The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors is composed of leaders in medicine, science, business, fundraising, and entertainment. Their expertise helps the Foundation continue its mission of saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection.
Carolyn R. (“Bo”) Aldigé is Founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, a national non-profit organization she started in 1985 in memory of her father, who died of cancer one year earlier. In the more than 33 years since its inception, the Prevent Cancer Foundation® has become nationally recognized as a leader in the fight against cancer through prevention and early detection. The Foundation has received GuideStar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency, is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau, and receives the highest ratings from Charity Navigator and Charity Watch.
Ms. Aldigé has served on boards of directors/advisors of eight National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Centers, including the External Advisory Board of the top-ranked MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a member of the boards of directors of the National Coalition for Cancer Research (having served for eight years as its president), Friends of Cancer Research and the Intercultural Cancer Council; the Council of Scientific Advisors of the American Association for Cancer Research; the advisory board of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes; and the Patient Advocate Advisory Board of Stand Up to Cancer. She is chairman of Global Action for Cancer Patients, vice-chairman of the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), a member of the executive committee of the International Digestive Cancer Alliance (IDCA), a member of the Advisory Board of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program, and a member of the board of directors of the International Society for Cancer Prevention (ISCaP).
For her many contributions to the Washington, D.C. community, Carolyn Aldigé was named a Washingtonian of the Year 1996. She has been honored by the National Cancer Institute and is the only individual who has received Public Service Awards from the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Preventive Oncology. In October 2015, she received the Platinum Award for Outstanding Contributions to Healthcare from the publication Medical Marketing & Media. She has also been honored by numerous non-profit organizations and cancer centers.
Jody Hoyos, MHA is Chief Executive Officer of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Hoyos served as the Vice President of Membership and Operations at the Washington, D.C.-based Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). AWHONN’s mission is to improve and promote the health of women and newborns, and they strive to strengthen the nursing profession for 350,000 registered nurses working in women’s health, obstetric and neonatal nursing nationwide.
With 25 years in the health care environment—including ten years in health care management consulting and 15 years in the nonprofit sector— Ms. Hoyos is a highly skilled executive leader. She previously held management consulting positions with Arthur Andersen, LLP as well as KPMG/Bearing Point. She has also worked as an associate at the Washington, D.C.-based Health Care Advisory Board. Throughout her career, Ms. Hoyos has developed the teams and infrastructure to create numerous programs and partnerships dedicated to improving health.
Ms. Hoyos earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mr. Magner has a distinguished history in the commercial real estate industry currently serving as the Vice Chair for Commercial Real Estate Advisory, Investors and Developers of Redgate, as well as a Business Advisor providing strategic advice to regional, national and global real estate companies. Prior experience includes serving as the U.S. President for Cushman & Wakefield. Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Bill was an International Director for Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) and Spaulding & Slye, where he served as a Managing Partner prior to JLL’s acquisition of the firm.
Joann Piccolo is a principal in Carmody Consulting, LLC. In this capacity she advises clients in the areas of public affairs and global government affairs structures. Most recently, Piccolo opened and led the Office of Global Government Affairs and Corporate Responsibility for TE Connectivity Inc., where she was responsible for overseeing government interface and corporate giving globally with offices in Washington, D.C., Switzerland, Belgium and China. She established the TE Political Action Committee and served as its Chair. Her office was also responsible for overseeing the TE Connectivity Foundation of which she was a board member.
Prior to joining TE, Piccolo worked for Motorola for 23 years and served as the Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Relations. During her career she also served as Assistant Vice President for Government Relations for the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) as well as having worked in the U.S. Senate.
Ms. Piccolo was a founding member and board member of many Washington based organizations and continues to advise many of them but has narrowed her participation on boards and currently serves on the executive committee of the National Science and Technology Education Partnership as well as serving as Vice-Chair of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. With over thirty-five years of experience in the area of public policy she also enjoys serving as a mentor and executive coach to many who are beginning their careers in the area of public affairs.
Piccolo holds degrees in both History and Political Science from Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C.
Dr. James Mulshine is a professor at Rush University where he has served as associate provost and vice president for research as well as acting dean of the Graduate College. Prior to joining Rush University in 2005, Dr. Mulshine was at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for 25 years, where he was on the research faculty. Internationally recognized as an expert on lung cancer, Dr. Mulshine’s research concentrates on application of quantitative CT to enable robust, efficient early lung cancer detection. Beginning in 2003, Dr. Mulshine—in cooperation with the Prevent Cancer Foundation®—established the Quantitative Imaging Workshop. He has been awarded 12 patents and has more than 330 scientific and medical publications. Dr. Mulshine is on numerous editorial boards, as well as national and international scientific and foundation advisory boards, including serving as vice chairman and scientific director of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. He has received numerous national and international recognition awards related to the impact of his research efforts on early cancer management most recently including the Aeschylus Award from the Bonnie J. Addario Foundation.
