2026 CAPLAW National Training Conference

Carina is an attorney with Smith Anderson’s Technology Transactions and Intellectual Property, and Data Privacy practice groups who advises companies on intellectual property strategy, commercial contracts, artificial intelligence, data privacy, software licensing, and other issues at the intersection of law and emerging technology. She works closely with business, legal, and technical teams to help clients navigate risk, close deals efficiently, and support growth. Before practicing law, Carina worked in Duke University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where she developed strong skills in communication, evaluation, and relationship-building. She remains passionate about mentorship, entrepreneurship, and expanding access in law and technology.

Tom serves as the Board Chairman of South Central Community Action Partnership in Twin Falls, Idaho. Tom has been on the Board of Directors for 9 years and has served as Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee Chairman of the Housing and Finance Committee. Tom works at Idaho Power Company and for over 10 years assisted residential customers in improving energy efficiency in their homes by education and utility efficiency incentives. His current work as an Energy Advisor for the Large Power Customers allows him to do the same thing with large users of electricity, but on a much bigger scale. He is involved in the community serving in the local Lions Club, Church Leadership, and volunteering for various organizations in the area. Tom has a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Business Marketing from the University of Idaho.

For more than 30 years, David has been one of Washington’s leading advocates on behalf of low-income programs. In 1981, David helped found the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF). As a private nonprofit organization funded solely by non-governmental contributions, NCAF represents funding and policy interests of the nation’s 1,000 Community Action Agencies before Congress and the Executive Branch. In this role at NCAF, David was the primary architect of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act. Besides the CSBG, David’s legislative activities include Weatherization Assistance, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, and job training programs.

In an age in which partisan gridlock is too often the norm, David has shown an uncanny ability to make poverty issues a concern to both parties. After facing elimination in the 1995 House Republican’s Contract with America, David was able to work with key House Republican leaders to ensure CSBG funding procured the largest percentage received of any domestic program in FY 1997. In his role at NCAF, David has also helped power CAPLAW and CAPPAC, a Political Action Committee.

Prior to joining NCAF, David worked in Congressional Affairs at the Small Business Administration under President Jimmy Carter. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Washington University. In 1987, he was a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. David’s mentor, Sargent Shriver, perhaps described David’s advocacy best when he wrote “no one has done more to keep the War on Poverty fresh in the hearts and minds of individuals than David Bradley."

Kyle Broadfoot is a skilled employment litigator who represents employers in high-stakes disputes in state and federal courts across the country, with the majority of his practice focused in Arizona. Kyle regularly defends employers against claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Arizona Civil Rights Act, the Arizona Employment Protection Act, and other federal, state, and local laws governing the employment relationship. In addition to his active litigation practice, Kyle provides practical, day-to-day counsel to employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws. He advises clients on workplace policies, employee discipline and terminations, and strategies to minimize litigation risk. Kyle takes a proactive approach to helping employers navigate the complexities of the modern workplace while maintaining legally compliant operations. Kyle is licensed to practice in Arizona and Montana. Kyle is a Phoenix native, having been born and raised in Scottsdale. He then attended the University of Alabama, and upon graduation, he returned to Phoenix to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Walter Calvert is a business and tax attorney whose practice focuses on state and local taxation; tax credits, opportunity zone funds, and other specialized federal and state tax incentive programs; public finance and project finance; and tax-exempt organizations. Walter focuses on state and local tax planning and controversy matters.  He represents individuals and businesses when planning to minimize state and local tax obligations, and in audit and litigation matters.  In addition, Walter serves as tax, issuer's and borrower counsel for public and private financings.  In public financing he serves as both borrower's counsel in conduit financings and as bond counsel to government issuers. He has extensive experience with financings that involve combinations of state and federal tax credits. He assists with structuring and compliance with special tax incentive program requirements for federal and state programs, including those involving opportunity zone funds, new markets tax credits, rehabilitation/historic tax credits, low- and moderate-income housing, and alternative energy incentives.

Renée Cheng is the dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and senior vice provost at Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU, she served as dean of the College of Built Environments at The University of Washington, where she led the college to rapid expansion of research and enrollment while increasing integration and collaboration across disciplines. She established multiple year community engaged partnerships with Tribal communities and communities in South Seattle including the Nehemiah Initiative that successfully supported faith-based communities to develop their own land for housing resulting in zoning changes and financial partnerships. Earlier in her career, she taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona. She is a graduate of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and Harvard College.

