2022 Fellowship Class

Ames Barnett

Watkinsville, GA

Ames Barnett was born and raised in Washington, Georgia, and was taught at an early age the importance of serving one’s community.  Ames’ grandmother, Mildred Barnett, was the first woman elected to Washington’s City Council and his great uncle was the late State Senator Sam McGill.

After graduating from Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School, Ames attended Georgia Southern University.  While at Georgia Southern t Ames started his first business, Barnett Southern, a heavy civil site contractor.  Several years later he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering Technology.

Through hard work, a dedicated workforce, and the addition of three new divisions, Ames grew Barnett Southern Corporation into a prosperous business that is today known for its quality work and superior service for its customers.  Barnett Southern Corporation was honored as the 2014 “Big Business of the Year” by the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. Governor Nathan Deal appointed Ames to serve on the Georgia State Workforce Investment Board in 2014.

Ames, his wife Ashley, and their three children, Porter, Turner, and Barron, live in Watkinsville.  When Ames isn’t walking a job site, you will find him coaching his sons’ Little League Baseball and Little League Football teams.  The Barnetts attend Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens.

William Bateman

Arlington, VA

Teresa Beckmeyer

Lorraine, TX

Teresa currently serves as the Sr. Political Advisor to the Saulsbury Family where she works in all facets of the political process from grassroots activism, to large donor activities, to congressional and legislative interests.  

She previously served as the Executive Director of the Texas House Freedom Caucus from 2017-2019 and as Mitchell County Republican Chairman for over 15 years.  She has served as a Regional Director for the Texas Republican County Chairman’s Association, both rules and nominations committee representative for Texas Senate District 28 to the Texas State Convention, and on various national and state campaigns.  Teresa is one of the seven founding members of the Texas Conservative Grassroots Coalition which is the longest surviving volunteer based conservative coalition of its kind in the nation.  

She serves as Chair of the Mitchell Co. Library Board, is a member of the Mitchell Co Republican Club Board, a precinct chair, and has been a delegate to the Texas State Republican Convention for the past 9 conventions.  A fifth generation Texan, she is past business owner, wife of 34 years, and mother to three grown homeschooled children.

Cameron Belt

Las Vegas, NV

Cameron Belt has spent the last 6 years redefining transportation in Nevada by working with two of the fastest growing companies in history. He is currently the Southwest Regional Analytics Manager for Lyft. Prior to this, Cameron worked for Uber as an Operations Strategy Manager, scaling the newly-launched Las Vegas business. His background combines experience in research, applied economics, operations, strategic finance, and business analytics. For the past 10 years, Cameron has also provided expert economic analysis for multiple groups in Nevada, including the Nevada Policy Research Institute and the University of Nevada Center for Economic Development. Through these positions he has helped shape state-wide policy on topics such as the fiscal impacts of expanding public employee unions, the effects of introducing a sales tax on local services, and barriers to entrepreneurship. Cameron holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. His writings have been published through the Heritage Foundation, NPRI, and his work has been cited in the WSJ. Cameron is a Board Member for the Keystone Corporation, Nevada’s foremost pro-business organization. He has been married to his wife, Amber, since 2017, and they hope to start a family soon.

Michael Beltran

Lithia, FL

Rep. Mike Beltran was born in New York City, NY. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in International Relations, magna cum laude. He then went on to earn his Law Degree from Harvard Law School in 2008, before moving to Florida in 2010, where he served as a law clerk to a Federal District Judge. He is still a practicing attorney by trade and he is happily married to his wife, Hope, and they have two sons, Michael and Ross.

Mike is also an Eagle Scout and takes pride in this formative experience he had growing up. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Florida Lawyer and has been appointed by Governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida’s Thirteenth Circuit Court in Hillsborough County. Mike was first elected to the Florida House in 2018 and was re-elected in 2020 to a second term. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Civil Justice and Property Rights Committee. Mike is known in the legislature as an expert on the Constitution, with a conservative, originalist, and textualist approach. Mike is a passionate fighter in the courtroom and in the legislature for the causes he believes in and is grateful to his constituents for the opportunity to serve.

Kristi Burton Brown

Greenwood Village, CO

Kristi Burton Brown is the Chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party, a constitutional attorney, and a guest radio host. She helped to negotiate Colorado’s Free Speech on Campus bill and has testified for legislation in multiple states on behalf of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm of the Susan B. Anthony List. Kristi was Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s Lead Policy Advisor in her 2020 general election campaign, and is the youngest GOP Chair in Colorado history, as well as the first woman to serve in 40 years. She is the author of “Do Justice: Practical Ways to Engage Our World,” a wife, and the mother of two kids.