Mr. Phaneuf is currently a Partner at Guidehouse, with more than 28 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He is currently a leader in their Financial Services Practice. This practice provides professional services to both Federal and Commercial entities focusing on management and IT consulting. He has served on the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Finance Committee since 2011, and has chaired the Foundation’s Audit Committee. Paul currently serves on the Executive Committee as Treasurer. Mr. Phaneuf is married to Lisa and has two children, Dylan, age 18, and Jason, age 15. He lives in Leesburg, Virginia and grew up in Fairfax County. He and his wife both attended Clemson University and are big Tigers fans. Mr. Phaneuf also enjoys playing golf and coaching his son’s basketball team.
Shabnam Kazmi is a trusted leader in the pharmaceutical industry with over 30 years of experience and a track record of generating business value while improving the lives of patients with diseases of high unmet need such as oncology. Ms. Kazmi is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Asellus Ventures, a company investing in healthcare and providing global advisory services. Previously, Ms. Kazmi served as the Chief Business Officer at Shepherd Therapeutics in the field of rare cancer biotechnology innovation. She has also served in leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi and Otsuka, leading new product launches, licensing and business development, global business management and P&L responsibilities for over $1B. Ms. Kazmi led joint ventures with American, European and Asian business partners, consistently delivering value by turning around businesses and building high performance teams. She has over 20 years of nonprofit board leadership and philanthropic service for which she has won multiple awards for her contributions. Ms. Kazmi is currently on the board of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, where she serves on the Finance and Audit Committee. Ms. Kazmi has double Bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Economics from Smith College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Susan Ahlquist spent her career in health care at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. She graduated with BS and MS degrees in Nursing with an emphasis on public health and healthy aging. Her clinical nursing experience included helping start the first Medical Oncology unit at Mayo Clinic. She also served as Evening Supervisor for all medical units of an 800 bed Mayo hospital, held positions in Nursing Education. Moving into administration, she served as Director of Patient and Health Education and became a board member of the International Patient Education Council. One of her greatest career satisfactions was creating a coordinated, consolidated and centralized system for delivery of consistent high quality educational programs and materials for Mayo patients and health consumers.
After being elected to the Voting Staff, Susan served as the Designated Institutional Administrator (DIA) for the School of Graduate Medical Education (GME) which included over 225 physician residency and fellowship training programs and a budget of over 100 million dollars. In addition to GME, she had shared administrative responsibility for all Rochester-based Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Schools and education units, including the Medical School, Graduate School, School of Health Sciences, Continuing Medical Education. Susan chaired and supported multiple institutional committees and represented Mayo Clinic in external initiatives and partnerships.
Always engaged in the community, Susan became the Mayo Clinic Administrator for Community Relations, which allowed her to work closely with the non-profit, private and governmental resources in communities serves. Responsible for Mayo’s presence, contributions and social responsibility, she helped develop and implement the initial Community Needs Health Assessment (CHNA) collaborative efforts.
Following her career, she remains engaged in the community, especially around issues of equity and inclusion. She has served and currently serves in leadership roles such as chairing the Board of Directors for the fourteen county Channel One Food Bank. She led strategic planning efforts that have broadened the mission to include food security for all and food as an essential element of health outcomes. She currently chairs the Olmsted County Human Services Advisory Board and supports multiple community-based organizations and initiatives. Beyond her formal volunteer work, Susan is currently engaged with her family in creating a foundation supporting innovation around health, social justice and care for the environment. Susan has three (now six) children, all working to make the world better, and seven grandchildren who give her hope every day.
Susan’s life has been integrally touched and impacted by the life work of her husband David Ahlquist, who spent his career as a physician scientist pursuing a vision of a multi-site single test for cancer early detection, The work and vision of the Prevent Cancer Foundation aligns with David’s vision and Susan’s passions and experience, and she is committed to contributing to its continuing success.
Heide Bajnrauh works extensively on regulatory and congressional issues involving health policy in the public and private sectors. She advises clients on regulatory reform and reimbursement strategies involving coding, coverage and payment for medical device companies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, providers and national health care associations.
Heide advocates in Congress and the administration, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and provides strategic advice to clients to meet their business objectives and influence public policy. She developed extensive knowledge of health care policies and reimbursement while serving as the director of Reimbursement Services for Aequitas, a health economics firm in San Diego, California.
