C. STEWART VERDERY, JR.

After founding Monument Advocacy in 2006, Stewart has been the driving force behind the organization’s evolution into one of Washington’s premier advocacy firms. A major policymaker and influencer, Stewart has served in high-ranking government positions in both the Executive Branch and in Congress and acted as a senior advisor to leaders at some of the world’s best-known corporate brands. Washingtonian has twice named Stewart one of the most influential people shaping tech and telecom policy, and he is regularly featured in or on influential media outlets such as CNN and The Washington Post.

Prior to launching Monument, Stewart served as the first Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following his unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate. At DHS’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate, he oversaw agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration and led efforts to develop and implement policies related to immigration, visas, and travel facilitation; cargo security and international trade; transportation security; and law enforcement. He worked extensively with foreign governments, testified frequently before Congress and represented the Administration publicly on a diverse set of issues. Stewart also chaired official government advisory committees on international trade and tourism and served on the President’s Advisory Committee to Protect Americans’ Civil Liberties.

Before joining the Bush Administration, Stewart served as General Counsel to Senate Assistant Majority Leader Don Nickles (R-Okla.), where he played a major role on a wide range of policy issues including law enforcement, commerce, nominations, constitutional law, campaign finance, and telecommunications. He also oversaw the creation and management of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force. Stewart also served as Counsel to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Chairman John Warner (R-Va.). Stewart’s private sector experience also included positions at Vivendi Universal and the law firm Baker & Hostetler.

Stewart serves on the Board of Trustees at the Migration Policy Institute, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s National Campaign Executive Committee, and the Future Borders Coalition Advisory Board. He formerly served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Project 2049 Institute, a member of the MITRE Homeland Security Advisory Board, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, as well as on several corporate boards. He graduated from Williams College, obtained a J.D. from the University of Virginia and graduated from the Woodberry Forest School, where he served on the Board of Trustees and formerly chaired the Board of Advisors. Stewart and his wife Jenny live in Washington, D.C. and are parents of three children.

BRYAN ALPHIN

Bryan has led policy advocacy and engagement strategy for clients pertaining to antitrust and competition, children’s online safety, sport administration and athlete safety, and government access to data. Bryan joined Monument in 2018 after serving seven years on Capitol Hill, including as a professional staff member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee under Rep. Bob Goodlatte where he engaged with industry, civil society, and law enforcement organizations on legislation referred to the Committee and performed oversight of immigration and criminal justice programs. He also worked for Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. Bryan graduated from the College of William & Mary in Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Government.

Brandon Audap

Brandon comes to Monument Advocacy with over 18 years of distinguished experience in policy and advocacy in Washington on a variety of issues in tax and energy policy. His previous work included time at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). His work at SEIA included two extensions of the solar Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and defending the industry against tariffs. He most recently led policy for one of the largest international solar panel manufacturers. He began his career on Capitol Hill as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee tax staff under then-Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA).  He received a BA from California State Bakersfield and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from The George Washington University. He lives in Arlington with his wife.

BRITT BEPLER

Britt joined the Monument team in 2017, bringing with her over a decade of dedicated skill advancement efforts across varied disciplines. Her expertise encompasses financial management, ancillary operations, negotiation strategies, meticulous project and program administration, scalability and growth tactics, transition structuring, risk mitigation, astute analytical assessments, and the judicious application of intuitive problem-solving.

Preceding her tenure at Monument, Britt provided vital supervision to a budding startup venture, supported a globally respected tier-one think tank, managed high-value contracts with the U.S. Federal Government and strategically collaborated on several successful defense and intelligence programs throughout the Middle East. Her rich and varied experiences significantly contributed to her consistent track record of accomplishments. Her exceptional organizational acumen and interpersonal finesse garnered numerous commendations from prominent private-sector executives, as well as distinguished military and government officials, both domestic and abroad.