Kathy is the Chief Program Officer of A New Leaf, a social services organization in Mesa, Arizona. She has worked in nonprofit administration for over 20 years, with her last assignment being the Executive Director of Mesa Community Action Network. Kathy has extensive experience in the areas surrounding Community Action, domestic violence and homelessness prevention, and has served in a variety of roles, including in direct service and administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social relations from the University of California, Riverside. 

Katherine Eilers is a senior manager who specializes in working with nonprofit clients and state agencies. As a consultant, she focuses on financial department process improvement, financial monitoring procedures, and provides training on federal grant regulations (Uniform Guidance), procurement, cost allocation, indirect cost rates, and financial best practices. With over 20 years of experience, Katherine has an extensive background as a financial statement auditor and grants auditor. Her experience spans working with nonprofit organizations and local governments, including counties, cities, townships, community colleges and school districts. Katherine has a bachelor of business degree in accountancy from Western Illinois University, Quad Cities, and a masters of science degree in accounting from Liberty University.

Eleanor is Partner in the nonprofit practice at Hemenway & Barnes LLP. She has over 25 years’ experience representing Community Action Agencies and other tax-exempt organizations in a diverse range of legal, governance and compliance matters. She provides practical advice on strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations in areas such as shared services and mergers, bylaws, government grants and data privacy and security. Prior to joining Hemenway & Barnes, Eleanor served as Executive Director/General Counsel of CAPLAW and as General Counsel of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), Boston’s Community Action Agency. She is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Smith College. 

Curtis Gibbs, CAP OC Director of Community Development, an employee since May 2016, brought almost 30 years of public finance, technology, and grants management expertise from his time with the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) working in under-served and disadvantaged communities. Curtis currently focuses on securing government grants, advocacy, and low-income housing production. He has served as the business development lead in securing the approvals and funding for CAP OC to implement all aspects of CalAIM, while strategizing on how to grow this program. He has participated on prior CalAIM and Medicaid waiver panels with NCAP, NEUAC, and CalCAPA. Previously, Curtis served as the CAP OC Director of Planning as CSBG lead for CAP OC resulting in two five-year Strategic Plans, four Community Needs Assessment and Community Action Plans, and seven CSBG Annual Reports. He is part of the CAP OC data management team. He served as the program lead in the development of the CAP OC Theory of Change. Curtis graduated from Johns Hopkins University studying political science and economics and has a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. For the past 20 years, Curtis has been on the Board of Managers for the Long Beach Y Community Development.

Dori is a Managing Director with Manatt Health, an interdisciplinary policy, law, and business advisory consulting practice. She provides policy analysis and development, analytics, and strategic business services to states, health care providers, and foundations on a broad range of issues, including Medicaid waivers and other Medicaid authority issues, Medicaid payment and financing, and health care system reform. Dori frequently publishes on topics related to national Medicaid waiver activity. Prior to joining Manatt, Dori was a Medicaid program examiner with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Healthcare Division. Before OMB, Dori was a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Presidential Management Fellowship program. She received her undergraduate degree in political science and French from Southwestern University and her Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Hillary Hamra is the Vice President and Director of Human Resource for Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation, a Community Action Agency serving the Missouri Bootheel. In her current role, she oversees all areas of human resources for approximately 350 staff members at 27 locations. With over a decade of nonprofit experience, she has lead programmatic changes, championed special projects and acted as Interim Director of Children’s Services. Hillary started her career in regulatory compliance for private and public corporations in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since returning to her hometown, her professional work has been focused on helping her neighbors in need and finding ways to make a difference in the community. Hillary holds a B.S. in Journalism from Arkansas State University, a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy from The University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a J.D. from The University of Tulsa College of Law. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, Society for Human Resource Management, the Missouri Community Action Network, and is Certified Community Action Professional.

Denise has served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Community Action Partnership since December 2014. She has been with the Partnership since 2011 and served as Senior Director of Training and Technical Assistance and Interim Chief Operating Officer. Prior to her tenure at the Partnership, she was the CEO of the New York State Community Action Association and Sr. Vice President for Capacity Building for the New York Council of Nonprofits. Denise has more than 35 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, has served on several nonprofit boards of directors, and was an appointee to the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council in New York State. She started her Community Action career as a social worker with the Schenectady Community Action Program. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University at Albany where she was also a Fellow on Women and Public Policy at the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society, and holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Valparaiso University.

