Leadership

National office

WHO ARE WE?

The Congressional Award is run by a small dedicated team of full-time staff. We are a resource for participants, families, schools and anyone interested in learning more about The Congressional Award.

Erica Wheelan Heyse

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Bethie Woodall

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS + PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

Rachel Mallory

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS + CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT

Jordan Lindsey

PROGRAM DIRECTOR + CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

ERIC FERNANDEZ

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER (South Region)

Lukas Meyer

NORTH PROGRAM MANAGER

FRANCESCA D'AMBROSI

WEST PROGRAM MANAGER

Bri Murphy

CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

MARISTELA ROMERO

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

MAX PEYRA GRAU

PROGRAM OFFICER

SAMANTHA WONG

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS INTERN

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board supports the work of The Congressional Award Foundation and provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance.

Executive officers

Image123

    Paxton K. Baker

    CHAIRMAN

    WASHINGTON NATIONALS
    More About Me
    Image1232

      HON. RODNEY SLATER

      VICE CHAIRMAN

      Squire Patton Boggs
      More About Me

        SHAWN WHITMAN

        VICE CHAIRMAN

        FMC Corporation
        More About Me

          Laura O’Connor

          SECRETARY

            EDWARD BLANSITT, III

            TREASURER

            North Carolina
            More About Me

            Committee Chairs

              Jonathan Heafitz

              FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

              Assistant VP, Federal Affairs, PCMA
              More About Me

                Linda Mitchell, Ph.D.

                PROGRAM

                Mississippi State University
                More About Me

                  Col. Steven C. Roberts, Esq.

                  AUDIT

                  Founder & President,
                  The Roberts Companies
                  More About Me

                    David Schiappa

                    CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS

                    Partner,
                    The Duberstein Group
                    More About Me

                      Michael Skahill

                      FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

                      Lead of Government Affairs, Lineage Logistics
                      MORE ABOUT ME

                      BOARD MEMBERS

                        Marc Baer

                        Minnesota

                          Romero Brown

                          Georgia
                          More About Me
                           

                            Cheri Bustos

                            Head of Illinois Operations, Mercury Public Affairs
                            More About Me

                              Edward Cohen

                              Principal,
                              Lerner Enterprises
                              More About Me
                               

                                Diane Dewhirst

                                Washington, DC
                                More About Me
                                 

                                  Lindsey Dickinson

                                  VP, Legislative Affairs,
                                  Comcast
                                  More About Me
                                   

                                    The Honorable Debbie Dingell

                                    U.S. Representative MI-06
                                    More About Me
                                     

                                      Mitchell Draizin

                                      President,
                                      Concordia Philanthropic Fund
                                      More About Me
                                       

                                        Jim Dunn

                                        EVP, Chief People
                                        & Culture Officer,
                                        Atrium Health
                                        More About Me
                                         

                                          Melissa Foxman

                                          VP Federal Government Affairs
                                          Entertainment Software Assoc.
                                          More About Me
                                           

                                            Beverly Gilyard

                                            VP– Federal Strategy,
                                            AARP
                                            More About Me
                                             

                                              Steve Hartell

                                              VP of Public Policy
                                              Amazon
                                              More About Me
                                               

                                                Erica Wheelan Heyse

                                                National Director,
                                                The Congressional Award
                                                More About Me
                                                 

                                                  The Honorable Richard Hudson

                                                  U.S. Representative NC-09
                                                  More About Me
                                                   

                                                    David W. Hunt, ESQ.

                                                    Legal Counsel
                                                     

                                                      Myriah Jordan

                                                      Director of Public Policy,
                                                      Meta
                                                      more about me
                                                       
                                                       

                                                        Mike Kelley

                                                        VP External Affairs,
                                                        YRC Worldwide
                                                        More About Me
                                                         

                                                          Bradley Knox, ESQ.

                                                          VP and Counsel, Federal Relations,
                                                          Aflac
                                                          More About Me
                                                           

                                                            The Honorable Cynthia Lummis

                                                            U.S. Senator, Wyoming
                                                            More About Me
                                                             

                                                              Mateo Magdaleno

                                                              Chief Education Officer, IDQ Group
                                                              More About Me
                                                               

                                                                The Honorable Joe Manchin

                                                                U.S. Senator West Virginia
                                                                More About Me
                                                                 

                                                                  Lance Mangum

                                                                  Staff VP Government Affairs,
                                                                  FedEx Corporation
                                                                  More About Me
                                                                   

                                                                    John Mason

                                                                    Director, Federal Government Affairs, 
                                                                    Altria
                                                                    More about me
                                                                     

                                                                      Mike Parrish

                                                                      VP Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability
                                                                      Bayer
                                                                      more about me

                                                                        Joyce Rogers

                                                                        Vice President, US Policy & Public Affairs, Pfizer
                                                                        More About Me
                                                                         

                                                                          Molly Ryan

                                                                          VP, Government Affairs & Policy,
                                                                          Global Blood Therapeutics
                                                                          More About Me
                                                                           

                                                                            Jade Shields

                                                                            Vice President, Government Affairs, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
                                                                            More About Me
                                                                             