Britt holds a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University. Subsequently, she pursued a master’s degree equivalent with distinction, ranking first in her class, in Modern Standard Arabic from the American University in Cairo. Following her academic achievements, she was recruited to work in Iraq (and other adjacent countries) during the height of the OIF conflict, intermittently over a five-year period.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Britt presides over the daily operations of Monument. Her responsibilities encompass the formulation, implementation, management, and enhancement of various critical functions, including M&A, finance, accounting, legal affairs, new business initiatives, information technology, human resources, staffing, and other foundational systems and infrastructure integral to the firm’s overall health and longevity. Additionally, as a member of Monument’s five-person Management Committee, she helps set the strategy and long-term vision and focus for the firm.

Since joining Monument, Britt has played an instrumental role in the firm’s remarkable short- and long-term growth trajectory. Her strategic efforts on improving processes have successfully propelled Monument to sustain an impressive 147% increase in revenue and 220% growth in headcount within 6 years.

POORVIE BISHNOI

Poorvie joins Monument from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, where she facilitated strategic advocacy to Congress in support of resources for U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance. Prior to that, she served in the Office of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, drafting policy reports and strengthening global engagement for the office. Poorvie has also worked on several political campaigns, as well as provided programmatic support and research on nuclear nonproliferation issues at the Stimson Center. She holds a Master’s Degree in diplomacy and international commerce from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Western Kentucky University, where she spent her final semester studying at Vesalius College in Brussels, Belgium while working with the Fulbright Commission.

Jacob Boles

Jacob joins Monument as a Manager of Government Relations, supporting client relationships with a focus in the technology sector. Originally from Northwest D.C., Jacob has returned to Washington after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College, where he majored in Government and Psychology. Prior to joining Monument full-time, Jacob worked as a Legislative Fellow, gaining familiarity and valuable experience with Congressional processes and the government relations sector.

BELLA COURCHESNE

Bella is a Senior Manager of Digital and Public Affairs specializing in video production and graphic design. Before joining Monument full-time, she served as both a Digital Fellow and as an Associate in the digital department, supporting clients with designed collateral and website curation needs. Bella is originally from Holyoke, Massachusetts, and graduated from the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University.

Katie Grant Drew

Katie Grant Drew is a top communications, policy, and political strategist with more than 15 years of experience in a leadership office on Capitol Hill. An expert in strategic communications, public affairs, brand management, and executive communications, Katie advises a wide range of corporate, association, and nonprofit clients on messaging, strategy, and tactics. She is also the co-lead of Monument’s DEI practice.

Prior to joining Monument, Katie worked for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for 16 years, including eight years as his Communications Director and Senior Advisor. In that role, she was at the center of some of the most significant policy debates of the day. She crafted messaging and communications strategies for House Democrats on major legislation, including the Affordable Care Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and on legislation addressing policies ranging from appropriations and tax reform to energy and climate change, foreign policy and national security, trade, education, and the COVID pandemic response. She developed and coordinated major policy initiatives, including House Democrats’ “Make It In America” economic plan focused on manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Katie oversaw communications for Hoyer’s leadership, district, and political offices and served as his national spokesperson. She also led communications on several successful Congressional campaigns.

Katie earned a B.S. in International Affairs from Georgia Tech and an M.A. in Political Science from American University.

LAWRENCE DUNCAN III

Larry is a Democratic government affairs expert, strategic advisor, and corporate attorney with over twenty-five years of experience representing Fortune 500 companies and national trade associations in Washington, DC. Larry joined Monument Advocacy as a partner in 2020. He provides strategic advice, legislative advocacy, and counsel to clients across multiple business sectors, including technology, entertainment, financial services, transportation, energy and defense. Before Monument, Larry was the founder and president of Potomac Policy Advisors, a boutique government affairs and consulting firm, where he advised several major technology companies on a range of issues. Larry also worked for 15+ years in the defense aerospace industry as a senior corporate government affairs executive and practiced 7+ years at two major DC law firms. He began his career as a member of the U.S. Senate floor staff, where he worked for the Secretary of the Senate. He holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Julie Dunne

Julie is an established authority on federal procurement, federal IT modernization, cybersecurity and government management. Her government experience includes senior roles at three federal agencies: the General Services Administration, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Commerce. She also has had senior counsel roles at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Finally, she has practiced law at Wiley Rein LLP and Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

Most recently, Julie served as the Commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service where she led an organization of 3,500 staff with responsibility for government-wide acquisitions valued at $75 billion. Since leaving government service, Julie established Dunne Strategic Solutions LLC and has served as Senior Advisor at The Chertoff Group and Counsel at Impresa Legal Group.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, a Master of International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University, and a Juris Doctor from American University.

