Christopher Arnold
Mid-Atlantic Region Liaison, U.S. Department of Defense - State Liaison Office
Christopher Arnold is the Mid-Atlantic Region Liaison at U.S. Department of Defense, Defense-State Liaison Office. He is an information strategy executive and master of legislative operations with 15 years of leadership experience in federal, state, and local government affairs, public relations, and information assurance. He is also a U.S. Army combat veteran.
Sec. Kevin Atticks
Secretary of Agriculture, Maryland
Kevin Atticks is the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to his appointment in 2023, Atticks was CEO and founder of Grow & Fortify, a company supporting value-added agricultural organizations and the businesses they represent. Grow & Fortify published the first assessment of the state’s value-added agricultural industry, illustrating the expansive impact generated by this sector, which includes wineries, creameries, meat processing, agritourism, equine and dozens of other industry segments. Atticks was also the Executive Director of the Maryland Wineries Association, Brewers Association of Maryland and the Maryland Distillers Guild, and served as the President of the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council. Originally from Bowie, Maryland, Atticks graduated with a journalism degree from Loyola University Maryland. Shortly thereafter, Atticks received a master's degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. He later earned his doctorate in communications design from University of Baltimore. He holds a faculty position at Loyola University Maryland.
Sec. Ed Augustus
Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, Massachusetts
Secretary Ed Augustus was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in June 2023 to lead the newly created Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. An experienced, results-driven executive, Augustus has spent more than 35 years in public service, building effective teams and bringing people together to have a positive impact on communities. As the secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Augustus leads the state’s mission to create more homes and lower housing costs for Massachusetts residents. The executive office also distributes funding for community development initiatives, oversees the state’s public housing, and operates homelessness prevention and housing stabilization programs. Augustus has also served as city manager of Worcester, where he led the state's second-largest city through a revitalization that became known as the Worcester Renaissance. Before joining the city of Worcester, Augustus served as director of Government and Community Relations for the College of Holy Cross, state senator for the 2nd Worcester District, chief of staff for Congressman Jim McGovern, and chief of staff to the assistant secretary for Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education under President Clinton’s administration.
Geoffrey Canada, 2024 Keynote Speaker
Educator, social activist and author; President, Harlem Children’s Zone
Geoffrey Canada is the president of Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York City, and founder of William Julius Wilson Institute (WJWI). An innovator in the field of education, author, and leading advocate for children, Canada has made it his life’s mission to help young people from under-resourced communities succeed through education. To realize his vision, Mr. Canada launched HCZ, a comprehensive, cradle-to-career network of programs that The New York Times called “one of the most ambitious social-policy experiments of our time.” Starting as a one-block pilot project in the 1990s, HCZ today serves more than 34,000 students and families living in a 97-block area of Central Harlem in New York City.
Sec. Michael Carroll
Secretary of Transportation, Pennsylvania
Michael Carroll is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation. He was nominated by governor-elect Josh Shapiro in January 2023 and confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate in May of last year. Before being appointed Secretary of Transportation, Mike was elected and served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 16 years, working on transportation throughout his time in public office. Mike was Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee from 2018 to 2022. Mike formerly worked as a state representative’s chief of staff, as the legislative liaison for PennDOT under then-Governor Robert Casey, and as the district office director for the former U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski.
Sharon Carson
CSG East 2022 Co-Chair; Senate Majority Leader, New Hampshire
Sharon Carson has been in the New Hampshire State Senate since 2008. Before becoming senator, she served as a state representative from Londonderry from 2000 until 2008. She also served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve and retired in 1995 after 17 years of service. Sharon has an A.S. degree from Mount Wachussett Community College, as well as a B.A, M.A., and A.B.D from the University of New Hampshire.Sharon is an adjunct professor at Nashua Community College. She has also taught at the University of New Hampshire and at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester as an adjunct professor after completing her postgraduate studies. She also served on the Rockingham County delegation’s executive committee for two terms and was the chair of the Registry of Deeds.Sharon and her husband, Greg, have been married for 37 years and have two daughters, Alicia and Deirdre. They have lived in Londonderry and the State of New Hampshire since 1989. Greg is a New Hampshire native.Senator Carson has a deep passion for the state that she serves. She loves New Hampshire and its rich history; she shares her knowledge of the early settlers and the stories of Nutfield and Portsmouth, and has a deep respect for the people she serves.
Mari Castaldi
Director of State Housing Policy, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Mari Castaldi is director of state housing policy at The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Prior to joining the Center, Mari was the senior policy advocate on homelessness at Housing California, where she helped lead diverse coalitions to advocate for state legislation and budget investments for affordable housing, services, and care for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Before that, she was the director of policy at the Chicago Jobs Council. Mari started her career working at the Economic Security and Opportunity Clinic at the East Bay Community Law Center. She received her Master's in Public Affairs from Princeton University and her B.A. in Politics and Latin American Studies from Oberlin College.