Dawn is the Chief Executive Officer at the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM), a position she has held since 2011. She is an outspoken advocate on issues that affect families and communities in New Mexico. At CAASNM, along with her team, she created and expanded several family centered initiatives. Under her leadership, CAASNM has garnered millions of dollars to advance family wellbeing and boost the economy. She holds an MBA from New Mexico State University where she also received her Bachelor of Business Administration, with distinction in university honors.

Keith is a Partner at Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI) and CRI Advisors, LLC. With more than 30 years of experience, Keith is part of CRI’s governmental and nonprofit team. Keith provides assurance and consulting services to a variety of organizations with a focus on community action agencies and Head Start programs. He regularly serves as a continuing education leader for CRI and is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA). Keith is a graduate of Troy University and a 2011 inductee to the Troy University Accounting Hall of Honor.

Shalynn has been the CEO of South Central Community Action Partnership since December 2025. Prior to coming to SCCAP she served as the Executive Director at the Housing Partnership of New Jersey where she launched the first Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on Homeownership initiatives and the financial capability program for young adults and youth empowering financial stability. She brings lots of experience working in the nonprofit world including working with the Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency in Pocatello, with Family Development, Homeless Assistance, Weatherization, CSBG & SHH and other Affordable Housing Programs. She holds an Master’s Degree in State, Local & Non-Profit Administration, B.S. in Political Science, Certified CDFI Community Development Specialist, USDA Loan Packager, NCHEC Certified Financial Counselor, Certified in Project Management, Pre-License for Real Estate and is a Gantz Leadership Graduate from Harvard as well as other certifications. Over the course of her career she has developed housing counseling programs throughout the United States and has launched three CFDIs and overseen several affordable Housing programs.

Vance is a Partner at Fisher Phillips and represents a range of publicly traded companies, closed corporations and non-profit employers in federal and state court litigation and administrative proceedings throughout the U.S. As a former criminal prosecutor, he has tried over 300 cases, including 30 jury trials. Vance focuses on conducting internal investigations on behalf of publicly traded and private corporations. Vance’s practice includes advising employers on accommodating employees with disabilities and religious accommodations, recruiting, hiring, terminations, drug testing, and workplace violence issues. Vance collaborates with clients to develop workplace investigation training and compliance programs. He also has experience representing employers in wage and hour class and collective actions and FINRA employment arbitrations. A thought leader in the labor and employment law, Vance has lectured and written extensively on perennial and developing issues. Vance holds a BA from Colorado State University and JD from University of Colorado School of Law.

David is the Executive Director for the California Community Action Partnership Association (CalCAPA) and has served in this role since December 2020. He began his career in Community Action in 2008 in Pikeville, KY, as a business service representative under the WIA (Workforce Investment Act), then a Special Projects Coordinator in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and then to Community Services Director under the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). At the age of 29, David became the youngest executive director in Arkansas state history as the Executive Director for Pine Bluff Jefferson County EOC. David also worked with the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) out of Washington, D.C. as the Community Services Director for the entire US before becoming the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for Hinds County Human Resource Agency, the CAA in Jackson, Mississippi. He received his Bachelor of Science in Social Work in August 2004 from the University of Mississippi. From there, David has completed over 300 hours of direct sales, leadership and marketing training; has over 150 hours of training in the Certified Community Action Management Program, and is a nationally certified Results Oriented Management & Accountability (ROMA) Master Trainer in which he trained at Community Action Agencies all over the United States. He also holds a certificate in Public Management and Leadership from the Institute of Government at Jackson State University.

Sarah is Senior Policy Counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, focusing on health and economic justice issues at the state and federal level. She works on a wide variety of issues affecting low-income immigrants, including access to health care and public benefits, worker’s rights, and enforcement. Prior to joining NILC in July 2025, she worked at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for almost a decade, focusing on humanitarian immigration policy. She has a law degree from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in government and Hispanic studies from Hamilton College.

Sue is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in fiscal management, strategic planning, and community advocacy. As Executive Director of a Community Action Agency—and with a background in nursing, public health, and healthcare leadership—she has overseen programs across North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, serving both rural and urban communities. Her work in housing, social services, and statewide health initiatives reflects a deep understanding of complex governance and cross-sector systems, enabling her to drive meaningful results for the communities she serves. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University, her Master of Public Administration from Western Carolina University, and her public health doctorate from the University of Chapel Hill NC.