Rory Diamond

Neptune Beach, FL

As CEO of K9s For Warriors, Diamond is responsible for the organization’s executive management and strategic vision. Under his leadership, K9s For Warriors has grown to be the nation’s largest provider of Service Dogs for disabled American veterans and the largest Service Dog agency in the world using primarily rescue dogs. Before leading K9s For Warriors, Diamond was a litigator at two international law firms. He also served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, specializing in public corruption and financial fraud prosecutions. Before earning his law degree, he served as Briefing Director for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and as a Deputy Associate Director at the White House for President George W. Bush. He was working in the White House on 9/11 and, ultimately, served as part of the startup staff for the U.S. Office of Homeland Security. Diamond is a national advocate for American veterans, focusing primarily on combat-related PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma, veteran suicide, and veteran homelessness. He has been instrumental in leading the organization’s involvement in legislative efforts that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program that would provide a Service Dog to qualifying military veterans suffering from military-related trauma. In 2016, he helped found the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans (ASDPMV), endeavoring to raise Service Dog standards and outlaw fake “Service Dogs”. In 2017, he conceived and helped found “Service Dog Pass,” the nation’s first nationally recognized credential for legitimate Service Dogs. Locally, Diamond has served on the Neptune Beach City Council, where he focused on property rights and passed local legislation to end the use of fake “Service Dogs,”. In 2019, he was elected to the Jacksonville City Council, representing the Jacksonville beaches. As a city council member, he founded the nation’s first community-based veteran suicide prevention initiative, called “The Fire Watch”. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law, graduating Cum Laude, and completed his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. 

Jessi Ebben

Arcadia, WI

Jessi Ebben works to promote economic liberty, both professionally and in her civic involvement in the rural Midwest.

In 2020, she ran for the House of Representatives in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, seeking the Republican nomination. In a short timeframe, even as a grassroots newcomer to politics, she earned the endorsements and support of high-profile conservative, pro-growth legislators and organizations, in addition to more than 35 in-district elected officials and retired military leaders.

Her career in public relations has led to experiences working in local government, healthcare and manufacturing. She has firsthand experience making local municipalities accessible, transparent and accountable to their constituents by successfully communicating timely information to residents and appropriate stakeholders. She is currently working in public relations for one of the world’s largest manufacturers. Jessi’s public relations work has received multiple awards, including state and national recognition for her strategic communications plans during her time in the public sector, along with industry awards and speaking engagements regarding energy policy.

Jessi graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She lives in rural, western Wisconsin with her husband.

Ron Ferguson

Wintersville, OH

State Representative Ron Ferguson is currently serving his first term as State Representative for the 96th Ohio house district, which includes Jefferson County, Monroe County and part of Belmont County.

Born in Wintersville and raised in the Ohio Valley, Representative Ferguson is passionate about funding local communities. He is very involved in creating good jobs throughout Eastern Ohio and is currently working to develop an entertainment center to bring jobs and fun actives for families in the community. 

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from The Ohio State University. During his time at OSU, Representative Ferguson was a Politics, Society and Law Scholar. He has spent five years working as a television journalist and has most recently worked for WTOV-TV in Steubenville. 

Representative Ferguson resides in Wintersville.

Katie Frost

Newnan, GA

Katie Frost is the Georgia Executive Director for the State Freedom Caucus Network. A Georgia native, she began working in politics at the age of 19 and over the past 10 years has been involved in campaigns at every level from municipal to presidential, earning an 8-0 win record as a campaign manager. Notable victories include defeating an incumbent House Chairman 63%/37% and winning an open municipal race 82%/18%. Aside from her work on campaigns, she has worked in both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. 

In addition to her work with the Georgia Freedom Caucus, Katie has been active in her local Republican Party for many years, holding positions at the county, district, and state level, and was the youngest female delegate from Georgia to the 2016 National Convention. She currently serves on the State Committee and as 1st Vice-Chair of the 3rd District GAGOP. Outside of politics, Katie mentors high school students through the Newnan Youth Council and serves as a volunteer at Passion City Church. 

Chuck Gray

Casper, WY

Chuck has served in the Wyoming House of Representatives since 2017.

He is a five-time CPAC award winner for his conservative voting record each year he has been in the legislature.  Additionally, he has earned the Club for Growth’s Defender of Economic Freedom Award, as well as the Principles of Liberty legislative award for his voting record.

He passed Wyoming’s first pro-life bill in 30 years.

Chuck has led the State House to make Wyoming a model state for voter integrity by being the lead sponsor of a voter ID law, which successfully passed in 2021.  He is focused on economic freedom and limited government.  Chuck is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2012.