At Aequitas, Heide specialized in creating reimbursement strategies, including preparing coding applications for both CPT® and HCPCS codes; working with medical directors and drafting payor coverage language for innovative technologies in the medical field; and developing commercialization plans. Heide also worked with internal research analysts developing health technology assessments and health economic analyses for pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology clients.
Because of her extensive knowledge of the California technology sector, Heide taught reimbursement strategy at Stanford University for several years. Early in her career, Heide worked at two health care trade associations—the California Healthcare Institute and the Healthcare Leadership Council— focused on advocating for health care reform and the continued success of the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
Ms. Casey-Landry is an accomplished senior executive with broad experience in management, policy development, and advocacy. She is the founder and managing director of DCL Banking Advisors, LLC. Prior to founding and directing DCL Banking Advisors, LLC, Ms. Casey-Landry was the senior executive vice president and chief operating officer at the American Bankers Association.
Previously, Ms. Casey-Landry held the roles of principal and national director of Financial Services and chairman of the National Financial Services Committee, and she served on the National Management Committee. Ms. Casey-Landry’s career highlights also include executive director of Independent Community Bankers Association, vice president of Public Affairs and Public Liaison at the Oversight Board of the Resolution Trust Corporation and senior bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Ms. Casey-Landry served as a resident fellow at Harvard University, teaching a course at the Institute of Politics, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Ms. Casey-Landry has received multiple awards for her strong leadership skills and expertise, including the Women in Housing & Finance Distinguished Industry Leader Award and the New Jersey League of Community Bankers Warren Hill Service Award. In 2005, US Banker named Ms. Casey-Landry as one of the Most Powerful Women in Washington. One year later, she was named the Enterprising Woman of Washington by the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Ms. Casey-Landry has a bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs and Economics from Miami University and a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University.
Dynamic leader with a solid record of building and managing profitable teams in competitive and regulated businesses. With over thirty years of broad experience in fixed income capital markets and financial services regulation, offers ability to address complex financial challenges while integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment strategies. Applies qualities of creative thinking and negotiation to develop and sustain relationships with stakeholders.
Jennifer Griffin currently serves as a national security correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). She joined FNC in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent. Prior to that she reported for 3 years from Moscow for FNC.
Since 2007 Griffin has reported daily from the Pentagon where she questions senior military leaders, travels to war zones with the Joint Chiefs and Secretaries of Defense, and reports on all aspects of the military and the current wars against ISIS and Al Qaeda.
Additionally, she has covered the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012 and the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. She has secured major interviews with former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Baghdad on the day the Iraq War ended in December 2011, an exclusive interview with General David Petraeus in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2010 when he took over as the top US commander there. Griffin also traveled with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on multiple trips overseas from 2007 – 2011. She began her work at the Pentagon at the start of the “surge.”
During Griffin’s tenure at FNC, she has provided coverage from Israel. She provided on scene coverage of the Palestinian Intifada from 2000 – 2007 and was among the first reporters to arrive in the wake of the South-East Asia tsunami tragedy, reporting from Phuket and Khao Lak, Thailand. While based in Jerusalem, she reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, countless suicide bombings, military incursions and failed peace deals. In 2000, she provided on-site coverage of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, its withdrawal from the Gaza strip in 2005 and Yasser Arafat’s funeral. Griffin is credited with conducting a rare and extensive interview with former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on his farm in 2009 before he lapsed into a coma.
Prior to joining FNC, Griffin covered the Middle East region for several American media organizations, including National Public Radio and U.S. News and World Report. Previously, she reported for The Sowetan newspaper in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she covered Nelson Mandela’s prison release and numerous other historic moments in South Africa’s transition away from the apartheid regime.
In 2009 she was diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative breast cancer. After 17 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation treatments she was declared in remission in 2010.
Her first story back at the Pentagon after treatment was an exclusive interview with General David Petraeus in Afghanistan. She and her husband also authored a book on their time in the Middle East, “This Burning Land: Lessons from the Frontlines of the Transformed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” (Wiley, 2011)
A 1992 graduate of Harvard University, Griffin received a B.A. in comparative politics. She is also the co-author of the book, “This Burning Land: Lessons from the Frontlines of the Transformed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” which she wrote with her husband Greg Myre about their experience in Israel.