Del. Lorig Charkoudian
Delegate, Maryland
Lorig Charkoudian represents District 20 in the Maryland General Assembly, where she serves on the Economic Matters Committee and is Chair of the Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee. Lorig is a strong advocate for legislation promoting environmental justice, consumer protections, economic justice, criminal justice reform, pedestrian safety, and a sustainable food system. In addition to her role as Delegate, Lorig is executive director of Community Mediation Maryland. Lorig received her Ph.D. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University and has been honored three times as Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Maryland Daily Record. She lives in Takoma Park with one of her two children, Raffi, and runs ultra-marathons.
Alan Collins, Ph.D.
Retired professor, School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University
Dr. Alan Collins is a recently retired professor who most recently served as interim director of the School of Natural Resources at West Virginia University. His research interests include economic and policy issues related to watershed management, water quality, energy, performance-based incentives, agricultural land valuation, and solid plus agricultural waste management. He has been the principal or co-investigator on 38 grants or contracts and published over 140 research papers, including co-authoring a recent study entitled, “The Impact of State Policies on Electric Vehicle Adoption - A Panel Data Analysis.” Collins holds a Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics from Oregon State University, an M.S. in range resource economics from Utah State University, and a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Arizona.
Lou D’Allesandro
CSG East 2022 Co-chair, CSG 2019 National Chair; Senator, New Hampshire
Lou D’Allesandro has represented the 20th District in the New Hampshire Senate since 1998. He currently serves as chair of the Finance Committee and vice-chair of the Ways and Means and Capital Budget committees. He previously served three terms as an executive councilor and two terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.In addition to his career in public service, Senator D’Allesandro enjoyed professional success in education. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Franklin Pierce University, Daniel Webster College, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. He also holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Rivier University, New England College, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Senator D’Allesandro served as the CSG 2019 National Chair. He and his wife, Patricia, currently reside in Manchester.
Sec. Jake Day
Secretary of Housing and Community Development, Maryland
Jake Day is the Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development under Governor Wes Moore. Prior to his current role, he served as the 28th Mayor of Salisbury, Maryland. Born and raised in Salisbury, he previously served as City Council President. His tenure as Mayor was marked by a resurgent downtown, including nearly $650 million in new construction, the establishment of two youth community centers, and the creation of a permanent supportive housing program to address chronic homelessness. Secretary Day also previously worked for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy as Director of the Center for Towns, utilizing design, planning, and development assistance to establish vibrant, sustainable small cities and towns. He served as national president of the American Institute of Architecture Students, and as editor-in-chief of CRIT, a journal of architecture. Secretary Day earned a M.S. in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy from Oxford University. He also earned a Master of Urban Design from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Maryland. He is the proud father to two beautiful daughters, Lilly and Olivia.
Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative, Connecticut
State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw was elected in November 2020 to represent Connecticut House District 17. She is in her second term. In her first term, she brought back nearly two million in bonding dollars to her district, passed the phase-out of the personal income tax on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), passed a Workforce Disability Pipeline bill, and a Veterans Municipal Property Tax Credit bill. Eleni is a graduate of James Madison University and The Campaign School at Yale (formerly the Women’s Campaign School at Yale) as well as Emerge Connecticut and the State Legislative Leadership Foundation program. Kavros Degraw is Chair of the Planning and Development Committee and serves as a member of the Public Health and Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees. A resident of the Farmington Valley for nearly 25 years, Eleni lives in Avon with her three children and husband who is the founder and CEO of a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.
Jared DeMarinis
State Administrator of Elections, Maryland
On September 1, 2023, Jared DeMarinis became Maryland’s State Administrator of Elections after the unanimous selection by the bipartisan 5-member State Board of Elections. Previously, he served for 18 years as the director of candidacy and campaign finance. In that position, he took a proactive approach to election administration in campaign finance, making Maryland a model state for the use of new technologies by campaigns, campaign disclosure, and enforcement. Jared has served as an election observer in various countries such as Estonia, North Macedonia, and Armenia. He has been published in New York Times for a piece on texting campaign contributions, written a book on the history of the Electoral College in Maryland, and presented at national conferences on important election issues including deep fakes, regulating online campaign ads, and enforcement of campaign finance laws. DeMarinis has a law degree from Rutgers School of Law - Newark and a B.A. from Villanova University.
Benjamin Russell Eikey
Manager of State Training and Development, The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy
Ben Eikey is the manager of state training and development at the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. His primary responsibilities include helping to build the State Oversight Academy by developing quality programming for the state legislative audience and the public. He does this through state legislative oversight workshops for a national audience, short podcasts on a specific oversight topics called FAST Classes, and state-specific content including workshops at state capitols across the country. Ben helps equip legislators with the tools and best practices needed for bipartisan fact-finding and to empower legislators to see differences in perspective as an advantage when seeking facts together. Whether it is how to ask better questions in a hearing, how to leverage a department budget to secure a reporting requirement for a government program or service, or how to build an oversight plan when approaching a long-term investigation, Ben is always ready to assist legislators through the State Oversight Academy to help fulfill the legislature’s role as the “eyes and ears” of the people.
