar American Enterprise Institute President At the top of one of Washington’s most influential conservative think tanks, Doar has guided AEI through a shifting political landscape, balancing traditional center-right economic thinking with the rising populist trend championed inside the Trump administration. Hometown: Washington, DC. Education: Princeton. First job: Assisting small businesses relocating to lower-rent areas at the New York City Office of Business Development. Daniel Eubanks Intuit Vice President and Head of US Federal Corporate Affairs and Public Policy Eubanks represents Intuit’s interests before Congress and federal tax agencies, serving as the company’s leading voice in policy debates over the respective roles of government and the private sector in tax-filing infrastructure. First job: Haberdasher. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “I’m often told I have an announcer’s voice. I’d love to be a baseball play-by-play announcer.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “I have notes from my kids inside my folio. It’s a great reminder about what really matters.” Brent Gardner Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer and Senior Vice President Gardner spearheaded advocacy for both of President Trump’s tax packages, heralding their permanence as a “generational win” for prosperity. First job: Ski instructor at Swain resort in western New York. Most cherished possession: A first edition of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Productivity hack: “I start my day at 3 am to get a jump-start before others wake up.” Steve H. Hanke Johns Hopkins University Professor of Applied Economics Warning that a US recession is imminent due to a shrinking money supply, fiscal deficits, and policy uncertainty, Hanke has urged the Federal Reserve to halt quantitative tightening and increase money supply to fuel economic expansion. Best career advice he ever received: “Work hard and keep your nose to the grindstone.” First app he checks in the morning: iPhone stocks app. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: A silver dollar. Adam Hersh Adam Hersh Consulting Principal After a four-year tenure with the Economic Policy Institute, Hersh now advises private clients, leading a group of 17 economists to assess the impact of President Trump’s trade policies. First job and a lesson from it: Video-store clerk. “Be kind, rewind.” Best career advice he ever received: “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” Hidden talent: “Cooking perfect soft-scrambled eggs.” Douglas Holtz-Eakin American Action Forum President Holtz-Eakin has offered his critique of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in media appearances, calling it underwhelming and warning that while it prevents a damaging tax increase, it also worsens the fiscal situation and represents political favors rather than genuine pro-growth tax reform. Hometown: Pittsburgh. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You have no clue. (Still don’t!)” Surprising thing always in his bag: “My passport and cash. Always be ready for the revolution.” David Kass Americans for Tax Fairness Executive Director Kass has argued that highlighted Republican tax cuts and tariffs disproportionately burden middle- and low-income Americans while enriching the wealthiest. He urges reversal of these policies to protect working families from rising costs. Hometown: St. Louis. Hidden talent: “Playing guitar. I met my wife when I played in a band at the Grog and Tankard in DC. The bar is long closed, but we’ve been married 20-plus years.” First app he checks in the morning: “Duolingo to improve my Spanish.” Michael Kennedy Intuit Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Kennedy is Intuit’s senior liaison to Treasury and IRS leadership, helping craft federal digital tax-administration policy with a focus on the boundary between government-run and private-sector filing solutions. Education: Harvard. First job: Associate at the Boston Consulting Group. Surprising things always in his bag: “As a dad and Eagle Scout, I’ve been taught to always be prepared. Therefore, I carry tissues, ChapStick, Band-Aids, and wipes.” Eli Lehrer R Street Institute President Lehrer champions a center-right pragmatism, notably advocating for market-based environmentalism and a revenue-neutral carbon tax to address climate change while simultaneously pushing for insurance and regulatory reforms. Hometown: Chicago. Worst career advice he ever received: “Never return a phone call and never agree to meet with anybody. Doing this shows people how important and busy you are.” Hidden talent: “I am trained as a restaurant reviewer and have made money reviewing restaurants.” Maya MacGuineas Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget President Washington’s leading voice for fiscal discipline, MacGuineas exerts influence by pressuring both parties to address the long-term sustainability of the national debt as well as entitlement programs like Social Security. Hometown: Washington, DC. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Live in a foreign country early in your adult life.” Hidden talent: “Never checking luggage.” Grover G. Norquist Americans for Tax Reform President Norquist maintains a rigid grip on GOP fiscal policy through the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, effectively making opposition to all tax increases a nonnegotiable requirement for the vast majority of Republican lawmakers. First job: Polaroid camera assembly line. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Murder mysteries—writer, not defendant.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: An orange. Lindsay Owens Groundwork Collaborative Executive Director Owens has called out Republicans for threatening to raise healthcare costs amid the government shutdown and has urged leaders to protect affordable coverage rather than drive prices higher. Hometown: Nashville. Lesson from her first job (as a gift-wrapper at the mall): “Making the youth minimum wage is terrible.” Surprising thing always in her bag: “My toddler hides all kinds of things in my purse, from puzzle pieces to apple cores.” Sharon Parrott Center on Budget and Policy Priorities President Parrott led advocacy for Affordable Care Act expansions and opposition to work requirements in Medicaid and SNAP, prioritizing equitable budgets to combat poverty and inequality amid fiscal debates. Hometown: “The East Coast. My father was in the Navy.” Education: University of Michigan. Best career advice she ever received: “Sometimes being a bigger fish in a smaller pond is better—but not always.” Adam Posen Peterson Institute for International Economics President Posen has criticized Trump’s tariff policies as economically harmful and regressive, testifying to Congress about their impact on American households, and has warned about threats to the Federal Reserve’s independence. Hometown: Boston. Lesson from his first job (as a library assistant): “Don’t lose track of the big picture or you’ll get locked in the stacks on the weekend.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “AFLAC squeezable soft ducks from Japan.” Jessica Riedl Brookings Institute Budget and Tax Fellow A frequent witness before Congress, Riedl provides expert testimony on inflation and debt sustainability and consistently advocates for long-term fiscal stability, having previously served as chief economist to Senator Rob Portman. Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin. Most cherished possession: “The entire 1983 Topps baseball-card set—792 cards—framed on my office wall.” Productivity hack: “Writing articles between 10 pm and 2 am, sitting on my home-office couch with baseball on TV—muted—and no distractions.” Danielle Rolfes KPMG US Partner-in-Charge, Washington National Tax Drawing on her extensive Treasury experience and decades of advising multinational clients, Rolfes is guiding Fortune 500 and other major US and global companies through the complexities of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act tax law. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “It’s okay you can’t dance. You’ll start enjoying it when you realize no one is watching.” Hidden talent: “Maintaining high-school friendships.” Song on repeat: The Fugees’ 1996 cover of “Killing Me Softly.” Charles Sauer Market Institute Founder and President Sauer helped shape patent-reform discussions by advocating for changes to rules that strengthen small inventors’ rights and restore predictability in the US patent system. Hidden talent: “I was a college cheerleader, so I can lift people.” Historical figure he most identifies with: “I was young when Ross Perot ran for President, but his simplification of arguments, charts, and graphs influenced my whole career.” How he unwinds: “I fire up my welder, table saw, 3D printer, or sewing machine and make something. In public policy, projects often take decades, so it’s nice to see an idea come to life without waiting so long.” Pete Sepp National Taxpayers Union President Sepp influenced fiscal policy by publicly endorsing and applauding Congress’s use of the Impoundment Control Act to rescind $9 billion in what he deemed “low-priority” federal spending, framing it as a model of disciplined budgeting. Education: Webster University. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “I make a recipe from one of my mother’s 1960s–’70s cookbooks. If time’s too short for that, I take a short flight on my computer simulator.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “A multitool. I’ve used it to rewire a desk lamp, dislodge a ring from an escalator tread, and carve a steak at a gala dinner.” Heidi Shierholz Economic Policy Institute President Shierholz testified to Congress that while Trump inherited an exceptionally strong economy, his policies have been anti-worker— including the rollback of minimum-wage increases for federal contractors and cuts that slash benefits for vulnerable families to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. Hometown: Ames, Iowa. First job: Detasseling corn. First app she checks in the morning: “Audible. I listen to young-adult novels in Spanish during my morning routine.” Jeff Stein NOTUS Economics Reporter Stein, who recently left the Washington Post for NOTUS, broke key stories about the GOP’s push for full corporate expensing—allowing businesses to immediately write off capital investments like machinery and RD rather than depreciating them over time—and exposed the administration’s use of a novel “current policy baseline” accounting method that treated extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts as cost-free, masking trillions in new debt. Education: Cornell. Last meal would be: Crunchwrap Supreme. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “A nine-year-old note from a former editor telling me to never tweet.” Sandra Swirski Integer Founder As a veteran economic policy lobbyist, Swirski has blocked dozens of legislative and regulatory attempts to limit charitable deductions, tax nonprofit endowments, or otherwise use the philanthropic sector as a revenue source—protecting billions in tax-exempt giving. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Take business classes in college.” Hidden talent: “I can Hula Hoop.” Surprising thing always in her bag: “A paperback book I’m reading. Whenever I have downtime, I’ll pull it out.” Eric Teetsel Center for Renewing America CEO When Trump budget director Russell Vought left the Center for Renewing America, Teetsel stepped in. He now leads the organization’s advocacy to dismantle what CRA calls the “administrative state” by providing the legal and tactical ammunition required to overhaul federal personnel. Education: Wheaton College; Azusa Pacific University. Matt Yglesias Slow Boring Founder and Editor Yglesias shapes elite center-left consensus by popularizing supply-side liberalism, arguing that Democrats must prioritize building—infrastructure, housing, and energy supply—to lower costs, rather than relying solely on subsidies and redistribution. Hometown: New York City. Education: Harvard. First job: Writing fellow at the American Prospect. Education Leaders of the policy reforms shaping our country’s educational system at all levels Mario Beovides NALEO Educational Fund Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs Beovides is a longtime advocate for equitable K–12 funding, expanded access for Latino students, and stronger protections for English learners and immigrant families in a precarious political environment. Hometown: Miami. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Cinematography. Surprising thing on his desk: “A picture of my English bulldog, Ser Gregor, who passed away last February, but he’ll always be my best buddy!” Denise Forte Education Trust President and CEO In testimony before House and Senate committees, Forte urged that appropriators adopt major increases to Title I, Pell Grants, and equity-focused programs to address pandemic-exacerbated gaps. Education: Duke; George Washington University. Lesson from her first job (as a shop cashier): “Count everything.” Last meal would be: Schnitzel. Jessica Heppen American Institutes for Research President and CEO Heppen has drawn attention to the impact of federal funding cuts on education research, highlighting how they threaten data collection and research necessary for understanding and improving student outcomes across the US. Education: Miami University (Ohio); Rutgers University–New Brunswick (MA, PhD). Richard Kahlenberg Progressive Policy Institute Director, Housing Policy and American Identity Project Kahlenberg’s advocacy for class-based, versus race-based, approaches in policies such as affirmative action and K–12 diversity has earned him the label of “intellectual father” of economic integration in schools. Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Worst career advice he ever received: “Corporate law allows you to leave your options open.” Surprising thing in his bag: “Physical copies of the Washington Post, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. It earns me strange stares from young people on the Metro.” Ebony Lee Charter School Growth Fund Chief External Affairs Officer In advocating for stronger state laws and updated guidelines to improve charter-school authorization practices, Lee aims to ensure high-quality public-education outcomes and accountability for underserved students. Lesson from her first job (as a library page): “Read the fine print.” Historical figure she most identifies with: Harriet Tubman. Most cherished possession: “My grandmother’s coat.” Dan Murphy BGR Group Corporate Counsel Murphy works with BGR’s clients in higher education to help them navigate federal-funding disputes, government investigations, and congressional oversight in the Trump administration. Hometown: South Bend, Indiana. Education: Ball State University; Notre Dame Law School. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Ever since I was courtesy captain at Martin’s Supermarket, I’ve had an affinity for bagging groceries and building end displays. I would love to work at Publix!” Lodriguez Murray United Negro College Fund Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs Murray is a primary architect of federal legislative strategies to secure permanent funding and debt relief for historically Black colleges and universities. Education: Morehouse College. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You belong.” Most cherished possession: “Jewelry given to me by my deceased father figure.” Alex Nock Penn Hill Group Principal Nock is a veteran legislative strategist who has shaped nearly every major piece of federal education law over the past 25 years, including the No Child Left Behind Act and the Higher Education Act. Education: University of Maryland. First job: Staff assistant for the House Committee on Education and Labor. Surprising thing on his desk: “Folks are surprised when they see a Lego model of a motorcycle. They ask if I ride, and the answer to that is yes.” Becky Pringle National Education Association President Pringle has led a fierce fight against Trump-administration education cuts and privatization while mobilizing educators nationwide to defend public schools, advance equity, and hold lawmakers accountable in elections. Hometown: Philadelphia. Education: University of Pittsburgh; Penn State (MA). First app she checks in the morning: “My text messages to see if my kids have sent any new pictures of my grandbabies.” Richard V. Reeves American Institute for Boys and Men President Reeves leads evidence-based policy work—including initiatives on fatherhood, male-teacher shortages, and gender gaps in higher education—and has raised awareness on the importance of apprenticeships and male-friendly schooling. Hometown: Peterborough, England. Talent he’d most like to have: “Fluency in any other language, preferably Welsh, my mother’s language.” Last meal would be: “My wife’s blackberry-and-apricot cobbler.” Ilene Rosenthal Footsteps2Brilliance CEO and Cofounder Rosenthal has advanced evidence-based early literacy and bilingual education by shaping how federal funds support multilingual and underserved young learners. Education: Wesleyan University; Georgetown (JD). Alternate career she’d pursue: “I probably would have been a psychologist. I’m fascinated by what motivates people to do what they do.” First job and a lesson from it: “When I graduated from college, I started a piano school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I learned the importance of marketing and reaching the right customer at the right time.” Energy People who know the industry—from fossil fuels to renewables—better than anyone Amy Andryszak Interstate Natural Gas Association of America President and CEO Andryszak spearheaded a comprehensive set of climate-change commitments focused on modernizing the nation’s interstate natural-gas infrastructure to reduce emissions and minimize climate impact. First job: “I worked at a snowball stand. Still the best job I’ve ever had.” Best career advice she ever received: “It is okay not to know all the answers. The important thing is to know whom to ask the right questions.” Most cherished possession: “A stuffed dog that I have had since I was three.” Kevin Avery ConocoPhillips Vice President, Government and Political Affairs Avery authored a support letter urging congressional action to facilitate responsible federal land development, emphasizing increased domestic energy production and energy security and aligning himself with Republican energy policies. Education: Harvard; Stanford Law. First job: National representative for Students Against Drunk Driving. Best career advice he ever received: “Always base your career choices on what you want to do, not what you think others want you to do.” David Bernhardt Bernhardt Group Chairman The former Secretary of the Interior launched a new lobbying shop last year and quickly signed up dozens of clients, including energy giants ConocoPhillips and the American Exploration and Production Council. Hometown: Rifle, Colorado. Lesson from his first job (feeding livestock): “No matter the weather, someone or something is counting on you, so you must complete your tasks.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: A turkey call. Ron Bonjean Rokk Solutions Cofounder and Partner Bonjean and his firm delivered a critical win in a tough political climate by securing an extension of the Clean Fuel Production Credit in the One Big Beautiful Bill—among the only clean-energy tax provisions to survive the legislation. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison; American University. Jason Grumet American Clean Power Association CEO Grumet has championed permitting reforms such as the SPEED Act, successfully advancing House approval to accelerate clean-energy projects alongside all energy sources. Hometown: Rochester, New York. First job: “Renting and washing canoes.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Buy stock in Apple.” Karen Harbert American Gas Association President and CEO Harbert directs advocacy for natural-gas utilities that serve 90 percent of US households, emphasizing reliability and methane reduction while countering electrification mandates. Hometown: Potomac. Lesson from her first job (as an assistant in the office of RNC co-chair Maureen Reagan, daughter of Ronald Reagan): “Don’t ever put your boss’s dad on hold.” Hidden talent: “Card shark.” Logan Hollers Invariant Principal, Energy and Environment At the bipartisan lobbying firm, Hollers advises corporate clients on climate-policy navigation, federal energy incentives, and ESG strategies. Hometown: Sturgis, South Dakota. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “A Tide pen and Tylenol—always be prepared for client needs!” Best career advice he ever received: “Never look too far ahead—opportunities will come along, but you always need to be focused on being the best you can be at what you’re doing at that time.” Brian Kerkhoven Fuel Cell Hydrogen Energy Association Director of Government Affairs By building bridges between labor unions and European wind-energy developers, Kerkhoven pioneered an agreement that set a new standard for offshore-wind-construction collaboration. Education: Colby-Sawyer College. Maria Korsnick Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Korsnick spearheaded the industry push for the ADVANCE Act, which overhauled the licensing and deployment of next-generation small modular nuclear reactors. Education: University of Maryland (BS, nuclear/chemical engineering). First job: Engineer at Baltimore Gas Electric. Drew Maloney Edison Electric Institute President and CEO Maloney has made himself a decisive force in securing federal permitting reform to accelerate the progress of generation and transmission projects without legal challenges and delays. Hometown: Weyers Cave, Virginia. Lesson from his first job (working on a sheep and poultry farm): “Farming is hard work.” Most cherished possession: John Deere tractor. Marco Margheri Eni Head of US Relations Margheri played a pivotal role in establishing the US-Italy Clean Energy Partnership, facilitating Eni’s expansion into US legacy and energy transition businesses and international cooperation. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “A bartender of Negronis.” Worst career advice he ever received: “Concentrate on a ‘secure job.’ ” Best career advice he ever received: “Leave the secure job.” Jim Matheson National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Matheson advocated successfully last year for bipartisan reforms to FEMA disaster relief—enabling faster, more flexible federal funding for electric co-ops to restore and upgrade power systems after natural disasters. Hometown: Salt Lake City. Education: Harvard (BA); UCLA (MBA). First job: Summer grounds worker for the parks department. “I was responsible for maintaining some baseball fields.” Taite McDonald Holland Knight Partner McDonald played a key role in shaping the $250 billion Department of Energy’s Dominance Finance Program, which supports critical-minerals supply chains and AI-related energy infrastructure. Education: Gettysburg College (BA); Catholic University (JD). Surprising thing always on her desk: “Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘Man in the Arena’ speech.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Yoga or mindfulness instructor.” Phil Musser NextEra Energy Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Musser leads NextEra’s federal advocacy efforts to expand clean-energy infrastructure incentives and streamline regulatory pathways for large-scale renewable-energy projects across the US. Hidden talent: Photographic memory. Most cherished possession: His grandfather’s WWII medals. Surprising thing always on his desk: Theragun. Jeff Navin Boundary Stone Partners Cofounder and Partner Since the advent of the second Trump administration, Navin has shifted the firm’s focus to emphasize advanced nuclear, geothermal, and critical minerals for energy projects in order to align with the administration’s goal of outcompeting China. Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota. First app he checks in the morning: “Spotify. I get podcast news updates while I’m getting ready in the morning and driving to the office, which enables me to consume unhealthy levels of news all day every day.” Productivity hack: “I’m actively working to incorporate more AI tools into my life, and I’ve been amazed at how rapidly it’s improving.” Rich Nolan National Mining Association President and CEO Nolan helped drive a historic policy pivot toward revitalizing domestic-energy and critical-minerals production—pressing lawmakers, shaping executive action, and mobilizing public support to lessen dependence on foreign supply chains. Education: Bates College. Craig Piercy American Nuclear Society CEO Piercy is advising the Trump administration on executive orders that prioritize spent-nuclear-fuel recycling and the rapid deployment of microreactors at Department of Energy sites. First job: Salesperson at Hechinger hardware. Best career advice he ever received: “If you’re not willing to walk away from the table, you’re not negotiating—you’re begging.” Surprising thing always on his desk: “Pictures of Hyman Rickover, father of the nuclear navy, and The Wolf from Pulp Fiction. For inspiration, depending on the job of the day.” Catharine Cyr Ransom FSG Global Partner and Co-Chair, Energy and Sustainability A 27-year veteran of the field, Ransom led a landmark biofuels regulatory campaign for blending volumes—mandated amounts of biofuel that must be mixed with gasoline or diesel—under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Best career advice she ever received: “Influence in Washington is rooted in relationships and trust.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Take a year off.” Hidden talent: “I play piano.” Ben Ratner JPMorganChase Executive Director, Center for Carbon Transition Ratner is building industry-led methane-reduction frameworks that bypass federal regulatory rollbacks by tying emissions performance directly to market access. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “The question isn’t whether you’ll get knocked down, it’s how you respond.” First app he checks in the morning: “CNBC for an eye on the markets.” Cherished possession: “A Jay-Z autograph. He wrote, ‘Peace. Love. Respect.’ and it’s been framed ever since.” Heather Reams Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions President and CEO Reams has increased conservative clean-energy advocacy by expanding bipartisan Republican support for climate solutions and protecting clean-energy tax credits nationwide. Best career advice she ever received: “If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” Hidden talent: “I am really good at paddleball.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: Wine corks. Louis Renjel Duke Energy Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Renjel has played a key role in shaping Duke Energy’s corporate social-responsibility and regulatory engagements to advance sustainable-energy transition and community-investment strategies. Hometown: Baltimore. Worst career advice he ever received: “The person on the other side of an issue is the enemy.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “My miniature baseball bat.” Jeannie Salo Schneider Electric Chief Public Policy Officer, North America Salo leads Schneider Electric’s policy efforts to promote advanced energy-efficiency standards and grid-modernization initiatives across North America. Hometown: San Antonio. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “International diplomacy or venture capitalist.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Don’t smoke. Wear sunscreen. And freeze your eggs!” Scott Segal Bracewell Partner and Co-Chair, Policy Resolution Group Segal has advised clients on the vulnerabilities surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act, particularly highlighting which tax credits and clean-energy programs are most likely to survive Republican cutbacks while shaping discussions on permitting reforms and renewable deployment. Hometown: Dallas. Lesson from his first job (teaching interscholastic debate to high-school and college students): “Those jobs taught me respect for public discourse and conflict resolution among bright people.” Song on repeat: “ ‘Paint It Black’ by the Rolling Stones. The Wednesday cello version got me back into it.” Emily Skor Growth Energy CEO Skor secured a two-year extension of a clean-fuel-production tax credit that ensures multibillion-dollar investment stability for the US bioethanol industry through 2029. Hidden talent: “I’m a classical pianist.” Most cherished possession: “My beach-glass collection from Madeline Island in Lake Superior. I add to it every summer.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I’d own and operate a clothing boutique in Georgetown. Fashion has always been a creative outlet for me.” Todd Snitchler Electric Power Supply Association President and CEO Snitchler aggressively defends wholesale power markets against state and federal intervention by advocating for the GRID Power Act to ensure that dispatchable energy resources—power sources that can be ramped up and down to match consumption—remain online in a surging world of AI data centers. First job: Gas-station attendant. Worst career advice he ever received: “Just wait your turn and things will eventually come your way.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Master sommelier. Mike Sommers American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Sommers helped secure the May 2025 Senate passage of a Congressional Review Act resolution overturning the EPA waiver that authorized California’s ban on sales of new gas, diesel, and traditional hybrid vehicles. Hometown: Naperville, Illinois. Education: Miami University. Zolaikha Strong Generac Power Systems Vice President, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Strong directs Generac’s regulatory strategy to support federal resiliency plans, successfully securing efforts in infrastructure investments that aim to stabilize the US electrical grid. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Your power is in your name—don’t modify it to make it easier for others.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Hate to admit it, but reality TV is like candy for my busy mind.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: Interior design. Chet Thompson American Fuel Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Thompson led the fight to roll back Biden-era EPA rules on emissions and fuel-economy standards that would have resulted in manufacturers making more electric vehicles. Education: Boston College (BA); Catholic University (JD). Jamie Wall ExxonMobil Vice President, Head of Washington Office Wall is shaping global energy policy with an emphasis on increasing US production. Hometown: St. Louis. Lesson from her first job (customer service at Babies ‘R’ Us): “Don’t argue with a pregnant woman over a coupon. Just make it work.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I enjoy real estate. I would work with a builder to design custom homes.” Karen Wayland GridWise Alliance CEO Representing utilities and technology providers as the electricity industry works to meet energy needs, Wayland released a white paper on utilizing AI to manage power demand from data centers while ensuring that the grid remains reliable and secure. Hometown: Lebanon, Connecticut. Career advice: “Don’t turn down opportunities to explore jobs, even if you’re not looking.” Hidden talent: “Making a gourmet meal out of whatever’s in the fridge.” Jonathan Weisgall Berkshire Hathaway Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Weisgall led advocacy for the Energy Infrastructure Act, securing support for regional transmission expansion and a “Lithium Valley” geothermal project to bolster Berkshire’s vast renewable-energy portfolio. Education: Columbia; Stanford Law School. Jeanne Hicks Wolak Southern Company Senior Vice President, Governmental Affairs Wolak has played a key role in advancing federal policies to strengthen the US’s energy infrastructure, lobbying for increased investments to meet demands from rapid data-center and manufacturing growth while lowering costs for families and businesses. Education: Virginia Tech. First job: Staff assistant for Congressman Bob Kastenmeier of Wisconsin. Alternate career she’d pursue: “Either a nutrition coach focusing on longevity or a bartender at a Tex-Mex restaurant.” Foreign Affairs Understanding all corners of the globe, these experts help shape how America relates to the rest of the world Abed Ayoub American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Ayoub testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee to demand reforms to the federal watch-list system, calling for due process, transparency, and safeguards to protect travelers’ rights following the shuttering of the flawed Quiet Skies surveillance program. Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan. Worst career advice he ever received: “‘Stay in your lane.’ This thinking limits growth and innovation.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Running a thrift store.” Emma Belcher Ploughshares President In her role as a signatory at the 2025 Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Belcher helped shape practical recommendations aimed at preventing nuclear war and influenced both policymakers and the broader security community on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation strategies. Hometown: Melbourne. First job: Public-affairs officer at the Australian Embassy in DC. First app she checks in the morning: “After messages and headlines, I open Spelling Bee in the New York Times app. It’s my daily ritual to get my brain moving.” Jeremy Ben-Ami J Street President Ben-Ami led J Street’s advocacy in supporting the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire framework in October 2025, calling it a crucial first step toward lasting peace and urging full implementation of the comprehensive peace plan. Lesson from his first job (as a fellow in the New York City government): “Keep no paper on your desk, and clear your inbox every day.” Hidden talent: “Counting cards at blackjack.” Last meal would be: A bagel, cream cheese, and smoked salmon. Elliot Brandt AIPAC CEO Brandt testified before Congress to urge approval of $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel without any conditions, praising the Trump administration for withdrawing restrictions and expediting arms deliveries. Education: Stanford. Best career advice he ever received: “Finding a job you enjoy matters. Finding a boss you enjoy working for matters more.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “The only way you’ll get into medical school is as a cadaver.” Eliot A. Cohen Center for Strategic International Studies Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy Cohen has emphasized the significance of nuclear deterrence and the evolving nature of modern warfare amid rising global threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He advocates for a strategic approach that integrates societal resilience, advanced technology, and coalition-building. Hometown: Boston. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Perseverance beats brilliance.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “A deck of cards to practice magic tricks.” Michael Doran Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East In the aftermath of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Doran warned that the current regime could last “for another 20 years” and assessed the impact as a “blow” that the Supreme Leader could recover from. Education: Stanford; Princeton. Matt Duss Center for International Policy Executive Vice President Duss has advocated for a progressive and just approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the need for accountability around the delicate ceasefire in Gaza while challenging entrenched US-Israel policy orthodoxies embedded in Washington. Hometown: Nyack, New York. Education: University of Washington. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Don’t worry, everyone else is just winging it, too.” Mai El-Sadany Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy Executive Director El-Sadany works to advance human-rights and transitional-justice frameworks in the Middle East, advocating for legal accountability and international engagement to support democratization and conflict resolution in the region. Education: Stanford; Georgetown Law. First job: Reporter at a weekly paper. Surprising thing always in her bag: “A Ziploc bag of a sour or sweet snack to give me that late-afternoon boost—Trolli gummy worms, chocolate-covered cashews, or candy corn.” Aykan Erdemir Anti-Defamation League Senior Director of Global Research and Diplomatic Affairs In helping drive coordinated advocacy that urged the EU and US allies to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, Erdemir shaped sanctions and diplomatic pressure tied to human rights and antisemitism concerns. Hometown: Bursa, Turkey. Surprising thing always on his desk: “A figurine of the Turkish mystic Haji Bektash Veli in his iconic pose hugging a lion and a deer, a reminder of the virtue of embracing tolerance and diversity.” Hidden talent: “I have a stomach radar, which allows me to detect hole-in-the-wall culinary treasures.” Douglas Farah IBI Consultants Founder and President Farah, a consultant on Latin American national security, was asked to offer his expertise about US government war games that imagined the consequences of a plot to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Hometowns: La Paz, Bolivia, and Lawrence, Kansas. First job and a lesson from it: “Gas-station attendant, back when you pumped gas and cleaned windshields. I learned that small acts of kindness have a high impact.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Beekeeper and gardener.” Cathy Feingold AFL-CIO Director of the International Department Feingold helped shape and monitor implementation of the Rapid Response Mechanism in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement—considered the strictest and most binding tool for enforcing labor rights ever included in a trade agreement. Hometown: Glencoe, Illinois. Best career advice she ever received: “The importance of building strong intergenerational networks of women colleagues who can support you through the various phases of your career.” Hidden talent: Salsa dancing. Markus Garlauskas Atlantic Council Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Garlauskas has advocated for an Indo-Pacific strategy that balances military readiness with economic and diplomatic engagement, highlighting the risks posed by US foreign-aid cuts, which he sees as creating openings for China’s expanding influence in the region. Hometown: Euclid, Ohio. First job: “Repairing and seal-coating asphalt driveways.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Hang in there. You’ll meet the love of your life next year.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “My wife’s business cards. You never know when you’ll run across someone who needs a great real-estate agent.” Tom Hart InterAction President and CEO Hart has become a pivotal voice in global development, leveraging decades of bipartisan advocacy to influence US foreign-assistance policy and drive collective NGO action against extreme poverty and humanitarian crises across the globe. Hometown: Fairbanks, Alaska. Best career advice he received: “Meet people where they are, not where you want them to be.” Hidden talent: “I can juggle fairly well.” Tonija Hope Howard University Assistant Provost for International Programs and Executive Director, Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center Hope leads the Global Futures Collaborative to expand equitable international policy dialogue and build diverse talent pipelines in US foreign policy and diplomacy. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Savor these moments—it gets harder.” Historical figure she identifies with: “My great-grandfather John Hope, first Black president of Morehouse College and Atlanta University.” Surprising thing on her desk: “A wood carving that Ralph Bunche gifted my grandfather after his travels in East Africa.” Emily Horne Allegro Public Affairs Founder and CEO A former National Security Council spokesperson for President Biden, Horne uses her experience to advise clients on defense and international strategy, particularly around sensitive intelligence issues. Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan. Best career advice she ever received: “Treat your career like a rock climb, not a ladder. The point is the challenge and the experiences along the way, not getting to the top first.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: Onyx Hard as Hoof Nail Cream. David Ignatius Washington Post Foreign Affairs Columnist Ignatius continues to shape the national conversation through his twice-weekly op-eds, live reader discussions, and appearances examining international issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and the shifting role of the United States on the global stage. First job: “Bellhop at the Georgetown Manor Hotel in high school. But the ‘first job’ that truly shaped my life was covering the United Steelworkers Union for the Wall Street Journal in Pittsburgh.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Cut your hair.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Unemployed State Department official.” Frederick W. Kagan American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow and Director, Critical Threats Project Kagan’s timely open-source intelligence assessments—on subjects such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, Iran’s regional activities, and jihadist networks—are regularly used by US policymakers, NATO officials, and military leaders. Education: Yale (BA, PhD). Atul Keshap U.S. Chamber of Commerce President, U.S.-India Business Council and U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council A veteran diplomat, Keshap leverages decades of Indo-Pacific expertise to advocate for “free-world supply chains” and deeper commercial-technological collaboration between the two largest global democracies. First job: Foreign Service officer. Lesson from that job: “If America doesn’t lead, either nobody else will or, worse, our enemies will.” Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t be afraid to defy conventional wisdom.” Zalmay Khalilzad Gryphon Partners President Khalilzad has championed continued engagement with Afghanistan through implementation of the Doha peace accord, advocating for incentives such as sanctions relief and economic aid. Hometown: Born in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan; raised in Kabul. Education: American University of Beirut (BA, MA); University of Chicago (PhD). Surprising thing always on his desk: “Pottery items made by my sons when they were in preschool.” Bryan Lanza Mercury Public Affairs Partner This former Trump adviser has been tasked with navigating high-stakes geopolitical sanctions, notably facilitating the multibillion-dollar divestiture of Lukoil’s international assets through strategic intercession with the US Treasury Department. Education: California State University at Long Beach. First app he checks in the morning: Financial Times. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: A crucifix. Elisa Massimino Georgetown Law Visiting Professor and Executive Director, Human Rights Institute Massimino has mobilized military leaders against torture and advocated for expansion of the “Leahy Law” to ensure that US military aid is withheld from foreign entities that commit human-rights abuses. First job: Cashier at Long John Silver’s. First app she checks in the morning: New York Times Spelling Bee. “Can’t start my day until I’m a Queen Bee.” Surprising thing always on her desk: “A clipboard with four short poems I love—“No Man Is an Island” (John Donne), “Good Bones” (Maggie Smith), “Letter to a Bridge Made of Rope” (Matthew Olzmann), and “To Be of Use” (Marge Piercy). I rotate them depending on what I need to be reminded of that day.” Giulia McPherson Global Campaign for Education–US Executive Director By successfully advocating for $737.6 million in funding for international basic education in the midst of historic cuts in US foreign aid, McPherson helped ensure assistance for 270 million out-of-school children around the world. Hometown: Chevy Chase. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Don’t worry about what you can’t do, but focus on what you can do.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: “Erasers. I’m a devoted pencil user, so I keep a stash on hand.” A. Wess Mitchell Marathon Initiative Principal and Cofounder Mitchell has shaped US national-security thinking and influenced Trump-era policy debates by advancing a great-power competition doctrine that prioritizes long-term strategic rivalry with China and Russia over peripheral conflicts. First job: “Hauling hay on my uncle’s alfalfa farm in West Texas.” Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t try to do it all. Learn to prioritize, and focus on a handful of things that matter most. Multitasking is overrated.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Texas cattle rancher.” W. Gyude Moore Center for Global Development Nonresident Fellow Moore has advised African countries to reduce aid dependency and prioritize diversified climate and development finance amid shrinking Western donor budgets. Hometown: Cape Palmas, Liberia. First job: “Working as a study-class teacher for grade-schoolers.” Hidden talent: “Singing. I had a solo during a Christmas concert in college.” Jim Moran Moran Global Strategies President and CEO Moran has facilitated high-level meetings with US lawmakers to advocate for Qatar’s role in Middle East peace negotiations and military cooperation, while also navigating the complex US-Qatar relationship. Hometown: Buffalo. Education: College of the Holy Cross; University of Pittsburgh. Matt Mowers Valcour President The former GOP congressional candidate and Trump-administration State Department official has signed a fleet of foreign clients—including the governments of Serbia, Hungary, and Iraq, as well as a startup in Turkey—and taken advantage of the surge of foreign actors looking for a connection inside the administration. Education: Rutgers University. Yousef Munayyer Arab Center Head of Palestine-Israel Program and Senior Fellow Munayyer has called for US and international accountability after the Gaza war, urging policymakers to shift global opinion and push for a viable political solution to Palestinian dispossession. Hometown: Born in Lod, Israel; raised in New Jersey. Education: University of Massachusetts Amherst (BA); University of Maryland (MA, PhD). Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Youth-hockey coach.” Gissou Nia Atlantic Council Director, Strategic Litigation Project Nia has briefed US congressional committees on strategies to counter transnational repression, advocating for the use of litigation and accountability mechanisms to address human-rights violations in Iran and beyond. First job: “My first real job was in The Hague, at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.” Most cherished possession: “A map of the ancient Persian empire. It reminds me of my ancestry. Cyrus the Great was a ‘human rights first’ kind of guy—at least compared to kings in that era—which I appreciate.” Binaifer Nowrojee Open Society Foundations President Nowrojee has shaped OSF’s global human-rights grantmaking across East Africa and Asia Pacific, championing democratic accountability, justice for conflict-affected communities, and international law—particularly around prosecuting sexual violence in post-conflict settings. Education: Bryn Mawr College; Columbia (JD); Harvard (LLM). First job: Staff attorney at the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. Robert O’Brien American Global Strategies Cofounder and Chairman O’Brien has leveraged his reputation as Trump’s former national-security adviser to promote “peace through strength,” advising leaders and companies on US foreign-policy priorities and strategic responses to global security threats. Education: UCLA; UC Berkeley School of Law. Best career advice he ever received: “As a lawyer, your role is to be a peacemaker.” Trita Parsi Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Cofounder and Executive Vice President Parsi has warned that America’s “unquestioning support” for Israel will deepen instability, and he’s urged a shift toward more balanced and diplomatic engagement in the region.​ Hometown: Uppsala, Sweden. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “I’d run a wildlife sanctuary for wolves. Or orphaned elephants.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “A small shoehorn. I hate tying my shoelaces.” Julie Fishman Rayman American Jewish Committee Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs Rayman leads the American Jewish Committee’s global advocacy efforts to strengthen anti-hate legislation and expand US policy support for Jewish communities facing rising antisemitism. Lesson from her first job (doing maintenance work at a designer home show): “Litter is everyone’s problem.” Worst career advice she ever received: “Don’t let the people who work under you shine too brightly.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “To center myself, I cook. Then, to connect with my family, we play games while we eat.” Dennis Ross Washington Institute for Near East Policy Counselor and Distinguished Fellow A former ambassador with more than four decades of experience, Ross huddles with policymakers on US-Israel security and recently promoted renewed diplomatic strategies for stabilizing Israel’s regional relationships. Hometown: San Francisco. First job: Analyst in the Pentagon. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Sports commentator.” Robert Stryk Stryk Global Diplomacy Executive Chairman and Founder Stryk has brokered new partnerships between US interests and African energy leaders, helping shape US investment and diplomatic priorities in the continent’s oil-and-gas sector. Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona. Education: Arizona State University. First job: Aide for Senator Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign. Hadar Susskind New Jewish Narrative President and CEO As the leader of national advocacy campaigns urging policymakers to address antisemitism and bolster protections for Jewish communities in the US and globally, Susskind has pressed for stronger policy responses amid surges in hate speech. Education: Tel Aviv University; University of Maryland. Lesson from his first job (at a movie theater): “Never pick up trash from the floor with your bare hands.” First app he checks in the morning: “That depends—is it football season?” David Tamasi Chartwell Strategy Group Partner Tamasi has a long lobbying portfolio of foreign governments and companies—most notably, advocating for greater US investment and security aid to the country of Georgia and representing the NSO Group, an Israeli cyberintelligence firm, in Washington. Hometown: Dennis, Massachusetts. Best career advice he ever received: “Always be early.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Roadie with the Allman Brothers Band.” David Urban BGR Group Managing Director Urban guides international- and national-security-focused engagements for his firm—including advising foreign governments and defense-industry clients on US military aid, trade, and technology-investment decisions. First job: Artillery officer in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Antiques dealer. First app he checks in the morning: Hallow. Jill Zuckman SKDK Partner In the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, Zuckman led a team that shined a spotlight on the American families of hostages in Gaza, securing media attention that reached senior US officials. Education: Brown. Hidden talent: Making pies. Most cherished possession: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, a gift for my bat mitzvah.” Good Government Whether fighting for democracy or federal-employee benefits, these people care deeply about having our public system work effectively Ginny Badanes Microsoft General Manager, Tech for Society In her role at the tech giant, Badanes molds policy, advocating for responsible-AI and digital-equity initiatives that influence both corporate and public-sector practices. Hometown: Tulsa. First app she checks in the morning: “Outlook. Though I aspire to be one of those people who doesn’t check email until after coffee.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: “A Tide pen. Maybe not that surprising to those who know me, but between my own clumsiness and my three kids, it comes in handy often.” James-Christian Blockwood National Academy of Public Administration President and CEO Colleagues have heralded Blockwood for his tireless work defending public service and for focusing on the nuts and bolts of public administration while ducking the political battles embroiling others. Hometown: “I’m from a military family, so we moved around quite a bit.” First job and a lesson from it: “My first government job was as an intelligence officer, where I learned how to say, ‘I don’t know, but I will find out,’ and that the worst thing you can do is make things up.” Surprising things always in his coat pocket: “A copy of the Constitution, a tiny Bible, and a note written by one of my children.” Danielle Brian Project on Government Oversight President and Executive Director Brian promotes policies that strengthen federal ethics rules, prevent wasteful spending, and increase transparency in government contracting. First job: Piercing ears at Piercing Pagoda. Lesson from that job: “Just because someone thinks it’s a good idea doesn’t mean it is.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “I love a couple rounds of backgammon with my partner before we start to make dinner.” Louis Clark Government Accountability Project CEO and Executive Director Clark, who founded GAP in 1977, has solidified himself as a global leader in protecting whistleblowers. Most recently, he spearheaded lawsuits to protect federal workers and preserve Voice of America. Hometown: Westfield and New Haven, Indiana. First job: Newspaper delivery boy. Song on repeat: “Beyond the Stars” performed by Sami Yusuf. Norman Eisen Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Governance Studies Eisen is behind Democracy Playbook 2025, a comprehensive framework of evidence-based policy recommendations designed to strengthen democratic institutions and to counter authoritarian backsliding globally. Hometown: Hollywood, California. First job: At his family’s hamburger stand. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Hollywood agent because I’m on the phone a lot and I like it.” Jason Foster Empower Oversight Founder and Chair Foster helped earn lump-sum settlements for a slew of FBI and Justice Department officials after they were punished by the Biden administration for flagging instances of what they considered “political weaponization.” Education: Harding University; Georgetown Law. Jared Genser Perseus Strategies Managing Director Genser has driven US and international pressure campaigns that secured the release of political prisoners and expanded use of global sanctions against rights abusers. Hometown: Bethesda. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “I love cooking and baking and dream of being a chef.” Hidden talent: “I’m a lifelong ‘beer league’ ice-hockey player. I’m not especially talented, but I’m relentless and never give up.” Lisa Gilbert Public Citizen Co-President Gilbert has overseen aggressive litigation and coalition-building to hold Trump-era officials accountable for seeking to undermine government agencies, voting rights, and environmental regulations. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I would want to work at an independent bookstore.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “With a cup of soothing tea.” Hidden talent: “Gymnastics skills, though they haven’t been tested in five-plus years.” Benjamin L. Ginsberg Stanford University Volker Distinguished Visiting Fellow Pillars of the Community Co-Chair Ginsberg is helming the Improving American Elections initiative, where he leads bipartisan efforts to develop evidence-based safeguards and policy reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in the integrity of US elections. Education: University of Pennsylvania; Georgetown Law. First job: Newspaper reporter. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Barista. Jeff Hauser Revolving Door Project Executive Director Pushing for ethical governance and transparency, Hauser heads up efforts to monitor and challenge revolving-door practices, in which officials move between government posts and lucrative private-sector roles. Hometown: New City, New York. Education: Harvard; NYU (JD). Most cherished possession: “My reputation.” Liz Hempowicz American Oversight Deputy Executive Director With her work on the Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee, Hempowicz leverages her expertise in government ethics to develop policy recommendations that streamline public access to records and strengthen executive-branch accountability. Hometown: Bridgeport, Connecticut. First job: “Selling sunglasses at a highway rest-stop kiosk.” Hidden talent: “Easily memorizing song lyrics and retaining them forever.” Eric H. Holder Jr. Covington Senior Counsel The former attorney general under President Obama, Holder advises high-profile clients on complex investigations and litigation matters, including national security, regulatory enforcement, and corporate misconduct. Best career advice he ever received: “Always give 110 percent on every project—you never know who will review your efforts or how important the project will be viewed down the road.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be appropriately patient but unafraid to challenge people in authority.” Last meal would be: “Not concerned about health impacts? Filet mignon.” Neal Katyal Milbank Partner Katyal is the primary legal architect challenging Trump’s executive overreach, leading the Supreme Court battle against the administration’s sweeping tariffs by arguing that such powers belong exclusively to Congress. First job: On an assembly line in an EZ-Foil factory. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Marrying well is a thousand times more important than anything else you do.” Worst career advice he ever received: “Don’t take time off.” Libby Liu Whistleblower Aid CEO Liu has launched a national Election Protection program, which provides pro bono legal resources and secure reporting channels for election officials and poll workers to safely disclose threats of interference or attempts to subvert democratic processes. Best career advice she ever received: “Never believe your own press releases.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I would be a private chef and food-truck owner sharing my mom’s Szechuan family dishes.” Surprising thing she always has on hand: Salt. Abbe David Lowell Lowell Associates Founding Member When President Trump fired both Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez last summer, they both enlisted Lowell—one of the country’s most influential defense attorneys—to take up their cases. Hometown: New York City. Education: Columbia University (BA, JD). Ryan McGowan Institute for Legislative Analysis CEO McGowan developed Congress’s largest liberty-focused legislative scoring-and-data platform, significantly shaping how advocacy groups and voters evaluate lawmakers’ records. Hometown: Olney. Hidden talent: “Really bad impressions of people.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “Yogurt bites or an Uncrustable inevitably ends up there.” Norman Ornstein American Enterprise Institute Emeritus Scholar His work on political dysfunction and electoral reforms continues to inform policymakers and the public as he emphasizes the urgent need to address partisan extremism and strengthen democratic institutions. First job: At a bowling-alley shoe counter. Best career advice: “If you’re not willing to fight for what you believe, find another profession.” Cherished possession: “My ticket to the seventh game of the ’65 World Series. My Minnesota Twins lost to Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers. It was the year Koufax refused to pitch the first game, on Yom Kippur. So I had mixed feelings. Koufax was every Jew’s hero.” Trevor Potter Campaign Legal Center Founder and President A pivotal force in advancing campaign-finance reform and election integrity, Potter has led major legal battles to curtail the influence of dark money and super-PACs while pushing to hold nonprofits accountable when they cross into partisan political activity. Hometown: Chicago. Worst career advice he ever received: “Don’t accept an appointment as an FEC commissioner, because it’s a dead end—no one cares about election law.” Hidden talent: “Making a cheese soufflé.” Aaron Scherb Democracy Defenders Action Chief Congressional Adviser Scherb’s work includes rallying bipartisan support around key democratic principles in the lead-up to elections and pressing for protective legislation and accountability around threats to democratic institutions. First job: Delivering newspapers for the South Bend Tribune. Lesson from that job: “People appreciated and often recognized the small things, like making sure their newspaper was fully wrapped in plastic when it was raining or snowing.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “Watching old Saturday Night Live reruns.” Donald K. Sherman Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington President and CEO Sherman was tapped as president and CEO in January to lead CREW’s strategy against authoritarian threats, with a litigation-and-ethics agenda targeting government corruption and abuses of power. Best career advice he ever received: “Be kind to everyone. Do favors for people, especially if it costs you little or nothing.” Hidden talent: “I know pi to about 40 or 50 digits.” First app he checks in the morning: New York Times Spelling Bee. Max Stier Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Stier is working on an initiative to modernize federal leadership, hiring, and technology systems while aggressively defending the nonpartisan civil service against recent attempts to politicize the workforce. Hometown: Coralville, Iowa. First app he checks in the morning: “I get up around 5 am and check my texts to see if my youngest son, who goes to school on the West Coast, has texted me to talk before he’s gone to bed the night before.” Surprising thing always on his desk: “My wife gave me a Hoptimist from the Museum of Modern Art, which sits in eye view.” Cynthia Richie Terrell RepresentWomen Founder and Executive Director Terrell promotes research-driven strategies to reform electoral rules and systems in order to achieve gender parity in political representation and leadership in the United States. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Nursery-school teacher.” Surprising thing always on her desk: “A small Steiff teddy bear.” Productivity hack: “I make lists of tasks and have quick calls with staff members when using our indoor rowing machine.” Benjamin Wittes Lawfare Institute Editor in Chief Wittes has transitioned his Lawfare publication from a national-security blog to a primary hub for tracking and analyzing the “Trials of the Trump Administration,” where he documents the dozens of legal challenges to the President’s executive actions. Hometown: Boston. Education: Oberlin College. Healthcare Leading pros who know the ins and outs of healthcare policy, regulation, and access—and how those can help or hurt consumers Anna Abram Akin Senior Adviser Abram secured a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act barring drugmakers from retaining orphan-drug incentives if their treatments are later approved for more common conditions. Lesson from her first job (as a camp counselor): “Patience goes a long way.” Best career advice she ever received: “When you’re negotiating something, it’s okay to bend, but don’t break.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Medicine.” Jane Adams Johnson Johnson Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs and Policy, and Head of Office Adams leads the healthcare giant’s federal advocacy across its pharmaceutical and medtech businesses, focusing on drug pricing and Medicare while shaping broader debates on innovation, supply chains, and manufacturing. Hometown: Woodstock, Vermont. Hidden talent: Parallel parking. Most cherished possession: “Handmade cards from our children when they were young.” Andrew Barnhill IQVIA Head of Public Policy, Global Legal Barnhill has led the company’s engagement with federal life-sciences and clinical-research policy, reinforcing IQVIA’s role in health-data and regulatory frameworks. First job: Host of a cable-access TV show while in high school. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “You will get to be and do all the things you aspire to, but the journey might take some unexpected turns.” Surprising thing in his bag: “Goggles for my daily swim.” Georges C. Benjamin American Public Health Association Executive Director Benjamin has publicly challenged federal leadership over public-health agency staffing and governance, asserting that recent leadership choices threaten national health. Hometown: Chicago. Talent he’d most like to have: “Artist, probably painting.” Last meal would be: “Bacon, eggs, and French toast.” Michael Cannon Cato Institute Director of Health Policy Studies Cannon has advanced libertarian health-policy arguments—most recently critiquing heavy government intervention in healthcare and advocating for market-based reforms. First job: Paperboy. Hidden talent: “I can whistle loud enough to signal passing ships.” Cherished possession: “My photo library.” Anne Cassity National Community Pharmacists Association Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Cassity is leading federal and state advocacy efforts to elevate independent pharmacies’ voices in regulatory and reimbursement policy. Hometown: Saint Francisville, Louisiana. Lesson from her first job (as a swimming instructor): “It taught me responsibility as a young teenager. It wasn’t fun getting up early on summer mornings, but I had students depending on me.” Last meal would be: Crawfish étouffée or boiled crawfish. Liz Clark Health Fitness Association CEO and President Clark was present at the White House launch of a national assessment of childhood inactivity and pushed for inclusion of the PHIT Act—a bipartisan bill that would let Americans use pretax savings accounts to pay for fitness—in reconciliation legislation. First job: “Cleaning hotel rooms, groundskeeping, and helping my mom as a prep cook at our small family business in Montana at age nine.” Best career advice she ever received: “Surround yourself with positive people and don’t make up excuses. If you mess up, own it and move on.” Hidden talent: Scrapbooking. Marjorie Dannenfelser Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President As enforcer of the Republican Party’s antiabortion platform, Dannenfelser leverages tens of millions of dollars to pressure President Trump and congressional leaders against flexibility on the Hyde amendment, framing it as allowing taxpayer-funded abortions. Hometown: Greenville, North Carolina. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Live in, give thanks for, and learn from the blessings of the moment.” Talent she’d most like to have: “Poetry writing.” Chester “Chip” Davis Jr. Healthcare Distribution Alliance President and CEO Davis has prioritized strengthening pharmaceutical supply-chain resilience and addressing drug shortages through public-private collaboration and updated traceability initiatives that would follow a drug from manufacturer to patient. Hometown: Annapolis. Best career advice he ever received: “When I was a young lawyer, a senior partner in the firm shared, ‘If you agree with me on everything all the time, I have no use for you.’ It reinforced the importance of eliciting and receiving honest and candid feedback.” Last meal would be: “Maryland crabs.” Christine Eibner Rand Corporation Senior Economist Eibner uses economic modeling to analyze how changes to health-insurance policy—such as the expiration of federal subsidies—affect coverage and uninsured rates. Education: William Mary; University of Maryland (PhD, economics). Lesson from her first job (as a publishing assistant): “Don’t be intimidated by senior and accomplished people, even if you’re just starting out.” Last meal would be: “An ice-cream sundae.” Chad Golder American Hospital Association General Counsel and Secretary Golder led legal advocacy to protect and expand the 340B Drug Pricing Program, defending hospitals’ access to pharmaceutical discounts and opposing regulatory changes that they claim threatens safety-net care. Hometown: Oceanside, New York. Lesson from his first job (as a law clerk to Merrick Garland on the DC Circuit Court): “Garland was the model judge. Every day, I learned how to be a better lawyer by his judicial temperament and modest approach to the law.” Alternate career he’d pursue: “Pursue? General manager of the New York Yankees. Likelihood: Almost zero.” Scott Gottlieb New Enterprise Associates Partner A former FDA commissioner in Trump’s first term, Gottlieb has played a key role in healthcare innovation policy, actively advising on regulatory strategies to accelerate access to new medical technologies and therapies. Hometown: East Brunswick, New Jersey. Education: Wesleyan University; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. First job: Healthcare analyst at Alex. Brown Sons in Baltimore. Shawn Griffin URAC President and CEO Griffin, who regularly advises Congress and HHS on artificial intelligence, has helped establish the nation’s first accreditation system to certify AI healthcare tools in clinical and administrative settings and has built bipartisan support for Medicare Advantage reforms projected to save $10 million. Education: Truman State University; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Hometown: “I grew up in rural Iowa in a small college town.” First job and a lesson from it: “Picking up rocks in farm fields for spring planting and baling hay in the summer. That taught me the value of hard work and that I wasn’t made to be a farmer.” Al Guida Guide Consulting Services President and CEO Guida drives federal mental-health and addiction policy, advocating for expanded behavioral-health coverage and parity enforcement at both legislative and agency levels. Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “While it may not seem like it, patience is among your most important personal qualities.” Talent he’d most like to have: “Greater verbal discipline. Specifically, knowing when to stop talking.” Cookab Hashemi Elekta Senior Director, Government Affairs– Americas Region Hashemi works to advance policies supporting the adoption of precision-radiation medicine, including federal funding and regulatory pathways for innovative cancer-care technologies. Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina. Best career advice she ever received: Always handwrite a thank-you note. On her bucket list: “To run the National Women’s Half Marathon.” Chuck Ingoglia National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Acting as a protector for the nation’s behavioral-health safety net, Ingoglia has led a massive push to protect community clinics from significant federal budget cuts following the passage of 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Hometown: Detroit. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be patient. Things will work out even though you have no idea what that means right now.” Best career advice: “I’ve always taken on more responsibility and found ways to grow into it. Don’t wait for the opportunity, make it.” Chris Jennings Jennings Policy Strategies Founder and President The former health-policy adviser to both Presidents Clinton and Obama, Jennings has been instrumental in the design and implementation of major healthcare programs, including the Affordable Care Act and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Hometown: Athens, Ohio. Best career advice: “Depressing door closings often open up new windows for growth.” Most cherished possession: “My mother’s Lyon Healy harp.” Elizabeth Jurinka Vistria Group Operating Director, Healthcare Policy, Vistria PRG A former special assistant to President Biden, Jurinka spearheaded the strategy to prevent the Affordable Care Act’s repeal and was a lead negotiator for historic prescription-drug pricing reforms. Education: University of Maryland (BA); Johns Hopkins (MA). Patrick J. Kennedy Healthsperien Partner A leading champion of mental-health equity, the former congressman is working to fundamentally change how insurance companies are required to cover brain-based illnesses. Hometown: Boston. Education: Providence College (BS). Genevieve M. Kenney Urban Institute Institute Fellow, Health Policy Division Kenney has led influential research that quantifies the impact of new federal Medicaid work requirements, highlighting the projected coverage losses and increased financial hardship for low-income adults and their families. Education: Smith College; University of Michigan (MA, PhD). Talent she’d most like to have: “I’d love to be able to sing (on key).” Last meal would be: “Barbecue, German potato salad, salted fresh tomatoes, and corn on the cob.” Jay Khosla Humana Chief Government Affairs Officer Khosla steered advocacy efforts concerning Medicare Advantage and federal health policy, positioning Humana at the forefront of payment-innovation and healthcare-access debates. Hometown: Fairfax. Education: Virginia Commonwealth University; University of Richmond (JD). What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “It’s a long race, and you’ll end up on a completely different course than what you’re preparing for.” Sarah Kyle Eli Lilly Vice President, Federal Affairs Kyle advanced federal outreach for Eli Lilly during 2025 negotiations with the Trump administration, working on agreements to reduce GLP-1 drug prices and expand Medicare coverage for anti-obesity medications. Hometown: South Bend, Indiana. Education: Purdue University; Johns Hopkins. Best career advice she ever received: “To follow the wise words of Thomas Jefferson: ‘I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.’ ” Courtney Lawrence Cigna Senior Vice President, Head of Government Affairs and Global Public Policy A veteran of both Health and Human Services and Capitol Hill, Lawrence now leads the defense against pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, arguing that PBMs are essential for lowering prescription costs for employers. Education: University of Georgia. Nancy LeaMond AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer LeaMond mobilized bipartisan support for the Credit for Caring Act, which could be the first federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for the nation’s 63 million family caregivers. Hometown: Millburn, New Jersey. First job: “Public-parks summer playground leader for economically and culturally diverse children.” Hidden talent: “Whistling.” Lucia Lebens Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Chief Government Affairs Officer Lebens has weighed in heavily as part of PCMA’s opposition to state-level pharmaceutical regulation, arguing that proposed rules on prior authorization, rebates, and pharmacy ownership will raise costs and reduce access. Hometown: Afton, Minnesota. Productivity hack: “If you’re behind in emails, always start at the top and go down—you’ll find most things have already been resolved.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Be you.” Jane Lucas Alston Bird Partner Lucas guided several healthcare companies through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, securing language changes to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries can receive primary care at community health centers without a copay. Education: South Dakota State University (BA); Georgetown (JD). Charlene MacDonald Federation of American Hospitals President and CEO MacDonald propelled FAH’s campaign to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, a move framed as necessary to prevent millions of Americans from losing health coverage and to protect hospital stability. Education: Lake Forest College; Harvard. Scott M. Melville Consumer Healthcare Products Association President and CEO Melville has been a leading voice pushing back on new import tariffs, warning that proposed 25-percent duties on over-the-counter and self-care medicine ingredients would increase costs and undermine public health. Education: Bucknell University (BA); George Mason (JD). David Merritt Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Senior Vice President, External Affairs Merritt spearheaded an advocacy campaign to protect enhanced healthcare tax credits—mobilizing federal and state leaders and securing significant national media coverage. Lesson from his first job (at McDonald’s): “Adult work is no joke.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Political talking head or travel blogger.” How he unwinds at the end of the day: “‘Toy time’ with our dogs, Buddy and Bear. They insist.” Mark Miller Arnold Ventures Executive Vice President of Healthcare Playing a pivotal role in shaping landmark federal legislation to constrain drug prices and eliminate surprise medical bills, Miller directly influenced bipartisan policy reforms. Lesson from his first job (working construction in college): “I didn’t want to work in construction.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “It goes faster than you think—don’t take anything for granted.” Most cherished possession: “My guitars.” Laura Modi Bobbie CEO and Cofounder Modi disrupted the infant-formula duopoly by advocating for greater market competition and consumer choice, influencing federal policy discussions during the formula shortage. Education: Technological University Dublin (BS). John Murphy III Association for Accessible Medicines President and CEO Murphy is a leading voice for policy reforms to expand access to generics and biosimilars, arguing that they would make vital medications more affordable for patients. Education: Villanova; Catholic University law school. First job: Senior consultant at McBee Associates. Margaret A. Murray Association for Community Affiliated Plans CEO During the federal-government shutdown last fall, Murray urged Congress to extend subsidies for Obamacare in order to prevent a spike in premiums and to protect affordable health coverage for millions of Americans. Education: Wellesley College; Princeton (MPA). Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Running a bookstore.” Surprising thing always in her bag: “A novel—likely the latest thriller.” John M. O’Brien National Pharmaceutical Council President and CEO O’Brien’s research convinced advocates and lawmakers that the Inflation Reduction Act’s price controls were stifling orphan-drug development—fueling the only bipartisan fix to its health provisions included in last year’s reconciliation bill. Education: University of Florida; Johns Hopkins University (MPH); Nova Southeastern University (PharmD). Kavita Patel New Enterprise Associates Venture Associate A former Obama White House policy director who advises healthcare companies, Patel champions value-based payment reforms that prioritize health equity in community-based systems. Education: University of Texas at Austin (BA); UT Health San Antonio (MD); UCLA (MS, health-services research). What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Successes will come with losses, and that is still progress.” Last meal would be: “Whatever would be big enough to share with my family and best friends.” Lori Reilly PhRMA Chief Operating Officer Reilly has been instrumental in advancing pharmaceutical innovation policies at PhRMA, focusing on regulatory reforms and speeding the development of new medicines. Lesson from her first job (selling shoes at the Midwestern retail chain Richman Gordman): “The customer is always right.” First app she checks in the morning: X. How she unwinds at the end of the day: “I picked up floral design during Covid, so at least once a week I stop at Trader Joe’s and buy flowers.” Elena Rios National Hispanic Health Foundation President A pioneer who cofounded the National Hispanic Medical Association to represent 50,000 physicians, Rios has spent more than 30 years leveraging her advisory roles to dismantle cultural barriers in healthcare. Hometown: Pico Rivera, California. Music on repeat: “Salsa of all kinds.” Historical figure she admires: “Eleanor Roosevelt, who kept my mother and her generation engaged with all the great new government programs over the radio—inspiration to a generation.” Armstrong Robinson UnitedHealth Group Vice President, External Affairs A former chief of staff on Capitol Hill, Robinson believes managed care is the solution to healthcare affordability. He’s worked to protect Medicare Advantage from federal rate cuts and leads the push for site-neutral payment reforms—which would require Medicare to pay the same for outpatient services, whether in a hospital or a doctor’s office. Education: George Washington University (BA); Catholic University (JD). Peter Rubin No Patient Left Behind Executive Director Rubin convenes a network of biotechnology innovators, investors, economists, and patients to weigh in with a credible, technical voice on key healthcare issues, including the subsidy-extension debate and changes at the FDA. Education: Middlebury College; AU’s Kogod School of Business. Best career advice he received: “ ‘The nice thing about DC is that your friends stab you in the chest.’ It’s a reminder how seemingly honorable that is compared to many others who routinely go behind their friends’ backs.” Song on repeat: “ ‘Alive’ by Pearl Jam. Yes, I am stuck in the ’90s!” Melissa Schulman CVS Health Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs Schulman has driven CVS Health’s government-relations strategy to support expanded healthcare access and pharmaceutical innovation. Hometown: Southfield, Michigan. Talent she’d most like to have: “Truth serum.” Historical figure she most identifies with: Katharine Graham. Ilyse Schuman American Benefits Council Senior Vice President, Health and Paid Leave Policy Schuman has been a central architect of the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act, successfully advocating for bipartisan legislation that allows high-deductible health plans to provide pre-deductible coverage for 14 essential chronic-disease treatments. Education: Tufts University Jackson College; Georgetown Law. First app she checks in the morning: “The daily puzzles from the New York Times.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “A singer-songwriter, if only I could sing.” Stephanie Silverman Venn Strategies CEO Silverman has emerged as a defining force in healthcare policy, leveraging her deep Capitol Hill relationships to shape the terms of debate across a range of critical issues, including Medicaid. Hometown: Silver Spring. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Definitely working in the home-decor sector, probably as a buyer of art and vintage items or just buying and redoing properties.” How she unwinds: “I drive to our farmhouse on Kent Island and breathe deeply while looking out over the Bay Bridge, knowing there isn’t much to do but watch the boats and birds.” Brad Tallamy Merck Executive Director, US Policy and Government Relations Tallamy has lobbied for pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms to increase transparency and reduce drug costs. Hometown: Elkton, Maryland. Education: Loyola University Maryland. Ellen Teller Food Research Action Center Chief Government Affairs Officer Teller is a powerhouse in Washington on anti-hunger policy, leveraging nearly four decades of expertise and bipartisan relationships to shape legislation and help protect food-insecure Americans from cutbacks. Education: State University of New York at Oneonta; Western New England University Law School. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Shakespearean actress.” Song on repeat: “ ‘What the World Needs Now Is Love’ by Jackie DeShannon.” Alanna Temme LMH Strategic Solutions Founder Temme has guided biotech and medical-device clients through FDA and federal reimbursement processes, securing approvals and coverage rates that she says accelerate treatments and procedures for patients with previously overlooked conditions. Hometown: Millersville, Maryland. Alternate career she’d pursue: “I’d write reviews of spas and wellness experiences around the world.” Song on repeat: “Whatever my middle daughter is into—currently, ‘Sapphire’ by Ed Sheeran.” Michael Tuffin AHIP President and CEO Tuffin has orchestrated a high-stakes battle to extend enhanced healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans facing premium increases as high as 97 percent in some states, warning Congress of “the largest ever spike in healthcare costs.” Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts. Education: Providence College (BA); Vanderbilt (MBA). Lesson from his first job (mowing lawns): “That grass is not going to cut itself.” Stephen Ubl PhrMA President and CEO The driving force behind the industry’s most consequential policy battles, Ubl has filed six lawsuits challenging the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare drug-price negotiation program while securing expanded orphan-drug exemptions in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Hometown: Minneapolis. Education: St. Cloud State University. Lesson from his first job (answering the phones in a Senate office): “The chief of staff gave me great advice to pay attention to the details. He said it’s a really important job and can be done poorly.” Jennifer Walton Pfizer Senior Vice President, US Policy and Government Relations Walton has led Pfizer’s government-relations strategy to oppose Covid-19 vaccine patent waivers—arguing that they would disrupt complex manufacturing processes and supply chains—while advancing partnerships to scale vaccine production and ensure global access. Education: University of Kansas; George Washington University (MPH). Most cherished possession: “A poem my dad wrote me when I graduated from high school.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Dancing, playing games, and laughing with my kids. We play a lot of Taylor Swift and Disney-movie theme songs.” Immigration Authorities on the legislative, legal, and administrative policies that shape our nation’s immigration system Heidi Altman National Immigration Law Center Vice President, Policy A driving force behind strengthening legal protections for immigrant families, Altman has helped shape federal policy debates on humane enforcement and access to justice throughout Trump’s immigration crackdown. Hometown: Fullerton, California. Education: Yale; NYU School of Law. Lesson from her first job (as a paralegal for a nonprofit): “It’s okay, and often necessary, to slow down and take time to build trust as part of any working relationship.” Nazanin Ash Welcome.US CEO Ash partners with hundreds of corporations as well as philanthropic and civic leaders to resettle newcomers, including a major push for 100,000 Afghan refugees to remain in the United States. Hometown: Santa Monica. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I’d own and run a cake-and-pie bakery with my bestie and kids.” Surprising thing always on her desk: “A squishy polar bear lying flat on its tummy, for those days when our politics really get me down.” Ronnate Asirwatham Bridges Faith Initiative Director, Strategy and Advocacy A leading interfaith voice on immigration policy, Asirwatham has worked with a national coalition of more than 7,000 faith leaders in the fight to protect asylum seekers and refugees. Hometown: Kandy, Sri Lanka. Lesson from her first job (as a journalist): “Persevere and have fun.” Last meal would be: Crab curry. Robyn Barnard Human Rights First Director, Refugee and Immigrant Rights Barnard has played a pivotal role in challenging the Trump administration’s targeting of asylum seekers and refugees. Education: University of Melbourne (BA, JD); Georgetown Law (JD exchange). First US job: Associate attorney in the Refugee Representation team of Human Rights First. First app she checks in the morning: Signal. David Bier Cato Institute Director of Immigration Studies Bier is widely considered the “math-driven” conscience of the 2026 immigration debate, having recently briefed Congress on the economic and budgetary implications of the US’s immigration system. Hometown: Medford, New Jersey. Education: Grove City College. First job: Mowing lawns. Vanessa Cárdenas America’s Voice Executive Director Cárdenas is a leader of the “Home is Here” coalition, which released a tracker revealing the dozens of DACA recipients who have been unlawfully detained by immigration enforcement. Hometown: Fairfax. First job: Teacher assistant for Arlington Public Schools. How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Going for a quick walk and making a light dinner.” Kristie De Peña America’s Competitive Edge Initiative President In the wake of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s passage, De Peña coauthored the “Immigration Beyond Extremes” blueprint, emphasizing the need for modernizing border technology while creating a merit-based, earned-citizenship track for noncitizens with essential skills. Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas. Best career advice she ever received: “ ‘We all rise to our level of incompetence,’ reminding me to keep learning, stay a little uncomfortable, and never assume a promotion means you’ve figured it out.” Song on repeat: “Pinball Wizard” by The Who. Emily Foster National Immigration Forum Vice President and Chief of Public Affairs With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of immigration policy and corporate America, Foster has become one of Washington’s most effective translators between the business community and the immigration-reform debate. Something always on her desk: “Tea bags. It’s tough being a tea drinker in a coffee-dominated world!” First job: Lifeguard at Martin Luther King Jr. Indoor Swim Center in Silver Spring. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Show yourself the grace you show to others.” Angela Maria Kelley American Immigration Lawyers Association Senior Adviser NVG Senior Adviser A veteran of the Biden and Obama administrations, Kelley has co-led a coalition of centrist leaders with the goal of advancing evidence-based bipartisan immigration policies. Hometown: Charlottesville. Surprising thing she always has with her: “Tissues from Japan. They’re the softest, and I always ask people going there to bring me packets.” Most cherished possession: “Photo albums of my family from the times when you had to develop film and that aren’t saved anywhere except in those albums.” Mark Krikorian Center for Immigration Studies Executive Director Krikorian helped shape the Republican push for administrative reforms to the H-1B visa program, urging steep cuts to legal immigration and calling for stricter enforcement—actions aligning with the Trump administration’s stated intent to shrink legal immigration. Lesson from his first job (washing dishes at Friendly’s Ice Cream): “All work is honorable, and there’s no such thing as ‘jobs Americans won’t do.’ ” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Recycling engineer. Or a monk in the Armenian Church.” Most cherished possession: “Maybe my Le Creuset Dutch oven.” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick American Immigration Council Senior Fellow One of the most authoritative voices in the immigration-policy arena, Reichlin-Melnick has built a reputation for decoding the legal architecture of immigration enforcement in real time—translating complex statutory mechanisms and executive maneuvers into insights for lawmakers and advocates. Education: Brandeis University; Georgetown Law. Lora Ries Heritage Foundation Director, Border Security and Immigration Center Ries is a primary architect of conservative immigration policy that prioritizes “America First” principles, seeks to overhaul the asylum process, and pushes to dismantle birthright citizenship. Hometown: Iowa City. Best career advice she ever received: “Your career path is like Donkey Kong—it may zigzag, but as long as you’re headed up, towards the prize, you’re on the right track.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Serving wine in a winetasting room.” Andrew Selee Migration Policy Institute President Selee’s nonpartisan analysis often informs policymakers on how to manage migration flow through “regular pathways,” such as regional processing centers, in order to integrate immigrants into the US economy. Hometown: “Shepherd Park, then later Silver Spring.” First app he checks in the morning: Apple Music. Most cherished possession: “My old Lego blocks, which now belong to my children.” Rick Swartz Strategic Solutions Washington President Known for his ability to gather consensus among diverse stakeholders, Swartz has spent decades fighting for safe havens for refugees and navigating a middle way between gridlocked political parties. Education: Amherst College; University of Chicago Law School. Lesson from his first job (as an associate at Hogan Hartson): “Be aggressively proactive. Create your own work rather than wait for assignments.” First app he checks in the morning: Apple News. Dale Wilcox Federation for American Immigration Reform Executive Director and General Counsel Wilcox has championed the Trump administration’s executive actions, specifically advocating for implementation of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions to prioritize American workers over cheap foreign labor. First job: Working for his father’s construction company. Hidden talent: “Photographic memory.” Surprising thing on his desk: “A wooden ‘Christ the Reedemer’ statue that a colleague gave to me after a trip to Brazil more than 20 years ago.” Infrastructure Transportation Whether involving land, sea, or air, these experts fight for policies that help strengthen the backbone of our country Gina Adams FedEx Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Adams remains a powerful force on global trade, infrastructure, and regulatory issues, driving the company’s influence on commerce and logistics worldwide. Hometown: Washington, DC. Best career advice she ever received: “Listen more than you speak, don’t make enemies by accident, show grace always, and understand that position is not permanent.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “I’d emphasize the value of learning a foreign language and the job of mastering an instrument like the piano.” Nikitra Bailey National Fair Housing Alliance Executive Vice President Bailey is the primary advocate leading the national response to algorithmic bias in home appraisals while fighting federal rollbacks of fair-lending protections for women and underserved communities. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Be afraid and do it anyway.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Running outdoors.” Hidden talent: Interior design. Ed Bolen National Business Aviation Association President and CEO A champion of the “Modern Skies Coalition,” Bolen helped secure a $12.5 billion investment in a brand-new, resilient US air-traffic control system, avoiding its privatization. Hometown: Salina, Kansas. Lesson from his first job (as a referee for elementary-school basketball and flag football): “Be fair and consistent, but recognize that when you make a tough call, there will be people who feel you are being neither.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Setbacks are often steps forward.” Kevin M. Burke Airports Council International–North America President and CEO Burke’s deep policy expertise and bipartisan relationships with regulators and lawmakers have made ACI-NA a powerhouse on aviation issues. The organization has secured major wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including funding for additional Customs and Border Protection officers and air-traffic-control modernization. Hometown: Lynbrook, New York. Best career advice he ever received: “Listen more, talk less.” Hidden talent: Carpentry. Hilary Cain Alliance for Automotive Innovation Senior Vice President of Policy Cain spearheaded the industry’s successful campaign to expand the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, securing federal incentives for the domestic production of “automotive grade” foundational semiconductors. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Things don’t happen to you. They happen for you.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Interior decorator.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “A good glass of Pinot Noir and some feel-good British reality TV.” Paul Calkins Jr. Continental Strategy Vice President Enlisted by Tesla to lobby on mobility and transportation issues, Calkins has focused on advancing the company’s interests related to auto technology, AI, robotics, battery storage, and electric-vehicle-charging infrastructure. Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee. Education: High Point University. Art Cameron RTX Executive Vice President, Global Government Relations Cameron coordinated the defense industry’s push for FAA continuity funding, ensuring that air-traffic control and safety certification remain operational and funded even during government shutdowns. Hometown: Washington, DC. First app he checks in the morning: “ESPN to check scores and manage my fantasy teams.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “In Colorado, working as a mountain wilderness guide.” Rodney Davis U.S. Chamber of Commerce Head of Government Affairs Davis championed the bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which doubles SBA loan limits to provide small businesses with the essential capital needed to expand domestic production and hire new workers. Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa. Education: Millikin University (BA, political science). Theresa Fariello United Airlines Executive Vice President, Government Affairs and Global Public Policy Fariello spearheaded the airline industry’s 2025 “Staffing for Safety” campaign, successfully lobbying for the Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act to aggressively hire and train the next generation of controllers to reduce flight delays. Hometown: Rhinebeck, New York. Worst career advice she ever received: “Don’t work for the government.” First app she checks in the morning: Wall Street Journal. Fred Ferguson President and CEO American Bus Association In testimony before the Senate, Ferguson has advocated for reforms to surface-transportation policy, specifically requesting that buses not be treated like semi-trucks in terms of safety rules and speed limits. Hometown: Park City, Utah. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Buy Google and Nvidia stock and don’t sell it. Ever.” First app he checks in the morning: “Shopify. My wife runs a retail shop in Middleburg called Every Little Something, so I like to see what sold overnight and what the day’s fulfillment might look like.” Geoff Freeman U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Freeman secured a historic $12.5 billion legislative win in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill to modernize the National Airspace System and increase Customs and Border Protection staffing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hometown: Port Washington, Wisconsin. Education: University of California, Berkeley. Hidden talent: “Optimism, I guess. I’ve managed to convince myself I can get better at golf despite all evidence to the contrary.” Marcia Fudge Taft Partner and Chair of Public Policy Fudge leverages her experience as a former HUD Secretary to lead national advocacy for increasing housing production and curbing rent-control policies that some argue hinder supply. Hometown: Cleveland. Education: Ohio State; Cleveland State University College of Law. First job: Law clerk. Sharon Wilson Géno National Multifamily Housing Council President A leader in the push for zoning reform and federal incentives to accelerate housing supply, Géno shaped the ROAD to Housing Act, which provides federal grants to cities that actively reduce what’s known as exclusionary zoning. Hometown: St. Louis. First job: “Working at the St. Louis Zoo.” Hidden talent: “I can tap-dance.” Roger Harris Amtrak President Harris capitalized on record-breaking ridership in 2025 to lead a $5.5 billion infrastructure overhaul—including the launch of the NextGen Acela—while implementing changes to make Amtrak’s passenger operations self-sustaining by 2028. Hometown: San Diego. First job: Dishwasher. Lesson from that job: “I needed an education so I could do the things in life that I cared about.” Sudafi Henry theGROUP Managing Partner A former legislative director for President Biden, Henry has guided theGROUP’s efforts to bolster the single-family rental-home marketplace and improve housing affordability. Hometown: Los Angeles. Education: University of Maryland; George Washington University Law School. Ian Jefferies Association of American Railroads President and CEO Jefferies has pivoted the industry’s regulatory strategy to secure “performance-based” safety reforms, allowing railroads to replace manual visual inspections with Automated Track Inspection technology. Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky. Hidden talent: “I’m pretty good at music trivia, and in general I have a knack for remembering not very important things.” Most cherished possession: “A 1965 Breitling watch given to me by my mother. It belonged to her brother, who was an F-4 pilot shot down in Vietnam.” Kathryn D. Karol Caterpillar Senior Vice President, Global Government and Corporate Affairs Karol has shaped Caterpillar’s global tax and regulatory agenda, helping secure bipartisan manufacturing incentives that strengthened the company’s competitiveness and domestic industrial investment. Surprising thing always on her desk: “A yellow duck and a yellow truck!” Best career advice she ever received: “Be a life learner.” Hidden talent: Skiing. Jeff Marootian UL Standards Engagement President and CEO Marootian leads the organization’s battery-safety advocacy efforts, including those around the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, which aims to protect e-bike and e-scooter riders from battery fires and has passed the US House. Best career advice he ever received: “Figure out how to solve other people’s problems.” Hidden talent: Playing the drums. Most cherished possession: “My grandmother’s Armenian cookbook.” Stephen Neuman American Airlines Senior Vice President and Global Head of Government Affairs Neuman has successfully advocated for billions in funding to modernize America’s air-traffic-control system and continues to provide support for those affected by the tragic accident last year at Reagan National. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Take your time—you’re never as old as you think you are. Also, buy Apple stock.” Music on repeat: The entire album The Bends by Radiohead. Most cherished possessions: “A ballpoint pen from my paternal grandmother and a midcentury-modern coffee table from my maternal grandmother.” Josh Saltzman Airlines for America Senior Vice President for Global Government Affairs Saltzman helped secure critical FAA funding that focused on strengthening the aviation workforce and modernizing air-traffic-control infrastructure to handle record-breaking passenger volume. Hometown: Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Education: William Mary; Trinity College, Dublin. Hidden talent: “Remaining calm during crisis.” Bill Shuster Squire Patton Boggs Senior Policy Adviser Shuster has leveraged his experience as a former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair to lobby his old Capitol Hill colleagues for sustainable Highway Trust Fund solutions and infrastructure financing strategies. Hometown: McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Education: Dickinson College; American University. Chris Spear American Trucking Associations President and CEO Spear has pushed Congress to build on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, specifically with sustained highway and bridge investment and solutions for critical truck parking and safety issues. Hometown: Omaha. First job: At a Kubota assembly plant. Lesson from that job: “I’d rather build a world for tractors than build them.” Jim Tymon American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Executive Director Tymon drives influence on transportation policy by championing stable, formula-based federal funding for states and streamlined delivery for new projects. Hometown: Hamilton Square, New Jersey. Surprising thing always in his office: “I’ve learned if I keep a fully stocked candy jar on the table there, I’ll get more visitors throughout the day.” Hidden talent: “I can sleep in anything that moves—a plane, a car, a bus, a train.” Omar Vargas General Motors Vice President and Head of Global Public Policy Vargas navigates complex challenges spanning trade, tax, manufacturing, and regulatory issues, and spearheads the auto giant’s White House engagement on tariffs and industrial policy. Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t sit behind a desk all day.” Historical figure he most identifies with: “Voltaire—an optimistic guy.” Hidden talent: DJing. Jennifer Wieroniey Michelin Head of US Federal Government Affairs Wieroniey has helped shape energy and manufacturing policy by securing key tax incentives and credits for the global tire company and advancing bipartisan initiatives that drive industrial decarbonization. Education: Towson University; Johns Hopkins; Drexel University. Heather Wingate Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Wingate successfully lobbied for the rescission of the Biden-era “junk fee” disclosure rules and the federal compensation mandate for flight delays, while securing a record $12.5 billion in new federal appropriations for NextGen Air Traffic Control modernization. Best career advice she ever received: “Stay curious and in constant learning mode. Adapt.” First app she checks in the morning: Pray.com. Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: An apple. National Security Defense Leaders who help shape the policies that make our country safe and protected Dmitri Alperovitch Silverado Policy Accelerator Cofounder and Chairman A strategist at the intersection of cybersecurity, geopolitics, and great-power competition, Alperovitch has emerged as one of the most consequential independent voices shaping American national-security thinking. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Be less serious and have more fun.” Alternate career he’d pursue: “Professional eFoil competitor.” Last meal would be: “Meat dumplings.” Jenna Ben-Yehuda Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Ben-Yehuda spearheads the Atlantic Council’s response to the annual national-defense prioritization bill. Her focus is on aligning NATO defense-tech innovation with broader transatlantic security resilience. Education: George Washington University. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Slow down!” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: “Wilhelmina mints. It’s a Dutch candy I discovered via the NATO Summit at the Hague last year, and I have probably become their largest US importer.” Bradley Bowman Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Director, Center on Military and Political Power Bowman is seen as a primary architect of the “Iron Dome for America” proposal, providing the strategic framework for President Trump’s initiative to jump-start a next-generation homeland missile-defense shield. Hometown: “I grew up mostly in Oregon.” Education: West Point; Yale (MA). Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Ski instructor.” Christian Brose Anduril Industries President and Chief Strategy Officer Recruited from John McCain’s office when Anduril was still a start-up with a couple dozen employees, Brose is now at the forefront of a movement to push the Pentagon to embrace new weapons technology in order to win the wars of the future. Education: Kenyon College; Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. First job: Assistant editor at the National Interest. Nitin Chadda WestExec Advisors Cofounder and Managing Partner Chadda helped drive the Pentagon’s outreach to cutting-edge tech firms, and he now steers work that matches early-stage technologies to US national-security needs. Best career advice he ever received: “Always choose the boss, not the job.