Shane Hernandez

Port Huron, MI

After studying Architecture and receiving a Master’s of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan in 2009, Shane Hernandez came home wanting to be more involved in his community. By 2012, he had run for County Commission, become the Chair of St. Clair County Republican Party, and joined the Blue Water Tea Party. After a brief stint as Chair of Blue Water Tea Party, Shane ran for the House of Representatives in Michigan’s 83^rd District. He served 4 years in the state house and became the first Hispanic Appropriations Chair in the history of Michigan and was named Michigan’s most conservative legislator in 2017. 

Following an unsuccessful bid for Congress, Shane started working as the Director of Strategy for Michigan House Speaker Jason Wentworth. Today, Shane is the Caucus Services Director for the House Republicans while also working on two side projects, Carr and Hernandez Properties LLC, a property management and development start up, and Hernandez Design Studio LLC, a residential design firm. He also started a political activist group called Hope Rising which focuses on people like himself, who because of the national narrative, believe they are Liberal, but their core values are actually Conservative. Hope Rising is focused on reaching people by spreading free market, conservative principles through action rather than arguing policy. 

Shane is married to Renee and they have two girls, Kelsey and Kara. They attend Lakeport Wesleyan Church and are involved in multiple Christian non-profits including New Life Christian Academy, Operation Transformation and Save Our Neighborhoods and Streets (SONS) Youth Outreach. 

Keith Herrick

West Gardiner, ME

Keith Herrick is a Partner at Dirigo Public Affairs, specializing in public relations, government affairs, campaign consulting, coalition building, association management and grassroots advocacy. Prior to joining Dirigo, Keith was a Sr. Government Affairs Specialist with Maine Street Solutions the lobbying arm of Verrill Dana LLP, and held various positions in politics, including legislative aide to the Senate Republicans, Campaign Director for the Maine House Republicans, Political Director for the Maine Senate Republican Majority PAC, and Campaign Manager for both the Mason for Governor campaign and the Courtney for Congress campaign. Most recently, Keith served as the Campaign Manager for the Dale Crafts for Congress campaign in 2020. In addition, Keith has served as a political advisor to various state legislative campaigns, congressional campaigns, and political action committees.

At Dirigo, Keith utilizes his vast experience to lead the grassroots advocacy campaigns, coalition building, public affairs, data collection, and social media ad campaigns, as well as, designing and implementing our lobbying efforts.

At the State House, Keith focuses on healthcare policy, workforce development, telecommunications, broadband expansion, education, and the budget process to include state bonding efforts.

Keith grew up in Windham, Maine, and he currently resides in West Gardiner with his wife, Leslie, and his two sons, Maddox and Emmett.

Chris Hill

McKinney, TX

As the County Judge for Collin County since 2019, Chris Hill serves as the Chief Elected Official for Texas’ sixth most populous (and fastest-growing) county.

Chris is a staunch champion of the Constitution, limited government, and individual liberty. While other elected officials were enforcing lockdowns and making arbitrary lists of essential and non-essential workers, Judge Hill boldly declared that “every Texan is essential” and he stood strong to defend the liberties and livelihoods of all Texans. No lockdowns. No business closures. No mask mandates. No vaccine mandates.

Chris holds a BS in Political Science from Texas A&M University at Commerce, an MS in Accounting and Information Management from the University of Texas at Dallas, an MBA from Webster University, and an MA in Pastoral Leadership from Columbia Biblical Seminary. He is a Certified Public Accountant® (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA), Chartered Global Management Accountant® (CGMA), and Certified Fraud Examiner® (CFE).

Chris has been married to his high school sweetheart, Laura, since 1997. They live in Collin County with their three children.

Jeff Holcomb

Spring Hill, FL

County Commissioner Jeff Holcomb has given 8 years of distinguished service to Hernando County.  In 2019, he served as the Chairman of the County Commission, and he also served as Chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee from 2018 – 2020.  

Lieutenant Holcomb also serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Officer with over 16 years of decorated service.  In 2016, he deployed to the Middle East to fight ISIS in Operation Inherent Resolve.  He was part of the Combat Ops Team planning air missions in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, where he earned a Navy Commendation Medal and a Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal.

Jeff has lived in Hernando County for over 20 years.  Prior to moving to Florida, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from University of MD, Baltimore County. He also has a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies from American Military University.  He is currently a licensed realtor. He has been married for 22 years and has 2 daughters.   

Denny Hoskins

Warrensburg, MO

Senator Denny Hoskins, represents District 21 in the Missouri Senate. In 2016, he was elected to serve in the Missouri Senate. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008 and elected to the office of Speaker Pro Temp in 2013.  Senator Hoskins is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In addition to his legislative duties, he is a Consulting Manager with The Tidwell Group, a full-service accounting and consulting firm specializing in the real estate and construction industries.