Natasha Fackler
Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
Natasha Fackler serves as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator. In coordination with the Governor’s Office and PennDOT, she advises and develops best practices on the use of, and receipt of, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program funds. She is also designated as the state’s lead point of contact on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program to guide investments in electrification across the Commonwealth. Prior to taking on this role, she served as PennDOT’s Policy Director and has over 26 years of experience in the Commonwealth.
Bill Ferguson
President, Maryland Senate; CSG East 2024 Co-Chair
Bill Ferguson is the President of the Maryland Senate, which he has led since 2020. He is the second youngest Senate president in Maryland history and has represented South Baltimore in the Senate since 2011.Ferguson grew up in Montgomery County and graduated from Davidson College with a bachelor’s in economics before joining Teach for America teaching in Baltimore schools from 2005 to 2007, which inspired him to run for office. In 2013, Senator Ferguson sponsored the 21st Century Schools Act to invest $1 billion in school construction for Baltimore City Public Schools. Since 2020, Ferguson has led the Senate in passing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, historic police reform legislation, an unprecedented investment in Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and over $1 billion in state economic stimulus to support vulnerable Marylanders through the COVID-19 crisis.Ferguson is married to follow Teach for America alum, Lea Ferguson. They live in Patterson Park with their son, Caleb, and daughter, Cora.
Bruce Gartner
Executive Director Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)
Bruce Gartner is the Executive Director of the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), a title he has held since January of 2024 and previously held from 2013 to 2015. Immediately prior to rejoining the MDTA, Gartner served as the administrator of the Howard County Office of Transportation. Gartner led Howard County’s efforts to develop long-term transportation plans and served as the County Executive’s empowered representative on the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB). Previously, he served as the Maryland Transportation client account manager at Jacobs Engineering Group in Baltimore.
Carl Gershenson
Director, The Eviction Lab at Princeton University
Carl Gershenson is the director of the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. He has published on the causes and consequences of housing instability, with a special focus on how eviction leads to further economic and residential insecurity. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University, where his dissertation explored the political and cultural origins of the American business corporation.
Mark Ginsberg
Partner, Curtis and Ginsberg Architects LLP
Mark Ginsberg, a partner at Curtis and Ginsberg Architects LLP, has over 40 years of professional experience in planning, urban design, institutional, and housing projects. A native New Yorker, his national leadership in sustainable design, resiliency, and mixed-income housing has been recognized through his many public speaking engagements at national and local conferences and meetings. His firm’s work is focused on community and policy and includes developments that comprise over 22,000 units of housing, much of it designated low-income and affordable. Mark has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Wesleyan University.
Alexander Hermann
Senior Research Associate, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
Alexander Hermann is a Senior Research Associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, working on projects related to housing markets, demographics, and housing policy. Alex has been a researcher at the Center for eight years and has helped lead the Center’s flagship annual report—The State of the Nation’s Housing—for the past six years. Prior to joining the Center, he worked as a grant writer at a Detroit nonprofit providing housing and treatment services to homeless populations. Alex received a Master’s in Public Policy and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.
Sen. Katie Fry Hester
State Senator, Maryland
Senator Katie Fry Hester is serving in her first term as State Senator. She is a deputy majority whip in Maryland and chairs the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology. Prior to becoming State Senator, Katie worked in international development with governments, businesses, communities, non-profits, and international agencies around the world to build partnerships and implement strategies that are good for business, good for the environment, and good for communities.
Samar Jha
Government Affairs Director, AARP
Samar Jha serves as a government affairs director in AARP’s national government affairs team. Samar leads AARP’s local and state housing advocacy for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Samar is part of AARP’s housing core team and a tactic lead for AARP’s housing enterprise strategy. Samar represents AARP before local and state governing bodies and manages relationships with elected and appointed officials with advocacy on housing and livability policies that support AARP members. Prior to AARP, Samar served as the director of government and public affairs at the Greater Philadelphia Association of REALTORS®, where he represented the association’s interest at the local and state level. In addition to government affairs work, Samar also has over six years of legal experience working as a corporate lawyer in India working on aircraft leasing and financing, mergers and acquisition, and banking and finance. Samar has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Samar also has a B.A. and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad, India.
Adrienne Jones
Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates; CSG East 2024 Co-Chair
Speaker Adrienne A. Jones was unanimously elected by the full House of Delegates to serve as the first African-American and the first woman Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in state history on May 1, 2019.Prior to being Speaker, Jones also held the distinction of being the first African American woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tem in the Maryland House of Delegates, serving in that capacity under Speaker Mike Busch for 16 years. Speaker Jones served on the House Appropriations Committee, and was Chair of the Capital Budget and Education, and Economic Development Subcommittees. She has been a delegate since 1997.Speaker Jones has long been known by her colleagues for her steadfast leadership and no-nonsense approach to legislating. She has focused on education policy and funding issues, most notably school construction, during her tenure in the legislature. She has also made significant advances in ensuring diversity and fair treatment of state employees.Speaker Jones was born in Cowdensville, Maryland, a historic African-American community located near Arbutus in Southwest Baltimore County.She attended Baltimore County Public Schools, graduating from Lansdowne High School and is a proud alumna of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.She attended The National Security Seminar, U.S. Army War College in 2007.In 2008, she received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. She is the mother of two adult sons and proud grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren, Jalen and Janelle Jones.
