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Allman, Kim
Corporation for National and Community Service
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Mayor
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Todd Arwood Performance Partners
Todd Arwood founded Todd Arwood Seminars, Inc. in March of 1999 in Louisville, Kentucky. Through a determination to make a positive difference in workplace environments, Todd Arwood Seminars experienced phenomenal business growth and Mr. Arwood became a sought out trainer for organizations seeking excellence. Through the process of working intimately with organizations, Todd Arwood Seminars slowly began to shift business paradigms from just basic seminars to full-fledged organizational development via customized learning programs. After months of research and strategic planning, he decided to change the business name and image to more clearly reflect the mission, hence Todd Arwood Performance Partners.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division
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Barclay, Meg
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Bastrache, Danielle
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Mayor
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47th Vice President of the United States
As a Senator from Delaware for 36 years, Senator Biden established himself as a leader on some of our nation's most important domestic and international challenges. As Chairman or Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee for 17 years, then-Senator Biden was widely recognized for his work on criminal justice issues including the landmark 1994 Crime Bill and the Violence Against Women Act. As Chairman or Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 1997, then-Senator Biden played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy. He has been at the forefront of issues and legislation related to terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, post-Cold War Europe, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.
Full bio: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden
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Executive Director External Tax Policy
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Associate, Intergovermental Affairs
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National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Senior Director, Congressional Relations, Public Affairs and Field Operations
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Chief, Municipal Branch, Water Permits Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water
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Bowen, Dale
Public Technology Institute
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Steve became President of AmericaSpeaks in July, 2012, after serving for 12
years as the organizations Chief Operating Officer. Steve has experience in
every aspect of AmericaSpeaks’ projects and organizational work. He has led
several dozen public engagement and stakeholder engagement projects and has
deep experience in project design, meeting design, and large and small group
facilitation. He led the growth of AmericaSpeaks from a $1 million annual
budget to a $5 million-plus annual budget. He has led projects at the city, state,
region, and international levels on policy issues ranging from health care reform
and strategic budgeting to urban planning, global poverty, and climate change.
Prior to joining AmericaSpeaks, Steve served as a senior associate for the Kaludis
Consulting Group in the Strategy Group, working primarily on strategic planning
and organizational assessment projects for higher education clients. He also
served as a principal at Group Decision Support Systems.
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Theo Brown has more than 30 years of experience as an organizer, administrator, facilitator, and trainer working on behalf of social justice, human rights, racial reconciliation, and intercultural understanding. He has worked with
a wide variety of national organizations, regional coalitions, and local community projects which seek to empower and involve individuals in efforts to make a difference on important social issues.
Theo began his career as a social change organizer in the 1970s when he worked as a community organizer in Roanoke, VA. He later spent three more years working in similar programs in inner-city neighborhoods in San Francisco, CA and Waco, TX. After his time as a community organizer, he worked for eight years for national organizations working for human rights, political reform, and nuclear arms control. Specific position he held include: Western Regional Director of Amnesty International, Texas State Director of Common Cause, Regional Director of Common Cause, and Executive Director of Ground Zero.
During the past 15 years, Theo has served as a consultant for many community organizations, educational institutions, and other groups working to increase understanding and cooperative action across ethnic, cultural and religious lines. Organizations he has worked for include: the Interfaith Alliance, the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Fetzer Institute, the Faith and Politics Institute, Alexandria Interfaith Ministry, American University, and the Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture.
Since 1998, he has also been a Senior Associate with AmericaSpeaks. In this capacity, he has helped to coordinate outreach and recruit participants for town meetings that were attended by thousands of people in Washington, DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Akron, New Orleans, Atlanta, Dallas, Albuquerque, and many other cities across the country.
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Bueermann, James
Police Foundation
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National Crime Prevention Council
An internationally renowned public speaker, Jack Calhoun in his “retirement,” directs the 13-California City Gang Prevention Network for the National League of Cities, and serves as Senior Consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice for its National Forum to Prevent Youth Violence. He is the author of Hope Matters: The Untold Story of How Faith Works in America.
