Speakers

Speakers
Click on speaker name to view bio.

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is the only NFL quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams and the league’s only five-time Most Valuable Player. He joined the Indianapolis Colts as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1998, led the team to its first World Championship in 36 years in 2007, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Manning currently hosts three ESPN shows, as well as the History Channel’s “History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning.” The PeyBack Foundation, started by Manning and his wife, Ashley, has spent millions through its grants and programs to support the future success of disadvantaged youth.

General Session: A Conversation with Peyton Manning

Aug. 16 | 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Cedric King

During his second tour in Afghanistan, Master Sgt. Cedric King lost both legs and suffered permanent damage to his right arm when an improvised explosive device detonated. Less than two years later, he ran the Boston Marathon and has since become an endurance athlete with an inspirational message of hope and determination. The author of the 2019 book, “The Making Point," and the recipient of the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, King shares the mindset, philosophies and perseverance behind his recovery and success.

General Session: The Courage to Come Back

Aug. 15 | 9-10:15 a.m.

Nancy Giordano

Nancy Giordano is a strategic futurist, corporate consultant and bestselling author who helps organizations create the sustainable and dynamic solutions the future demands. With expertise on subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to frozen food, Giordano advises leaders on the new structures and mindsets necessary to make the most of the technology innovations on the horizon.

General Session: Disrupting the Future of Work

Aug. 14 | 4-5:15 p.m.

Sarita Maybin

Sarita Maybin, communications expert, has made it her mission to help others embrace positivity to meet the challenges of our high-tech times. She has spoken in all 50 states, 10 countries and on the prestigious TEDx stage. Maybin is the author of “If You Can’t Say Something Nice, What DO You Say?” and “Say What You Mean in a Nice Way.”

General Session: What to Say When You Can’t Say Something Nice: The Positive Approach

Aug. 14 | 9-10:15 a.m.

Yvanna Cancela

Yvanna Cancela is special assistant to the president and senior advisor to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, where she serves as President Joe Biden’s primary liaison to state elected officials. Previously, she was former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's chief of staff and the first Latina to serve in the Nevada State Senate. She holds a bachelor's from Northwestern University and a law degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Democratic Breakfast

Aug. 16 | 8-9:15 a.m.

Mike Pence

Michael R. Pence is the 48th vice president of the United States. As Indiana’s 50th governor, he enacted the largest income tax cut in state history and worked with members of the General Assembly to pass two balanced budgets that left the state with strong reserves and AAA credit ratings. Pence served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and a law degree from Indiana University.

Republican Breakfast

Aug. 16 | 8-9:15 a.m.

Al Unser Jr.

Al Unser Jr. is a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion and the first person to compete against his own father in that race. He won his first 500 in 1992 and his second in 1994, the year he stunned the racing world with eight victories out of 16 races, earning the 1994 PPG national Indy Car champion title and the ABC Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year honor. Unser was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009.

Session: A Checkered Past: Al Unser Jr.'s Tragedies and Triumphs

Aug. 14, 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

Jen Welter

Jen Welter, often referred to simply as “Coach Jen,” is the first woman to coach in the NFL. Before joining the Arizona Cardinals as an inside linebackers coach in 2015, she was the linebackers coach with the Texas Revolution. In 2017, Welter coached the inaugural Australian Women’s National Team in the International Federation of American Football, making her the first female head coach of a national team.

Session: Salute to Legislative Staff: The Power of Authentic Leadership

Aug. 16 | 12:15-1:30 p.m.

Mina Starsiak-Hawk

Mina Starsiak-Hawk is a home renovation expert, real estate agent and star of the Indianapolis-based HGTV hit series, "Good Bones." Now in its eighth season, the show follows Starsiak-Hawk and her team as they renovate and transform old houses into treasured homes. She has also appeared on several other HGTV shows, including "Brother VS. Brother," "Rock the Block" and "A Very Brady Renovation.” Starsiak-Hawk recently wrote a children's book, "Built Together," which teaches young readers about diversity and acceptance.

Session: HGTV How-To: From “Good Bones” to Great Homes

Aug. 15 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Julieanna Richardson

Julieanna L. Richardson is the founder of The HistoryMakers, a priceless national collection of African American video oral histories. Previously, she was a corporate lawyer with a private firm and cable administrator for the city of Chicago. Richardson’s many awards include three honorary doctorates, including one from her alma mater, Brandeis University. She earned her law degree from Harvard University.

