NCSL Staff Directory

As software product coordinator in the information technology department, Steve Holz-Russell supports NCSL staff in the use of applications that help them do their work. Previously, Holz-Russell managed the district-wide student computer program for Denver Public Schools. He is passionate about providing excellent customer service to NCSL staff so they can effectively serve the needs of state legislatures.

Sunny Deye is an associate director in NCSL’s Education Program and serves as the liaison to her home state of Oregon. Deye leads the postsecondary education team in tracking and analyzing legislation in all 50 states, publishing state policy issue briefs and reports, creating professional development opportunities for state legislators and staff, and conducting NCSL’s annual Legislative Institute on Higher Education. Before joining NCSL in 2005, Deye served as legislative staff in the bill drafting office of the Colorado General Assembly. She holds a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in politics and public policy from the University of Colorado Denver.

As NCSL’s senior federal affairs counsel, Susan Parnas Frederick advocates for states before Congress and the administration on criminal and civil justice, cybersecurity, elections and immigration enforcement issues. Parnas Frederick has over 20 years of experience at NCSL and previously served as a local government attorney and prosecutor in Herndon, Va. She received her bachelor’s from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and her law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.

Suzanne Hultin is the director of NCSL's Employment, Labor & Retirement ProgramL. In this role, she oversees issues around employment, occupational licensing and workforce development. Prior to joining NCSL in 2013, she served as deputy chief of staff for two Colorado lieutenant governors, where she worked on issues ranging from early childhood education to higher education and workforce development. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from the University of Washington and her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Denver.

As the state outreach manager, Sydne Enlund works as a liaison to a handful of states and partners with NCSL’s communications team on outreach and engagement with all state legislatures. Previously, Enlund worked for the Colorado General Assembly as a policy analyst and for the Energy and Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. She truly enjoys working with legislators and legislative staff across the country to achieve NCSL’s mission.

As a policy associate for the Legislative Staff Services Program, Ta’Vion Hampton supports the professional staff associations and state services division. Prior to joining NCSL, he served as the logistics and scheduling coordinator in the office of the governor for the state of Colorado. Hampton is dedicated to promoting democracy and strengthening our state government institutions.

As director of NCSL’s Health Program, Tahra Johnson oversees the public health and maternal and child health projects and research at NCSL. Johnson has been with NCSL for more than seven years and has several additional years of experience in public health policy at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Department of Homeland Security. She earned a master’s degree in public health at George Washington University and attended undergraduate at American University in Washington, D.C.  

As a project manager on the Health team, Tammy Jo Hill supports work related to behavioral health, public health and maternal and child health. Previously, Hill spent years supporting Colorado’s Medicaid program as a program manager and policy specialist for its fee-for-service state contractors. Hill has a master’s degree in political science from Colorado State University. 

As a tribal working group specialist, Tansey Moore provides staff lead support to the Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group by planning and facilitating meetings to address nuclear energy issues as it relates to tribal nations. Moore has more than 20 years of experience working with tribal nations on a variety of issues such as environmental impacts and tribal-state relations. Moore is dedicated to bridging communication between tribes, federal agencies and states.

Taylor Huhn works in the NCSL Leaders’ Center. Huhn comes to NCSL with several years of experience as a congressional staffer and federal lobbyist. He attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor’s in political science. 

As director of facilities, Tim Lucero heads the Building Operations and Central Services departments. He came to NCSL with more than eight years’ experience working with UBS Telecommunications and Mobil Oil Corp. At UBS, he received training and certifications that allowed him to install and repair digital and analog telephone systems. At Mobil Oil, he worked in the oil and gas and mining/coal divisions. While at Mobil, he coordinated the central services operations and worked with a team from Northern Telecommunication to design, install and manage a new phone system for its 375 staff members. He eventually became the last person employed with the mining/coal division and was directly responsible for liquidating all of its property before his departure.

As associate director, Uyen Vong supports the NCSL Public Affairs team, including oversight of media relations, social media and other digital platforms. Prior to joining NCSL, Vong worked in state and local government and most recently served as the community affairs specialist for the governor of Hawaii. Vong is dedicated to elevating the voice of the people by strengthening the legislative institution in the nation’s capitols.