Kimberly Ellis

Kimberly leads Monument’s tax practice, having joined Monument in 2012 after serving as the Legislative Director for former House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX).   She is highly respected for her work on trade, tax and health care issues, and communicates regularly with staff and Members on the Committees on Ways and Means and Senate Finance.  Kimberly formerly served in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and other private sector positions. Kimberly was previously named one of the Top Ten Trade and Tax Staffers by Roll Call, serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington International Trade Association, and is a Member of the Tax Coalition. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

Roberto Estrada Lobo

Roberto joins Monument as a Public Affairs Manager after working at FiscalNote, where he helped connect senior Federal government officials with the tools necessary to track and stay up to date with the ever-evolving policy landscape. Before FiscalNote, Roberto served as the Policy and Communications Manager for the Senate Special Committee on Aging, where he developed a deep understanding of the issues facing American seniors. During his tenure in the Senate, he served as the liaison between the committee’s policy and communication teams and helped drive the committee’s work on both fronts. He previously served as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee on House Administration, where he belonged to the Communication Standards Commission staff and was responsible for reviewing and approving all taxpayer-funded communications. Roberto graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a double degree in Communications and Political Science.

Jordan Evich

With over a decade of experience working for a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Jordan Evich has a deep understanding of Capitol Hill and a track record of advancing bipartisan legislation. Jordan served as Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s top aide in DC and as her assistant on the Appropriations Committee, where she is a ranking member of a subcommittee. Overseeing the congresswoman’s diverse legislative portfolio and committee policy goals, Jordan successfully led the passage of several notable bills that were signed into law related to fisheries, tribes, and maternal health. He is a skilled negotiator, developing and maintaining strong relationships with federal agencies, leadership, committee staff, and interest groups. Jordan is passionate about helping people find solutions to complex policy issues, with particular understanding of energy and water, infrastructure, natural resources, and public health. He graduated from the University of Washington and keeps strong ties in both Washington, DC and Washington state.

Sam Gause

Sam joins our team as a Government Relations Manager, coordinating client and Monument workflow. Originally from Massachusetts, Sam moved to DC to pursue internships both on the Hill and in a small government relations office before coming to Monument as an Energy and Environment Fellow. Sam graduated from Hamilton College with a concentration in International Relations.

T.A. Hawks

A former senior Republican Senate staff member, T.A. knows what it takes to successfully navigate Washington. Since arriving at Monument in early 2015, he has helped clients understand the current political environment while providing expertise on appropriations, agriculture, nutrition, transportation and defense issues. On Capitol Hill, T.A. worked for former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran as the Republican Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he helped develop, negotiate, and pass the five-year reauthorization of federal agriculture and nutrition assistance programs collectively known as the Farm Bill. T.A. previously held senior staff roles such as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Cochran when Cochran was the senior Republican member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. T.A. is a graduate from the University of Tennessee.

Jessica Herrera-Flanigan

Jessica Herrera-Flanigan is an executive with extensive experience advising and leading public and private companies, associations, and non-profits on corporate and public affairs, crisis management, policy, marketing, legal, and social impact issues.  Her 30 years of experience spans senior level roles within global corporations, the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, and in board management and covers numerous sectors, including technology, media, security, sports, government contracting, and regulated industries. Whether start-ups or Fortune 100 multinational companies, organizations turn to Jessica to identify and mitigate risks and tackle reputational challenges that impact their businesses.