Senator Hoskins has received several awards for his work on veterans, job creation and higher education issues.

Senator Hoskins was born in Jefferson City and raised in a small rural town. Upon graduating from Fatima High School in Westphalia, Missouri, Senator Hoskins attended Central Missouri State University on Missouri Boys’ State and Regent’s scholarships. He diligently worked his way through college, holding various jobs such as farmhand, sales associate and part-time accountant. He graduated Cum Laude with a BSBA in Accounting.

Senator Hoskins holds memberships in the American Institute of CPA’s, Missouri Society of CPA’s, Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, Holden Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Brotherhood of Elks and Warrensburg Noon Rotary. He is also a graduate of the Johnson County and City of Warrensburg C.L.I.M.B. and Missouri Chamber of Commerce Leadership programs.

His favorite hobbies include coaching youth sports, fishing, hunting, traveling, running, golfing, basketball and softball. Senator Hoskins lives in Warrensburg with his wife, Michelle, and they are the parents of Cole, Amelia, Miles, Haile and Andrew.

Ryan Jones

Saratoga Springs, NY

Ryan Jones is a veteran of the U.S. Army and first year JD candidate. After graduating from Brown University in 2014 with degrees in both physics and economics he spent three years working in Washington, D.C., for the government relations firm J.A. Green & Co. While in Washington, Ryan worked closely on defense procurement and issues related to critical materials, including rare earth elements. 

In 2017, Ryan enlisted in the U.S. Army. After completing Officer Candidate School, Ryan commissioned as a Second Lieutenant before completing his training as an infantry officer. Upon graduating from the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, Ryan served two years with the 101st Airborne Division, including one deployment to East Africa. 

Ryan is an avid outdoorsman. A frequent backcountry skier and hiker, he has climbed mountains all over the world and is currently completing his journey to summit the highest point in every state. 

Andrew Katz

Washington, D.C.

Andrew Katz is a veteran of the U.S. Army and currently interning with Team Shares. He was born in Washington D.C., and raised in Baltimore, MD. Andrew graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2017 with a B.S. in Systems Engineering. While there, Andrew served as the President of the class of 2017 and a professional free fall demonstrator on the West Point Parachute Team. He has amassed over 1,800 skydives into venues such as Yankee Stadium, MetLife Stadium, the Belmont Stakes and Saratoga Race Track. 

Upon graduation from West Point, he completed training as an infantry officer and subsequently graduated from the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Ranger Schools. Andrew then took command of an infantry platoon before commanding a reconnaissance platoon in the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA. In 2020, he moved to Washington D.C, upon selection to serve as the 14th Commander of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In this role, Andrew was responsible for the Sacred Duty of preserving the physical security and dignity of the Unknown Soldiers’ final resting place, a tradition that remains unbroken since 1921. During his tenure, he led and executed ceremonies at the Tomb involving the 5 most recent U.S. presidents, 7 foreign heads of state, and senior allied military leaders in front of over 12 million visitors in Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, Andrew served on a volunteer task force of White House Military Social Aides assigned to the President of the United States, orchestrating and executing official State visits, formal awards ceremonies, bill signings and more. 

After exiting active duty this year, Andrew joined Team Shares, a Brooklyn based FinTech that creates enduring employee-based ownership in small businesses across the country. He is a cultural conservative who is motivated by a sense of patriotic duty that stemmed from his time in service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

Dawn Keefer

Dillsburg, PA

Dawn Keefer was first elected to represent the 92nd District in the PA House of Representatives in November 2016. For the 2021-22 Legislative Session, she is serving on the House Finance, Health, Labor and Industry and State Government committees. 

A fiscal conservative with more than 20 years of professional and government experience, Dawn brings a unique perspective to governing from both the public and private sectors. She owned and operated a consulting firm for more than 10 years that focused on grassroots strategy, membership development and fundraising. On both a professional and personal level, Dawn understands the struggles small businesses face when it comes to surviving and growing in Pennsylvania’s economy, and she is committed to challenging the policies and regulations fostering a hostile business climate in Pennsylvania.

During her short period of time in the House, Dawn has forced the conversation of fiscal accountability and transparency. She continues to lead the charge in regulatory reform through her Pennsylvania REINS Act and fiscal stewardship by ensuring tax dollars are used appropriately. She also remains on the side of natural economic growth by challenging Pennsylvania’s outdated and unfair tax structure that negatively impacts small businesses and hinders investment.

Dawn and her husband, Tom, a retired Pennsylvania State Police corporal with more than 24 years of service and a veteran of the Marine Corps, are raising three children. She and her family are members of St. Joseph Parish in Mechanicsburg.

Andrew Koenig

Manchester, MO

Senator Andrew Koenig represents the 15th district in Missouri. He served in the Missouri House of Representative from 2009-2016.