Jack served as Commissioner of the Department of Youth Services in Massachusetts where he chaired the Adolescent and State of the Family task forces.
In 1979 President Carter appointed him as U.S. Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, overseeing such programs as Head Start, foster care and adoption. He helped to write the landmark Child Welfare and Adoption Act of 1980, called “one of the three most important laws affecting children in the last 100 years.” He was Vice President of the Child Welfare League of America and , in 1983, the first President of the National Crime Prevention Council, where, for 20 years, he revolutionized crime prevention by focusing on building vital communities, and involving youth as positive community change agents.
Beginning as a teacher and community organizer, he created employment, court diversion and restitution programs for Action for Boston Community Development and Justice Resource Institute.
In constant demand as a speaker, jack has also testified before city councils, county commissions, state legislatures and Congress. A frequent media guest, he has served on numerous boards, published many articles, and received many awards.
Listed in WHO’s WHO IN AMERICA and THE WORLD, he earned a BA from Brown University, a Master’s Degree in Theology from the Episcopal Divinity School, a Master’s degree with honors in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and, from Heidelberg College, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
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Cardinal, Jon
United States Senate
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Minority Business Development Agency
National Deputy Director
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Mayor
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Malcom “Chap” Chapman is president and founder of the Chapman Group, founded 1996, which offers a variety of consulting services including retreat facilitation, strategic planning, training, leadership development, course development, seminars, and keynote addresses. Additionally, he offers course
work based on models he has designed: Harvesting the Company Mind and The Five Powers.
Chap draws from wide-ranging experience in both public and private sectors to enrich his work through the Chapman Group. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp and held the rank of Captain at his discharge, enjoyed a career in professional sales, worked as a consultant to the Center for Naval Analysis—a
Washington, D.C. think tank, and is active with American Society for Training and Development.
Elected to the Rapid City Common Council in 2004, Chap served as Ward 5 Alderman for three two-year
terms. He was elected by his peers to the leadership position of vice-president and later to the position of
president. As president, he chaired budget hearings which adopted a $126 million budget while serving as
liaison to sixteen different committees. Committees Chap served on during his time on the Council
included Legal and Finance Committee (Chair), Vision 2012 Committee, Public Works Committee,
Capital Improvements Program Committee, Safe Streets Task Force (Chair), Rapid City Regional Airport
Board (Liaison), Task Force on Strengthening Families and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth,
Dakota Land Trust Board (President), Floodplain Development Policy Committee, Tax Increment
Finance Committee, Deer Herd Management Committee, Emergency Management Committee, Water
Advocacy Task Force, and Annexation Sub-Committee.
While on the Council, Chap was active with the SD Municipal League which extended to his participation
on the Resolutions Committee and Taxation and Revenue Committee.
Chap’s commitment to local government led him to become active in the National League of Cities
(NLC). In addition to presenting at NLC Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Seminars, Chap has served
on the Board of Directors, NLC’s Human Development Steering Committee, LTI Board, Governance
Taskforce, and Advisory Council. That same commitment has led Chap back to school to peruse a
Masters in Public Administration.
Service has been central to Chap throughout his life. His activity with community organizations includes
Optimists International, Optimists of the Black Hills, Leadership Rapid City, United Way of the Black
Hills, Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, Youth and Family Services, and Rapid City Library
Foundation, and life member of the Military Officer Association of America. Chap’s current priority is to
work to further early childhood education and affordable housing issues.
Chap and his family live in Rapid City, SD.
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Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development
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Councilmember
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U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Acting Director, Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
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Mayor
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DeLaRosa, Anthony
United States Student Association
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General Dempsey is the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces and the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. Prior to becoming Chairman, Dempsey served as the Army’s 37th Chief of Staff. A New Jersey native and career armor officer, General Dempsey is a 1974 graduate of West Point. During more than 37 years of service, he has commanded at every echelon – from platoon to combatant command across the United States and the globe.