In recognition of her accomplished, Jessica has received numerous awards, including a Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, from Regis University, Multichannel News’ Wonder Woman Award, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation NFL Award, Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas/OAS Special Recognition Award, and Women’s High Tech Coalition Women in Cybersecurity Award. Washingtonian called her a Tech Titan and Cablefax named her to its lists for both both Most Influential Minorities and Most Powerful Women, Latino Leaders and Hispanic Magazine three times placed her on their lists of the 100 Most Influential Latinas and 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S., respectively. She is a published author and sought-after speaker.

Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Public Policy & Philanthropy, Americas at Twitter, where she was a part of the Global Leadership Team and managed corporate affairs and public policy for all of the Americas and the company’s San Francisco headquarters.  She also oversaw the company’s global philanthropic and social impact work, including the work of the Twitter Foundation.

Previously, she served as the Executive Vice President of Government & Corporate Affairs at Univision, managing global regulatory and policy strategies, as well as community and third-party engagement, philanthropy, CSR, sustainability, social impact, and policy communications. She oversaw a marketing, news, and development team that created partnerships for social impact campaigns, public service announcements, programming and entertainment and news integrations.   As a part of the senior leadership team, she advised on strategic and operational special projects to create revenue opportunities and create cost savings across Univision’s operations. She founded and served as the first President of the Univision Foundation.

Prior to Univision, she was a partner with the government affairs and strategic consulting firm Monument Advocacy.   Jessica spent part of her career as the Staff Director & General Counsel of the House Committee on Homeland Security. In that position, she was the first Latina staffer to head up a Congressional committee. She also spent several years at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Computer Crime & IP Section, where she co-led a team of prosecutors specializing in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes, and also represented the United States on security, privacy, and critical infrastructure protection issues at APEC, OAS, and OECD. She served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney on Fraud & Public Corruption cases. She has taught cybercrime and criminal law at both the Washington College of Law, American University and the American Military University, and has been a fellow at several think-tank and policy organizations.  Jessica started her career at a D.C. law firm, practicing communications, litigation, and energy law.

Jessica holds a BA, American Studies from Yale University and a JD from Harvard Law School. She recently served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Center for Safe Sport, and currently is a Board Member of both Regis University and the Peabody Awards. She also is on the Advisory Board of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

Joseph Hoefer

Joseph is a seasoned government relations professional with nearly a decade of experience navigating complex technology issues. He has a strong background in advising clients and focused his career on various issues, including artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, blockchain, supply chains, and developing effective communications strategies around these issues tailored for a DC audience. Prior to joining Monument Advocacy, Joseph served as legislative counsel for a consulting firm in New York City and DC. He began his career working on various campaigns – most recently taking a sabbatical to work on voter protection for President Biden’s campaign in 2020. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston, a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and a Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from Georgetown University.

Jess Honcoop

Jess joined Monument after spending almost a decade in campaigns and legislative offices across the northwest providing policy, communications and legislative support in addition to news writing for business-focused online publications. Most recently, he created and launched Forge Washington to develop local leadership and improve targeted messaging in Washington State. Prior to Forge, he served as communications lead in the Washington State Senate for several senators representing multiple regions and policy fields.

Lilia McFarland Horder

Lilia joined Monument after almost 12 years with the Department of Agriculture. Most recently, she served as the Acting Chief of Staff for Departmental Administration, which provides management leadership across USDA in the areas of contracting, national security, customer service, human resources and more. Lilia formerly served as the lead for the federal government initiative to support and provide resources to the next generation of agriculture, as Acting Chief of Staff in the office of the USDA Deputy Secretary, and in the Office of Congressional Relations, where she worked closely with Capitol Hill on a wide-range of issues including food safety, trade, disaster assistance, risk management, credit and international food security. Lilia also served as a legislative fellow in the office of the senior senator from California, focused on the farm bill and agriculture appropriations. Lilia was recognized in 2016 as a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medals, which recognizes federal government employees who make significant contributions to the governance of the United States. Originally from Deep East Texas, Lilia earned her degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Andrew Howell

