NCSL Staff Directory

Carole Wellmann supports marketing and member outreach in coordinating and executing integrated marketing plans to promote NCSL meetings, events, services and policy deliverables. Wellmann comes to NCSL with technical experience in executing strategic marketing and communication plans. She is dedicated to resolving complex problems in a creative manner.

As a senior policy specialist, Andrew Smalley works on postsecondary education topics and legislative tracking at NCSL. Prior to joining NCSL, he was a legislative intern for three years at the Colorado General Assembly, working with legislators and a lobbying firm. He received his MPP and a BA in political science and public policy from the University of Denver. 

Judy Castaneda is the senior program coordinator for the NCSL Foundation. Castaneda served as a program and administrative coordinator before joining NCSL and studied at Seattle University, where she earned a bachelor’s in psychology. 

As an accounting technician, Layothe Thammasene focuses on ensuring cash receipts are recorded quickly and accurately, while also strengthening the relationships between NCSL and its staff and members. Thammasene has proudly dedicated 15 years of service to the accounting department, where a background in financial research and analysis has helped her succeed. She is dedicated to following through on tasks and addressing the many challenges she encounters in her role.

As program principal in NCSL’s Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Amber Widgery has national expertise in front-end criminal justice policy, including law enforcement and pretrial release. Widgery has nearly 10 years of experience at NCSL, tracking and analyzing legislation, testifying for legislative bodies and writing on important criminal justice legislative trends and hot topics. Widgery received her bachelor’s in political science and history from Colorado State University, holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School and is a member of the Colorado bar.

As a program principal in NCSL’s Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Amanda Essex focuses on corrections and sentencing, community supervision, corrections budgets, criminal justice data and immigration. Essex also staffs the Task Force on Immigration and the States and has nearly nine years of experience with NCSL. She earned a bachelor’s in political science from Colorado State University, holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and is a member of the Colorado bar.

Lesley Kennedy oversees NCSL's Publishing and Digital Content team in the Communications Division. An award-winning journalist, Kennedy comes to the organization with 20-plus years of experience, working as a writer and editor for national and regional newspapers, magazines and websites. She is dedicated to NCSL's bipartisan mission of supporting and strengthening state legislatures. 

As human resources coordinator, Michelle Kelton assists with day-to-day operations in the HR department. Kelton has contributed to the NCSL HR team since 2015, developing her ever-expanding role as a human resources professional. Dedicated to the HR team, she enjoys working with others to make NCSL a great place to work.

John Mahoney manages NCSL’s Institute for International Cooperation. Prior to this role, he served NCSL’s Center for Legislative Strengthening as a senior policy specialist. With significant international experience, Mahoney relishes the opportunity to build enduring relationships between NCSL members and their counterparts abroad. 

In her role as an associate director in the Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Alison Lawrence oversees projects on policing, pretrial release, community supervision, jails, corrections budgets and criminal justice data. Lawrence also staffs the Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Standing Committee and has 14 years of experience with NCSL. She earned her masters of public administration from the University of Colorado. 

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.

Angela Andrews is the professional development senior partner of NCSL’s Legislative Training Institute, where she designs and delivers soft skill trainings to legislators and legislative staff.  She has worked in or for legislatures for more than 20 years. Before joining NCSL in 2008, she was an aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. She received her master’s in public administration from Suffolk University in Boston and earned a training and facilitation certificate from the Association for Talent Development.  

Edward Green focuses on the registration of NCSL meetings and webinars. He comes to NCSL with more than 10 years of experience working in accounting and registration at other nonprofit associations. He enjoys working for an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Alise Garcia supports NCSL’s Health Program as a program coordinator. Garcia has over 25 years of experience with NCSL in numerous areas. She is dedicated to providing superior customer service and meeting coordination to the organization’s staff and constituents.

As accounting manager, Nang Loong oversees the accounts payable and payroll responsibilities, including travel reimbursement, vendor payment processing, procurement and travel and expense card program administration, payroll processing, year-end compliance for payable and payroll, fixed assets, bank reconciliation, general accounting and financial reporting. She has been with NCSL since March 2005 and offers more than a decade of experience in accounting and finance. She received her B.A. in accounting from Pittsburg State University in Kansas and remains current with technology and trends in her area of expertise.

As an associate director in the Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Anne Teigen oversees work related to juvenile justice, criminal records, human trafficking, civil justice and firearms policy. Teigen has nearly 20 years of policy experience with NCSL and is a licensed attorney in the state of Colorado. She educates and informs state legislators and staff by providing testimony, convening meetings and writing reports on a wide array of criminal and civil justice policy areas.

As NCSL's associate IT director, Chris Csanyi focuses on the technical and infrastructure systems that are used every day for NCSL members and staff. Csanyi has 20 years of experience staying on top of technologies that can help NCSL’s mission moving forward. He is an alumnus of Appalachian State University, with degrees in information systems and management.