In addition to his legislative duties, Sen. Koenig is the owner of a construction company that does roofing and painting. He also is a licensed insurance adjuster. Senator Koenig and his family attend West County Assembly of God.

A 2001 graduate of Marquette High School, Sen. Koenig received a B.A. in Business Administration from Lindenwood University in 2005.

Sen. Koenig currently resides in Manchester with his wife, Brooke, and their five children, Jeremiah, Isaac, Gideon, Lily and Levi.  They are also foster care parents.

Adam Korzeniewski

Dallas, TX

Adam Korzeniewski is a combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Trump Administration in the Treasury Department and Commerce Department. He is a subject matter expert on financial policy, trade and industrial policy, national security, and the census. He previously worked on the 2020 Census, in finance, and on several statewide and Federal elections. He attended Columbia University for undergraduate study and University of Pennsylvania – Wharton for an executive education program. President Trump appointed Adam to the Presidential Council for Improving Federal Civic Architecture in 2021. He was a 2021 Lincoln Fellow with the Claremont Institute. Adam is currently the executive director at a nonprofit organization, and will be launching a new veterans advocacy organization in the near future.

Peter Marocco

Dallas, TX

Pete Marocco is the Managing Director of Endstate Strategies, a single-family office and advisory firm for operations management and strategic investments.  He also serves on the Texas Governors Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC).  In 2021, he led a private rescue of U.S. citizens and persecuted religious minorities in Afghanistan, and served as Corporate Director of Operations and Chief Accountability Officer for a specialty contractor in telecommunications, and infrastructure.  Prior to his return to the private sector, he served in various senior national security roles, most recently during the Trump administration at the Pentagon, Department of State, Department of Commerce, and USAID.  Pete served as the Texas Director of Logistics for the statewide Hurricane Harvey response.

Pete is a former Recon Marine Platoon Sergeant.  Since his military service, he has spent more than a decade overseas leading and instructing various operations in conflict zones for the U.S. government, as well as advising corporate security programs including Dell Technologies.  In 2015 and 2016, he led humanitarian operations for the Nazarene Fund that rescued, resettled and rehabilitated more than 4,000 ISIS survivors.  Pete serves on the advisory council of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and published his dissertation on targeting operations and unmanned aerial systems, while earning his Masters in International Human Rights Law from Oxford. 

Wesley Martin

Effingham, SC

Wesley T. Martin is a real estate developer, private lender and investor born and raised in South Carolina. He represents the interests of a growing group of other investors with an interest in keeping control of property, companies and other financial assets in the hands of likeminded conservatives. He is an autodidact with a reliance on personal relationships and mentorships, along with constant research and reading to expand his knowledge of underwriting deals and how to get them to the closing table.

Born and raised in Florence County, Wesley manages a portfolio of rentals, privately held mortgage notes and land development projects in both North and South Carolina. He spends his free time outdoors hunting, fishing and assisting in the management of sportsman’s clubs. He has been a member of Florence Baptist Temple since childhood, and also serves as a volunteer for the local life-recovery ministry, the House of Hope.

Danny McCormick

Oil City, LA

State Representative Danny McCormick is a lifelong resident of Louisiana and a small business owner. He and his wife, Susan, have been married for 38 years, and they have 2 children and 6 grandchildren. McCormick had several years’ experience as a successful grassroots organizer prior to serving in the state legislature, and has continued those efforts while serving in the  legislature by founding Operation Golden Arrow, a network of over 50,000 liberty-minded citizens across Louisiana. In 2020, McCormick received the prestigious ‘Statesman of the Year’ award from Young Americans for Liberty and he is a firm believer in defending our constitutional rights. As a born-again believer in Christ, he accredits all of his success to the Lord.

Tom McGillvray

Billings, MT

Sen. Tom McGillvray is a 5^th generation Montana native. Born in Helena, Montana, he attended Garrison and Deer Lodge Montana public schools. 

Tom received his BS in Agriculture from MT state University and retired in 2018 from a 27-year career as a Financial Advisor. 

He was elected to the Montana legislature in 2004. In 2007 Sen. McGillvray was elected House Majority Whip, Deputy Minority floor leader in 2009 and House Majority Leader in 2011.

Sen. McGillvray was also chair and Vice Chair of the Montana Republican Legislative Campaign committee from 2007-2011 during which time his efforts played a significant role in leading Republicans from a minority in the MT House to a 67-seat majority, one of the largest legislative swings in Montana history. 

Tom was elected to the Montana Senate in 2020, where he has worked to advance the causes of liberty, constitutional integrity and importantly, the rights of states under Article V and the 10^th amendment. 