With well over a decade at Monument, Andrew helps companies sharpen their federal business development efforts, especially for firms marketing innovative technology solutions. He specializes in security, transportation, federal procurement and cybersecurity issues and works with members on both sides of the aisle. Formerly, he was Vice President of Homeland Security Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He also has served as Senior Vice President at the National Chamber Foundation and as a Senior Associate at Chlopak, Leonard, Schechter & Associates. Andrew also worked as Executive Director at the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America earlier in his career. Andrew holds an undergraduate degree from Tufts University and obtained an M.B.A. from the George Washington University.

Ashley Hoy

A seasoned former top aide in the U.S. Congress, Ashley provides political and strategic policy and process analysis to clients, especially those focused on high-profile political issues and legislative strategies. Before joining Monument in 2011, she spent over 12 years on Capitol Hill working in senior positions for leading Republicans which gave her unparalleled insights into the actions of Congress at the highest levels, and a unique experience in floor strategy, decision-making and policy development. She served as the Director of Coalitions for then-House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) as well as the Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair’s office under Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Prior to serving as a senior leadership staffer, she served as Chief of Staff for former Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), a member of the Energy and Commerce and Rules Committees. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lives in Washington, D.C.

JILL JACKSON

Jill Jackson is a veteran award-winning journalist and storyteller having covered the U.S. Congress and national political campaigns for CBS News’ Evening News, CBS This Morning, Face the Nation and 60 Minutes. She is also a former producer at National Public Radio. During more than a decade on Capitol Hill, Jill reported on health care, financial and tax reforms and efforts to overhaul the country’s immigration system. She covered seven congressional election cycles and contributed to coverage of four presidential campaigns working with the top news anchors in the country. Most recently, Jill served as news director at the NPR-member station KUOW in Seattle. At Monument Advocacy, Jill works with clients on crisis communications, storytelling and public affairs. Jill is a graduate of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington and is certified in Corporate Communication by Cornell University’s SC Johnson School of Business.

Anna Nix Kumar

Anna Nix Kumar is an experienced consultant, strategist and media spokesperson with more than 15 years of experience. Anna has served as a communications adviser on political campaigns in Maryland, Florida, Virginia and North Dakota, and in Congress. An accomplished strategist and campaign manager, Anna subsequently led political campaigns in Sydney, Australia, including the 2015 State Election and 2016 Federal Election, and four special elections. Since 2017, Anna has advised private clients in highly-regulated sectors such as resources, technology and public health on global political and campaign trends, public affairs and strategic communications.

Andrew Lock

Prior to joining Monument, Andy spent eight years on Capitol Hill in the Office of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and as a senior policy staffer for the House Committee on Homeland Security.  

In his time working on and with Congressional committees, Andy has performed oversight of the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security and its components agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. His body of work spans several enacted laws and ongoing legislative efforts, in addition to annual appropriations and defense authorization vehicles. 

Andy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Westminster College and Master of Arts in National Defense and Strategic Studies from United States Naval War College.    

Samantha Lostia

Since becoming Monument’s Director of Strategic Operations in 2023, Samantha ensures we have efficient workflows in place to maximize Monument’s productivity and performance. She helps our Executive team stay organized, and focused on strategic projects, engagements and the continued professionalization and growth of our firm. Prior to joining Monument, Samantha worked with municipalities in Oregon and Washington state. She was a legislative fellow for Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler working on environment and veteran affairs issues. Before moving to DC in 2021 Samantha spent 5 years as a corporate startup paralegal in Silicon Valley and 7 years as a logistician in the Marine Corps Reserves. Samantha has an M.A. in Public Leadership from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Political Science and minor in history from the University of California Davis.