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Dena Loftin, Tiffany
United States Student Association
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U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Devt.
On January 26, 2009, Shaun Donovan was sworn in as the 15th United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development.
He has devoted his career to ensuring access to safe, decent, and affordable housing, and has continued that effort in the Obama Administration. Secretary Donovan believes that America's homes are the foundation for family, safe neighborhoods, good schools, and job creation.
His tenure as HUD Secretary has reflected his commitment to making quality housing possible for every American. Sworn in at a time when the foreclosure crisis had devastated American families, under Secretary Donovan’s leadership HUD has helped stabilize the housing market and worked to keep responsible families in their homes. The agency has instituted reforms that have solidified the Federal Housing Administration’s financial position and protected the taxpayer against risk, while still preserving FHA’s mission of providing responsible access to homeownership.
In December 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force and appointed Secretary Donovan as Chair. The Task Force is charged with creating a comprehensive regional plan, based on local vision for redevelopment, to guide long term disaster recovery efforts. This appointment built on his experience with disaster-related recovery and rebuilding challenges from a national perspective in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Together with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, he led the President’s Long-Term Disaster Working Group composed of more than 20 federal agencies. The Group worked closely with State and local communities, as well as experts and stakeholders from around the nation, to create the National Disaster Recovery Framework published in 2011.
Secretary Donovan has reaffirmed HUD’s commitment to building strong, sustainable, inclusive neighborhoods that are connected to education and jobs and provide access to opportunity for all Americans. He has launched new initiatives like Choice Neighborhoods, which will enable distressed communities to use proven mixed-use, mixed-finance tools to transform not just federally-assisted housing, but the neighborhoods around that housing. And through the new Sustainable Communities partnership with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, HUD is helping regions and communities develop comprehensive housing and transportation plans that create jobs and help American businesses out-innovate their global competitors.
Secretary Donovan has a long history of working to provide affordable housing to American families. He previously served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). He created and implemented HPD's New Housing Marketplace Plan to build and preserve 165,000 affordable homes, the largest municipal affordable housing plan in the nation's history.
His work at HPD included the New York City Acquisition Fund, an award-winning collaboration with foundations and banks to finance affordable housing; an innovative inclusionary zoning program; an ambitious supportive housing plan; and the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, one of the earliest responses to the foreclosure crisis. Before his service as HPD Commissioner, Secretary Donovan worked in the private sector on financing affordable housing, and was a visiting scholar at New York University, where he researched and wrote about the preservation of federally-assisted housing.
He was also a consultant to the Millennial Housing Commission on strategies for increasing the production of multifamily housing. The Commission was created by the United States Congress to recommend ways to expand housing opportunities across the nation. Secretary Donovan rejoins HUD after his previous service in the Clinton administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing, where he was the primary federal official responsible for privately-owned multifamily housing. At that time, he ran housing programs that helped 1.7 million families access affordable housing.
He also served as acting FHA Commissioner during the Clinton/Bush presidential transition. Prior to his first service at HUD, he worked at the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) in New York City, a non-profit lender and developer of affordable housing. He also researched and wrote about housing policy at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and worked as an architect. Secretary Donovan holds a B.A. and Masters degrees in Public Administration and Architecture from Harvard.