Session: The Lost Stories: The Lessons of Preserving Black History

Aug. 14 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Rahul Gupta

Rahul Gupta is the first medical doctor to serve as director of National Drug Control Policy and lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which coordinates the nation’s $43 billion drug budget and federal policies. Through his work as a physician and senior leader of a national nonprofit organization, Gupta has worked to improve public health and public safety. He is a board-certified internist and a practicing primary care physician for more than 25 years.

Session: Overdose Epidemic: The State of Deadly Substance Use in America

Aug. 16 | 1:45–3 p.m.

Tamika Catchings

Tamika Catchings played 16 seasons for the WNBA's Indiana Fever, earning the very first ESPN Humanitarian Award, a Naismith award and induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She retired as the league’s second-highest scorer and rebounder of all time and the career leader in free throws, steals and appearances in playoff games. Catchings' Catch the Stars Foundation supports at-risk youth through fitness, literacy and youth development. She is the author of "Catch A Star: Shining through Adversity to Become a Champion."

Session: Hoops and Hopes: A Superstar's Story

Aug. 15 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard serves as the executive director of Federal Funds Information for States, a subscription service that provides data and analysis for more than 200 federal grant programs. Howard also writes "State Policy Reports," a semi-monthly newsletter that reports on emerging issues of importance to states. She holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Michigan.

Session: The State of State Budgets

Aug. 14 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

William Bell

William C. Bell is president and CEO of Casey Family Programs, where he is responsible for the foundation's vision, mission, strategies and objectives. Previously, he served as the foundation’s executive vice president for Child and Family Services and was commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. Bell earned his Ph.D. in social welfare from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and his Master of Social Work from Hunter College."

Session: Pathways to Prevention: Transforming Child Welfare Systems

Aug. 14 | 10:3 0–11:45 a.m.

Samantha Medlock

Samantha Medlock is former senior counsel to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis during the 116th and 117th Congresses, leading work on adaptation, resilience, and preparedness. She joined the committee from a private sector role in climate risk management, insurance and finance. Previously, Sam was senior advisor in the White House, coordinating resilience policy across the executive office of the president and the administration. She has more than 25 years of experience in environmental, land use, and disaster law and policy supporting governments, business leaders and public/private partnerships.

Session: Don't Let Disasters Break the Bank

Aug. 15 | 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

Zongyuan Zoe Liu

Zongyuan Zoe Liu is a fellow for international political economy at the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan think tank and publisher that promotes understanding of international relations and foreign policy. Her work focuses on international finance, sovereign wealth funds, industrial policies, supply chains of critical minerals and the nexus of energy-climate-food security. Liu earned a Ph.D. in international relations at Johns Hopkins University.

Session: Land Grab: The Latest on Foreign Ownership of U.S. Land

Aug. 14 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Charlie Sungho Shin

Charlie Sungho Shin Shin serves as vice president of analytics and digital innovation for the Indianapolis Colts, with a focus on planning, growth strategy, life-cycle marketing, data analytics and marketing technology. Previously, Shin was vice president of strategy and analytics at MLS. He holds a B.A. in business administration from Yonsei University and an M.S. in sports business from New York University.

Session: How States Can Win in the Numbers Game: Data-Driven Decision-Making Across the States

Aug. 14 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Rebecka Peterson

Rebecka Peterson is the 2023 National Teacher of the Year. She has taught high school math classes ranging from intermediate algebra to Advanced Placement calculus, for 11 years at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. Amid a difficult first year of high school teaching, she founded the “One Good Thing” blog, which inspired her to stay in the profession. Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and a master’s in mathematics from the University of South Dakota.

Session: Innovating for a Stronger Education Workforce

Aug. 16 | 1:45-3 p.m.

Diya Wynnn

Diya Wynn leads Responsible AI for Amazon Web Services. She guides customers by leveraging over 25 years as a technologist scaling products for acquisition; driving inclusion, diversity and equity initiatives; and understanding historical and systemic contexts. Wynn studied computer science at Spelman College, the management of technology at New York University, and AI and ethics at Harvard University Professional School and MIT Sloan School of Management.

Session: Artificial Intelligence: Are We Ready?