                                                                              Riley Swinehart

                                                                              Senior Director of Federal Affairs, Johnson & Johnson
                                                                              More About Me
                                                                               

                                                                                Karen Talarico

                                                                                Executive Director, Corporate Audit and Assurance Services at Merck
                                                                                More About Me
                                                                                 

                                                                                  Kim Talley

                                                                                  Community Relations Director,
                                                                                  G2 Secure Staff, LLC
                                                                                  More About Me
                                                                                   

                                                                                    Chiling Tong

                                                                                    President & CEO,
                                                                                    National ACE
                                                                                    More About Me
                                                                                     

                                                                                      Jason Van Pelt

                                                                                      Executive Vice President, Crossroads Strategies
                                                                                      More About Me
                                                                                       

                                                                                        Rita Vaswani

                                                                                        VP & Relationship Manager, Nevada State Bank
                                                                                        More About Me
                                                                                         

                                                                                          Kathryn Weeden

                                                                                          Virginia
                                                                                          More About Me
                                                                                           

                                                                                            Rachel Welch

                                                                                            Senior Vice President, Policy & External Affairs, Charter Communications
                                                                                            More About Me
                                                                                             

                                                                                            ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

                                                                                              Pamela Alexander

                                                                                              Managing Director and Head of Corporate Citizenship,
                                                                                              KKR
                                                                                              More About Me

                                                                                                Merrill Eisenhower Atwater

                                                                                                People to People International
                                                                                                More About Me

                                                                                                  Simeon Banister

                                                                                                  Rochester Area Community Foundation
                                                                                                  More About Me

                                                                                                    Skip Braziel

                                                                                                    VP, Government Affairs, Prudential Financial
                                                                                                    More About Me

                                                                                                      Diana Leon Brown

                                                                                                      Director of Strategic Partnerships, Office of the County Executive,
                                                                                                      Prince George’s County
                                                                                                      More About Me
                                                                                                       

                                                                                                        George Coelho

                                                                                                        Co-Founder & Partner
                                                                                                        Astanor Ventures
                                                                                                        more about me
                                                                                                         

                                                                                                          Anthony Crowell

                                                                                                          Dean & President,
                                                                                                          New York Law School
                                                                                                          More About Me
                                                                                                           

                                                                                                            KATHY DIDAWICK

                                                                                                            Strategic Partner, Strategic Elements
                                                                                                            More About Me

                                                                                                              Ingrid Duran

                                                                                                              CEO & Co-founder, D&P Creative Strategies, LLC
                                                                                                              More About Me
                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                LAWRENCE J. GREEN, M.D.

                                                                                                                Maryland
                                                                                                                More About Me

                                                                                                                  Raymond Hall

                                                                                                                  Chief Human Resources Officer, Harvard Maintenance
                                                                                                                  More About Me
                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                    The Honorable Gregg Harper

                                                                                                                    Former U.S. Representative MS-03
                                                                                                                    More About Me
                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                      Adrian Harpool

                                                                                                                      Principal,
                                                                                                                      Adrian Harpool Associates
                                                                                                                      More About Me
                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                        Colin A. Hosten

                                                                                                                        Executive Director, Leonard-Litz Foundation
                                                                                                                        More About Me
                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                          BRIAN K. JOHNSON, Ed.D.

                                                                                                                          President & CEO,
                                                                                                                          Advance Higher Ed
                                                                                                                          More About Me
                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                            RAYMOND KERINS, JR.

                                                                                                                            CEO, The Next Security Group and Chief Public Affairs Officer of The Next Practices Group
                                                                                                                            MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                              THOMAS KIM

                                                                                                                              President, Thomas Capitol Partners, Inc.
                                                                                                                              MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                CHRISTOPHER LEAHY

                                                                                                                                VIRGINIA
                                                                                                                                MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                  THE HONORABLE SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                                                                                                                  U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TX-18
                                                                                                                                  MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    Catherine Pino

                                                                                                                                    Founder & CEO, D&P Creative Strategies, LLC
                                                                                                                                    more about me

                                                                                                                                      Karen Sessions

                                                                                                                                      Texas
                                                                                                                                      More About Me
                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                        Sanyin Siang

                                                                                                                                        Executive Director, Coach K Leadership and Ethics Center,
                                                                                                                                        Duke University
                                                                                                                                        More About Me

                                                                                                                                          Vanessa Sinders

                                                                                                                                          INDIANA
                                                                                                                                          More About Me

                                                                                                                                            Will Stute

                                                                                                                                            Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
                                                                                                                                            More About Me
                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                              The Honorable Ritchie Torres

                                                                                                                                              US Representative – NY15
                                                                                                                                              More About Me
                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                Bruce Walker

                                                                                                                                                Associate Director,
                                                                                                                                                DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment
                                                                                                                                                More About Me
                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                Meet Our Corporate Partners

                                                                                                                                                Join the Family

                                                                                                                                                Get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.

                                                                                                                                                Join Our Email List


                                                                                                                                                By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: The Congressional Award, 301 Ford House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20515, http://www.congressionalaward.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact