Mastering The Room

On this episode of Mastering the Room, we're joined by Anne Rancourt, an alumna of the Strategic Public Relations program at GSPM and a veteran communications professional with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.

For the last nine years, Anne has served in a variety of communications roles at the National Institutes of Health, including her last stop at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

She recently transitioned to a new role as the communications director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, where she and her colleagues seek to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction, and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we're joined by Heather Matson, an alumna of the Legislative Affairs program at GSPM and a passionate public servant and advocacy professional with decades of experience at the local, state and national levels.

Heather spent several years on the campaign trail in her adopted home state of Iowa, working in a variety of roles for then-Senator John Kerry, former Governor Tom Vilsack, Congressman Leonard Boswell, and serving as campaign manager for Dusky Terry in his race for Secretary of Agriculture.

She’s also worked extensively with Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, including serving as Board Chair for their political arm, Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa, as well as serving as the Vice Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.

She’s also spent a ton of time at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, first as a bill tracker following legislation as it winds its way through the legislative process. And now today as a member of the legislature herself, where she represents District 38 in the Iowa House of Representatives.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Phillip Thomas Wallace, an alumnus of the Political Management program at GSPM and a veteran government affairs professional with extensive experience working with some of the most successful and innovative companies in the world, including Intellectual Ventures and Hyundai Motor Company. Phillip is currently Director of Federal Government Affairs at Walmart, which is the world’s largest retailer.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Dr. Breanne Jacobs, an alumna of the Legislative Affairs program at GSPM and a community emergency physician.

Dr. Jacobs received her medical degree from Trinity College Dublin and spent a year working in the Irish Health Service. She also completed her residency in emergency medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, and spent several years working with Alteon Health in Northern Virginia.

Today, she's an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and she is delighted to be back as a part of the GW community.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Chelsea Ritchie, an alumna of the Strategic Public Relations program at GSPM and currently the Head of Digital Advocacy, Public Affairs for the International Copper Association — a not-for-profit trade association that serves as a credible, independent advocate on issues critical to future copper demand.

Prior to her current job, she spent half a decade working her way up in some of the best public affairs shops in DC, like Bancroft and Keller, where she guided a variety of different clients on how to best engage with state and local governments to achieve their goals.

On this episode of Mastering the Room, we’re joined by Jesse Barba, an alumnus of the Legislative Affairs program at GSPM and currently the Senior Director of External Affairs at Young Invincibles — a nonprofit advocacy group that seeks to amplify the voices of young adults in the political process and expand economic opportunity for our generation.

Prior to his current job, he spent four years at the DC lobbying and public affairs powerhouse Cassidy & Associates, where he served as a Vice President and worked with high-profile clients like Intel, Charter Communications and MGM International Resorts, among many others.

Before that, he got his start on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to Rep. Ed Towns of New York and Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, and served on the staffs of three different House Committees — Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Brandon Ward, an alumnus of the Political Management program at GSPM and the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Santa Monica in Southern California.

Brandon started his career on Capitol Hill, first as an intern for Rep. James Rogan and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, before serving as a legislative aide for Sen. Barbara Boxer.

He left the Hill behind in 2005 to attend law school at the University of Notre Dame, and subsequently began practicing law in the Los Angeles area. Over the next 8 years, he took on successive roles at a variety of different firms, before leaving to take up his current post in the City Attorney’s Office in 2016.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Nathan Gonzales, an alumnus of the Political Management program at GSPM and one of the most trusted and respected election analysts in the business for the better part of the last 20 years.

He is currently the Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, formerly known as the Rothenberg Political Report, which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor and president. He was an editor, analyst, and writer for The Rothenberg Political Report for more than 13 years before taking over the company in 2015.

But that’s not all: Nathan wears many hats, as he is also an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call, a CNN Political Analyst, and Founder and Publisher of PoliticsinStereo.com. On Election Night 2016, Nathan was an on-air analyst for the Newshour on PBS after working as an off-air consultant for ABC NEWS on their Election Night Decision Desk for 14 years. He also previously worked for CNN.com and as an associate producer for CNN’s Capital Gang.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Erin Dick, an alumna of the Strategic Public Relations program at GSPM and a veteran communications professional with deep experience in the aerospace and engineering sectors.

Erin is currently Senior Vice President of Communications at AECOM, a multinational engineering firm that you’ll find slotted comfortably in the top half of the Fortune 500. Prior to her time at AECOM, she served as the Senior Communications Analyst for the National Security Research Division of the RAND Corporation, as well as multiple strategic communications and public affairs positions with large aerospace companies, like Bell Flight, Pratt & Whitney, and Aerojet Rocketdyne.

All in all, Erin has more than 23 years of strategic communications experience, including 22 years as both an active duty and reserve Air Force public affairs officer.

On this episode of Mastering The Room, we’re joined by Payton Iheme, an alumna of the Legislative Affairs program at GSPM and a veteran policy professional with experience in virtually every corner of American government — from her start as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army to stints on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon, and even in the White House.

Payton is currently a U.S. Public Policy Manager in Facebook’s DC office, where she focuses on a broad set of policy issues that include the Internet, cybersecurity, data privacy, and strategic partnerships to include diversity, veterans, and community building.

Prior to her current role, she served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Communication Technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Obama Administration. And she has also held various roles in Congress as a legislative liaison, and specialized in defense, intelligence, and special access programs for Members on the Senate Intelligence, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations Committees.

Payton also served as a commissioned officer in the Army’s special operations and humanitarian assistance elements supporting the Department of Defense.