Derek Merrin

Monclova, OH

Derek Merrin is serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives.

As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Derek is a strong advocate for lower taxes, simplifying the tax code, and promoting transparency.

Previously, he served two years on Waterville City Council. Two years later, he was elected mayor of Waterville at 21 years old, becoming the youngest mayor in Ohio. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and Master of Public Administration degree from Bowling Green State University.

Derek is long-time Club for Growth supporter and been on the front lines fighting for liberty, free-market principles, and economic prosperity.

Stafford Palmieri

North Salt Lake, UT

Stafford is the CEO of Fabius Labs, a product strategy and software development agency that provides strategy, design, engineering and data science services to clients who are promoting individual liberty and human flourishing. In 2021, she was elected as the Senate Chair for State Senate District 23, Davis County, UT, and subsequently to chair the fundraising committee for the Davis County Republican Party. In this role, she serves as a member of the Davis County Republican Party Executive Committee, and as a Davis County Delegate and a Utah State Delegate. She has been active in the party in a variety of additional roles, such as serving as the Arrangements Committee Vice Chair for the Davis County Convention, and the Communications Vice Chair for the Utah State Convention.

Previously, she founded and was President of Palmieri Partners, a strategy consultancy and Director of Business Development Operations at AECOM, a Fortune 500 architecture and engineering firm. She transitioned to the private sector after completing her MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and serving for 6 years in the administration of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. While in the Jindal administration, Stafford served in a variety of policy and operational roles, concluding with her appointment by the Governor to his cabinet as Commissioner of Administration, the state’s chief financial and administrative officer. She was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee in 2016 as the youngest Commissioner ever appointed at the age of 29. Stafford started her career in education policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and she received her BA from Yale University.

Adrienne Peña-Garza

Pharr, TX

Adrienne Peña-Garza is a strong conservative and proud South Texas patriot who currently serves as the Chairwoman of the Hidalgo County Republican Party. Her passion for advocacy for conservative causes also includes formerly serving as Auditor for the Young Republican National Federation, former Vice Chairman for the Texas Young Republican Federation, and former President of the Hidalgo County Young Republicans. Adrienne credits her strong beliefs in public service to the example set by her father, former State Representative, Aaron Peña, who she credits for paving the way for conservative political advocacy in deep South Texas. 

Mrs. Peña-Garza is also passionate about the mutual benefits of connecting people, strengthening economic development, and the humility found in becoming a volunteer and service to her community. Adrienne formally served as Board of Director for the Pharr Economic Development Corporation. She co-founded Spread Love, which focuses on supporting and encouraging others, while assisting humanitarian organizations. Adrienne has served as chair for the Student of the Month Rotary program, as well as, serving on numerous non-profit boards including the Rio Grande Valley Literacy Center, RGV Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club of Pharr and currently works with State and National Leaders on Hispanic engagement.

Adrienne was born in Weslaco, Texas and raised in the City of Edinburg. She received her Bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Pan American with minors in Political Science, Communications and Sociology. She enjoys working as a consultant and is the owner of Peña-Garza Consulting. Adrienne believes her most prominent position is that of being a supportive wife, a proud mother, and a loving daughter.

Aaron Rice

Madison, MS

Aaron Rice serves as the Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute and is passionate about the vital role the Constitution plays in protecting our most precious freedoms.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, Aaron felt called to serve his country. He joined the Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines; the battalion would go on to suffer the highest number of casualties of any in the Iraq war. Aaron received the Purple Heart for sustaining combat injuries that resulted in the loss of his left leg below the knee.

Upon returning home, Aaron earned a degree in political science from Mississippi State University and was awarded the national Truman Scholarship to pursue his graduate studies. He earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he developed an interest in constitutional law.

In 2008, Aaron was elected to serve as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention. He also served on campaigns for Governor Haley Barbour and Senator Roger Wicker. Prior to joining the Mississippi Justice Institute, Aaron built his career as a litigation attorney at a nationally recognized law firm in Mississippi. Aaron is a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) National Trial College at Harvard Law School, and a Graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy at Stanford Law School. 

Aaron is a Deacon at Madison Heights Church, PCA. He and his wife, Kelly, live in Madison with their four children, Clark, Griffin, Ramsey, and Miles.