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U.S. Department of Energy
Stakeholder Engagement Director
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Southeast Director, US Government Affairs
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Mayor
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Falcuson, Jeff
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
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National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Associate Administrator
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Freely, Joshua
The Reinvestment Fund
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Regional Administrator, Region III
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Survey Statistician
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Gilmartin, Daniel
Michigan Municipal League
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Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Executive Director
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National League of Cities
NLC staff
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Goldstein, Ira
The Reinvestment Fund
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Survey Statistician
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Acting Section Chief, Community Affairs Branch
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Mayor
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Director, Office of Strategic Outreach, Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Communications Director, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
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Intergovernmental Liaison, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations
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Warrior and Family Support Office of the Chairman
Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Municipal Stormwater Program, Office of Water
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Herrmann, Jed
Corporation for National and Community Service
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U.S. Department of Education
Senior Policy Advisor
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Mayor
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations
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Jimenez, Andres
City of New York - Office of Federal Affairs
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Johnson, Brad
Department of Homeland Security
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Nova Southeastern University
Training Manager, NOVA Southeastern University and Syracuse University
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General Services Administration
Industry Specialist
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Chief of Staff, Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
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International Council of Shopping Centers
Senior Staff Vice President, Office of Global Public Policy
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Partner
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Virginia Municipal League
Director of Environmental Policy
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Mayor
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Department of Health and Human Services
Council to the Secretary
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs
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Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights
Associate Counsel, Voting Rights Project
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Lo, Kalwis
United States Student Association
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
US EPA
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Lueckenhoff, Dominique
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Washington Speakers Bureau
Dr. Frank Luntz, celebrated pollster and political consultant, will address conference attendees at this year's Congressional City Conference in Washington this March. Luntz will speak to conference attendees at the opening general session on Monday, March 11, 2013.
Luntz's insight and expertise on communication is critical now as NLC leaders seek to influence the national policy debate, both in Washington and throughout the country. Luntz—a ‘language architect and public opinion guru'—is widely recognized for his ability to craft messages that resonate with the American people. He will offer his renowned understanding on messaging to city leaders and share effective tips on crafting powerful and compelling advocacy rhetoric. Additionally, he will discuss how to use specific words and language to talk successfully with federal policy makers and constituents, articulate and frame policy debates and compose winning messages.
Luntz draws his experience as the architect of several national policy campaigns, including the 2005 immigration debate, and is widely recognized as the pollster of record for the Contract of America in 1994, that was credited with returning the House of Representatives to the Republican Party.
Luntz has advised everyone from Presidential candidates to Members of Congress and Rudy Giuliani when he campaigned for, and served as mayor of New York City. In addition, his polling firm has done work for more than two dozen Fortune 100 companies. He is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Words that Work: It's Not what You say, It's What People Hear. From 1989 until 1996 Dr. Luntz was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; he has also taught classes at Harvard and George Washington University.
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Mayor, City of Tallahassee
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Senator John McCain has a remarkable record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982, John has led the fight for reforming Washington, eliminating wasteful government spending, and strengthening our nation's armed forces.
Senator McCain's reform agenda to reduce federal spending and lower taxes quickly elevated him to statewide office and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1986, after serving two terms in the U.S. House.
In the Senate, he continued to demand that Congress put an end to loopholes for special interests and fix the broken system in Washington that too often allows lobbyists to write legislation and members of Congress to waste taxpayer money. In November of 2010, Senator McCain was overwhelmingly reelected with nearly sixty percent of the vote.
As the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain deeply values duty, honor and service of country. John attended college at the United States Naval Academy, and launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator upon his graduation.
On July 29, 1967, John narrowly survived the first of many near-death experiences during his lifetime while preparing to take off on a bombing mission over North Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal. A missile accidentally fired from a nearby plane struck the fuel tanks on his plane.
Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster, Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country, for five and a half years.
During his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck his plane and forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten by the North Vietnamese. He spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement, aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally released and able to return home years later, Senator McCain continued his service by regaining his naval flight status.
Senator McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the United States Senate. He retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator McCain currently serves on the following Senate Committees during the 113th Congress: Armed Services Committee; Committee on Foreign Relations; Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Committee on Indian Affairs.