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Food critic.” First app he opens in the morning: Kubera, a wealth-tracking app. Carrie Cordero Center for a New American Security Senior Fellow and General Counsel Cordero, whose work has been cited in congressional testimony, has helped shape US homeland-security policy, notably influencing debates on surveillance reform, intelligence oversight, and the balance between security and civil liberties. Best career advice she ever received: “Protect your own professional reputation—no one else will.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Sports reporter covering the Washington Nationals.” How she unwinds at the end of the day: “Truthfully? I scroll myself to sleep like everyone else.” Uriel Epshtein Renew Democracy Initiative CEO Epshtein has led Renew Democracy Initiative’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions globally, organizing bipartisan coalitions and directing humanitarian aid, with a focus on supporting Ukraine. Hometown: Bergen County, New Jersey. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “A combination of meditation and sitcoms.” Productivity hack: “Liberal use of the Notes app on my phone.” Evelyn Farkas McCain Institute Executive Director Farkas has led the institute’s national-security agenda, promoting character-driven leadership and bipartisan solutions, particularly in countering national-security threats and supporting NATO allies. Lesson from her first job (as a chocolate-store clerk): “Don’t sample the merchandise. I got hooked on chocolate at an early age—and can’t kick the habit!” Surprising thing she always has with her: “United Airlines snacks.” Hidden talent: “I make a mean chocolate cake.” Sue Gordon SecurityScorecard Adviser Gordon has used her experience as a former deputy director of national intelligence to advance corporate cybersecurity governance and risk assessments for a broad range of clients. Hometown: “Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but a Navy brat, so I’m really just an American.” First job: Lifeguard at Army Navy Country Club. Talent she’d most like to have: “Singing and playing guitar at fun gatherings.” Stephen J. Hadley Rice Hadley Gates Manuel Principal Hadley was an adviser during the bipartisan transfer of national-security priorities between the Biden and Trump administrations, advocating for what he calls a “peace through strength” framework to conclude the war in Ukraine. Hometown: South Euclid, Ohio. Education: Cornell; Yale Law. First job: Naval officer. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative Heinrichs has shaped critical recommendations on US nuclear forces and strategic capabilities, and she continues to influence security-policy discussions around deterrence toward Russia, China, and Iran. Lesson from her first job (as a grocery cashier): “Whenever possible, pinch-hit for a coworker in a bind.” Hidden talent: “Not requiring or wanting much sleep.” Most cherished possessions: “Family photo albums—books, not digital.” Fiona Hill Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Hill has emerged as a prominent critic of the President, warning that Trump’s foreign policy represents “the end of the international system as we know it” while also continually cautioning about Vladimir Putin’s preparations to escalate his war footing. First job: Cleaning neighbors’ cars at age 11. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Something in nature conservancy.” Favorite DC-area restaurant: Black’s Bar Kitchen. Seamus Hughes National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center Senior Research Faculty and Policy Associate Hughes provides key policy insights on domestic and international terrorism, equipping lawmakers and federal agencies with data to assess and respond to threats against critical infrastructure. Hometown: Hyattsville. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Invest in Amazon stock now, and then use the profits to run a newspaper properly.” Surprising thing he has on his desk: “My grandfather’s DC Police gun holster. He was killed in the line of duty in 1960.” Seth G. Jones Center for Strategic International Studies President, Defense and Security Department Jones has argued to lawmakers that the US must treat its defense-industrial base and high-tech ecosystem as a “wartime” asset and must rapidly expand production and acquisition reforms to stay ahead of China in any great-power conflict. First job: Junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “General manager of an NHL team.” First app he checks in the morning: Wall Street Journal. Jane Lee Software in Defense Coalition Founder and Chair Lee has been an advocate for faster adoption of commercial software and emerging technologies in defense, leading a coalition of startups to push for legislative reforms that would lower barriers for nontraditional contractors and help ensure that the US maintains a technological edge. Hometown: Los Angeles. Surprising thing she always has with her: “I have a collection of funny comments my son has made since he was a baby.” Last meal would be: “My mom’s jjimdak recipe.” Michael Morell Aardwolf Global Solutions Managing Partner A central figure in the operation to capture Osama bin Laden, the two-time acting director of the CIA has fundamentally shaped US counterterrorism policies by bridging the gap between high-level intelligence analysis and private-sector geopolitical risk strategy. Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Education: University of Akron; Georgetown. David A. Newman Morrison Foerster Partner and Leader, National Security Practice Newman is an architect of America’s modern defense system, having launched DOJ’s nation-state cyber unit, upgraded corporate national-security enforcement, and created the first federal programs to protect Americans’ data from hostile powers. First job: Magazine editor. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Part your hair on the side.” Hidden talent: “I was the kindergarten national chess champion and competed in the world championships at age ten. But it was all downhill from there, and I haven’t played in decades.” Lucas Schleusener Out in National Security CEO and Cofounder Schleusener has pushed agencies and political leadership to treat LGBTQIA+ inclusion not as diversity optics but as a core requirement for recruiting, retaining, and promoting talent across the defense and intelligence industry. Hometown: Chicago. First app he checks in the morning: “ReciMe. It lets me collect recipes from different sources into a single place.” Surprising thing on his desk: “A Captain America fidget spinner. I tend to spin it while thinking through complicated problems.” Matthew Steckman Anduril Industries President and Chief Business Officer A leading architect of the “software first” defense revolution, Steckman has driven the adoption of autonomous systems and AI-integrated platforms to provide the US military with an arsenal of new tools on the modern battlefield. Hometown: Kingston, New York. Lesson from his first job: “Writing is more important than you think.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “A hot temper solves nothing.” Melanne Verveer Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace Security Executive Director As the first US ambassador for global women’s issues, she institutionalized the “Women, Peace, and Security” agenda into US foreign policy, helping establish the link between gender equality and global stability. Hometown: Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Lesson from her first job (teaching English to Russians on a visitors’ program): “There was a desire by ordinary Russians for better people-to-people relationships with Americans, even though discouraged by Soviet officials.” First app she checks in the morning: “New York Times and BBC.” Molly Wilkinson Onebrief Head of Government Relations Wilkinson has leveraged her aviation and defense expertise to shape national-security policy, driving Onebrief’s engagement with Congress, the administration, and allied governments to modernize defense planning and readiness. Hometown: Amsterdam, New York. Worst career advice she received: “ ‘Follow your passions.’ Passion doesn’t pay the bills, especially if you aren’t talented at your passions.” Alternate career she’d pursue: “I would have followed in my mom’s footsteps and been a teacher rather than following in my dad’s of being an attorney.” Tech Telecom Beltway insiders helping advance Big Tech and telecommunications issues on Capitol Hill Amanda Anderson Block Head of Global Public Policy and Government Relations Anderson influences digital-finance policy by steering Block’s engagement strategy with regulators on issues that affect digital payments, crypto, and stablecoin rules. Lesson from her first jobs: “Whether babysitting or waiting tables, there’s no replacing a deep well of patience and the importance of people feeling heard.” What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Don’t put so much pressure on every single career decision. You’re going to have so many opportunities to try new things.” Last meal would be: “Pasta. Of any kind—I love it all.” Ylli Bajraktari Special Competitive Studies Project President and CEO As head of the policy powerhouse founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Bajraktari is the bridge between Silicon Valley and Washington on everything from semiconductor dominance to beating China in the AI arms race. Education: George Washington University; Harvard. Dean Ball Foundation for American Innovation Senior Fellow Ball, a former White House staffer, has helped pilot AI projects and shifted federal AI policy away from what he called Biden-era “progressive cultural agenda” concerns such as mitigating racial bias. Hometown: Falls Church. Best career advice he ever received: “Everyone is winging it much more than it may appear when you’re young.” Most cherished possession: “My father’s watch.” Michael Beckerman TikTok Global Adviser Beckerman has been central to TikTok’s navigation of US regulatory and national-security challenges while helping shape policy debates around data privacy and content moderation as well as addressing congressional concerns about the company’s foreign ownership. Education: George Washington University. First job: Legislative correspondent/aide for Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan. Ruth Berry Nvidia Senior Director and Head of Policy Leveraging her State Department experience to shape federal AI, cybersecurity, and technology regulations, Berry has positioned Nvidia at the forefront of Washington’s tech-policy debates. Education: Lewis and Clark College; University of Chicago. Karan Bhatia Google Global Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy Bhatia has led Google’s global strategy on digital regulation, privacy, and AI policy, formulating tech-industry responses to US and international legislative proposals. Hometown: DC. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Second base for the Nats (don’t have the arm for third).” Surprising thing always in his bag: “Eyeshades. For those ten minutes on a taxiway—best nap ever.” Shirley Bloomfield ShirleyConnected/NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association President/Adviser During her decades-long tenure at NTCA, Bloomfield advanced rural broadband access and digital equity, championing policies that expanded high-speed internet to underserved communities. Recently retired as CEO, she runs her own consulting firm and will serve as an adviser and executive-search partner for NTCA. Hometown: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Best career advice she received: “If you go to bed every night and find you can’t sleep because of the things you’re excited to do the next day, you’re in the right place.” Cherished possession: “A wine cup passed down through my family for celebrating the Sabbath.” Catherine Bohigian Charter Communications Executive Vice President and Chief Government Affairs and Public Policy Officer Bohigian has guided Charter’s advocacy on spectrum, broadband deployment, and privacy, influencing FCC and congressional debates on connectivity and consumer protection. First job: Waiter at Dalt’s, a Dallas restaurant. Productivity hack: “I don’t start packing until about 30 minutes before I need to leave. Nothing focuses quick decisions like the clock.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “High-school teacher.” April Boyd Spotify Vice President, Global Government Affairs and Public Policy Driving the music streamer’s approach to copyright, content moderation, and global regulatory compliance, Boyd has set industry standards for music-streaming policy. Hometown: Sidney, Iowa. Best career advice she ever received: “Play the long game. Your reputation is the only thing you can control, so be honest and be nice.” Historical figure she most identifies with: “I hope to have Katharine Graham’s courage of conviction.” John Branscome Meta Director, Public Policy Branscome has overseen Meta’s public-policy engagement on digital safety, platform regulation, and privacy while navigating complex legislative landscapes in Washington and beyond. Hometown: Hillsville, Virginia. Best career advice he ever received: “Be thankful for the jobs you didn’t get.” Last meal would be: “My mom’s fried chicken.” Cheri Bustos Mercury Public Affairs Partner ChatGPT retained the former Illinois congresswoman’s services last year to assist with its lobbying effort as it helps shape the light-touch regulatory framework that the Trump administration is pursuing in its rules for AI. First job: “Making tacos and lemonade shakeups at the Illinois State Fair.” Hidden talent: “I was the sixth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade ping-pong champion at Grant Middle School in Springfield.” Most cherished possession: “My electric bike. I’d have ten if I could.” Kara Calvert Coinbase Vice President, US Policy Calvert leads the crypto industry’s push for congressional clarity on digital-asset regulation, working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance bipartisan legislation on stablecoin and market structure. Education: University of Wyoming. First job: Legislative assistant for Senator Michael B. Enzi. Lesson from that job: “When you make a mistake, own it, fix it, and move on.” Daniel Castro Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Vice President and Director, Center for Data Innovation A trusted expert on digital innovation, Castro is guiding this top tech-policy think tank, where he has shaped AI and data regulations across government and industry. Hometown: Houston. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Buy some Bitcoin and hold onto it.” Songs on repeat: “My taste runs towards artists with presence—Shakira, Beyoncé, and Rihanna.” Peter Chandler Internet Works Executive Director As head of the only association for medium-size internet platforms, Chandler helped create a blueprint for “Middle Tech” companies while increasing the group’s membership by 40 percent. Hometown: Biddeford, Maine. Most cherished possession: “A handmade glass vase I purchased on a trip to the island of Murano in Venice.” First app he checks in the morning: “The Stocks app. I’m not getting any younger, so I need to pay attention to this stuff now.” Danielle Coffey News/Media Alliance President and CEO Spearheading legislative efforts to force Big Tech platforms such as Google and Facebook to pay news publishers for content they distribute, Coffey argues for both federal and state-level compensation requirements. Education: San Diego State; Catholic University Columbus School of Law. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Keep it up. Enjoy life.” Historical figure she most admires: Rosa Parks. Maryam Khan Cope Arm Head of US Government Affairs and Innovation Policy Cope now leads Arm’s efforts to align federal subsidies with the needs of the semiconductor-design ecosystem. Song on repeat: “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: Architecture. Most cherished possession: “A pair of paintings that Dutch-Aruban artist Yahaira Maduro painted to support the Netherland American Foundation scholarship program for Aruban students to study abroad.” Maura Colleton Corbett Glen Echo Group Founder and Senior Adviser Corbett shapes tech-policy narratives in Washington through coalition-building campaigns on AI regulation, net neutrality, broadband deployment, and privacy issues. Worst career advice she ever received: “You’ll never succeed if you’re not a b—-.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “Interior design.” Hidden talent: “I can launch an MM from my hand right into my mouth.” J. Michael Daniel Cyber Threat Alliance CEO and President Daniel has helped drive unprecedented collaboration among competitors in the cybersecurity industry, strengthening the US and global digital ecosystem against evolving cyberthreats. Hometown: Atlanta. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “I’ve studied a style of Japanese martial arts called Chinshin-ryu for about 30 years, and it’s a great way to focus the mind on something other than work.” Most cherished possession: “I recently received a 500-year-old Japanese wakizashi from my sensei.” Stacey Dion Western Digital Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy With the Trump administration’s push to ramp up semiconductor manufacturing, Western Digital tapped Dion to lead its growing DC office as it attempts to win federal work around artificial intelligence. Education: Merrimack College; Catholic University Columbus School of Law. Jeff Dressler SoftBank Group International Managing Partner and Head of Global Government Affairs Dressler has become a tech kingmaker in the second Trump administration—helping launch the Stargate AI initiative from the Roosevelt Room and positioning his firm as the White House’s go-to for American tech investment. Education: University of Connecticut. Patricia Ephraim Eke Microsoft Director, Cybersecurity and Emerging Tech Policy Eke has built a team that’s advancing policy on today’s most critical cybersecurity challenges—from AI and quantum computing to critical-infrastructure protection and secure-by-design. Education: Washington College; George Washington University (master’s). Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: Inventor. First app she checks in the morning: Outlook calendar. Victoria Espinel BSA, The Software Alliance CEO In testimony on the Hill, Espinel has urged Congress to require risk-management programs and impact assessments to strengthen transparency and safety in AI deployment. Hometown: Washington, DC. Education: “Double Hoya—Georgetown undergrad and law school—and London School of Economics for LLM.” Last meal would be: “Anything made by Phil Whitmarsh, the chef at Jewel of the South in New Orleans,” the restaurant she co-owns. Hugh Gamble Salesforce Vice President, Federal Government Affairs Gamble is helping shape emerging federal rules for artificial intelligence and data governance, arguing for clear, differentiated obligations on AI developers to adhere to stronger privacy-preserving practices. Hometown: Greenville, Mississippi. Education: Millsaps College; University of Mississippi School of Law. First job: Software engineer at C Spire. Cory Gardner NCTA–The Internet Television Association President and CEO As the industry adapts to streaming’s disruption of traditional cable services, the well-liked former Colorado senator—who holds close relationships with Senate leadership—works on expanding broadband infrastructure and navigating regulatory challenges. Hometown: Yuma, Colorado. Education: Colorado State; University of Colorado Law School. Renée Gibson Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Gibson steers the self-driving-car lobby’s push to rewrite federal transportation rules—making her one of Washington’s most influential voices on whether autonomous vehicles will flood American roads. Hometown: Rockville. Education: University of California, Davis. How she unwinds at the end of the day: “I have three young children—there is no unwinding!” Ed Gillespie ATT Senior Executive Vice President, External and Legislative Affairs Under Gillespie, ATT has shaped federal and state broadband policy to steer billions in public funding toward large-scale fiber build-outs and affordability programs that align with its network- expansion strategy. First job: “Working in my parents’ grocery store.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Novelist. Last meal would be: “Steak and potatoes.” Alexandra Reeve Givens Center for Democracy Technology President and CEO Givens leads one of Washington’s most powerful digital-rights watchdogs, shaping everything from AI regulation to online privacy laws that tech giants fear. Hometowns: New York and London. Education: Yale; Columbia Law School. Lesson from her first job (as a litigator in New York City): “How the business world worked, a lesson that has shaped my public-interest career ever since.” Kathleen Grillo Verizon Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs Grillo has been a top advocate for extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program, bridging industry and labor interests to push for federal funding that ensures high-speed broadband access. Education: University of Virginia; UVA law school. First app she checks in the morning: “MLB. I’m a Yankees superfan.” Thing she always has on her: “A good-luck charm from my last trip to Ireland.” Sacha Haworth Tech Oversight Project Executive Director Haworth led the public-relations campaign that ultimately defeated the AI moratorium in the One Big Beautiful Bill, a provision that would have repealed AI-safety, chatbot, and consumer-protection laws across the country. Hometown: Minneapolis. Surprising thing always with her: “I’ve been using the same brand of lip balm since high school, Rosebud Lip Salve.” Historical figure she most identifies with: “Jane Austen, for her willingness to critique social norms and doing it with an ironic sense of humor.” Bo Hines Tether Strategic Advisor for Digital Assets and US Strategy A former executive director of the White House presidential council of advisers on digital assets, Hines is now leveraging his government crypto-policy experience to influence regulations for a company as Tether launches a dollar-backed stablecoin designed to operate within the GENIUS Act’s new federal framework. Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina. Education: Yale; Wake Forest University School of Law. Fred Humphries Microsoft Corporate Vice President, US Government Affairs Humphries frames Microsoft’s stance in Washington, driving bipartisan engagement on AI, cybersecurity, and digital-competition policies that define the guardrails for Big Tech. Hometown: Nashville. Education: Morehouse College; Temple University School of Law. Historical figure he most identifies with: Martin Luther King Jr. Brian Huseman Amazon Vice President, Public Policy and Community Engagement Huseman steers Amazon’s policy agenda across antitrust, privacy, and commerce regulation, a role that makes him one of the most influential voices navigating the federal government’s evolving rules around platform power. Education: Oklahoma State University. First job: “At the Walmart in my hometown of Anadarko, Oklahoma. I did everything—stocked shelves, ran a cash register (pre-scanner), and worked the return desk.” Thing he always has with him: “Multiple chargers and battery packs. You can never have enough ways to charge devices.” Nicole Isaac Cisco Vice President, Global Public Policy Isaac determines AI, connectivity, and cybersecurity policy across corporate and international forums, such as leading Cisco’s effort to advise G7 nations on upskilling 95 million workers for an AI-driven economy. Hometown: The Bronx. Education: Brown (BA); Columbia (MA); University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School; Oxford (LLM). Stewart Jeffries Jeffries Strategies Founder and President Jeffries has shaped US antitrust and tech policy for years, influencing legislation on competition, privacy, and platform liability while advising major tech firms on regulatory strategy. Hometown: Baton Rouge. First job: “I swept floors and loaded trucks in an industrial-insulation contractor’s warehouse.” Lesson from that job: “It’s still one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. At the end of the day, the floor was cleaner, boxes were moved, or projects were installed. And the people were great.” Greta Joynes Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Principal, Public Policy Joynes, who guides telecom and cybersecurity policy at this powerhouse firm, has secured $1.9 billion of network infrastructure funding and shaped legislation restricting foreign tech in critical infrastructure. Education: Northern Illinois University. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I think with the combined skill set I have from lobbying and being a mom, I could definitely be a good hostage negotiator.” Joel Kaplan Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Kaplan has spent years shaping how Meta engages governments, regulators, and lawmakers across the globe as the company faces an unprecedented wave of regulatory pressure, from Brussels to Capitol Hill. Hometown: Weston, Massachusetts. Education: Harvard. First job: Marine Corps artillery officer. Justin Kintz Waymo Global Head of Public Policy A veteran mobility lobbyist who helped establish the self-driving-car industry’s leading trade association during his seven years at Uber, Kintz joined Waymo at a pivotal moment for autonomous-vehicle adoption under the Trump administration. Education: University of Florida. Caroline Kitchens TikTok USDS Joint Venture Head of Public Policy Third Party Engagement Kitchens holds one of the toughest jobs in Washington but has managed to build a strong network of supporters around a platform that most organizations won’t take money from and that many politicians are battling. Education: Duke University. Karen Kornbluh Milken Institute Co-Chair, Future of Technology Forum Kornbluh has helped form tech policy by pushing for stronger rules on big online platforms and leading the charge to fight disinformation, protect privacy, and boost US-Europe cooperation on technology. Education: Bryn Mawr College; Harvard Kennedy School. Best career advice she ever received: “If you do what you love, you will be more successful.” Last meal would be: Pizza. Adam Kovacevich Chamber of Progress Founder and CEO As head of this influential center-left tech-policy group, Kovacevich has rallied major technology companies to support progressive regulatory frameworks as well as bipartisan tech competitiveness measures. Education: Harvard. First job: Communications director and legislative aide for Representative Cal Dooley of California. Christopher Lewis Public Knowledge President and CEO Lewis testified before the House urging Congress to make the FCC’s spectrum-auction authority permanent and to treat radio spectrum as a public resource that should reinvest proceeds to expand broadband access. Education: Harvard. Worst career advice he ever received: “ ‘Go make big money first and learn how the world works. Then later, you can go and do some good in the world.’ I ignored this.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Probably something in public education at the local level.” Luther Lowe Y Combinator Head of Public Policy Amplifying what he calls “little tech” voices in Washington, Lowe has led Y Combinator’s advocacy for policies that are friendly to startups and for broader recognition of early-stage innovators in tech-policy debates. Education: College of William Mary. Best career advice he ever received: “From my mom, an attorney, who told me I shouldn’t go to law school.” Surprising thing always with him: Zyn. Bruce Mehlman Mehlman Consulting Partner Mehlman helps executives and leaders navigate evolving public-policy environments by producing widely read analyses that help shape strategic advocacy, government relations, and media narratives. First job: Working in the mailroom of a law firm. Lesson from that job: “Grind work can be fun with the right mindset.” Surprising thing in his workspace: “A treadmill under my desk, to walk a few miles while reading.” Rosa Mendoza ALLVanza Founder, President, and CEO Mendoza—who served on the FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council—champions digital equity and inclusive access, bringing perspectives from underserved communities into federal telecommunications policymaking. Education: Washington State University. Lesson from her first job (as a caregiver): “Responsibility, professionalism, compassion.” Hidden talent: “My ability to read people.” Jason Miller SHW Partners Principal The longtime adviser to President Trump signed Scale AI as a client last summer to, according to a lobbying disclosure report, help the data company maintain its “top-rated positioning” in the AI space on work related to national defense. Hometown: Seattle. Education: George Washington University. Marissa Mitrovich Fiber Broadband Association Vice President of Public Policy Partly by organizing events that connect lawmakers, agencies, and industry, Mitrovich has brought fiber-deployment priorities to the attention of policymakers, helping secure major federal funding for broadband expansion. Education: Agnes Scott College; George Washington University (MA). Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “A podcast to discuss pop culture.” Last meal would be: “Vodka martini chilled with olives and Adalberto’s Mexican Food. If you know San Diego, you know Adalberto’s.” Linda Moore TechNet President and CEO Moore leads TechNet’s $25 million AI for America campaign, trying to reshape public sentiment while advising congressional leaders on the best ways to advance bipartisan AI legislation. Hometown: Kaufman, Texas. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “You’re smart, capable, and you work hard. You’re gonna be okay. You won’t always be the smartest person in the room, but rarely will anyone outwork you.” Most cherished possessions: “Cards and letters from my now deceased mother and father telling me they’re proud of me.” Brian Morgenstern Riot Platforms Senior Vice President of Public Policy The former White House aide has led a campaign pushing back against perceived regulatory overreach that affects the crypto sector. Education: Georgetown; Columbia Law School. First job: In the office of Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey. Surprising thing on his desk: A Bitcoin miner. Alexis Marks Mosher Apple Director of Congressional Relations As Apple engages lawmakers on policy priorities, Mosher helps define the tech giant’s lobbying on key federal legislation involving privacy, trade, and online safety. Education: UCLA (BA, history). Jason Oxman Information Technology Industry Council President and CEO Oxman represents global tech-industry interests before US and international policymakers, advocating for US leadership to counter aggressive geopolitical competitors. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Radio news anchor. It’s how I started my career more than 30 years ago.” Most cherished possession: “My Hush-A-Phone, a relic technology with a regulatory history that only a tech-and-telecom policy nerd could appreciate.” Hidden talent: “I can recite the Monty Python cheese-shop sketch by memory.” Chan Park OpenAI Head, US and Canada Policy and Partnerships Park led OpenAI’s recommendations to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on accelerating US scientific innovation through expanded AI computing, data access, and infrastructure. Education: Yale; Georgetown Law. Stanley Pierre-Louis Entertainment Software Association President and CEO Pierre-Louis led the launch of the Entertainment Software Association’s industry-wide Accessible Games Initiative, which created a standardized set of accessibility tags to guide players and policymakers on inclusive game design. First job: Judicial law clerk to the Honorable David A. Nelson, US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he was doing now: Professional musician. How he unwinds at the end of the day: “I walk my black Lab.” Brian Pomper Akin Partner As a leading advocate for stronger international intellectual-property and trade rules on behalf of major technology and innovation companies, Pomper has helped shape congressional and administration positions. Education: MIT; Cornell Law School. First job: Associate at Arnold Porter. First app he checks in the morning: “I play LinkedIn Queens, Wordle, and the New York Times Spelling Bee to turn on my brain before getting out of bed.” Mike Romano NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association CEO Romano, a 15-year veteran of NTCA, was executive VP before recently taking the helm. NTCA’s mission is to help 850 family-owned and community-based telecommunications member companies deliver broadband services in rural and small-town America. First job: Paving potholes and painting fire hydrants for the Wakefield Department of Public Works in Massachusetts. Hidden talent: “I can speed-read.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “I’m a volunteer ski patroller on weekends in the winter, and through that limited exposure to medical emergencies, I think it would be fascinating to work more directly in that field.” Nilmini Rubin Hedera Chief Policy Officer Rubin has emerged as a pivotal voice in crypto regulation, testifying on Capitol Hill and advising governments worldwide on blockchain policy while leading industry coalitions to balance innovation with consumer protection. Education: UC Berkeley; University of New Hampshire. Hidden talent: “I am a competitive adult figure skater.” Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “A career in outer-space policy, exploring how we govern and collaborate beyond Earth.” Tony Samp DLA Piper Principal Policy Adviser and Head, AI Policy Practice A former Senate AI staff leader, Samp is now a central player in discussions to establish a national robotics strategy and lobbies for robotics clients including Boston Dynamics and the Association for Advancing Automation. Lesson from his first job (at a food court): “Stay cool, calm, and collected (behind the grill and in life).” Alternate career he’d pursue: Sports broadcasting. Hidden talent: “I can study a map of a new place for a few minutes and then navigate it like Magellan.” Matthew Schruers Computer Communications Industry Association President and CEO By organizing coalitions that have led to key Supreme Court wins against state content-moderation bans, Schruers has Successfully pressed US and EU regulators to avoid overly broad digital and AI rules. First job: Health-food-store clerk. Productivity hack: “Green tea. Nothing focuses the mind like a cup of matcha.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “Duct tape. Don’t leave home without it.” Gary Shapiro Consumer Technology Association Executive Chair Shapiro has led industry advocacy on AI, trade, and digital competitiveness, shaping federal and international frameworks that seek to protect consumer tech markets, limit restrictive regulation, and support continued growth for CTA members. Best career advice he ever received: “If you care about people, results will follow. Don’t only focus on results.” Productivity hack: “Delete myself from one email list every day.” Historical figures he most identifies with: “The more optimistic science-fiction writers who envision technology and innovation giving us a better future.” Kristin Sharp Flex Association CEO As regulators and courts continue to tighten standards for gig classification and portable benefits, Sharp has pushed aggressively for contractor-friendly labor and benefits rules in Washington as well as several states. Education: University of Michigan. Hidden talent: “Dystopian-fiction expert.” Last meal would be: “Planked whitefish from Lake Michigan.” Edward “Smitty” Smith T-Mobile Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer Smith has been an effective advocate for T-Mobile on spectrum, broadband deployment, and mergers, helping secure favorable regulatory treatment for network expansion and 5G rollouts even as congressional scrutiny grows. Education: Brown; Harvard Law. First job: Groundskeeper. Best career advice he ever received: “To treat every person with kindness and respect, regardless of rank or station. The person who is your intern today could be your boss or client tomorrow.” Jonathan Spalter USTelecom President and CEO Spalter has had notable success in steering USTelecom’s agenda on broadband investment and universal-service reform, shaping federal and state debates toward policies that prioritize infrastructure build-out. Best career advice he ever received: “If you’re willing to give the credit to others, you can accomplish unimaginable things.” Hidden talent: “I once had a costarring role in a Hong Kong kung fu movie.” Most cherished possession: “My book collection.” Michael Steed Paladin Capital Group Founder and Managing Partner Steed connects the dots between private capital and public resilience while advising the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Institute on building secure technological infrastructure. Education: Loyola Marymount University; Loyola Law School. Kara Swisher Vox Media Podcaster and Author Swisher uses her massive media platform to press the titans and lawmakers she interviews on antitrust enforcement, Section 230 reform, and ethical guardrails for AI. Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey. Education: Georgetown; Columbia. Nate Tibbits Qualcomm Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs Engaging with US and allied governments on spectrum allocation as well as implementation of the CHIPS Act—which is designed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing—Tibbits has helped secure a more favorable regulatory framework for the wireless-tech company. Lesson from his first job (as an events coordinator for the city of Asheville, North Carolina): “The crazier things get, the calmer you need to be.” Hidden talent: “Making a really good playlist.” Most cherished possession: “A centennial American flag from the late 1800s, handed down from my great-great-grandparents.” Alexandra Veitch YouTube Head of Public Policy, Americas Veitch championed the launch of the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus in 2025, educating lawmakers on the creator economy’s $250 billion impact and focusing attention on digital small businesses and content monetization. Hometown: Cincinnati. Career she’d pursue if she weren’t doing what she does now: “I’m a total mahjong obsessive, so I think I’d create a YouTube channel dedicated to strategy, tradition, and the community around the table.” Last meal would be: “A tasting menu eaten at the bar at Maydan in Logan Circle.” Gina Woodworth Snap Senior Director, Americas Policy Woodworth leads the company’s Council for Digital Well-Being program, which is meant to empower teens, influence online safety policies and tools, and engender greater educational outreach across the Americas. Education: Dickinson College. First job: “Working behind the counter of my father’s deli.” Music on repeat: “Anything ’90s hip-hop.” Trade These pros understand the details of agreements and regulations driving imports and exports, plus their impact on America Usman Ahmed Paypal Senior Director and Head of Payments Market and Partnerships Ahmed led the company’s advocacy for equitable global-trade reforms, emphasizing inclusive access to digital-trade benefits and supporting policies to modernize cross-border payments and remittances. First job: “Car washer at a gas station owned by a family member.” Worst career advice he ever received: “ ‘Become a specialist.’ The world is too complex and interconnected to be so narrowly focused.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Learn more about yourself.” Bill Anaya Coupang Vice President, Global Government Affairs Anaya, who previously worked at Alibaba, has become an influential behind-the-scenes figure in US-Korea and US-Taiwan trade negotiations, earning bipartisan respect in Washington for helping the Trump administration navigate complex Asian trade relationships. Hometown: Trenton, Michigan. First job and a lesson from it: “Janitor. All good work to serve others is honorable.” Surprising thing always in his bag: “A special note from my wife that I keep in my Rollaboard suitcase that has millions of miles on it. I have read it everywhere.” Denise Bode Constitution Partners President and Managing Partner Bode has saved companies hundreds of millions in tariff costs since the first Trump administration, including a $43 million Section 232 exclusion that demonstrates her ongoing influence in reducing tariff burdens for major clients. Hometown: Bartlesville, Oklahoma. First job: Park ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore. Historical figure she most identifies with: “Ida Tarbell, one of the first investigative journalists. She investigated John Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Trust.” George E. Bogden Continental Strategy Senior Counsel for Trade As a former director of trade relations at US Customs and Border Protection, Bogden doesn’t just understand tariff regulations, he understands how the people enforcing them think, where the pressure points are, and how decisions actually get made inside the agency. Hometown: Kailua, Hawaii. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Call home more than you think you have time for.” Surprising thing always on his desk: “A globe. I try to be a trade lawyer who never forgets the significance of geography.” Ed Brzytwa Consumer Technology Association Vice President of International Trade Brzytwa, who represents the consumer-technology industry’s largest manufacturers and retailers, has warned that tariffs could reduce Americans’ purchasing power by up to $143 billion—driving price hikes for products like smartphones, laptops, and video-game consoles. What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “Get out of the ivory tower more and become comfortable with the realities of business.” Hidden talent: “I was a high-school and college actor.” Item on his desk: “A 2019 letter from former US trade representative Robert Lighthizer rejecting my application to serve on an industry trade advisory committee.” Kimberley Claman Liberty Mutual Insurance Vice President and Chief International Public Affairs Officer Claman has advocated for regulatory and policy frameworks that enhance insurance and risk-management services while advising on geopolitical and emerging risks in international-trade environments. Hometown: Bethlehem, North Carolina. Education: George Washington University. First job and a lesson from it: “I tested and implemented new software for a financial-reporting system. I learned that working second shift is not for morning people.” Jake Colvin National Foreign Trade Council President Colvin drives US trade policy by championing open, rules-based international agreements that protect American businesses from unfair practices and promote global economic growth through strengthened trade partnerships and diplomacy. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Menswear writer. I enjoy getting to know the stories behind old, iconic brands and new fashion startups.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “ ‘In My Dad Era’ friendship bracelets that my daughters made for me.” Everett Eissenstat Squire Patton Boggs Partner, Public Policy Practice Group As a former deputy director of the National Economic Council, Eissenstat leverages his experience to help companies and governments manage geopolitical risk and execute international-trade-and-investment strategies. Education: Oklahoma State University (BS, JD); University of Texas at Austin (MA). Brandon Farris Steel Manufacturers Association Executive Vice President By championing domestic steel production as a national-security imperative, Farris has pressed for measures that bolster steelmakers’ competitiveness, including a significantly strengthened steel tariff. Education: Virginia Military Institute. Hidden talent: “I’d clean up on Jeopardy! I possess a plethora of useless facts.” Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: “Stephen King’s On Writing. Advocacy is storytelling, and no one does that better than the King.” Kevin Garvey Steptoe Partner As a former chief of staff to then Trump trade representative Robert Lighthizer, Garvey was in the room for the Phase One China deal, the implementation of USMCA, and Section 301 investigations into China, France, and Vietnam—giving him a firsthand read on how the administration thinks and moves. Education: University of Notre Dame (BA, MA); University of Chicago (MA); Georgetown Law. Kate Kalutkiewicz McLarty Associates Senior Managing Director, Trade Practice and McLarty Inbound Kalutkiewicz led the launch of McLarty Associates’ Trade Compass platform, providing clients with real-time, expert analysis to navigate the global shift toward protectionist and industrial policies. Education: University of Missouri–Columbia; George Washington University. First job: Legislative assistant for Senator James Talent of Missouri. Samir Kapadia Vogel Group Managing Principal, Head of Trade The architect of one of Washington’s most sought-after trade practices, Kapadia has guided global giants like JSW Steel through tariff battles while expanding into the energy frontier, lobbying on behalf of nuclear startup Fermi America. Hometown: Great Falls. Surprising thing on his desk: “A polymetallic nodule collected from the sea floor that’s over 20 million years old.” Hidden talent: “I learned how to sketch from my mother and mastered charcoal drawing at the British Museum in London.” Jeff Miller Miller Strategies CEO Miller represents corporate clients such as Broadcom and GE Aerospace, assisting with issues around semiconductor technology, mergers, and international trade. Hometown: Tehachapi, California. Hidden talent: “I can saber a bottle of Champagne with an iPhone.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Ski instructor. John Murphy U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President and Head of International Murphy has been a leading voice for the US business community in strongly opposing the administration’s new, broad-based tariffs on countries such as Canada, Mexico, and China, arguing that they function as a tax on American consumers and businesses. Lesson from his first job (at Wendy’s): “Be ready for the lunch rush.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Geologist. Surprising thing always on his desk or in his bag: Turkish apricots. Scott Paul Alliance for American Manufacturing President Paul’s call on Trump to end a tariff loophole for small international packages that he claims exposed consumers to “illegal, counterfeit and toxic products” was heeded by the President through an executive order last summer. Hometown: Rensselaer, Indiana. Best career advice he ever received: “Say yes to as many things as you can.” Most cherished possession: “Collection of antique maps of Tibet.” Alex Perkins Mehlman Consulting Principal The former House Ways and Means trade counsel helped lead the multi-sector business coalition that secured congressional approval of the free-trade United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut. Education: Stanford; University of Connecticut School of Law. First job and a lesson from it: “In seventh grade, my best friend, my younger brother, and I started a snow-removal business. In retrospect, the two-page contract we drafted was overkill.” Bryan Riley National Taxpayers Union Director, Free Trade Initiative Riley is a leading advocate for zero-tariff policies, consistently arguing that eliminating import taxes benefits American workers, boosts manufacturing, and protects consumers from higher prices. Hometown: Manhattan, Kansas. Education: Kansas State; University of Southern California. Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: “Insurance sales (seriously).” Kelly Ann Shaw Akin Partner A former deputy assistant to President Trump on international economic affairs, Shaw now advises a host of clients on how to effectively navigate the second term’s topsy-turvy tariff negotiations. Lesson from her first job (as a ski instructor): “You can get almost any kid down a hill if you offer them gummy worms.” Hidden talent: “I’m very good at directions. If I’ve been there once, I can almost always find it again.” Surprising thing always on her desk or in her bag: Swiss driver’s license. Louis Sola Thorn Run Partners Partner The former federal maritime commissioner decamped for K Street last summer to give Thorn Run an important tie to the Trump administration as clients grapple with new international-trade complexities. Most cherished possession: A complete set of $10 Indian gold eagles, commissioned by Teddy Roosevelt, who removed “In God We Trust” from them, believing it was close to sacrilege, only to have Congress pass a law forcing him to put it back. First app he checks in the morning: “Pole Star Global for marine traffic.” Surprising thing on his desk: “A 1944 nautical chart of the Panama Canal.” Stephen Vaughn King Spalding Partner, International Trade A pivotal figure in shaping and litigating a deficit-focused trade agenda, Vaughn has leveraged his experience as former acting US trade representative to navigate high-stakes issues such as actions against China and the Korea-US free-trade agreement. Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky. Education: Vanderbilt; Yale Law School. Mike Wessel Wessel Group President and Owner A seasoned trade-policy expert, Wessel focuses on enforcement issues, particularly in sectors like steel, aluminum, automotive parts, and green energy. He currently advises key government stakeholders on strategic reshaping of policies to counteract China. Lesson from his first job (as a paperboy): “Be on time.” Career he’d pursue if he weren’t doing what he does now: Architect. Hidden talent: Barbecuing. Voting Rights Election Law From redistricting to registration laws, these experts closely follow and advocate for changes to how we elect our public servants Jessica Anderson Sentinel Action Fund President The former head of Heritage Action for America, Anderson has been key in crafting election laws by helping draft bills that tighten voter-ID and citizen-verification rules and that limit private funding of election offices across key states. Education: University of Florida. What she’d tell her 18-year-old self: “Get married, have kids, and then build a career.” Hidden talent: “I’m really good at jump-rope.” Sarah Brannon American Civil Liberties Union Deputy Director, Voting Rights Project Brannon has been instrumental in shaping and enforcing federal voter-registration law by leading legal challenges and policy work to ensure that the National Voter Registration Act is upheld and to expand ballot access for historically marginalized communities. Education: St. Mary’s College of Maryland; University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Kareem Crayton Brennan Center for Justice Vice President, DC Office An expert on the direct line between race and representation, Crayton manages the organization’s efforts to implement pro-voting reforms, combat suppression and intimidation, and push back against redistricting abuses. Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama. Education: Harvard; Stanford (JD, PhD). Marc Elias Elias Law Group/Democracy Docket Firm Chair/Founder Perhaps the most influential election-law attorney of the past decade—particularly in defending and expanding voter access at the state and federal levels—Elias has litigated dozens of cases ahead of the 2026 midterms. Hometown: Suffern, New York. Education: Hamilton College (BA); Duke (MA, JD). Best career advice he ever received: “Work a case that goes to trial as soon as you can. It makes the rest of the legal profession make so much more sense.” Leonard Leo Federalist Society Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors Leo—credited with helping form the conservative legal infrastructure underpinning many election-law and voting-rights decisions—has built the Federalist Society into the primary network that identifies and supports conservative judicial candidates. First job: Law clerk on US Court of Federal Claims. Lesson from that job: “Always think three steps ahead if you want to maximize your impact.” Most cherished possession: “My faith.” Jonathan Rauch Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Governance Studies Rauch, a defender of free speech and democratic resilience, has had an impact on policy debates by stressing the need to combat disinformation during elections. First job: Education reporter for the Winston-Salem Journal. Best career advice he ever received: “Don’t go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer.” What he’d tell his 18-year-old self: “There’s nothing wrong with being gay.” Virginia Kase Solomón Common Cause CEO and President Solomón has led Common Cause’s campaign against the SAVE Act—a Republican bill requiring voters to provide documentary proof of US citizenship—as well as Trump-administration efforts to seize voter data and redraw districts through gerrymandering. Education: University of Maryland. First job: Blockbuster Video. Worst career advice she ever received: “To be more realistic about my goals because I was a teenage mom and I should be happy just to have a steady income.” Katie Waldo We The Action Cofounder and Managing Director Waldo has mobilized a network of 55,000 volunteer lawyers who have donated more than 400,000 hours, worth over $210 million, to 800 nonprofits working on voting rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, and gender equity. Education: Creighton University. First job: Marketing assistant for Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska. Surprising thing on her desk: “I discovered that Play-Doh is the perfect fidget toy for helping me stay focused and resist multitasking during long stretches of Zoom calls.” Laura Williamson Southern Poverty Law Center Senior Policy Adviser, Democracy and Voting Rights Williamson drives the progressive voting-rights agenda at one of the nation’s most powerful legal-advocacy organizations, mobilizing opposition to legislation that would require passports or birth certificates to register to vote. Hometown: Hillsborough, North Carolina. First job: “Organizing with young people in New Orleans.” Most cherished possession: “My oldest philodendron, a gift from family that’s been with me through four interstate moves and in eight homes.” Alphabetical List of Influencers Abram, Anna Adams, Alexandra Adams, Gina Adams, Jane Adams, Tim Ahmed, Usman Alben, Elissa Alperovitch, Dmitri Alt, Margie Altman, Heidi Anaya, Bill Anderson, Amanda Anderson, Jessica Andryszak, Amy Ash, Nazanin Asirwatham, Ronnate Austin, Nicole Avery, Kevin Ayoub, Abed Badanes, Ginny Baer, Greg Bahn, Kate Bailey, Nikitra Bajraktari, Ylli Baker, Dean Balcer, Anne Ball, Dean Ballard, Brian Ballentine, James Baptist, Erik Barnard, Robyn Barnhill, Andrew Barranco, Angela Beck, Danielle Beckerman, Michael Belcher, Emma Ben-Ami, Jeremy Benjamin, Georges C. Ben-Yehuda, Jenna Beovides, Mario Bernhardt, David Berry, Ruth Berry, Tim Bertelsen, Greg Bhatia, Karan Bier, David Bivona, John Blockwood, James-Christian Bloom, Seth Bloomfield, Shirley Bode, Denise Bogden, George E. Bohigian, Catherine Bolen, Ed Bolten, Joshua Bondi, Brad Bonjean, Ron Booker, Brent Bopp, Sydney Bowman, Bradley Boyd, April Bradley, Neil Brandt, Elliot Brannon, Sarah Branscome, John Brian, Danielle Bright, Michael Broeksmit, Robert Brooks, Courtney Titus Brose, Christian Brown, Emma Brown, Isaac Brown, Kris Brown, Reginald Brown, Roxanne Browner, Carol Brzytwa, Ed Burke, Kevin M. Burke, Stoney Busby Sr., Ron Bustos, Cheri Bythrow, Cory Cadik, Emily Cadin, Marc Cain, Hilary Calkins Jr., Paul Calvert, Kara Cameron, Art Campbell, Melanie L. Cannon, Michael Cárdenas, Vanessa Cashin, Sheryll Cass, Oren Cassity, Anne Castro, Daniel Chadda, Nitin Chandler, Peter Chen, Kelvin Chenoweth, Mark Chopus, Wayne Ciccone, Stephen Claman, Kimberley Clark, Casey Clark, Liz Clark, Louis Clark, Suzanne Coffey, Danielle Cohen, Eliot A. Collins, Gentry Colvin, Jake Conti, Judy Cope, Maryam Khan Corbett, Bryan Corbett, Maura Colleton Cordero, Carrie Cowen, Tyler Crayton, Kareem Crowell, Michaeleen Earle Cunningham, Terrence D’Amato, Annie Daniel, J. Michael Dannenfelser, Marjorie Danon, Steve Davenport, Doug Davis, Ashley Davis, Chester “Chip” Jr. Davis, Matthew H. Davis, Mike Davis, Rodney De Peña, Kristie Dion, Stacey Doar, Robert Doran, Michael Downey, Teddy Dressler, Jeff Dunn, Brendan Duss, Matt Eibner, Christine Eisen, Norman Eisenberg, Ross Eissenstat, Everett Eke, Patricia Ephraim Elam, Nicole Elias, Marc El-Sadany, Mai Emerson, Langston Epshtein, Uriel Erdemir, Aykan Espinel, Victoria Eubanks, Daniel Eversole, Amanda Farah, Douglas Fariello, Theresa Farkas, Evelyn Farris, Brandon Feingold, Cathy Ferguson, Fred Foley, Matt Forte, Denise Foster, Emily Foster, Jason Fox, Radhika Freeman, Geoff Fudge, Marcia Gamble, Hugh Gandhi, Sima García, Raúl Gardner, Brent Gardner, Cory Garlauskas, Markus Garvey, Kevin Géno, Sharon Wilson Genser, Jared Gibson, Renée Gilbert, Lisa Gillespie, Ed Ginsberg, Benjamin L. Givens, Alexandra Reeve Glas, Kim Gold, Rich Golder, Chad Gordon, Sue Gottlieb, Scott Grant, Cedric Griffin, Shawn Grillo, Kathleen Grumet, Jason Guida, Al Guillén, Teresa Goody Gwyn, Brigitte Schmidt Hadley, Stephen J. Hagan, Bridget Hanke, Steve H. Hansford, Justin Harbert, Karen Harris, Bruce Harris, Roger Hart, Tom Hashemi, Cookab Hauser, Jeff Haworth, Sacha Haynes, Cedric Heinrichs, Rebeccah L. Hempowicz, Liz Henry, Sudafi Heppen, Jessica Hersh, Adam Hewitt, Damon Todd Hill, Fiona Hines, Bo Holder Jr., Eric H. Hollers, Logan Holtz-Eakin, Douglas Hope, Tonija Hoplin, Eric Horne, Emily Houseman, Roy Hughes, Seamus Humphries, Fred Hunt, Richard Huseman, Brian Ignatius, David Ingoglia, Chuck Isaac, Nicole Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Selina Jacokes, Jeannine Jagoda, Abby Jahn, Chris Jefferies, Ian Jeffries, Stewart Jennings, Chris Johnson, Lindsey Johnson, Stephanie Jones, Seth G. Joynes, Greta Jurinka, Elizabeth Kagan, Frederick W. Kahlenberg, Richard Kalutkiewicz, Kate Kantor, Doug Kapadia, Samir Kaplan, Joel Karol, Kathryn D. Kass, David Katyal, Neal Katz, Debra Keane, Kevin Kelleher, Dennis Kelley, Angela Maria Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Patrick J. Kennedy, Sean Kenney, Genevieve M. Kerkhoven, Brian Keshap, Atul Khalilzad, Zalmay Khosla, Jay Kint, Jason Kintz, Justin Kitchens, Caroline Knight, Edward Kornbluh, Karen Korsnick, Maria Kovacevich, Adam Krikorian, Mark Kyle, Sarah Lamar, Stephen Lampkin, Marc Lanza, Bryan Lawrence, Courtney LeaMond, Nancy Lebens, Lucia Lee, Ebony Lee, Jane Lee, Penny Lehrer, Eli Leo, Leonard Lewis, Christopher Liles, Walton Liu, Libby Lowe, Luther Lowell, Abbe David Lucas, Jane Lugar, Katherine Lynn, Barry MacDonald, Charlene MacGuineas, Maya MacKinnon, Gail Maietta, Rosanna Maloney, Drew Margheri, Marco Marootian, Jeff Masalosalo, Brittany Massimino, Elisa Matheson, Jim McDonald, Taite McDowell, Ches McGowan, Ryan McGreevy, Jim McPherson, Giulia Mehlman, Bruce Melville, Scott M. Mendoza, Rosa Merritt, David Mersinger, Summer Miller, Bill Miller, Jason Miller, Jeff Miller, Mark Mitchell, A. Wess Mitrovich, Marissa Modi, Laura Moore, Linda Moore, W. Gyude Moran, Jim Morell, Michael Morgenstern, Brian Morton, Chris Mosher, Alexis Marks Mowers, Matt Moyer, Chris Munayyer, Yousef Murguía, Janet Murphy, Dan Murphy, Elizabeth Murphy, John Murphy III, John Murray, Lodriguez Murray, Margaret A. Murray, Tara Musser, Phil Navin, Jeff Neagu-Reed, Sara Neuman, Stephen Newman, David A. Nia, Gissou Nichols, Rob Nock, Alex Nolan, Rich Norquist, Grover G. Nowrojee, Binaifer O’Brien, John M. O’Brien, Robert O’Brien, Sean Olmem, Andrew Ornstein, Norman Owens, Lindsay Oxman, Jason Pan, Eric Park, Chan Parrott, Sharon Parsi, Trita Pasco, Jim Patel, Kavita Paul, Scott Perkins, Alex Perlmutter, Ed Perrino, Nico Pfister, Zach Piercy, Craig Pierre-Louis, Stanley Pomper, Brian Posen, Adam Potter, Trevor Pringle, Becky Ransom, Catharine Cyr Ratner, Ben Rauch, Jonathan Rayman, Julie Fishman Razi, Sara Reams, Heather Reeves, Richard V. Reichlin-Melnick, Aaron Reilly, Brendan Reilly, Lori Renjel, Louis Richman, Paul Riedl, Jessica Ries, Lora Riley, Bryan Ring, John Rios, Elena Robinson, Armstrong Roisman, Elad Rolfes, Danielle Romano, Mike Romero Rainey, Rebeca Rosenthal, Ilene Ross, Dennis Rubin, Nilmini Rubin, Peter Safavian, David Salo, Jeannie Saltzman, Josh Samp, Tony Sarasin, Leslie Sauer, Charles Saunders, Lee Scherb, Aaron Schleusener, Lucas Schmidtlein, John Schruers, Matthew Schulman, Melissa Schuman, Ilyse Segal, Scott Selee, Andrew Sepp, Pete Shapiro, Gary Sharp, Kristin Shaw, Kelly Ann Shay, Matthew Sherman, Donald K. Shierholz, Heidi Shuler, Liz Shuster, Bill Silverman, Stephanie Simon, Jacqueline Skor, Emily Smith, Dan Smith, Edward “Smitty” Snitchler, Todd Sola, Louis Solomón, Virginia Kase Sommers, Mike Spalter, Jonathan Spear, Chris Steckman, Matthew Steed, Michael Stein, Jeff Stewart, Jennifer Stier, Max Streeter, Erin Strong, Zolaikha Stryk, Robert Stutz, Randy Susskind, Hadar Swartz, Rick Swirski, Sandra Swisher, Kara Swonger, Chris Tallamy, Brad Tamasi, David Tatevosyan, Sam Taylor Jr., Johnny C. Teetsel, Eric Teller, Ellen Temme, Alanna Terrell, Cynthia Richie Thompson, Al Thompson, Chet Tibbits, Nate Timmons, Jay Tuffin, Michael Tymon, Jim Ubl, Stephen Urban, David Vargas, Omar Vaughn, Stephen Veitch, Alexandra Verveer, Melanne Villagomez, Angelo Waldo, Katie Wall, Jamie Wall, Joe Walton, Jennifer Wayland, Karen Weisgall, Jonathan Weiss, Alison Wessel, Mike Wieroniey, Jennifer Wilcox, Dale Wilkinson, Molly Williamson, Laura Willoughby, Patrice Wingate, Heather Wittes, Benjamin Wolak, Jeanne Hicks Wolff, Candida Woodworth, Gina Wysocki, Kevin Yarowsky, Jonathan Yglesias, Matt Zamore, Mike Zell, David Zuckman, Jill Photo Credits Antitrust: Bloom by Makarov Jeanniton; Downey by Hannah Malloy; Razi by Simpson Thatcher Banking Finance: Berry courtesy of JPMorganChase; Brown by Eric Draper; Lee by Ralph Alswang; Nichols courtesy of American Bankers Association; Roisman by Mike Morgan for Cravath, Swaine Moore; Romero Rainey by Noah Willman Business Labor: Austin by Patricia Cheetham; Ballard by The Workmans/Alex Workman; Bolten by Kevin Allen; Busby by Mad Works; Bythrow by Jay Mallin for AFGE; Chopus by Adam B. Auel; Casey Clark by Philippe Nobile Photo; Suzanne Clark by Stephen Voss; Harris by Emily McArthur Photography; Lamar by Jeff Elkins Photography; MacKinnon by Gary Landsman; Masalosalo by Noah Willman; Miller by HeadshotDC/Moshe Zusman; Sarasin by Laurence L. Levin; Shay by Magdalena Papaioannou; Simon by Daniel Horowitz; Timmons by Noah Willman Civil Rights Criminal Justice: Brown by Brent Futrell; Cashin by Anne Calamuci; Hewitt by Noah Willman; Murphy by Beth Madison; Murray courtesy of National Urban League; Pasco by Lars Sandvik at ThunderShot Studios Climate Environment: Alt by Mariah Miranda Photo; Gold courtesy of Holland Knight Economic Policy: Cass by Damon Bowe Photography; Cowen by Jonathan Timmes; Yglesias by Sarah Gerrity Education: Pringle courtesy of National Education Association Energy: Andryszak by Lauren Ackil; Bernhardt by Andrea Hanks; Grumet by Kirth Bobb; Kerkhoven by Mark Gregory; Matheson by Denny Gainer; Segal by Gittings Photography; Skor courtesy of Growth Energy; Snitchler by Adam B. Auel; Sommers by Ian Wagreich Foreign Affairs: Belcher by Lexey Swall; Ben-Ami by Ralph Alswang; Farah by Flickr/U.S. Institute of Peace; Feingold by Sam Kittner; Ignatius by Stephen Voss; Parsi by Rebecca Zeller; Ross by Lloyd Wolf Good Government: Brian by Joe Newman; Holder by Gittings Photography; Scherb by Donnamaria R. Jones/CLI; Stier by Joshua Roberts; Terrell by Ana I. Martinez Chamorro Healthcare: Gottlieb courtesy of American Enterprise Institute; Griffin by Erika Nizborski; Kennedy by Charlie Abrahams Photography; Kyle by Noah Willman; LeaMond by Abby Greenawalt; Lucas by Erika Nizborski; MacDonald by Danuta Otfinowski; Reilly by Max Taylor for PhRMA; Rios by Patricia De La Rosa Photography; Silverman by Gittings Photography; Temme by Jared Wolfe Immigration: Asirwahtam by Elissa Hackerson; Foster by Du Col Portraits/Abram Eric Landes; Ries by David Hills Infrastructure Transportation: Adams by Elliott O’Donovan Photography; Cain by HeadshotDC/Moshe Zusman; Wingate by Elliott O’Donovan Photography National Security Defense: Ben-Yehuda by Christoph Hodel; Epshtein by Noah Willman; Farkas by Paul Morse Photography; Gordon by HeadshotDC/Moshe Zusman; Hill by John Kaul; Jones courtesy of Center for Strategic International Studies Tech Telecom: Bhatia by Noah Willman; Branscome by Jen Packard; Chandler by Cassidy Duhon; Coffey by Elliott O’Donovan Photography; Cope by Kristina Sherk Photography; Dressler by HeadshotDC/Moshe Zusman; Eke by Nafa/Judah Avenue; Givens by Laura Metzler; Grillo by David Keith Photography; Huseman by Jeff Elkins Photography; Miller by Andrew Harnik, Getty Images; Mosher by Emily Karcher; Oxman by Matt Mendelsohn Photography; Samp by Gittings Photography; Smith by Gittings Photography; Swisher by Philip Montgomery; Veitch by Tracey Salazar Trade: Ahmed by Jeff Elkins Photography; Bogden by Erikograph; Eissenstat by Gittings Photography; Kalutkiewicz by Noah Willman; Kapadia by Noah Willman; Murphy by Ian Wagreich; Perkins by D.A. Peterson; Shaw by Shane Nelson Voting Rights: Anderson by David Hills Photography; Brannon by Molly Kaplan/ACLU; Elias by MFields Photography; Leo by Lila PhotoThe post Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2026 first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less