Sharon is a Partner at Casner & Edwards, LLP and enjoys the challenge and creativity of advising nonprofit organizations on a wide variety of strategic matters related to their tax-exempt status, governance, and operations. In addition, she assists clients in matters directly involving the Internal Revenue Service, including audits and in Tax Court. Her clients range from small startup nonprofits to well-established charitable institutions. Sharon graduated from Dartmouth College (summa cum laude) and from Harvard Law School (cum laude), is licensed in both California and Massachusetts, and is admitted in Tax Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Allison Ma'luf is Executive Director and General Counsel of Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW). She advises community action agencies on a wide range of legal issues, including board responsibilities, Head Start, employment law, and tax-exempt organization law requirements. Prior to joining CAPLAW, Allison practiced law as a corporate associate at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, Massachusetts and Troutman Sanders LLP in Atlanta, Georgia where she represented public and private companies and nonprofit organizations in general corporate matters. She also completed a two-year appointment to the Staff Attorney’s Office at the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Allison received her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University.

Kelly is the Executive Director of Wildfire, a statewide nonprofit working with community action agencies to address the causes and consequences of poverty in Arizona. She brings more than 15 years of experience advancing policies and programs that support low-income households, with a focus on food access, energy affordability, and safety net systems. She joined Wildfire in 2010 after earning her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University and has led the organization’s policy, program, and advocacy work, including its pandemic-era response efforts. She also launched Wildfire’s heat relief initiative, which has secured more than $5 million to expand access to cooling resources for low-income Arizonans.

John, Director of Real Estate, started at A New Leaf in 2025. John has over 30 years of audit and/or accounting experience in a variety of industries and organizations including working for private for-profit, publicly traded and nonprofit companies. For the last 25 years, he held numerous leadership positions including Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, for a variety of related nonprofit healthcare organizations providing integrated physical and mental health clinic services, permanent supported housing and supported employment for adults with serious mental illness. John graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1984, obtained a CPA license in California in 1987, earned a finance MBA from the Anderson Graduate School at UCLA in 1999 and received a certificate of nonprofit leadership from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2013.   

Carol is a Senior Policy Associate at the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. She focuses primarily on federal tax policies supporting low-income communities and individuals. Prior to joining EIG, Carol was a Senior Policy Analyst for an economic advocacy non-profit, where she worked to promote tax fairness and a strong social safety net. Carol holds a BA in International Studies and Economics from American University.

Jim is a Shareholder in the St. Louis office of national labor and employment law firm Ogletree Deakins. Jim has extensive experience in handling labor and employment law litigation and appeals in federal and state courts and claims/investigations in various governmental agencies. Jim also regularly advises employers on all labor and human resource management issues, with special expertise and emphasis on accommodating employee disabilities, work restrictions, and medical leaves of absence. Jim holds Labor Relations and Economics degrees from Saint Louis University and his law degree from Washington University. He has received the top “AV Rating” by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, has been named since 2010 in the annual editions of The Best Lawyers in America as a top labor and employment lawyer and litigator (including “The 2016 St. Louis Employment Litigator of the Year”), and has been listed in Super Lawyers Magazine since 2008. Jim earned his Juris Doctor degree at Washington University School of Law in 1995, and his bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University in 1992.

Ryan is an experienced consultant, advocate, and technology enabler. He has over 15 years of experience working with and planning for technology in regulated industries helping organizations manage, implement and utilize technology to engage constituents, and customers and achieve organizational goals. His experience includes all aspects of IT service delivery and planning including scoping, design, migration, configuration, training, documentation, report writing, and user adoption. Ryan has a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in information technology infrastructure management from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Rick is a Partner and former Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Stinson LLP. He splits his practice equally between the labor and employment disciplines, and both counsels and litigates on behalf of clients. Rick also has considerable commercial litigation experience. He has appeared before numerous state and federal judges and administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Rick counsels clients daily in a variety of employment-related areas, including wage and hour, drug and alcohol testing, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), discrimination, hiring, discipline, separation, privacy, background checking, record keeping, and workplace violence. He also counsels clients on compliance with state and federal prevailing wage laws and transportation regulations. Rick frequently trains supervisors and employees on the basics of employment law, positive employee relations, and preventing workplace harassment and discrimination. He has been regularly selected for inclusion in both Super Lawyers® and Top 40 Employment Super Lawyers®. Rick received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Jacqueline serves as the Director of Program Operations for the City of Los Angeles’ Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD). With over 26 years of public service experience in local government, she leads the City’s largest anti-poverty initiative and oversees a range of vital social service programs focused on improving the well-being of low-income Angelenos. Jacqueline oversees the FamilySource System (FSS)—a network of 19 FamilySource Centers (FSCs) located in high-need communities across Los Angeles. These one-stop centers offer comprehensive services, including financial empowerment, educational support, housing stability, and employment resources. The FSS plays a central role in helping families increase income, achieve financial security, and improve youth academic performance. In addition to managing the FSS, Jacqueline also directs the Survivor Services Program (SSP).  SSP provides life-saving support and resources to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other forms of interpersonal violence, supporting their recovery and long-term stability. Known for her collaborative leadership and results-oriented approach, Jacqueline has a proven track record of building strategic public and private partnerships to advance programs and policies that uplift underserved communities.