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

James Maroney

Deputy Senate Majority Leader James Maroney was elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 2018 after serving a term as a state representative. He is a past president and founding member of the Milford Education Foundation and served on the Milford Board of Education. In 1999, Maroney founded First Choice College Placement, which aims to help young people realize their higher education dreams. He holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University.

Session: Artificial Intelligence: Are We Ready?

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Keeanna Warren

Keeanna Warren is the CEO of Purdue Polytechnic High School. She is a current fellow of the Mitch Daniels Foundation Class VI and a former fellow of Cambiar Systems, Surge Institute and The Mind Trust. She twice received the Indiana Black Expo’s African-American Excellence in Education Award and was honored as the 2019 Women in Hi-Tech’s STEM Educator of the Year. Warren holds a master's in teaching from Marian University Indianapolis and a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana State University.

Session: Education Choice and Innovation: Surveying the Policy Landscape

Aug. 15 | 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Rick DeBruhl

Rick DeBruhl is a communications professional specializing in media training, crisis communications and messaging. His years as an award-winning network television broadcaster and consumer reporter, along with a master's in media management, have given him the ability to help businesses innovate and grow by improving the way its people communicate. DeBruhl is the author of "Communicating at the Right Speed" and co-author of "The Insider's Guide to Media Training."

Session: The Secret to Unexpected Success

Aug. 14 | 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Melissa Furman

Melissa Furman's passion for career, leadership and organizational development inspired her to launch Career Potential, a consulting, training and coaching organization. Her expertise includes generational diversity, unconscious bias, leadership success, and emotional intelligence. As a former assistant dean and professor at Augusta University, Furman leverages her background in higher education—particularly business, counseling and psychology—to help individuals and organizations achieve success.

Session: Legislative Staff University: How Resilience Maximizes Success

Aug. 16 | 1:45-3 p.m.

Melissa Klitzman

Dr. Melissa Klitzman, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed her pediatric residency at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. She is an attending pediatric hospitalist at Riley Hospital for Children at Methodist Hospital and Eskenazi Health neonatal intensive care units. She is part of the Neonatology Simulation Group providing education to residents, NICU staff, and neonatal care providers at various community hospitals in Indiana. Dr. Klitzman has an interest quality improvement, resident education, and increasing healthcare equity.

Session: Neurons in the Neighborhood: New Science for Early Childhood Policy

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Benjamin Sawyer

Benjamin Sawyer is a senior history instructor at Middle Tennessee State University, where his research focuses on the history of capitalism and communism in the context of the U.S.-Soviet rivalry. From 2010 to 2012, he lived in Moscow, where his work was supported by a Fulbright grant. Sawyer's expertise as a historian provides the foundation for his podcast, "The Road to Now," which he has produced and hosted since 2016. He holds a doctorate in history from Michigan State University.

Session: The Victory of Retreat: George Washington and the Art of Leadership

Aug. 14 | 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Gay Gordon-Byrne

Gay Gordon-Byrne serves as executive director of The Repair Association, which advocates for consumer-friendly repair legislation, standards and regulations. Previously, she spent 40 years in enterprise computing, and she is a former chair of SIA ICCC. Gordon-Byrne has led The Repair Association, formally known as The Digital Right to Repair Coalition, since its founding in 2013 as an organization dedicated to supporting the independent repair industry and the right of consumers to fix their own electronics..

Session: Will You Let Me Fix This Thing?

Aug. 16 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Eric M. Robinson

Eric Robinson serves as a public service associate at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, providing management and leadership development for state and local government officials as well as customized training and planning retreat facilitation. Previously, he served as director of the Georgia Senate Research Office, where he provided research and information to Senate officials and addressed inquiries from constituents and other organizations. He is currently a member of the University Council at the University of Georgia.

Session: Leading and Managing: Strategies for Legislative Staff

Aug. 14 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Session: From Conflict to Collaboration: Handle With Care

Aug. 14 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Loretta Rush

Loretta H. Rush is chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, where she has served since her 2012 appointment by Gov. Mitch Daniels. She was retained by voters in 2014, the year she became chief justice, and was reappointed as chief in 2019. Previously, Rush spent 15 years at a Lafayette law firm and was elected three times to serve as Tippecanoe Superior Court 3 judge. She earned her undergraduate degree from Purdue University and her law degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, both with honors.