Dr. Growdon currently serves as an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The majority of his effort is dedicated to the care of women with gynecologic cancers utilizing innovative surgical techniques, such as the robotic platform and single incision laparoscopy, while the remainder is dedicated to performing scientific investigations that seek to understand the molecular drivers of neoplasia. He is a clinical investigator at the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center, responsible for enrolling patients on trial. Since 2017, Dr. Growdon has served as the fellowship director in gynecologic oncology where he designs and oversees the educational curriculum for our fellowship. When not providing clinical care or teaching, Dr. Growdon focuses his efforts on laboratory research. His laboratory is composed of investigator partners and post doctoral fellows. The focus of the research is centered around characterizing actionable molecular drivers of ovarian and endometrial cancer and using in vivo models to test novel therapeutics to determine how best to innovate treatment for tumors harboring those specific alterations. The vision is one of precision medicine where each tumor can be explored for an Achilles heel that can then be exploited to meaningfully alter the trajectory of a women’s cancer.
Joel Jankowsky is a senior partner with four decades of experience at the firm. Mr. Jankowsky represents numerous clients on a variety of public policy matters, with an emphasis on intellectual property, telecommunications and technology-related issues.
Practice & Background
Prior to joining Akin Gump in 1977, Mr. Jankowsky was legislative assistant to the Honorable Carl Albert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1972 to 1977. Mr. Jankowsky served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1968 to 1972.
Mr. Jankowsky has received multiple national accolades for his work. The National Law Journal named him among the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” in 2013. The publication also named him as one of the “Most Influential Lawyers” in the field of government affairs in 2011.
Representative Matters
Mr. Jankowsky’s recent representations include:
Community Involvement
Mr. Jankowsky is active in civic and community programs, including:
Awards & Accolades
Speaking Engagements
Mr. Jankowsky has been a guest lecturer at the:
EDUCATION
Princeton University, A.B. 1984
Major: A.B, with honors in Political Science,
Georgetown University, JD, 1991
White House Intern in Counsel’s office 1991 (President George H.W. Bush)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Vice President Biden’s White House Cancer Moonshot, Policy Analyst -2016
DuPont Pharmaceuticals Government Affairs Director (previously joint venture DuPont Merck) 1992 – 2005
Williams and Jensen 1989-1992
PHILANTHROPY EXPERIENCE
Pantry Partners, Founder, 2005 – present
Potomac School Board Member and Executive Committee 2010 – current
Leukemia, Lymphoma Society (LLS)
Cape Cod Foundation, Chatham Board Member
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Board Member 10 years
Princeton University
Brandon is a partner in McKinsey’s Washington, DC, office and a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products Practice. For the past decade, Brandon has focused on biopharma research and development, working with both public-sector clients and private-sector sponsors on issues across the R&D value chain. Brandon serves clients on a wide range of topics related to R&D optimization, with a particular focus on drug safety, regulatory affairs, and clinical development.
In addition to his focus on pharmaceuticals and medical products, Brandon helps lead McKinsey’s work with medical-products regulators on a global basis. He brings deep expertise on a wide range of organization topics.
Prior to joining McKinsey, Brandon worked in life-sciences venture capital, where he invested in and built businesses focused on oncology, immunology, and orphan diseases.
Susanna Quinn is a mother, wife, step-mother, cancer survivor, entrepreneur and writer. She was CEO and founder of Veluxe, an app-powered on-demand service that connected busy influencers with a roster of top-rated beauty, fitness and wellness experts in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago. In August of 2018, she sold Veluxe to Glamsquad where she became a Senior Advisor.
Prior to founding Veluxe, Mrs. Quinn worked as a Research Assistant, Legislative Aide and Deputy Chief of Staff in the United States Congress and a freelance writer. Mrs. Quinn has been featured in The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Washington Life, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Sun Times and more publications as a business, fashion and lifestyle expert and her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, Huffington Post, The Washington Times and Capitol File magazine.
In March of 2019, Mrs. Quinn was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. She underwent an aggressive debulking surgery followed by six grueling rounds of chemotherapy. She was declared cancer free in the fall of 2019.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Quinn attended the National Cathedral School for Girls and received a B.A. in History and Government from Franklin and Marshall College. Mrs. Quinn’s grandfather was United States Senator A.S. Mike Monroney, a Democrat from Oklahoma serving in office from 1938 to 1968 and she is direct descendant of George Mason.
She lives in Washington with her husband, Jack Quinn, former Clinton White House counsel, investor, attorney and strategic communications advisor. She has two children, Jocelyn Mason Quinn, 20, and Storm Jackson Quinn, 8. Mrs. Quinn enjoys hiking, tennis, skiing and long distance ocean swims.
Sonia Sahney is the chief marketing officer for GE Healthcare’s global Molecular Imaging and Computed Tomography (MICT) business unit, the largest portfolio in GE Healthcare. Responsible for creating and accelerating the multi-billion-dollar units’ marketing strategy, she oversees all aspects of MICT’s marketing, long term strategy, customer experience, and product launches across more than two dozen product lines.