MATT MCALVANAH

Matt has spent his career at the intersection of communications and policy – on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. He offers clients a keen understanding of not only how their priorities will play in the White House, cabinet agencies and on Capitol Hill, but also how they impact the broader public debate. His expertise comes from well over a decade of experience managing high-stakes policy communications for a cabinet-level agency, numerous Senate Committees, and for an influential member of the Senate leadership. Prior to joining Monument, Matt served in the Obama Administration as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, spearheading policy communications for the Administration on trade and international investment issues. Prior to USTR, Matt served as Communications Director to U.S. Senator Patty Murray, the senior Senator from Washington state and third-ranking member of Senate Democratic leadership. Matt graduated from the Ohio State University and lives with his wife Anna on Capitol Hill.

Max Meyers

Max joins Monument as a Manager of Public Affairs supporting our wide array of clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. Max graduated from the University of Washington with a Political Science degree. In college, Max worked for the school’s newspaper, the Daily, authoring various news articles during his time there. Max is originally from the Seattle metro area.

Aubrey Milham

Aubrey joins Monument as a Government Relations Manager, where she provides public policy support and analysis to clients. Previously, Aubrey served as a Legislative Fellow at Monument, where she worked primarily on tech-related projects, gaining first-hand experience of the public policy and legislative process. A Northern Californian native, Aubrey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Berkeley, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Public Policy.

KATE CHRISTENSEN MILLS

Kate brings significant experience in politics and policy in the executive and legislative branches to her work at Monument. With a demonstrated record of achievement as a former administration official and a congressional staffer, she helps Monument’s clients navigate the landscape of Capitol Hill and federal agencies. Kate’s practice focuses on homeland security, immigration, travel, and information technology issues. Prior to joining Monument in 2015, Kate served for over five years as Deputy Assistant Director and then Assistant Director of the Office of Congressional Relations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Kate also worked as senior counsel to Rep. Zoe Lofgren and graduated from Notre Dame of Maryland University and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Nick Miner

Nick joins Monument after spending more than a decade working on legislative and political campaigns across the country. He has played a key role in passing key bipartisan conservation bills and regulatory actions that have secured more than a billions dollars in funding and protected millions of acres of public land. Most recently, he worked with EDF to pass the REGROW Act – which provides $4.7B in funding to find and plug orphan wells across the country. He lives in DC with his wife and young son.

JOHN P. MULLIGAN

John is a Capitol Hill veteran, having served as Legislative Director and Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Adam Smith, currently the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. John managed the Congressman’s HASC, technology and telecommunications portfolios as well as House New Democrat Coalition activities. John also brings broad private sector experience, including opening the DC office for BrightSource Energy, a leading solar technology company. Previously, he was Founder of an energy consulting firm based in Seattle and Managing Director of Corporate Affairs at Imperium Renewables, Inc., one of the nation’s leading biofuel producers, which was acquired in 2015 by Iowa based Renewable Energy Group (REG). He holds an undergraduate degree from Seattle University and a Master’s degree from American University.

JOHN MURRAY

In a career spanning policy, communications and politics, John is known as one of the most influential and connected Republican strategists. Previously, he led the YG Network, a nonprofit issue advocacy organization and acted as an outside advisor to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. John served as Deputy Chief of Staff during Cantor’s tenure as Republican Whip and Majority Leader where he oversaw communications, strategic initiatives and political outreach. Earlier John was a Founder of AB+M Partners, a strategic communications and public affairs firm, and held leadership roles at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Freddie Mac and Burson-Marsteller. He is an alum of Franklin and Marshall College, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Harvard Institute of Politics. John, a native of Seattle, lives in the north end with his wife Joanna and two daughters. He is currently on the Board of Trustees for the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce.

TIM PUNKE

Tim understands that advocacy is ultimately about telling the right story – succinctly, consistently, and effectively. And he understands exactly what our clients need because he’s been one. As a senior vice president at Plum Creek, and then Weyerhaeuser, Tim oversaw government relations, corporate communications, public affairs, sustainability, and community engagement. Tim’s 20+ years of advocacy also includes nearly a decade of consulting – a previous stint at Monument, and as a partner at K&L Gates. In government, Tim served as an International Trade Advisor in the Clinton White House, Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, and as a law clerk for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Tim is a graduate of Cornell University and Cornell Law School. In his spare time, he does triathlons, and has completed four Ironman triathlons. Tim and his wife Lori live outside Seattle with their three kids.