Will Robinson

Bradenton, FL

Will Robinson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018 [re-elected in 2020], representing District 71.  Robinson currently serves as the Chairman of Professions and Public Health Subcommittee and the Vice Chairman of the State Legislative Redistricting Subcommittee.  He is a partner of the Blalock Walters law firm, where he focuses on real estate law, and he is board certified by the Florida Bar in Real Estate Law. Additionally, he is member of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission and the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Board of Governors. Robinson was the past chair of both Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority. He was also a graduate of Leadership Florida Class XXIX and the past president of the Manatee Young Republicans.  Robinson has deep family roots in Southwest Florida, and he and his father were both born and raised in Bradenton. He attended Manatee High School where he served as student body class president. Robinson is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. Mr. Robinson clerked for the Honorable Gary R. Jones, United States Magistrate, Middle District of Florida.  He enjoys working out, running, golfing, traveling, scuba diving, and attending any and all professional and collegiate sporting events.  He has completed 2 Boston Marathons and 2 Ironman races.

Heather Scott

Blanchard, ID

Heather Scott has served North Idaho as a State Representatives for the past 8 years. She believes in limited government driven from the bottom up and is a strong advocate for educating and empowering citizens to be more involved in local and state government.  

Heather has built a strong support network of liberty-minded citizen volunteers, donors, and communities from a broad political spectrum across the state.  She has an outstanding reputation for excellent constituent representation, finding workable simple solutions to complex issues and striving to reach short and long-term goals. She has devised techniques to successfully expand her support base from district to state to even nationally and built a team of volunteer bill readers that respect and work for her because they believe in her leadership and skills as a respected legislator.   

Heather has created and promotes a popular pamphlet titled 101 Things You Do (To Help Save Our State and Republic).  She has also created the Growing Freedom for Idaho website to help citizens navigate the system and follow bills through the legislative process.  She regularly gives speeches throughout Idaho and the West encouraging citizens to be educated and engaged with their government to protect constitutional liberties, freedoms, individual and private property rights, and traditional family values.     

Heather has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology from the University of Akron.  Working 3 jobs to put herself through college, she understands the importance of hard work, personal responsibility, and financial prudence.  She is the proud daughter of a Vietnam veteran and the proud granddaughter of two World War II veterans.  In addition to her legislative work, she is currently a small business co-owner of a natural resource consulting firm.  She and her husband, Andrew, have been married 24 years and enjoy a rural lifestyle on a small farm in North Idaho.  

Phillip Scott

Spotsylvania, VA

Phillip was born in New Jersey, and is one of 5 siblings. He has primarily lived in the Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg area for the past 25 years. Phillip is the father to 5 daughters, including a set of twins and a daughter with Edwards Syndrome. Phillip enjoys being a dad of daughters. He is driven to prepare them for the future, and the future for them.

His professional experience includes management in the food service and customer service industries, and more than 10 years in residential and commercial construction. In 2014, Phillip became a background investigator for the Federal Government. He currently leads a team of background investigators for a government contractor, and is the sole breadwinner for his household.

Phillip attended Word of Life Bible Institute and then Liberty University. He has a Bachelor’s degree Biblical Studies, a Masters degree in Management and Leadership, a Juris Masters, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Public Policy specializing in National Security. 

He has served his local community by joining the Board of Directors of his POA and served 2 terms in various roles including Treasurer and President. Phillip volunteers on various committees in his and serves on the Spotsylvania County Citizens Budget Review Committee. 

Phillip was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2021, where he strives to be a champion for liberty and freedom. As he says, “Government has gotten too big. It is time we have people in office who really desire to control spending and preserve freedom.” 

Erik Sexton

Las Vegas, NV

Erik Sexton is a Las Vegas- based commercial real estate broker, investor and former Nevada State Assembly candidate.  He began his real estate career nearly two decades ago and currently manages a top-producing team in Las Vegas and southern California as Senior Vice President at NAI Commercial Real Estate.

In addition to his work as a commercial broker, Erik is a longtime real estate investor focused on industrial and warehouse assets in Nevada, California and Arizona. 

Erik is actively involved in his community and has volunteered with several local non-profits including Boy Scouts of America and The Just One Project. As an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, Erik has enjoyed snowboarding and motorcycling riding throughout Europe, North America and the Middle East, but his favorite hiking is in Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon with his Australian Shephard, Ruger. 

Tyler Sirois

Meritt Island, FL

Representative Tyler I. Sirois (pronounced sir-roy) is a lifelong resident of Brevard County and was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives on November 6, 2018.  Sirois is Executive Director of the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, where he oversees administrative and personnel functions in Brevard and Seminole counties. As a member of the Florida Legislature, Sirois co-chairs the Florida Space Caucus.  In 2020, Representative Sirois was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as Whip for The Committee on Health and Human Services.  While serving in the legislature, Representative Sirois has authored bills advancing Florida’s commercial aerospace industry, promoted free market solutions in healthcare, and sponsored a variety of water projects supporting the Indian River Lagoon Estuary.  On September 2, 2021, Representative Sirois was appointed by the Speaker to serve as Chairman of the House Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee.  Representative Sirois is a past president and current board member of the Friends of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Brevard, a non-profit organization serving abused and neglected children.  A graduate of Florida State University, Representative Sirois and his wife, Katy, reside on Merritt Island and have two children.