Sonia joined GE Healthcare’s coveted talent development program in 2006, the Commercial Leadership Program. Since that start, she served in multiple diagnostic imaging equipment sales, marketing, and leadership roles, overseeing CT sales and marketing across Canada, before stepping into a global marketing director position. There she was responsible for the launch of several of GE’s most popular CT products and applications. Sonia was named CMO, MICT in 2020, and leads the global go-to-market strategy across the two portfolios. Her team’s mission is to align product development with deep customer voice, market trends, and competitive landscapes to achieve memorable product launches, backed by strong evidence, with winning operational and economic stories.
Sonia has a strong cultural competence leading global teams and is a dynamic public speaker, team motivator and a champion for diversity and women’s leadership. Known for her innovative approach to marketing – infusing deep industry expertise, a passion for technology and creating powerful customer experiences with the power of humor, she is an infectious and inspiring leader. A native of Canada, Sonia is a graduate of McMaster University (MBA) and Queen’s University (Bachelor’s Engineering) both of Canada. She currently resides in Chicago, IL with her husband and two children.
Hollyn Kidd Schuemann is executive director for federal affairs at General Motors. Prior to joining General Motors, Ms. Schuemann served as vice president, government relations, at Viacom Inc.. She also served in several staff positions within the United States Congress, including on the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as in the offices of members of Congress from Louisiana and California. Between her terms of service on Capitol Hill, Ms. Schuemann also was a Principal in the government relations practice at Public Strategies, Inc., a public relations and policy firm. Ms. Schuemann is currently a board member of the bipartisan Franklin Center for Global and International Exchange. On behalf of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, Ms. Schuemann was a Co-Chair for the 2017 and the 2016 Annual Spring Galas, as well as a Finance Committee Member for the 2015 Gala. She has also served as Treasurer of the Louisiana State Society. Ms. Schuemann received her B.A. from the Louisiana State University. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and twin daughters.
Mr. Shure is the Chief Financial Officer of MedData. He is an experienced and disciplined financial manager with 20 years of thought leadership as portfolio manager and business operations executive.
Before joining MedData through the acquisition of Cardon Outreach, Mr. Shure was Partner at Ambrose Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity fund providing growth capital and operational expertise to growing businesses. Prior to Ambrose, Mr. Shure was Partner at Maximus Capital, a hedge fund dedicated to public health care investments, where he served on the firm’s Investment Committee. Prior to Maximus, he was with C-Bridge Corporation, a technology consulting firm. He began his career as an Analyst with Bear, Stearns & Co. and Alex Brown & Sons.
Mr. Shure is an advocate of participative community involvement through public education and outreach. He has served on the Board of Beyond the Boroughs, a New York-based national scholarship fund.
Mr. Shure holds a BA from Yale University and MBA from Columbia Business School.
Crossroads Strategies (CRS), Washington, D.C.
Executive Vice President
January 2017-present
CRS is a multi-client firm with 16 registered lobbyists providing advocacy services to a broad spectrum of clients in the fields of health care, financial services, defense, telecommunications, energy, hi-tech, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure. Co-lead the firm’s health care practice which includes multiple biopharmaceutical companies, an industry trade association, a home infusion provider and a small business health care coalition. Also responsible for tax issues for all firm clients.
Novartis, Washington, D.C.
Executive Director
July 2014-January 2017
Chief liaison to the Novartis Oncology Business Unit on behalf of Novartis Federal Government Affairs. Responsibilities include seeking legislative opportunities and identifying threats across the enterprise and developing/implementing strategies to advocate for and achieve solutions. Tasked with making Novartis a “partner of choice” for legislative policymakers on a range of issues including pricing/value of pharmaceuticals, protecting Medicare Part D, and advancing incentives for the research and development of innovative medicines. Actively coordinate legislative efforts with policy, communications, patient advocacy, regulatory and legal colleagues to attain desired results.
Merck, Washington, D.C.
Executive Director & Counsel, July 2012 – July 2014
Interim Head of Office, January – March 2011
Senior Director & Counsel, April 2006 – June 2012
Director & Counsel, June 2003 – April 2006
Responsible for identifying important legislative opportunities and threats to the Company, analyzing their potential impact, ensuring the timely development of appropriate policy positions, and developing and implementing strategies to advocate for and achieve the desired results. Led the formation of internal working groups, efforts to gain appropriate cross-functional input into the development of federal policy and advocacy positions, and efforts to shape and improve legislation to incorporate Merck’s views, including appropriate third party outreach and coalition building. Performed a leadership role in trade associations and coalitions to ensure that their advocacy positions and activities were aligned with Merck positions. Staffed CEO and other Merck executives in their roles as board members of major trade associations (PhRMA, NAM). Managed development of Merck PAC.