Sen. Brian Kavanagh
Senator, New York
Senator Brian Kavanagh represents more than 330,000 residents in New York’s Senate District 27, covering most of lower Manhattan. Kavanagh was first elected to the Senate in 2017 following six terms in the New York State Assembly. His work has focused on affordable housing, environmental sustainability, democracy and open government. As chair of the Seante Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development, Brian has led key housing initiatives, including the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), passed in 2019; multi-billion dollar investments in housing services, construction, and renovation; COVID-related emergency housing assistance; and a 2022 law to facilitate conversion of under-used hotels to permanent affordable housing.
Alyson Klein
Assistant Editor, Education Week
Alyson Klein is a veteran education writer who has covered K-12 schools for more than a dozen years. She covers the latest developments in educational technology, including topics such personalized learning, data privacy, digital curricula, cybersecurity, and teacher professional development. She is also the lead writer for Technology Counts, Education Week’s annual report about the state of educational technology.
Jennifer Larson
Director, Multifamily Office of Asset Management, U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)
Jen Larson is the director of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Multifamily Office of Asset Management, which is responsible for policy, oversight and support of HUD’s nationwide portfolio of multifamily properties with rental assistance and/or FHA-insured loans. Jen fell in love with the affordable housing field over 20 years ago with her first job out of college as assistant manager at an affordable property. After years working in the housing field as a property manager, asset manager, and developer, she feels fortunate to have learned the business of affordable housing from multiple perspectives and has seen firsthand the difference that quality affordable housing makes in the lives of families. She earned her M.A. in public policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs and has also worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.
Gordon Levitt
Senior Legislative Strategist, The Center for Climate Integrity (CCI)
Gordon Levitt recently joined The Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) as a senior legislative strategist. Before CCI, he was the communications director at Winning Connections, a national political consulting firm, the district director and political director for then Oregon Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner, and a Climate Law Fellow for Our Children's Trust. Levitt earned his J.D. and M.S. in Conflict and Dispute Resolution from the University of Oregon School of Law.
Sen. S. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman
State Senator, Delaware
Sen. S. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman represents the Third Senate District, which encompasses communities in central and west Wilmington, Delaware. She earned a B.A. from New York University and an M.A. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware. Lockman entered community service in 2004 through Public Allies Delaware, where she served as program manager for Serviam Media’s Hearts & Minds Film Initiative. Lockman was elected to the Delaware Senate in 2018, becoming just the second African American woman elected to the General Assembly’s upper chamber. Sen. Lockman has served as Majority Whip since 2020 and currently serves as chair of the Senate Housing and Land Use Committee. Sen. Lockman lives in Wilmington with her husband John, her infant son Jack and her daughter Sophie.
Sen. James Maroney
State Senator, Connecticut
James Maroney was first elected to represent Connecticut’s 14th Senate District in 2018. Before being elected to the Senate, he was a State Representative from 2012-2014, where he served on the Higher Education Committee. Due to his distinguished service on the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, he was asked to serve on the Planning Commission for Higher Education and help develop a strategic plan for higher education in Connecticut. Sen. Maroney previously served as president and founding member of the Milford Education Foundation and also served on the Milford Board of Education. A proud and active participant in the community, he is a member and past president of the Devon Rotary, where he is the co-chair of the scholarship committee. Maroney graduated from Yale in 1996, where he was a 3-time varsity letter winner in both track and field and cross-country. Senator Maroney lives in Milford with his wife Jennifer and his son Jay.
Will Marshall
Freight Program Manager, The Electrification Coalition
Will Marshall is the freight program manager for the Electrification Coalition. He supports efforts to advance the electrification of the freight and port industries and other critical electric vehicle policies and programs. In his position, Will collaborates with stakeholders to scale freight electrification by identifying and aggregating industry best practices, sources of government funding, and incentive opportunities. Before joining the Electrification Coalition, Will was the senior legislative assistant at KDCR Partners, a D.C.-based bipartisan lobbying firm, supporting a portfolio of clients in the energy and transportation sectors. Will graduated from George Washington University with an M.A. in Environmental Resource Policy, where his research focused on medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleet electrification. He also holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.
Mike Matthews
Senior Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for the U.S. East Coast, Equinor
Mike Matthews is senior director of policy and regulatory affairs for the U.S. East Coast at Equinor. As an experienced clean energy and public affairs practitioner, Mike is focused on realizing collaborative solutions toward further developing the US offshore wind industry. At Equinor, Mike works to continue to strengthen its position as a leader in the US offshore wind industry as it develops more than 3 GW of projects on both coasts, implementing the transmission policy solutions needed for the long-term success of offshore wind as a pivotal energy industry. Mike also holds an M.S. in Energy Policy and Climate from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced Academic Programs.