Tommy is the Deputy Director for the National Head Start Association (NHSA) in Alexandria, VA, where he has worked since June 2009. In this role, Tommy leads NHSA’s efforts to strategize, develop, and implement the Head Start community’s vision for the future of Head Start and early learning with a specific focus on ensuring all vulnerable children and families have access to Head Start’s comprehensive model of support for the whole child, family, and community. Tommy also oversees NHSA’s advocacy, communications, and government affairs efforts seeking to lobby, advocate, educate, and inform Congress, the White House, states, and the Federal Administration about the realities facing Head Start and early learning. During his tenure at NHSA, annual funding for Head Start has increased nearly 40% and Head Start has become seen as a rare bipartisan program with deep support from all ends of the political spectrum. Prior to his career at NHSA, Tommy worked in the Minnesota State Senate, on several political campaigns, and as a sales manager. Tommy received an Honors Bachelor of Arts from Saint Louis University and a Masters of Public Administration from George Washington University with a specific focus on social policy leadership. 

Maribeth is the Director of Organizational Capacity Building at the National Community Action Partnership. Maribeth has served the Community Action network since 2010 at the local, state, and national levels, including at a local Community Action Agency where she provided direct services, facilitated agency planning, and supported continuous improvement efforts; at the state level as Kentucky’s Director of Family Support where she led the state team responsible for administration and implementation of SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CSBG, and LIHEAP; and at the national level as the CSBG State Assistance Director at the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) where she supported CSBG Lead Agencies to effectively administer CSBG. Maribeth holds a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in law and public policy and is a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP), Nationally Certified ROMA Trainer (NCRT), and certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Kay operates Kay Sohl Consulting where she has provided training and consultation for Executive Directors, CFOs, and Boards of Directors of over 9,500 nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. She focuses her work on rethinking nonprofit strategies for financial sustainability, Board financial oversight, compliance with federal funds management requirements, and the challenges of nonprofit accounting and financial reporting. She is a frequent presenter for state and regional coalitions of nonprofits, and continuing professional education programs for attorneys and accountants serving the nonprofit sector. She has worked extensively with Community Action Agencies, CAPLAW, and the National Community Action Partnership. Kay has authored multiple financial management toolkits for CAAs and other nonprofits, including resources for cost allocation, financial reporting, dashboard development, and the revised OMB Uniform Guidance. She is a licensed public accountant and graduate of University of California at Berkeley. She has a master’s in teaching from Reed College and completed post-graduate work in accounting and business law at Portland State University.

Liz focuses her practice on tax advisory and planning matters for domestic entities and individuals. Liz regularly provides transactional tax advice on a range of matters, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private equity transactions, and fund formation. She also works with clients on business formation and operational issues, including choice of entity, capital raises, equity incentive planning, and the like. In addition, she has experience working with clients to structure investments and transactions involving real estate investment trusts and qualified opportunity zone funds. Liz has consistently been ranked as One to Watch by The Best Lawyers in America and was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2021. She currently serves as a co-chair of the Closely Held Business Committee for the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and programs sponsored by the American Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. Prior to joining Venable, Liz served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable L. Paige Marvel of the U.S. Tax Court.