Senator McCain has seven children and four grandchildren, and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cindy
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Deputy Assistant Secretary
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Points of Light Foundation
VP of Military Initiatives
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National League of Cities
Senior Fellow, Institute for Youth,
Education and Families, NLC
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Morse, Ann
National Conference of State Legislators
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Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Sustainable Communities
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The Novak Consulting Group
Julia established The Novak Consulting Group in September 2009 when she acquired Public Management Partners. From 2003 to 2009, she served as a Vice President for a local government consulting firm. Julia has more than 20 years of experience working with and for local governments. She is a consultant, trainer and
facilitator who has worked with numerous organizations and community groups. During her local government career, she worked in Fort Collins, Colorado; Lexington, Massachusetts; Rockville, Maryland; and was City Manager of Rye, New York. Julia has extensive experience as a facilitator and trainer. She has
worked with elected official and appointed officials across the country to conduct goal setting, develop strategic plans and prioritize service delivery. She has conducted training for elected officials as an individual trainer, through the National League of Cities, and through a consortium of cities in California. Topics
included leadership style and evaluating elected officials. Julia has also established herself as a thought leader in the area of governance and administration. In April 2002, Julia was one of 20 practitioners who participated in the ICMA-sponsored symposium on the future of local government administration. Her response to Dr. James Svara’s paper, “City Council, Roles, Performance, and the Form of Government,” is included in the ICMA-published book, “The Future of Local Government Administration.” In 2009, she co-authored an article with Dr. John Nalbandian for publication in Public Management Magazine called "Preparing Councils for Their Work."
In 2000, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) awarded Julia its Assistant’s
Excellence in Leadership Award for work she did building community and increasing organizational capacity
as Deputy City Manager of Rockville, Maryland.
Julia has been a speaker at national conferences for the ICMA, National League of Cities and American
Society of Public Administrators. She has been a featured speaker/trainer for many state associations,
including Ohio, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, the Metropolitan (D.C.) Association
of Local Government Administrators and the Illinois Assistant Municipal Managers Association.
Julia earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from George Mason University and a master’s
degree in public administration from the University of Kansas. Julia was in the first class of individuals
certified by ICMA as Credentialed Local Government Managers, and maintains that designation. She is
certified to administer several level-B psychological assessments, including the Myers-Briggs Personality Type
Indicator, Apter Motivational Styles Profile and the Strength Deployment Inventory. She also is trained in
popular level-A assessments, including the Thomas-Killman Conflict Modes Inventory and the Human
Element-B.
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Mayor
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Land Revitalization Coordinator, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
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Councilmember, City of Tampa
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Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Services,
Counsel
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Pluviose-Fenton, Veronique
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Preston, Drew
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Special Assistant for Tax Policy
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Department of Homeland Security, National Association Coordinator
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U.S. Department of the Treasury
Director, Financial Education
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Nat'l. Assn. of Housing & Redevelopment
Chief Executive Officer
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After 34 years of public service, including 24 years as an elected official, Governor Rendell continues to pursue many of the same issues he was passionate about while serving. His commitment to making America a cleaner, more efficient place and to fostering investment in our nation's crumbling infrastructure is as strong as it ever was. Rendell has become a champion for progress in the area of alternative energy, and now serves as a consultant or board member for several green and alternative energy firms, including Own Energy, Element Partners and Ocean Thermal Energy. He has also remained heavily involved in the campaign for government efficiency and strategic cost cutting through his work with entities such as Government Sourcing Solutions, Public Financial Management and Greenhill Advisors.
Perhaps no other issue has been and continues to be as important to Governor Rendell as America's dire need to rebuild and reinvest in its infrastructure. As Governor, Rendell worked with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to create an organization called "Building America's Future." The organization focuses on the need for a more significant investment in American infrastructure projects to ensure that America maintains its place as a global economic power. Governor Rendell currently serves as Co-Chair of the organization and travels throughout the country speaking about this issue.
Rendell served two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011) and oversaw a budget of $28.3 billion as the chief executive of the nation's 6th-most-populous state. As Governor, Rendell was committed to making government more responsible and responsive to the public's needs, and he successfully cut wasteful spending and improved efficiency leading to savings of over $1 billion. His legislative agenda focused on commonsense political reform and putting progress ahead of partisanship. Through his unprecedented strategic investments, he energized Pennsylvania's economy, revitalized communities, improved education, protected the environment, expanded access to health care to all children, and made affordable prescription drugs available to older Pennsylvanians. During his two terms as Mayor of Philadelphia (1992-2000), Rendell eliminated a crippling deficit, balanced the City's budget, and generated five consecutive budget surpluses. Philadelphia's renaissance, which The New York Times called "the most stunning turnaround in recent urban history," is largely attributed to his determination, inspiration, and energy.