Zulene Mayfield
co-founder, Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)
Zulene Mayfield was born, reared and educated in the City of Chester, PA, just less than 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia. In 1992, she purchased a house across from construction on what soon became labeled as a “trash to stream” facility. She then became active with a group of residents meeting to discuss the disruptions to their community. They soon formed Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). CRCQL started as a community advocacy organization driven by the ultimate goal to shut down the nation's largest incinerator. In 1993, Zulene became the Chairperson of CRCQL. Since that time, CRCQL, under Zulene's leadership, has defended its community against everything from three proposed plants to burn tires to the siting of the largest pet crematory in the country.Under Zulene's leadership, CRCQL’s work has been covered nationally and internationally by NPR, The Guardian, The Associated Press, and the Washington Post. Zulene is recognized as a fierce leader and advisor to many communities. She has served on the Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Justice Advisory (NEJAC), member of the New Jersey Environmental Alliance, founder/advisor to The Campus Coalition Concerning Chester (C4), National Black Environmental Justice Network. Zulene is a highly sought after speaker on many college campuses teaching about environmental racism and terrorism in Chester and similar communities.
Becky McCray
Co-founder, SaveYourTown
Becky McCray is a lifelong rural entrepreneur, cattle rancher and co-founder of SaveYourTown. Her own hands-on successes and failures as a retail business owner, city administrator, nonprofit executive and community volunteer — all in small towns — make her a sought-after expert on rural communities. Becky created the influential Survey of Rural Challenges, published biennially since 2015 and used by agencies, educators, and businesses to better understand and serve rural people. McCray holds a B.S. in Business Administration and earned certificates in Facilitating for Results and Workforce Quality Leadership. She makes her home in Hopeton, Oklahoma, a community of 30 people.
Mike McHale
Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 24
Mike McHale is the Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 24. Starting as a trainee in 1985, Mike completed an IBEW co-sponsored electrical apprenticeship, becoming a Journeyman Wireman in 1991. In the early 2000’s, he sat for and passed the Master Electrician’s examination in both Maryland and West Virginia. He has held multiple positions in Union elected offices and on jobsites. These include General Foreman, Project Manager, and VP of Operations. Along the way, Mike taught evening classes at the training center for 12 years and is now part of the team that oversees all training programs. As the Business Manager, he represents roughly 2,400 members from Frederick County to Ocean City.
Ian McKnight
State Training and Development Manager, The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy
Ian McKnight is a state training and development manager at the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. He joined the Levin Center in July 2023 to work with the State Oversight Academy. A good government geek and legislative branch loyalist, Ian helps state legislators, their staff, and the public understand the important role of bipartisan, fact-based oversight in our system of government. A native of West Michigan, Ian earned his B.A. in political science and American studies from Kalamazoo College. Before joining the Levin Center, he worked for a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and conducted software implementations and training for state legislatures across the country. Ian enjoys state capitol tours and train travel. He is a third-generation election worker and licensed tour guide in New York City, where he lives.
April McLean-McCoy
Program Manager, Office of Planning and Environment, Federal Transit Administration
April McLean-McCoy works for the Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Planning and Environment, where she serves as the program manager/community planner for the pilot program for transit-oriented development planning. In her role, she provides subject matter expertise on transit-oriented development and equity. Before coming to the FTA, McClean-McCoy served for 15 years in the non-profit and public health field and with the City of Rochester’s planning and zoning department. McLean-McCoy holds a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in urban planning.
Marcel Negret
Senior Planner, Regional Plan Association (RPA)
Marcel Negret is a senior planner at Regional Plan Association (RPA). He provides technical expertise and research capabilities to advance prosperity, sustainability, and equity in the New York metro area. He combines systemic thinking with design, spatial analysis, and data visualization to support the organization’s planning and advocacy efforts at both the regional and neighborhood levels. His work includes a broad range of projects and campaigns at the intersections of land use, infrastructure, and health. Most recently, Marcel was the principal author of the RPA’s Transit Oriented Development report, “Homes on Track: Building Thriving Communities Around Transit.” Marcel has an M.S. in Urban Environmental Systems from the Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment (GCPE) and holds a B.S. from the School of Architecture and Design, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
Marc Pacheco
Founding Chair and current member, Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, Massachusetts
Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) is Dean of the Massachusetts Senate, and serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight; Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management; Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy; Founding Chair and current member of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change; and member of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.Senator Pacheco has been appointed by the Council of State Governments (CSG) as Co-Chair of the Eastern Regional Conference (ERC) Energy & Environment Committee and to the National ‘Future of Work’ Task Force serving as Chair of the Subcommittee on Smart Government. He has also been appointed to the CSG/ERC Territorial Relations Committee and the National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) Task Force on Energy Supply.Senator Pacheco has been a longtime environmental advocate and an Al Gore Climate Messenger with the Climate Reality Project who has fought hard to implement climate change solutions in the Commonwealth. He was lead sponsor the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, which was enacted into law to establish an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and implement comprehensive sustainable solutions in Massachusetts.Senator Pacheco has received numerous awards from various organizations throughout his career including honors from Environment Massachusetts and the Sustainable Future Campaign - an initiative of the United Nations Youth and Student Association. He has received the Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, the highest civilian award given by the Portuguese government; the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star from the Republic of Austria, the fourth highest decoration of merit the country can confer on the federal level; and the Medalha da Ordem de Timor Leste, for his contributions to the U.N. Referendum for East Timor independence.Before his service in the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Pacheco served for 10 years as an elected member of the Taunton School Committee serving as its chair and as the chief of staff and budget director to the Mayor of the City of Taunton for seven years.