Session: Collaborative Approaches to Competency to Stand Trial

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Elizabeth Cauffman

Elizabeth Cauffman directs the Center for Psychology & Law at the University of California, Irvine, where she is a professor in the psychological science department. She has published over 150 articles on topics including adolescent development and juvenile justice. Findings from Cauffman’s research were incorporated into amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court that abolished the juvenile death penalty and limited the use of life without parole as a sentence for juveniles.

Session: Juvenile Justice: Public Safety and Better Outcomes for Kids

Aug. 15 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Veronica Clark

Veronica Clark is an economist with global bank Citi's U.S. Economics team, primarily covering data and forecasting. She also is Citi's primary economist for Canada. Previously, Clark worked in Emerging Markets Strategy and G10 Short Term Interest Rate Trading. Clark holds a master’s degree in economics from New York University and a bachelor's in mathematics and economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Session: The Curious Strength of the US Economy: Can It Last?

Aug. 15 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Jack P. Shonkoff

Pediatrician Jack Shonkoff, M.D. is a professor of child health and development at the Harvard School of Public Health, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and director of Harvard's Center on the Developing Child. The author of more than 150 publications including nine books, Shonkoff currently chairs the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and The JPB Research Network on Toxic Stress. He completed undergraduate studies at Cornell University and earned a medical degree at New York University School of Medicine.

Session: Neurons in the Neighborhood: New Science for Early Childhood Policy

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Elizabeth Bartz

Elizabeth Bartz is founder, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications Inc. The 30-year-old company provides government compliance information and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies, trade and professional associations, legal and accounting firms, and corporate/contract lobbyists in all 50 states and 47 countries. Bartz holds a bachelor's in journalism and an MA in political science and government, both from Kent State.

Session: Ethical Do's and Don'ts: A Lobbyist Perspective

Aug. 16 | 1:45–3 p.m.

Ethan Wilson

Ethan Wilson serves as vice president of state issues at Stateside Associates. His government relations consulting background helps support Stateside clients by providing advocacy advice, directly engaging legislative and regulatory matters, and leveraging his network of relationships. Wilson currently serves on the NCSL Foundation Board of Directors. He is an attorney licensed in Colorado and New York.

Session: Ethical Do's and Don'ts: A Lobbyist Perspective

Aug. 16 | 1:45–3 p.m.

Brianna Lennon

Brianna Lennon was elected county clerk in Boone, Mo., in 2018, making her responsible for conducting elections for more than 120,000 registered voters. Previously, she served as assistant state attorney general in the Missouri attorney general's office and as deputy director of elections in the Missouri secretary of state's office. Lennon holds a Master of Public Policy and a law degree, both from the University of Missouri. She is co-host of the podcast, "High Turnout Wide Margins."

Session: High Turnout, Wide Margin: A Live Podcast

Aug. 14 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Nan Waller

Nan Waller was appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court in 2001 and currently serves as the mental health court judge. She co-chairs the Chief Justice’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council and chairs the mental health subcommittee of the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. Waller also served on the National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness. She is a recipient of the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence.

Session: Collaborative Approaches to Competency to Stand Trial

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Geoffrey Buswick

Geoffrey Buswick is a managing director and government sector leader in the U.S. Public Finance department at S&P Global Ratings, where he focuses on market outreach, developing research and analytical education. He chairs state, local government, utility and transportation committees and is an active primary analyst in those sectors as well.

Session: The State of State Budgets

Aug. 14 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Session: Don't Let Disasters Break the Bank

Aug 15 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Lisa Simmons

Lisa Simmons serves as vice president of workforce services for Maximus, where she has advised numerous private organizations and government agencies about the administration of human services public policy. As a leader in the family and economic Impact division, Simmons oversees 23 contracts with more than 800 professionals who serve families across the nation.

Session: New Strategies for an Evolving Workforce

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Rachel Orey

Rachel Orey is associate director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Elections Project, which focuses on evidence-based and data-driven reforms that meaningfully improve the elections ecosystem. Previously, Orey supported research efforts at The Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies program and served as a legislative intern for former U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. Orey earned a Master of Public Policy and certificate of data science from George Washington University.

Session: Election Perspectives from Across the Spectrum

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Gowri Ramachandran

Gowri Ramachandran serves as senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Democracy program, with a focus on election security, election administration and combatting election disinformation. Previously, Ramachandran was professor of law at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. Her work has been published in Election Law Journal, North Carolina Law Review and Yale Law Journal online, among others.