CAROLINE REPPERT

With a background in tech, health, and social policy, Caroline manages Monument’s tech and health practice groups. Prior to joining Monument, she worked for the Center for American Progress, where she used both qualitative and quantitative research to help set the policy priorities for the Democracy and Government Reform Team in the lead-up to the 2020 Presidential Election. Prior to joining CAP, she worked for Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). Caroline has a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, where she focused her studies on the intersection of health policy, quantitative analysis, and political communications. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College, with a concentration in Sociology.

John Ryan Rodriguez

As a native of the Rio Grande Valley, John Ryan joins Monument Advocacy after working in digital advocacy and fundraising during the 2022 election cycle. His work in managing accounts for state parties, and senatorial and congressional candidates garnered millions of dollars in individual donations across national and local audiences. Before moving to the Washington Metropolitan area, John Ryan completed his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Leadership & Development from Texas A&M University. During his time at Texas A&M, John Ryan served two consecutive terms as a Student Senator and published research as an undergraduate research assistant. His research focus on immigration and its effect on agricultural production led to his senior thesis entitled Examining The Experience of H-2A Visa Holders in Texas. After completing his undergraduate degree, John Ryan earned his Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. John Ryan comes to Monument Advocacy with experience interning with the United States Department of Agriculture and with a member of the House Agriculture and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Tim Schmeling

Originally from the cornfields of northern Illinois, Tim joins Monument with a unique professional background. He began his career with Kirkland & Ellis’ restructuring group in Chicago before deciding to give university student affairs a try. He then joined the public relations and communications team at Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies company, where he supported strategic planning and crisis communications initiatives across the enterprise. Since moving to DC, Tim has held multiple diverse roles including conference organizer for The World Bank’s annual Land and Poverty Conference, intern with a member of Congress, McCleary Law Fellow with the Human Rights Campaign, and Public Policy Intern with Amazon. Currently, Tim is also a Fellow with the Internet Law & Policy Foundry and the Vice-Director for Financial Advocacy with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Tim holds a B.A. in Modern Languages and Integrated International Studies from Knox College, an MBA from Rockford University, and a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the National LGBTQ Bar Association, and the State of Illinois Bar Association.

Kati Sills

Kati Sills specializes in public affairs at the federal, state, and local level, with an emphasis on executive messaging for leaders in government, trade associations, coalitions, and companies. As the lead communications strategist and senior political staffer for U.S. Representative Denny Heck, Kati designed plans to build awareness for the Congressman’s priorities both in Washington, D.C. and in Washington state. After more than a decade in the nation’s capital, Kati returned to the Pacific Northwest to join the public affairs team at Microsoft, where she focused on communicating the company’s global commitment to data privacy and its policy initiatives at the state and local level. During her time at Microsoft, Kati also partnered with numerous public, private, and non-profit partners in Washington state to message on important quality of life issues including housing, transportation, public health, and education. Kati is a graduate of Seattle Public Schools and Northwestern University.

Troy Stock

Troy worked on Capitol Hill for over a decade. He served as counsel to Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), staff director for the Subcommittee on Information Technology on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Chairman Will Hurd (R-Texas), and as policy counsel on the Senate Republican Policy Committee under the leadership of Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). Troy has broad experience and expertise in technology, privacy, and cybersecurity policy. At the Republican Policy Committee Troy worked to educate Republican Senators and staff in a wide array of technology, cybersecurity, privacy, and telecom topics including data privacy, content moderation, ransomware, antitrust, semiconductors, and bridging the digital divide. He is a founding member of the Congressional Tech Staff Association. Troy has a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

Chad Tanner

Chad is a Capitol Hill veteran with extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the federal government. He started his professional career on Rep. Ted Strickland’s (D-OH) staff as a legislative correspondent, and then press secretary, also serving as press secretary for Strickland for Congress. Following that, Chad served as an intelligence analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency on behalf of BAE Systems. From 2009 to 2022, Chad served the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  Chad has also completed two Congressional Fellowships at The Wilson Center on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.  