Ashley is Director of Public Policy at the Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN), which has a mission to end hunger in Arizona through food banking, public policy, and innovative programming. She joined AzFBN in 2017 and has led numerous successful state and federal advocacy campaigns focused on making nutritious food accessible, affordable, and equitably available to all Arizonans. In 2024, Ashley led AzFBN and a statewide coalition of child nutrition advocates to secure Arizona’s first-ever investment of state resources into school meals, specifically to cover the cost of reduced-price school meal co-pays for families. She has also led numerous administrative advocacy campaigns primarily focused on making the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) more accessible, including an ongoing program launched in 2022 to extend SNAP certification periods and simplify the application process for older adults. Prior to joining AzFBN, Ashley worked on international food and water policy at Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability and the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC.

As Chief Government Affairs officer, Ellen directs the development and implementation of FRAC’s legislative agenda. Working with Congress, national organizations, and FRAC’s diverse state and local grassroots field network, she advocates for improved access and participation to domestic anti-hunger programs for low-income individuals and families. Ellen joined FRAC in 1986 as a staff attorney and had previously worked at the American Bar Association’s Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the Consumer Federation of America. She is a Member of the DC Bar and serves as the Chair of the Coalition on Human Needs Board of Directors and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the James Beard Foundation. Honors include: National WIC Association Leadership Award, 2006; Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association Award, 2003 & 2010; and the Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellows’ Fairy Godmother Award, 2008. Ellen has a B.A. in political science and English literature from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law.

Brian is Managing Director at Tipton KPCL in metro Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, he practiced law in Montgomery, Alabama, with Sasser, Sefton, Brown, Tipton & Davis, P.C., as a Shareholder. Prior to entering private practice, he completed a judicial clerkship with Senior United States District Judge James H. Hancock, of the Northern District of Alabama. His practice is concentrated in the representation of nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations. He regularly represents Community Action Agencies and Head Start Programs in the areas of regulatory compliance, audits, funding source disputes, administrative appeals, and litigation. In addition, Brian consults with organizations on governance, human resources, programmatic, and corporate matters, and develops and presents training programs for nonprofits. He is a summa cum laude graduate of both the Louisiana State University and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.

Ted serves as the Managing Partner of the law firm Feldesman LLP and is a member of the Health Care and Federal Grants practice groups. Ted focuses his practice on helping organizations to solve problems, often in crisis situations. A national authority in the area of federal grants, particularly in the health and community service spheres, he advises clients on all aspects of program requirements, including issues such as cost-based reimbursement, governance and the never-ending list of grant administration matters. For over 35 years, Ted has counseled numerous Community Action Agencies, Head Start programs and other federally funded entities, negotiated with federal and state officials, and represented clients in front of state and federal courts, administrative tribunals, Offices of Inspector General, and federal agencies. Ted has extensive experience advising boards and senior leadership in organizations undergoing major management changes, often in high-profile situations. He also serves as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School. Ted graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Alex is a Principal in ML Weekes & Company, PC located in Guilford, Connecticut. For over 30 years, he has provided a variety of services to assist clients who receive grants and contracts from federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Department of Labor (DoL) and the Department of Defense (DoD). He assists in the evaluation, interpretation and implementation of procurement and administrative regulations related to government grants and contracts. He has extensive experience with the federal regulations and guidelines governing NIH and DoD grants and contracts including the Federal Acquisition Regulations and 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance). Alex has served many Hospitals, Not-for-Profits, and Colleges and Universities with various federal grant and contracting matters. He specializes in assisting clients with optimizing direct and indirect cost reimbursement while minimizing compliance risk. His experience and services include the preparation and analysis of Facilities and Administrative (F&A) and indirect cost rates and the negotiation of these rates with government representatives. He is recognized nationwide for his expertise on direct and indirect cost recovery. Alex earned his accounting degree from Plymouth State University. 

Cheryl is Executive Director of the National Association of State Community Service Programs with more than 20 years of public policy and operations experience in the federal government and nonprofit sector. As Vice President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute, she provided strategic leadership to bring together women policymakers and trusted partners to advance issues important to women and girls, develop the next generation of women leaders, and foster a more effective and representative democracy. Previously, Cheryl served as Associate Director of Government Affairs for the United Negro College Fund, where she advocated on behalf of historically black colleges and universities and to increase access to higher education for students with low incomes. As senior legislative assistant to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, she was a trusted advisor on voting rights, women’s health, labor and employment, education, and appropriations, among other issues. A native Washingtonian, Cheryl serves on the boards of Everyone Home DC and the CKA SAVE Project. She also is a longtime volunteer with Food and Friends and SisterMentors. She earned her bachelor's degree from Spelman College and her law degree from American University.