Kevin Parker
Senator, New York
State Senator Kevin S. Parker is committed to restoring the overall quality of life for the constituents of the 21st Senatorial District in Brooklyn. A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has been a Flatbush resident for more than 31 years -- nurtured, educated, and employed in the borough. Senator Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of the 21st District, which consists of many diverse communities: Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope.A product of the New York City Public School system, Senator Parker attended P.S. 193, Andries Hudde I.S. 240, and Midwood High School. Elected to the New York State Senate in 2002, Senator Parker’s professional background reflects a wide range of public service and an unwavering commitment to a better New York. As the Special Assistant to former New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Senator Parker managed intergovernmental relations in New York City, and was the liaison between the Comptroller; city, state, and federal elected officials. Before taking office, Senator Parker was a New York City Urban Fellow and also served as Special Assistant to former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger; Legislative Aide to former New York City Councilmember Una Clarke, and Special Assistant to Assemblyman Nick Perry. As Project Manager with the New York State Urban Development Corporation, Senator Parker financed minority and women owned businesses and promoted community business redevelopment.His commitment to education has taken him into the classroom as a professor of both African-American Studies and Political Science at several colleges, including: CUNYs: Baruch College, John Jay College, Medgar Evers College, City College; SUNY, Old Westbury; and Long Island University. Brooklyn College is where Senator Parker teaches a majority of his classes and is a faculty advisor to student organizations and activities. The Senator is currently an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College’s Center for Worker Education. At Penn State (where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Service), Senator Parker organized students for racial justice and encouraged diversity at the University. He holds a Master’s of Science Degree from the New School for Social Research in Urban Policy and Management and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Political Science at The Graduate Center, CUNY. He is also a member of the Alpha Chapter of the Pi Eta Honor Society.
Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Delegate, Maryland
Joseline Peña-Melnyk has represented Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties as state delegate for ten years.After Joseline got her law degree, she took court appointments to represent abused and neglected children, and to provide criminal defense for the poor. Later she joined Eric Holder’s U.S. Attorney’s Office and prosecuted criminals; building cases by working closely with police officers, witnesses and victims in the community.Joseline has served on the board of Casa de Maryland, a community social service organization focused on immigrant issues. Her committee in the House deals with public health and she has made great strides to improve the healthcare system by making it more efficient and in line with the needs of everyday Marylanders. Her legislation to digitize medical records is improving health care delivery and lowering costs. She has also moved many bills into law dealing with women’s and children’s health, including bills on family planning, mammograms, childhood obesity and suicide prevention.She also leads on matters of policing and criminal justice. The Baltimore riots show that we need to create more paths to success for all our citizens and that a broken justice system weakens our communities. She was one of ten Delegates that served on the Workgroup on Public Safety and Policing Practices established after the riots, but her strong record on these issues predates the riots. One of her bills made Maryland the first state to count inmates of state prisons in the place where they lived when arrested, which helps boost representation for the poor communities with the most problems. She co-sponsored the repeal of the death penalty (HB 0295, 2013) and she supported “ban the box” on state employment forms because we need to improve employment options for people with criminal convictions if we are to break the cycle of incarceration. She also has pushed for police accountability, including ending race based traffic stops and promoting legislation for an independent state prosecutor to investigate deaths related to law enforcement. (See, HB 130, 2011.)She is a strong advocate for a people’s democracy and supports public campaign financing to limit the corrosive effects of large contributions and constant fundraising on our democracy.
Frank Principe
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
Frank J. Principe Jr. is senior vice president of government affairs and strategic partnerships at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Principe joined UMGC in February 2015, serving most recently as vice president for Government Affairs, overseeing all aspects of state and federal government relations. Before joining UMGC, Principe served as chief of staff in the Office of the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, where he represented the governor's and secretary's interests with external stakeholders. Earlier, he served as government affairs director at the Baltimore County Executive Office for seven years and, before that, as executive director for government relations in the Office of the President at Towson University. Principe began his career more than 25 years ago in the Office of Maryland Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr. There, he rose to serve as special assistant to the president, a position he held for more than five years. Principe holds an M.A. in political management from George Washington University and a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Ethan Pollack
Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
Ethan Pollack is a senior director in the Policy and Advocacy practice at Jobs for the Future (JFF). He leads the Financing the Future initiative, which explores new approaches to financing postsecondary education. He tracks the evolution and performance of new financing models, establishes best practices, and cultivates an ecosystem of experimentation and consumer protection. Before joining JFF, he worked at the Aspen Institute, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Economic Policy Institute. He received his B.A. from UCLA and holds an M.A. in public policy from George Washington University.