Chad holds a Bachelor of Political Science and Government from Ohio University and a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland. 

RICH THOMAS

Rich is a seasoned Washington veteran and political operative who is well known for his extensive bipartisan contacts throughout the federal government and deep expertise on trade, tax and health care issues. The former Legislative Director to Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Rich has strong ties to the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Senate Finance Committees – regularly engaging each on issues important to clients. He also works closely with the Democratic House Leadership, the New Democrat Coalition and the Future Forum. He is a campaign veteran in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Rich is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.

BEN TUGENDSTEIN

A Vice President on the Public Affairs team, Ben provides communications and public policy support for a wide variety of agriculture, technology, and trade clients. Ben joined Monument in 2021, after working as a Marketing Manager at Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP. Ben graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in government and politics, and economics.

Katie Veasey

Katie joins Monument as a Government Relations Senior Manager with an extensive background in sustainability. Prior to working at Monument, Katie was an International Environment Manager at ICF, where she provided consulting services to federal and private clients. She supported EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, oversaw environmental compliance for USAID projects, and contributed to greenhouse gas inventories for a variety of corporations. A lifelong golfer and environmentalist, Katie also spent one year studying the intersection of golf and sustainability in nine countries. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College, where she studied environmental studies and chemistry.

WINDA WANIKPUN

Winda joins Monument as a Digital and Public Affairs Manager where she provides social media and content management support for clients. Previously, Winda served as a Public Affairs and Digital Fellow at Monument, as well as spent time at a small government affairs firm, where she gained experience and expertise in digital communications. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Winda earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Hamilton College with a concentration in government.

Ciara Watson

Ciara joins Monument as a Public Affairs Senior Manager with a background in Foreign Policy, Program Operations, and Communications. Prior to joining Monument, Ciara served as an Executive Assistant in the Climate, Energy, and Transportation Division at ICF and as a Program Analyst at SAIC, supporting U.S. Department of Justice missions in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. While obtaining her graduate degree, Ciara spent a year living in Florence, Italy, where she worked on issues throughout Europe related to human rights and transatlantic relations. Ciara holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from James Madison University, where she studied political science with a focus in the social and economic policies of the European Union.

John Weber

John Weber joins Monument after serving as Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and as committee staff for the House Agriculture Committee under the leadership of Chairman Conaway. During his time on the Agriculture Committee, John negotiated the conservation, forestry, livestock, energy, and credit issues throughout the drafting of the 2018 Farm Bill. As a former senior Republican House staff member, John knows what it takes to break through in nuanced policy areas like trade, transportation, environment, natural resources, tax, and energy. John brings a grassroots approach and understanding of agriculture policy through roots on his family’s farm where he still manages a small cattle operation. He began his career on Capitol Hill with former U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem and graduated from South Dakota State University.

Jordan Wood

Jordan’s strategic and political communications  experience  spans The White House, Senate, House of Representatives, and the private sector. As Vice President of Public Affairs, he specializes in crafting story-led narratives to help shape public opinion. Prior to joining Monument, Jordan was the Associate Director of Speechwriting for Vice President Mike Pence, where he crafted speeches during the 2020 presidential campaign and the Vice President’s official duties. Before the White House, he was a speechwriter for Senator Deb Fischer and helped communicate the Senator’s priorities on the influential Senate Armed Services and Senate Commerce Committees. Previously, Jordan was a legislative correspondent for then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and began his career as a staff assistant for Congressman Brett Guthrie. Most recently, Jordan was the Senior Strategic Communications Manager at Blokhaus Inc.

Jordan’s work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Fox News, Rolling Stone, Forbes, and more. Jordan earned a Bachelor’s degree from Asbury University and lives in northern Virginia with his wife and two children.