Session: Election Perspectives from Across the Spectrum

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Beth Hladick

Beth Hladick serves as the director of research & outreach at Unite America, a bipartisan organization working to bridge the partisan divide and foster a more representative and functional government. Previously, she worked for NCSL, the Oregon State Legislature and the U.S. Senate. Currently, she focuses on electoral policy reforms and supports state-based partners and lawmakers throughout the reform process. Hladick holds a bachelor's degree in politics from Willamette University.

Session: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Primaries

Aug. 14 | noon–1:15 p.m.

Tre Hargett

Tre Hargett is in his fourth term as Tennessee’s secretary of state, overseeing more than 300 employees and serving on numerous boards and commissions. Previously, Hargett served as chairman of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority and spent a decade in the Tennessee House of Representatives, where he was twice elected Republican Leader by his colleagues.

Session: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Primaries

Aug. 14 | noon–1:15 p.m.

Eric Fey

Eric Fey is a director of elections for St. Louis County. He serves on the executive board of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities and has observed elections in 12 countries, including Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. Fey holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Webster University and a Master of Public Administration with a specialty in election management from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Session: High Turnout, Wide Margin: A Live Podcast

Aug. 14 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Tammy Patrick

Tammy Patrick is the CEO for programs at the Election Center of the National Association of Election Officials. Previously, she served as one of two local election officials on the 2013 Presidential Commission on Election Administration and was the federal compliance officer for the Maricopa County Elections Department. She earned her CERA certification in 2007 from Auburn University and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2022.

Session: The Lifecycle of a Mailed Ballot, Explained

Aug. 15 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Sarah Copeland-Hanzas

Sarah Copeland-Hanzas serves as Vermont’s 39th secretary of state, focusing on civic education and engagement. Previously, she spent 18 years in the Vermont House of Representatives and chaired the House Government Operations Committee. Copeland-Hanzas also has been an educator, a youth coach and a small business owner. She holds degrees in history and geology from the University of Vermont.

Session: Two Secretaries, One Goal: Strong Elections

Aug. 16 | 11 a.m.–noon

Scott Schwab

Scott Schwab is serving his second term as Kansas secretary of state. Previously, he served in the Kansas House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Elections Committee and championed legislation to safeguard Kansas elections and the voting process. In 2022, Schwab was selected to serve as president-elect of the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Session: Two Secretaries, One Goal: Strong Elections

Aug. 16 | 11 a.m.–noon

Tara Anderson

Tara Anderson is the director of Education Resource Strategies, working with districts across the country to design schools to make teaching more attractive and sustainable. She supported the creation of guidebooks to help schools organize staff schedules to increase time for teacher collaboration and coaching, among other innovations. She is a former elementary school teacher.

Session: Innovating for a Stronger Education Workforce

Aug. 16 | 1:45–3 p.m.

Michael Warren

Michael Warren is associate administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration. Previously, he served in the Tennessee Department of Health as deputy commissioner for population health, assistant commissioner for family health and wellness, and director of maternal and child health. Warren holds a medical degree from East Carolina University.

Session: Reversing Maternal Mortality Trends

Aug. 15 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Walter Alcorn

Walter Alcorn is vice president for environmental affairs and industry sustainability at the Consumer Technology Association, where he manages legislative initiatives that impact consumer electronic product recycling, design, repair, packaging and hazardous materials restrictions. Previously, he co-founded the National Center for Electronics Recycling and was a nationally recognized consultant for public and private sector clients supporting development of state and corporate electronics recycling systems.

Session: Will You Let Me Fix This Thing?

Aug. 16 | 11 a.m.–noon

Anna Dulencin

Anna Dulencin directs the Eagleton Science and Politics Program, which places doctoral-level scientists into state legislative and executive offices as in-house advisors. She also is a visiting fellow in the Rutgers University department of biochemistry and microbiology. Previously, Dulencin served as a biomedical research consultant at the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Session: Pathways to Prosperity: Building a Data-Driven Workforce

Aug. 15 | 2:45–3:45 p.m.

Morgan Scarboro

Morgan Scarboro serves as vice president of tax policy at MultiState, where she advises clients on policy trends, manages state advocacy coalitions and tracks corporate income tax legislation across the country. She is a frequent panelist for state tax policy events, and her work is often cited in state and national publications.

Session: State of State Budgets

Aug. 14 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Suzanne Crouch

Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch previously served as a state legislator and state auditor. As lieutenant governor, she serves as the president of the Indiana Senate and oversees the state's Department of Agriculture, Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and Destination Development Corporation. Crouch also chairs the Roundtable on Mental Health, the Intellectual and Development Disabilities Task Force and the Civics Education Commission.

Session: Neurons in the Neighborhood: New Science for Early Childhood Policy

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Rosanne Haggerty

Rosanne Haggerty serves as president and CEO of Community Solutions, which helps to implement systems to end homelessness around the world. She oversees large-scale initiatives that include the 100,000 Homes Campaign and Built for Zero. Previously, Haggerty founded and led Common Ground Community, a pioneer in the development of supportive housing models and other research-based practices to end homelessness.

Session: Homelessness: A Housing Supply Problem

Aug. 15 | 4-5 p.m.

Jeffrey Lubell

Jeffrey Lubell directs Housing and Community Initiatives at Abt Associates, where he oversees projects related to affordable housing, financial capability, asset-building and community development. Previously, Lubell was the executive director of the Center for Housing Policy, a nonprofit research organization affiliated with the National Housing Conference. He has also served as director of the Policy Development Division in HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research.

Session: Deconstructing the National Housing Dilemma

Aug. 14 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Darrin Grondel

Darrin Grondel serves as senior vice president of traffic safety and government relations for the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, and director of the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving. He leads national efforts to prevent underage drinking and manages programs to eliminate drunk and drugged driving through federal and state legislation, financial assistance and programming. Grondel previously served as the Washington Traffic Safety Commission director and spent 25 years with the Washington State Patrol.

Session: Drugs and Alcohol Behind the Wheel: What’s a State to Do?

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Leah Walton

Leah Walton is a safety advocate for the National Transportation Safety Board, where she works for transporation safety improvements through national and state legislative and regulatory policies. Previously, she worked for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration as a highway safety specialist and for the national and Minnesota offices of Mother's Against Drunk Driving.

Session: Drugs and Alcohol Behind the Wheel: What’s a State to Do?

Aug. 14 | 10:30–11:45 a.m.

Beverley Ebersold

Beverley Ebersold is the director of national initiatives for the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Her background includes capacity building and technical assistance with HUD grantees, strategic planning and restructuring of continuums of care, and convening stakeholders to help align resources for persons experiencing homelessness. Ebersold holds a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University.

Session: Homelessness: A Housing Supply Problem

Aug. 15 | 4–5 p.m.

Andrew Dupuy

Andrew Dupuy directs state-level policy at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, advocating for funding for active transportation networks and biking-walking trails at legislatures and agencies across the country. Previously, he was an aide to members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Dupuy studied at Brown University, the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs and Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning program.

Session: Blazing Trails

Aug. 15 | 2:45–5 p.m.

Rob Metz

Rob Metz is the deputy director of the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) Center®, a K-12 educational system that provides schools with a comprehensive approach to meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of students through relationships and data. Metz served in Minnesota public schools for 36 years as a high school principal and coach and an elementary principal and teacher. He retired in 2017 as the school superintendent in St. Louis Park, Minn., home of the original BARR high school.

Session: Innovating for a Stronger Education Workforce

Aug. 16 | 1:45-3 p.m.

Bart Klika

Dr. J. Bart Klika is the chief research officer of Prevent Child Abuse America. He is an alumnus of the inaugural cohort of fellows of the Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being and senior editor of the APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment. Klika is also a principal investigator of CDC-funded projects to examine the effects of paid family leave and child care supports in violence prevention and to evaluate state child sexual abuse prevention policies.

Session: Pathways to Prevention: Transforming Child Welfare Systems

Aug. 14 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Tyler Hudak

Tyler Hudak works for TrustedSec, a security consulting firm. He has over 20 years of experience in incident handling, malware analysis, computer forensics and information security for multiple organizations. He has spoken and taught at security conferences on topics ranging from incident response to penetration testing techniques. Hudak earned a BS in computer science from the University of Akron and holds Global Information Assurance certifications as a forensic analyst and examiner.

Session: Defensive Cybersecurity for Legislatures

Aug. 15 | 1:30-2:30 p.m.