Chris Rabb
Representative, Pennsylvania
Representative Chris Rabb is a father, educator, author, and social justice activist.While a visiting researcher at Princeton University, Rep. Rabb wrote the ground-breaking book, "Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity" (2010). Shortly after an appearance on WHYY’s Radio Times in 2011, he was recruited to teach at Temple University's Richard J. Fox School of Business and Management where he was the Social Impact Fellow at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute and taught social entrepreneurship and organizational innovation. In his fourth year of teaching at Temple, Rep. Rabb helped to successfully unionize 1,500 fellow adjunct professors in a landslide victory for worker rights.He is currently a board member of Friends of the Wissahickon and Race Forward and has been on the faculty of the Institute for Strategic Leadership at Drexel University's Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. A former U.S. Senate legislative aide and writer, researcher and trainer at the White House Conference on Small Business in the Clinton administration, Rep. Rabb is a thought leader at the intersection of politics, media entrepreneurship and social identity.A graduate of Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania, Rep. Rabb is an avid family historian and genealogist. He lives in East Mt. Airy with his two sons.
Sec. David Scanlan
Secretary of State, New Hampshire
David Scanlan became New Hampshire Secretary of State in January of 2022 after serving as Deputy Secretary of State for 20 years. He helped conduct elections during the challenges of cyber-security concerns, the pandemic, denial of election results, and most recently Artificial Intelligence deep-fakes. During his tenure as Secretary of State, he has engaged in initiatives to improve voter confidence by improving transparency in the election process and educating voters on the mechanics of running elections. Having served 8 terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, David has a great deal of legislative experience, including terms as Majority Leader and Majority Whip. He is a CSG Toll Fellow, Class of 1996, and has served on the CSG Executive Committee representing New Hampshire. He is a graduate of the West Virginia University School of Agriculture and Forestry and originally moved to New Hampshire in 1978 to work as a licensed forester in the private sector.
Amanda Sherman
Regional Environmental Coordinator, Legislative and Regulatory Engagement Division, Air Force Civil Engineering Center, Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Amanda R. Sherman is the Regional Environmental Coordinator (REC) with the Legislative and Regulatory Engagement Division at the Air Force Civil Engineering Center, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, GA. The Legislative and Regulatory Engagement Division supports environmental and encroachment programs with federal, regional, and state agencies through the DoD and Air Force RECs. Emphasis is placed on identification and technical review of new environmental regulations and initiatives, development of strategies to resolve compliance and restoration issues, along with outreach and partnering. Sherman has eight years of civil service and fourteen years of private sector experience in academia, research, and environmental and geotechnical consulting. She holds B.A. degrees in marine science, chemistry, and German as well as a M.S. in geological science.
Iyla Shornstein
Political Director, The Center for Climate Integrity
Iyla Shornstein is political director at the Center for Climate Integrity, where she oversees the organization's state and local political strategies. Before joining CCI in 2020, Iyla worked on several political campaigns at the local, state, and federal level in New York, Virginia, and Ohio. Prior to her campaign work, Iyla spent three years at an agricultural nonprofit in New York's Hudson Valley. Iyla holds an M.A. in environmental policy from Bard College, where she received the Rachel Carson award for her research quantifying influence of fossil fuel campaign contributions on congressional voting behavior. Originally from the Catskills, Iyla currently lives in Portland, Maine where she spends her free time exploring the rocky coast and tending to her collection of 75+ houseplants.
Katie Shelton
Senior Manager of Market Engagement, Connecticut Green Bank
Katie Shelton is a Senior Manager of Market Engagement for the Connecticut Green Bank Financing Programs Team, focusing on the Solar Marketplace Assistance Program (MAP). Katie’s responsibilities include assisting municipalities, state agencies and affordable multifamily housing customers navigate solar and battery storage. Katie is responsible for market engagement across each of these verticals, helping to expand clean energy deployment across Connecticut. Katie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. degree in Business Management, a B.A. in Justice Studies, and a M.A. in Justice Studies.
Carolyn Kramer Simons
Senior Director of State Funding Policy, American Road and Transportation Builders Association
Carolyn Kramer Simons is the senior director of state funding policy with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Through ARTBA, she tracks and analyzes state legislative and ballot initiatives related to transportation investment and reports on funding methods and trends. In addition to her work on state and local funding, Carolyn also manages ARTBA's Transportation Officials Division, the Workforce Development Council, the Transportation Investment Advocates Council, and the Industry Leader Development Program. Carolyn graduated from Rutgers College in May 2009 with a B.A. in Middle Eastern studies and political science. She obtained a Public Relations Certificate from the Rutgers Professional Development Studies at School of Communication and Information in July 2014. Prior to ARTBA Carolyn worked with other advocacy nonprofits and interned in media. A New Jersey native, she currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and two sons.