Before serving as Mayor, Rendell was elected District Attorney of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978 through 1985. Rendell also served as Chairman of the Democratic National Com - mittee during the 2000 Presidential election. He currently sits on several boards, is a Brookings Fellow and teaches government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania. Rendell recently finished his autobiography, A Nation of Wusses. It is scheduled to be released in early June. Advanced copies are available at: http://www.wiley.com/buy/1118279050
An Army veteran, he holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Villanova Law School.
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U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Director of Veterans Benefits Assistance Service
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Minority Business Development Agency
Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
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Vice President, After School Alliance
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Councilmember
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President / CEO
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Department of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 28, 2009. Since taking office, Secretary Sebelius has led ambitious efforts to improve America’s health and enhance the delivery of human services to some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, including young children, those with disabilities, and the elderly.
As part of the historic Affordable Care Act, Secretary Sebelius is implementing reforms that end many of the insurance industry’s worst abuses, and will help 34 million uninsured Americans get health coverage. Under the law, she is also carrying out policies that put a new focus on wellness and prevention, support the adoption of electronic medical records, and help recruit and train more primary care health providers.
In addition, Secretary Sebelius is working closely with doctors, nurses, hospital leaders, employers, and patients to slow the growth in health care costs through better care and better health. And under her leadership, HHS has formed a historic partnership with the Department of Justice to stamp out health care fraud that has already returned record sums to the Medicare Trust Fund.
Secretary Sebelius is committed to ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation. Under her leadership, HHS is promoting public-private collaboration to bring life-saving treatments and medicines to market. The Department is also working to build a 21st century food safety system that will prevent outbreaks before they occur. And it is collaborating with the Department of Education, to help states increase the quality of early childhood education programs, and give parents more information to make the best choices for their children.
Secretary Sebelius also leads the nation’s emergency health response to crises and natural disasters, including the Haiti earthquake, the Gulf oil spill, and the Joplin, Missouri tornado. And as America’s top health official, she continues to work with our international partners to confront global health issues like polio, HIV/AIDS, and the growing costs of chronic disease around the world.
Forbes has named Secretary Sebelius one of the 100 most powerful women in the world. Before her Cabinet appointment in April, 2009, she served as Governor of Kansas beginning in 2003, where she was named one of America’s Top Five Governors by Time Magazine. From 1995 to 2003 she served as Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.
Secretary Sebelius is the first daughter of a governor to be elected governor in American history; her father John Gilligan served as Ohio’s Governor from 1971-75. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity Washington University. She is married to Gary Sebelius, a federal magistrate judge. They have two sons, John and Ned, and a daughter-in-law, Lisa.
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Council Vice President
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District Department of the Environment
Chief, Office of Policy and Sustainability
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Shark, Alan
Public Technology Institute
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Singer, Audrey
Brookings Institute
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Slavin, Jeffrey
Town of Somerset
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Warrior and Family Support Office of the Chairman
Deputy Director
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Spencer, Wendy
Corporation for National and Community Service
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Vice President & Managing Director, US Government Affairs
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Executive Director/General Counsel, IMLA
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Mayor
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Tobocman, Steve
Global Detroit
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Administrator for Housing and Community Facilities Program
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General Services Administration
Business Management Specialist
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Professor
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack serves as the nation's 30th Secretary of the Agriculture.
As leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vilsack is working hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, build vibrant rural communities and create new markets for the tremendous innovation of rural America.
In four years at the Department, Vilsack has worked to implement President Obama's agenda to put Americans back to work and create an economy built to last. USDA has supported America's farmers, ranchers and growers who are driving the rural economy forward, provided food assistance to millions of Americans, carried out record conservation efforts, made record investments in our rural communities and helped provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people.
As chair of the first-ever White House Rural Council, Secretary Vilsack and USDA are taking steps to strengthen services for rural businesses and entrepreneurs creating job opportunities - finding new ways to partner with other Federal agencies and the private sector to spur investment.
USDA is promoting American agriculture by conducting cutting-edge research and improving markets at home and abroad. The years 2009-2012 represent the strongest four years in history for agricultural trade, and new trade agreements President Obama signed with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama will create even more export opportunities for American farmers and ranchers. Here at home, USDA has helped increase the number of farmers markets by 67 percent since 2008, and today there are more than 200 new regional food hubs to help connect farmers with broader regional markets.
Vilsack knows that conserving natural resources is critical to the long-term strength of our economy. That is why USDA has enrolled a record number of private working lands in conservation programs and implemented new strategies - such as landscape-scale efforts - to restore our forests and clean our water supply. This work is creating private sector jobs protecting and rehabilitating our forests and wetlands, and providing increased opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Under Vilsack's leadership, USDA has partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move initiative to improve the health and nutrition of America's children. He helped pass and implement the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, enabling USDA to help combat child hunger and obesity by making the most significant improvements to school lunches in 30 years. He led a comprehensive effort to improve the safety of the American food supply, implementing changes to food safety standards to prevent illnesses by reducing the prevalence of E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter in our meat and poultry.
He has made civil rights a top priority, reaching historic resolutions to all major past cases of discrimination brought against USDA by minority groups, and taking definitive action to move USDA into a new era as a model employer and premier service provider.
Prior to his appointment, Vilsack served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vilsack was born into an orphanage and adopted in 1951. After graduating Hamilton College and Albany Law School, he moved to Mt. Pleasant, his wife Christie's hometown, where he practiced law. The Vilsacks have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law - Doug, married to Janet; and Jess, married to Kate. They also have two grandchildren.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Specialists
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J.C. Watts is the chairman of the J.C. Watts Companies, a multi-industry holding company headquartered in Washington, DC, with operations in Texas, Oklahoma, and South Korea.
J.C. was elected to the U.S. Congress from the fourth district of Oklahoma in 1994. In 1998, he was elected by his peers to serve as chairman of the Republican Conference, the fourth-ranking leadership position in the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a position once held by Dick Cheney, Jack Kemp and Gerald Ford. In this capacity, J.C. provided daily counsel to the Speaker of the House, and participated in bi-weekly meetings with the President of the United States.
As a Member of Congress representing the fourth district of Oklahoma, J.C. served for eight years on the House Armed Services Committee. He authored legislation to create, and then he later served on, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security. He also served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the House Banking Committee.
Full bio: http://www.wattsconsultinggroup.com/team/wcg-jcwatts.htm
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American Federation of Teachers
President, AFT
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Chemical Engineer, Office of Water
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National League of Cities
Manager, Let's Move Cities, Towns and Counties!
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U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Director
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National League of Cities
Legislative Counsel
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Wyant, Monica
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Yezak, Jennifer
U.S. Department of Agriculture
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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Program Analyst
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Bainbridge Leadership Center
Donna began her career as a community mental health nurse in Oregon. Later, she was the sole owner and CEO of her multi-store food retail company in Portland, Oregon. Donna soon parleyed her love of community and leadership into a career in elected office, having served three terms in the Oregon Legislature. She was her party’s nominee for Secretary of State and served on numerous policy committees such as vice-chair of the state Trade and Economic Committee and chaired the Governor’s Commission on Mental Health. Her book, The Politics of Hope: Reviving the Dream of Democracy is a primer on the new leadership attributes crucial for success during these chaotic times. Donna has been an executive coach and leadership development consultant for ten years, coaching public leaders who serve as city councilors, mayors, county commissioners and state legislators as well as business leaders. Donna also has had the privilege of working with women in Cuenca, Ecuador and Tunis, Tunisia, who aspire to become public leaders. She is a keynote speaker and seminar leader focusing on developing collaborative leadership skills.
