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

DEPUTY NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Rachel Mallory

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS + CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT

Dr. Jordan Lindsey, PhD

DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION + IMPACT

ERIC FERNANDEZ

SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER

Carolina Maamari

NORTH PROGRAM MANAGER

FRANCESCA D'AMBROSI

WEST PROGRAM MANAGER

JENEBA SESAY

SOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER

NICHOLAS MARTINEZ

CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

JULIA RUDY

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

Executive officers

    Paxton K. Baker

    CHAIRMAN

    WASHINGTON NATIONALS
    More About Me

      HON. RODNEY SLATER

      VICE CHAIRMAN

      Squire Patton Boggs
      More About Me

        SHAWN WHITMAN

        VICE CHAIRMAN

        Washington, DC
        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

                        Mayealie Adams

                        VP, Government Affairs
                        Danaher
                        More About Me

                          Pamela Alexander

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

                            Bill Anaya

                            VP of Global Government Affairs, Coupang
                            More About Me

                              Marc Baer

                              Minnesota

                                Brenda Becker

                                Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs for Boston Scientific (BSX)
                                More About Me

                                  Diana Léon Brown

                                  Chief of Staff, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
                                  More About Me
                                   

                                    Romero Brown

                                    Georgia
                                    More About Me
                                     

                                      Dr. Vipul Dev

                                      California Institute of Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery
                                      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
                                             

                                              Melissa Foxman

                                              VP Federal Government Affairs
                                              Entertainment Software Assoc.
                                              More About Me
                                               

                                                Tom Gannon

                                                EVP, Chief Advocacy Officer, LPL Financial
                                                More About Me
                                                 

                                                  Beverly Gilyard

                                                  VP– Federal Strategy,
                                                  AARP
                                                  More About Me
                                                   

                                                    Steve Hartell

                                                    VP of Public Policy
                                                    Amazon
                                                    More About Me
                                                     

                                                      Ashley Hayes

                                                      VP of Public Affairs,
                                                      Charter Communications
                                                      More About Me
                                                       

                                                        Erica Wheelan Heyse

                                                        National Director,
                                                        The Congressional Award
                                                        More About Me
                                                         

                                                          Susan Hirschmann

                                                          Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer,
                                                          Williams & Jensen
                                                          More About Me
                                                           

                                                            The Honorable Richard Hudson

                                                            U.S. Representative NC-09
                                                            More About Me
                                                             

                                                              David W. Hunt, ESQ.

                                                              Legal Counsel
                                                               

                                                                Collis Jones

                                                                Vice President of U.S. Public Affairs Policy & Strategy, John Deere
                                                                more about me
                                                                 
                                                                 

                                                                  Ken Johnson

                                                                  IT Senior Manager – MARS
                                                                  more about me
                                                                   
                                                                   

                                                                    Michael J. Kennedy

                                                                    Chief Corporate Affairs Officer,
                                                                    Intuit
                                                                    More About Me
                                                                     

                                                                      Michael Kiely

                                                                      President of Global Government Affairs, UPS
                                                                      More About Me
                                                                       

                                                                        Bradley Knox, ESQ.

                                                                        VP and Counsel, Federal Relations,
                                                                        Aflac
                                                                        More About Me
                                                                         

                                                                          Sylvie Légère

                                                                          Co-Founder of The Policy Circle
                                                                          More About Me
                                                                           

                                                                            The Honorable Cynthia Lummis

                                                                            U.S. Senator, Wyoming
                                                                            More About Me
                                                                             

                                                                              The Honorable Ben Lujan

                                                                              U.S. Senator, New Mexico
                                                                              More About Me
                                                                               

                                                                                Mateo Magdaleno

                                                                                Chief Education Officer, IDQ Group
                                                                                More About Me
                                                                                 

                                                                                  Lance Mangum

                                                                                  Staff VP Government Affairs,
                                                                                  FedEx Corporation
                                                                                  More About Me
                                                                                   

                                                                                    Brittany Masalosalo

                                                                                    Chief Public Policy Officer, 
                                                                                    HP
                                                                                    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

                                                                                          Senior Vice President, Government and External Relations, AmeriHealth Caritas
                                                                                          More About Me
                                                                                           

                                                                                            Jade Shields

                                                                                            Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
                                                                                            More About Me
                                                                                             

                                                                                              Riley Swinehart

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

                                                                                                Kim Talley

                                                                                                Community Relations Director,
                                                                                                G2 Secure Staff, LLC
                                                                                                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
                                                                                                       

                                                                                                      ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

                                                                                                        Merrill Eisenhower Atwater

                                                                                                        People to People International
                                                                                                        More About Me

                                                                                                          Simeon Banister

                                                                                                          Rochester Area Community Foundation
                                                                                                          More About Me

                                                                                                            Juan Banos

                                                                                                            CEO, The BR Companies
                                                                                                            More About Me

                                                                                                              Skip Braziel

                                                                                                              VP, Government Affairs, Prudential Financial
                                                                                                              More About Me

                                                                                                                George Coelho

                                                                                                                Co-Founder & Partner
                                                                                                                Astanor Ventures
                                                                                                                more about me
                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                  Edward Cohen

                                                                                                                  Principal,
                                                                                                                  Lerner Enterprises
                                                                                                                  More About Me

                                                                                                                    KATHY DIDAWICK

                                                                                                                    Strategic Partner, Strategic Elements
                                                                                                                    More About Me

                                                                                                                      LAWRENCE J. GREEN, M.D.

                                                                                                                      Maryland
                                                                                                                      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
                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    Izzy Klein

                                                                                                                                    Co-Founder and Principal, Klein/Johnson Group
                                                                                                                                    MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                      CHRISTOPHER LEAHY

                                                                                                                                      VIRGINIA
                                                                                                                                      MORE ABOUT ME
                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                        Maurice Obeid

                                                                                                                                        Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
                                                                                                                                        More about me
                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                          Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier

                                                                                                                                          CEO, Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership (ENP)
                                                                                                                                          More about me
                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                            Donald Remy

                                                                                                                                            Founder and CEO, The Remy Group
                                                                                                                                            More About Me
                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                              Jacqueline S. Ruiz

                                                                                                                                              CEO, JJR Marketing
                                                                                                                                              More About Me

                                                                                                                                                Sanyin Siang

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

                                                                                                                                                  Karen Talarico

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

                                                                                                                                                    The Honorable Ritchie Torres

                                                                                                                                                    US Representative – (NY-15)
                                                                                                                                                    More About Me
                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                      Bruce Walker

                                                                                                                                                      Senior Vice President of Creative Services, Events DC
                                                                                                                                                      More About Me
                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                        Eric Zulkosky

                                                                                                                                                        Lobbyist, Fierce Government Relations
                                                                                                                                                        More About Me
                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                        Join the Family

                                                                                                                                                        Get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.