Congressman Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Washington, D.C.
Legislative Director, July 2001- June 2003
Senior Legislative Assistant, December 1998 – June 2001
Legislative Assistant, January 1997 – November 1998
Staff Assistant, September 1996 – January 1997
Oversaw legislative initiatives and supervised legislative staff to advance the Member’s agenda. Devised and implemented strategies and tactics to facilitate passage of legislation while staffing Member on the Energy & Commerce Subcommittees on Health and Energy & Air Quality. Advised Member on issues pertaining to the Ways & Means, International Relations, Resources, and Science Committees. Developed and managed relationships with other Members and their staff, including advocating for legislation and creating bi-partisan coalitions. Analyzed legislation, drafted bill text, speeches, committee statements, and messaging points for various audiences to promote legislative priorities.
Education
College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, Williamsburg, VA
Juris Doctor, 1995
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs, History Minor, 1992
Service
Congressional Award
Board of Directors, 2013-present
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Spring Gala Co-Chair, 2016 & 2017
Spring Gala Corporate Committee Chair, 2015
Alan P. Dye is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Florida Bar, as well as the American Bar Association (member, Exempt Organizations Committee of the Taxation Section, 1977 to present). He is a fellow with the American College of Tax Counsel as well as the American Society of Association Executives.
He was an attorney-advisor to Judge Austin Hoyt, U.S. Tax Court, from 1973-1975. Dye is a founding member of the Prevent Cancer Foundation Board of Directors and served as Chairman from 1994-1996.
Dye received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida and Latin Legum Magister in Taxation from New York University.
Mr. Keshishian was born in London, England in 1929 and raised in Washington, D.C. since 1931. He was the president of Mark Keshishian and Sons Oriental Rugs, founded by his father and uncle in 1907. Mr. Keshishian received a presidential appointment by George Bush and then by Bill Clinton to the Cultural Properties Advisory Committee. He served in the army as a communications specialist, stationed in Germany. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington, D.C., a collector of antiquities, and author of numerous books. He served on various cultural and civic boards including the Textile Museum and was director emeritus of the Prevent Cancer Foundation as well as a member of the Finance Committee.
Catherine Bennett is the Senior Vice President of the National Foreign Trade Council, which was founded in 1914 to advocate for trade liberalization and a rules-based world economy. She joined the organization, which represents the policy interests of 300 members in October 2007.
Before joining the NFTC, Ms. Bennett was a partner with Venable LLP in Washington, D.C., where she focused on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues. Prior to that, she worked for almost 28 years for Pfizer Inc. where she served as Vice President of Government Relations and had global responsibility for issues relating to international trade, taxation, and intellectual property protection. Ms. Bennett also served on the National Security Council Staff at the White House and as an aide to Representative Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen.
Ms. Bennett has a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. She is also a graduate of Smith College.
Margaret Bush is an actress and has performed on numerous stages throughout the Washington, D.C. area as well as summer stock in Maine. She also volunteers regularly in her community at Paul Spring’s Retirement Home and Carpenter’s Shelter. She is currently a member of the 1872 Society of Alexandria Hospital.
Bush is a former board member of Very Special Arts Foundation and Capital Children’s Museum. She is a cancer survivor.
Marcia Myers Carlucci has served in senior governmental relations positions in the U.S. Senate, two government agencies and with the Washington office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She presently serves on the Board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Jamestown Foundation and the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation.
She has served on the boards of Reading is Fundamental, Children’s Television Workshop and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Ms. Carlucci was also Chairman of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service (DACOWITS), and coordinated a worldwide Voting Assistance Project for the Defense Department.
Jeremy Hardy FitzGerald has devoted many volunteer hours to community organizations and to schools she, her children and/or grandchildren attended.
She currently serves on the board of directors of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as co-chair of the Development and Communications Committee. She has been involved in various roles in organizations including the Girl Scouts, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Junior League of Washington and the Capital Speakers Club.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Hollins University and has been a member of its board of trustees. She has served in various volunteer roles at the Landon School – as an editor of the Parents Bulletin, Chair of the Mothers Committee and Garden Festival, and current co-chair of the Grandparents Annual Giving program. She is a past trustee of the Gunnery School of Washington, Connecticut.
Brock Landry is Chairman of Venable LLP’s Government Division that includes over 150 lawyers in the legislative, regulatory, government contracts and local government practice areas. His own practice focuses on trade association law, which includes internal governance, non-profit taxation, antitrust, regulatory issues (environmental, health, and safety), international trade, standards development, litigation, legislative and general corporate matters. Active in community, civic, and charitable efforts, Mr. Landry also serves on the Board of Directors for Volunteers of America Chesapeake and on the Board of Trustees of the Cranbrook Educational Community.
Mr. Landry received his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Yale University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
Gary Lytle co-founded CGCN Group (formerly Clark & Lytle) in 2008. He is now an Associate of the firm.
From 2001-2008, he was senior vice president of federal relations for Qwest, where he served as head of the Washington, DC office. From 2000-2001 he served as interim president and CEO at the United States Telecom Association.
From 1993-1999, he was vice president of federal relations at Ameritech and from 1980 to 1992 held government relations positions at Michigan Bell.
Lytle holds B.A. and M.B. A. degrees in business administration from Michigan State University, where he played varsity basketball and baseball.
He is a former member of the board of directors of the Washington Performing Arts Society and a current member of the boards of the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the University Club of Washington, DC. A native of Detroit, Lytle resides in Arlington, VA.
Betty C. Alewine is a director of the New York Life Insurance Company, a vice chairman of the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund, and a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Advisory Council and the Business-Higher Education Forum.
Alewine is the former president and chief executive officer of COMSAT Corporation, a global provider of satellite services and digital networking services and technology. During her service with COMSAT, Alewine concurrently served as the United States’ Representative to the Board of Governors of INTELSAT, the body responsible for INTELSAT’s strategic business, financial and operating decisions. Mrs. Alewine also has served on the INTELSAT Board, the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council, the U.S. Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy and the Board of Directors of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute.
Joyce Gates is the Managing Partner of Warehouse Productions, LLC, an event planning business that specializes in large-scale events. Gates is a board member and Development Committee Chair of Dress for Success D.C, a non-profit organization that provides career development counseling to low-income women. Gates also serves on the Steering Committee for the annual fundraising dinner for the Consortium of Catholic Academies in D.C.
Gates has extensive experience in fundraising and government relations on Capitol Hill, having worked for many years as a food industry lobbyist and as Chief of Staff for a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives. She has been active in many Congressional and Gubernatorial campaigns, and also fundraising efforts to elect women to the U.S. House.
Joyce received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.
Gordon (Don) Hutchins, Jr. is president and chief operating officer of Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., a global telecommunications service provider. In his position, he manages all day-to-day operations of the company’s business providing Internet-based voice and data telecommunications services to corporations, as well as other service providers, throughout the world. Prior to joining Fusion in late 2005, Mr. Hutchins served as CEO of SwissFone, an international telecommunications carrier based in Washington, D.C., and as CEO of STAR Telecommunications, based in Santa Barbara, California. He has also served for the past 20 years as chairman of GH Associates, Inc., a management strategy consulting firm that he founded. During that time, he has consulted to over 100 telecommunications and technology businesses throughout the world, and has served in interim CEO/COO roles with ten of them. Prior to founding GH Associates, Mr. Hutchins served as CEO of ICC Communications and as CEO of LDX NET, and held positions with MCI, McDonnell Douglas, and AT&T. A committed entrepreneur, Mr. Hutchins also founded and built Telecom One, a long distance company later sold to Broadwing Communications, and TCO Network Services, a local wireless services carrier that was purchased by Winstar. Mr. Hutchins is a founder of the Association of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT) and the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA), a director and executive committee member of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, and an experienced corporate director who has served on the boards of public and private enterprises within the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. He holds a BSEE degree from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from the University of Dallas.
Marcelle Leahy is a registered nurse and the spouse of long-time Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. She is now a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Ms. Leahy is also the Honorary Chair of the Vermont National Guard Family Support Program, which provides care and assistance to the families of military during lengthy deployments.
Previously, Leahy worked as a staff nurse in the Medical-Surgical Unit of Arlington Hospital in northern Virginia.
Jean Perin is an interior designer and philanthropist who works on land conservation and transportation issues in Virginia. She serves on the boards of the Piedmont Environmental Council and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. She is the Conservation Chairman of the Fauquier Loudoun Garden Club.
Andrea Roane is a morning news anchor for WUSA TV 9. During her career, Ms. Roane has covered a wealth of hard news stories, from politics, the arts, education and sports to women’s health issues. Roane is best known to viewers for her passionate reporting on breast health issues and promoting the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer.