Sen. Troy Singleton
State Senator, New Jersey
Senator Troy Singleton has devoted his life to public service in government, political, and policy posts at all levels. In 2011, he was elected to his first term in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the over 220,000 residents of the 7th Legislative District. Senator Singleton was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in November 2017 and currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee and as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also serves as the Senate Majority Whip. Senator Singleton is currently employed as a Senior Vice President for Anywhere Integrated. Along with his busy career, Senator Singleton has long included personal involvement in his community as an essential component of his life.
Rep. June Speakman
State Representative, Rhode Island
Representative June S. Speakman was first elected to represent Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island, in March 2019. She is the second vice chair of the Municipal Government and Housing Committee and a frequent prime sponsor of major housing legislation in Rhode Island. She is a professor at Roger Williams University, where she teaches American politics, state and local government, and public policy. Representative Speakman holds a bachelor's degree in economics from University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a master's degree in economics from the New School for Social Research, and a Ph.D. in political science from City University of New York. Born in Boston, she, her two brothers, and her sister grew up in West Roxbury, MA. She graduated from Girls' Latin School in Dorchester, MA.
Karen Toles
Delegate, Maryland
Karen Toles represents District 25 in the Maryland House of Delegates. Following the resignation of State Delegate Dereck E. Davis to serve as the Treasurer of Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan appointed Toles to serve the remainder of his term. She won election to her first full term in 2022.Toles was born in Prince George's County, Maryland and graduated from the University of Maryland, earning a B.S. degree in public health. She has also earned a J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore Law School. Toles has worked as a political and legislative consultant in various organizations, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) labor unions and for Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy. She has also operated her own policy consulting business, Paramount Policy Partners, since 2019. Toles entered politics in 2008, working as a regional field coordinator for the Democratic National Committee until 2010. She was elected to represent District 7 of the Prince George's County Council in 2010, a position she held until 2018.
Evan Vaughan
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC)
Evan Vaughan is executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC). Vaughan has dedicated his career to the growth of renewable energy, most recently working as a community relations consultant for an offshore wind project. Evan served as manager of media relations for the American Wind Energy Association for nearly five years and, before that, held various internship positions working on clean energy and climate change issues at the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Wildlife Fund. Evan holds a M.A. in global environmental policy from American University in Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in government and world affairs from the University of Tampa.
Ivy Wells
Director of Economic and Community Development, Town of Berlin, Maryland
Ivy Wells is the director of economic and community development for the town of Berlin, Maryland. She is a distinguished graduate of the University of Maryland, holding a B.S. in Journalism, and has worked in many fields since graduating, including in economic and community development. Since joining the Town of Berlin in 2014, Ivy has continued her dedication to fostering vibrant communities. In her current capacity, she oversees the town's downtown business revitalization efforts, manages the Berlin Arts and Entertainment District, and leads the Berlin Main Street program. Under her leadership, the town has secured over $2 million in grant funding and facilitated the successful launch of nearly 300 new businesses.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins
Delegate, Maryland
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins proudly represents the 20th Legislative District in the Maryland House of Delegates. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she is dedicated to policy change that makes a difference in people’s lives. Delegate Wilkins is the Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, where she also chairs the Subcommittee on Election Law. Delegate Wilkins is the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, the largest Black Caucus in the nation. Professionally, she works full-time as the Director of State and Local Government Affairs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition. Wilkins earned her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Delaware and a Master of Public Administration in Social Policy from the American University. Delegate Wilkins is an active member of Theta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Melissa Willette
New England Region Liaison, U.S. Department of Defense - State Liaison Office
Melissa Willette is the New England Region Liaison at the U.S. Department of Defense-State Liaison Office. She served as superintendent of the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery System, director of communications for the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, and a senior legislative aide in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a military spouse and officer in the Air National Guard.
David Zaidain
Chief of Transit Oriented Development, Maryland Department of Transportation
David Zaidain was appointed Chief of Transit Oriented Development at The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) in April 2023 and leads the Office of Real Estate and Economic Development within the MDOT Secretary’s Office. As a trained city planner and real estate professional, David’s 22-year career has focused on transit-oriented development, public-private partnerships, and community development. He spent 12 years with the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington DC, followed by a tenure at Amtrak, where he led the Washington Union Station expansion project. He holds a B.S. in Urban Studies, a Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati, and an M.S. in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mike Zimmer
Senior Policy Advisor, World Education Services (WES)
Mike Zimmer is the senior policy advisor at World Education Services (WES). He previously served as the cabinet director for Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan. Before being named cabinet director, he served as director for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the chief deputy director of LARA. Zimmer also served as the director of the Office of Regulatory Reform under former Governor John Engler and worked for the Senate Majority Floor Leader. Zimmer earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and his J.D. from George Washington University.