George Hicks Jr.

George W. Hicks Jr., is a partner in the Washington, D.C., and Dallas offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focuses primarily on Supreme Court and appellate matters, as well as critical motions and legal issues in the trial courts. Hicks has successfully argued before the Supreme Court and authored numerous successful merits briefs and petitions for and against certiorari. He has argued 34 appeals in U.S. appellate courts, including 17 arguments before the 5th Circuit alone.

Session: The Long and Short from the Supreme Court

Aug. 16 | 1:45-3 p.m.

Jennifer Sherer

Jennifer Sherer, Sherer is Director of the State Worker Power Initiative at the Economic Policy Institute. She supports the work of state and local research and policy groups across the country through EPI’s Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), with a focus on expanding the ability of working people to achieve racial, gender, and economic justice through organizing, collective bargaining, and public policies that promote worker voice. Prior to joining EPI in 2021, Sherer served as director of the University of Iowa Labor Center and has worked on a wide range of labor policy issues for over 20 years.

Session: New strategies for an Evolving Workforce

Aug. 14 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Aaron Dworkin

Aaron Dworkin is CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, which works to ensure all young people can access and afford a high-quality summer learning experience. Previously, he served as president of the After-School All-Stars National Network, a nonprofit providing free after-school and summer programs to 90,000 low-income students in 20 major U.S. cities. Dworkin is a graduate of Tufts University, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Session: What Works to Improve Student Success

Aug. 14 | 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Carl Szabo

Carl Szabo serves as vice president and general counsel for NetChoice, where he analyzes, advocates and testifies on tech-related initiatives relevant to online companies. Previously, he was an intellectual property attorney at Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, advising clients on privacy, internet, e-commerce and contractual matters. Szabo is also an adjunct professor of internet law at the George Mason Antonin Scalia Law School. He earned his law degree from the Catholic University of America.

Session: Protecting Kids on Social Media

Aug. 14 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Aaron Huff

Aaron Huff is principal of Benjamin Bosse High School in Evansville, Ind. Previously, he served as a co-curricular/after-school site coordinator, an elementary guidance counselor, an athletic coach and an assistant principal. Huff is entering his fifth year as a member of the board of directors with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Session: Innovating for a Stronger Education Workforce

Aug. 16 | 1:45-3 p.m.

Jamie Merisotis

Jamie Merisotis is president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, he was president of the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Higher Education Policy, which he co-founded. He also was executive director of a bipartisan national commission appointed by the president and congressional leaders to study college affordability.

Session: A Bipartisan Vision for a Better Higher Ed

Aug. 15 | 10:30-11:45 a.m.

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Peyton Manning

Cedric King

Nancy Giordano

Sarita Maybin

Yvanna Cancela

Mike Pence

Al Unser Jr.

Jen Welter

Mina Starsiak-Hawk

Julieanna Richardson

Rahul Gupta

Tamika Catchings

Marcia Howard

William Bell

Samantha Medlock

Zongyuan Zoe Liu

Charlie Sungho Shin

Rebecka Peterson

Diya Wynnn

James Maroney

Keeanna Warren

Rick DeBruhl

Melissa Furman

Melissa Klitzman

Benjamin Sawyer

Gay Gordon-Byrne

Eric M. Robinson

Loretta Rush

Elizabeth Cauffman

Veronica Clark

Jack P. Shonkoff

Elizabeth Bartz

Ethan Wilson

Brianna Lennon

Nan Waller

Geoffrey Buswick

Lisa Simmons

Rachel Orey

Gowri Ramachandran

Beth Hladick

Tre Hargett

Eric Fey

Tammy Patrick

Sarah Copeland-Hanzas

Scott Schwab

Tara Anderson

Michael Warren

Walter Alcorn

Anna Dulencin

Morgan Scarboro

Suzanne Crouch

Rosanne Haggerty

Jeffrey Lubell

Darrin Grondel

Leah Walton

Beverley Ebersold

Andrew Dupuy

Rob Metz

Bart Klika

Tyler Hudak

George Hicks Jr.

Jennifer Sherer

Aaron Dworkin

Carl Szabo

Aaron Huff

Jamie Merisotis

Mark Braden

Robert Enlow

Darcy Luoma

Blake Resnick

Leslie Boissiere

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Denver

Washington, D.C.

Speakers
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