Roane has interviewed newsmakers, entertainers, and politicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hillary Clinton, former Defense Secretary William Cohen, David Rockefeller, Michael J. Fox, Danny Glover and Magic Johnson. Roane co-chairs the Kennedy Center Community and Friends Board and is a board member of the National Museum of Women In The Arts. She is also a member of the Howard University Hospital Cancer Advisory Board and Trustee of the Catholic University of America. She is a lifetime member of both the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.
Roane received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University.
Pawan Singh leads a small business consulting firm, NavX Consulting, focused on Federal and State & Government clients. The firm is focused on helping clients with their digital transformation needs, cyber security strategy and human capital & learning engagement strategies. Prior to starting his own firm, he was a partner at a Big 4 consulting firm where he led sales and delivery at some of their largest federal healthcare clients. He was also the US consulting life sciences and healthcare technology leader and global healthcare leader during his tenure at the large consulting firm.
He is a graduate from Punjab Engineering College, received his MBA from Willamette University, MS in computer information systems from New Jersey Institute of Technology and attended Harvard Business School for executive education and program for leadership development.
George Swygert is an executive with Capital One. He also serves as Director of Northern Virginia Technology Council, is a board member of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, The Fishing School, Junior Achievement of America, Holy Cross Hospital Foundation, The Phillips Collection and the Fairfax Symphony.
He previously served as the Regional President for Greater Washington, D.C. at Wachovia Corporation, and as Retail and Small Business Banking Executive for Southern California at Wachovia. He has led successful retail teams for Wachovia for many years and served as a retail banking executive for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. His prior experience at Wachovia gave him a deep and broad understanding of retail banking, including leading sales teams, managing marketing efforts and leading a branch in his first job at Wachovia as a branch manager.
Swygert holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Leading lifestyle expert David Tutera is hailed as an artistic visionary whose ability, creativity and outstanding reputation have made him a tremendous success in the lifestyle arena. He continuously exceeds expectations with an unmatched level of inspiration, imagination and innovation to create the latest trends in entertaining. At age 19, Tutera opened his own events planning business. Today, David Tutera Inc. is an award winning company built from experience, dedication and his natural talent for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. You can see his work on his hit reality television show CELEBrations.
Tutera has designed events for celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Elton John and Barbara Walters. He has been featured on many television shows including Good Morning America and The View as well as in a variety of publications. He has given lectures on the topics of weddings, lifestyle, design and more.
Margaret Vanderhye is an articulate and skilled public servant, community leader and activist on many issues. She serves on the boards of the Claude Moore Colonial Farm and Our Military Kids, a nonprofit that assists the children of deployed military members.
Vanderhye served as a delegate of the 34th district in the Virginia House of Delegates. She served on the House Science and Technology Committee and was appointed to the Joint Study Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology. Vanderhye was appointed by Governor Mark Warner and re-appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. She was previously appointed by President Bill Clinton to the National Capital Planning Commission. Earlier in her distinguished career, Vanderhye served as assistant to both Dr. Henry Kissinger and the Honorable Brent Scowcroft at the National Security Council in the White House.
Vanderhye earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in economics and international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Virginia A. Weil (Vicki) joined The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in May 1997 as Senior Vice President and head of the Washington office. Ms. Weil directs BCIU’s U.S. and foreign government relations, program development, commercial training functions and membership services. BCIU, a not-for-profit business association founded in 1959, is dedicated to supporting and furthering America’s business leadership in the global marketplace. Accordingly, BCIU advances its member companies’ commercial interests by facilitating dialogue and action between the business community and U.S. and foreign governments.
Prior to joining BCIU, Ms. Weil was Assistant Vice President for Government Liaison in the Washington office of Edison Mission Energy. Her responsibilities included facilitating and expanding the use of multilateral and bilateral lending programs and political risk insurance, promoting regulatory reform overseas in support of Edison Mission Energy’s projects and providing country risk assessments.
From 1990-1995, Ms. Weil was a Senior Manager at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu International in the firm’s Communications Group, with a focus on international government liaison for the U.S. firm’s industry groups. While with Deloitte, Ms. Weil managed a project underwritten by the firm and sponsored by the Business Council for International Understanding to design and deliver commercial training for U.S. Foreign Service personnel.
Ms. Weil previously served in the Finance Department of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) where she was responsible for all phases of project lending to U.S. private sector investors in international projects. Prior to her work at OPIC, Ms. Weil was a financial analyst at Sears World Trade, Inc.
Ms. Weil earned an MBA degree in Finance from George Washington University and a BA in Government from Wheaton College, MA. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Wheaton College. She has previously served on boards and advisory councils for a number of institutions focusing on business, women’s and social service issues.