Jarrett Skorup

Midland, MI

Jarrett Skorup is the senior director of marketing and communications and the director of the Frank Beckmann Center for Journalism at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. In this role, he is in charge of marketing efforts, media strategy, and overseeing policy campaigns and objectives. He has worked in a variety of roles at the center since 2009.

He is a graduate of Grove City College with degrees in history and political science, and also studied economics and religion. While there, he was captain of the college’s club Ultimate Frisbee and wrestling teams.

Jarrett’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fox News, National Public Radio, MLive, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and many newspapers across the country.

A native of Sandwich, Illinois, he is an avid Chicago sports fan. He also officiates high school wrestling and enjoys fishing and woodworking. In his free time, Jarrett volunteers with his church, serves on committees with the local Chamber of Commerce, and works in the schools through Junior Achievement.

He lives in Midland, MI with his wife, Karen, and children Grayson, Reagan, Theodora and Reece.

John Wahl

Athens, AL

John Wahl is one of Alabama’s leading political strategists, and is currently serving as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. John worked on the transition team of U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, and was a 2020 Presidential Elector representing the State of Alabama on the Electoral College.

John is a committed Christian and constitutional conservative with a strong record of service to conservative causes. He is well known for his work across the State of Alabama. He is a public speaker, news commentator and author. His background in the Alabama Republican Party includes ALGOP Field Director, State Executive Committee member, District Vice-Chair, State Senior Vice-Chair, and now State Chairman.

John is a small businessman, and native of Limestone County, Alabama. He is a leptozoologist (butterfly farmer) by trade, and serves on the board of directors for the International Butterfly Breeders Association.

Lathan Watts

Lewisville, TX

Lathan Watts is the Director of Public Affairs for First Liberty Institute, responsible for all efforts to increase First Liberty Institute’s profile in local and national markets. His focus is on expanding public awareness of First Liberty’s mission, legal matters, and educational projects by coordinating communication with community leaders, influencers, policy makers, and the public at large.

Prior to joining First Liberty Institute, Watts served in various campaign and official staff positions for U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, and Texas Governor Rick Perry. His executive leadership roles in non-profit organizations specializing in political affairs and community outreach contributed to the election of numerous members of the U.S. Congress, multiple state legislators, and governors. His work in and around the political process served him well in the four years he spent as a City Councilman in Lewisville, TX.

Jack Whitfield

Washington, D.C.

Jack Whitfield is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a JD candidate at Georgetown University Law Center. Born and raised in Kentucky, Jack graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2016 with a B.A. in Political Science. While there, Jack interned in the U.S. Senate and spent a year studying at Harvard College, where he frequently wrote for the Harvard Political Review.

In 2017, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army. After commissioning from Officer Candidate School, Jack completed training as an infantry officer and subsequently graduated from the U.S. Army’s Ranger and Airborne Schools. Jack was an infantry platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, deploying to Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

After exiting active duty in 2021, Jack and his wife Kathleen moved to Washington, D.C. Motivated by a lifelong interest in the intersection between the law and politics, Jack decided to study the law in our nation’s capital. Jack is a constitutional conservative with a strong desire to serve the community that raised him. Jack enjoys running, cheering for the Kentucky Wildcats, and his wife’s Auburn Tigers, and assisting veterans during their transition to the civilian sector.

Bill Zeiser

Hillsdale, MI

Bill Zeiser is the editor of RealClearPolicy, a news site affiliated with RealClearPolitics. He spends each day curating the best policy-oriented writings from left, right, and center. He holds a BA in political science from Fordham University (2004) and an MA in politics from Hillsdale College (2015). 

Prior to his work at RealClear, Zeiser served as a civilian analyst at the NYPD, a press officer at the Manhattan Institute, and a communications consultant for clients such as the Hudson Institute and Encounter Books. He held undergraduate internships in the press office of Senator Charles Schumer and at the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs. (He had intended to apply for an internship at National Review, but was warned by his advisor that he would be branded for life as a radical!)

Zeiser’s honors include membership in the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, the New York City Urban Fellowship (2004-2005), the NYU Wagner School Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service (2005-2006), the Publius Fellowship of the Claremont Institute (2012), the Rumsfeld Foundation Graduate Fellowship (2015-2016), and he is a member of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network (Fall 2021 cohort).

A transplant from New York, he is a city councilman representing the third ward of Hillsdale, MI. He enjoys motorcycling, film noir, and dystopian movies. He is a firm believer in political philosopher “Iron” Mike Tyson’s admonishment that “everyone has a plan, ‘till they get punched in the mouth.”