Linden Trust for Conservation
I served as senior strategist for more than 3 years to secure robust bipartisan support for scaling up responsible carbon dioxide removal. My work included:
building out and consistently updating a comprehensive message guide used by business, philanthropy, and non-profit community
securing a range of op-ed placements intended for key lawmakers in the House and Senate
reaching out to educate journalists new to covering the topic at major outlets
responding to concerns and criticism
These efforts helped secure more than $12 billion towards technological carbon dioxide removal in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and including $3.5 billion for four direct air capture hubs. We also tripled the IRS Section 45Q tax credit for direct air capture in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
Detroit Free Press
World Resources Institute
Affordable Care Act
In 2017, repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act was arguably the #1 priority for the White House and Senate/House leadership. I served as lead strategist to mobilize UltraViolet’s 1 million members against repeal, grounded in the urgent need to protect affordable women’s health care. My efforts including content creation, media pitching and grassroots mobilization at events like the 4th of July parade in Maine, thank-you light projections in Alaska, petition deliveries and ways to help constituents effectively raise their voices. Sens. Murkowski and Collins, two of our priority audiences, both voted no on repeal while citing effects on women’s health care and affordability.
The New York Times
Ultraviolet Action
Portland Press Herald
Lisa Murkowski Press Statement
National Football League
In February 2014, NFL star running back Ray Rice physically assaulted his fiancé in an Atlantic City casino elevator. The NFL suspended Rice for just two games. After the video leaked, ESPN reporting at the time showed that top Ravens officials successfully lobbied the league to lighten any punishment for Rice.
The event and light punishment shocked the nation and drew much-needed attention on the degree of domestic violence and sexual assault committed by NFL players – and the league’s refusal to implement accountability. From 2012-2014, an average of 69 players per year were arrested – many for domestic violence and sexual assault. I co-led a campaign at UltraViolet to force the NFL to implement changes to meaningfully address this epidemic.
After demurring and denying for months, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized, saying, “I didn’t get it right,” while implementing major changes to meet our demands, including:
Sweeping changes to the NFL’s personal conduct policy to include punsihment for domestic violence, with a six-game suspension for first-time offenders – subject to adjustment based on mitigating factors – and a lifetime ban for second offenses.
Annual domestic violence training for all NFL employees, team owners, staff and players.
Hiring and promoting staff internally to oversee investigations, including Lisa Friel, a 28-year veteran of the Manhattan district attorney’s office who once led NYC’s sex crimes prosecution unit.
This ESPN story published in October 2024, on which I worked for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, traces a history on the incident and results.
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM)
I served as lead strategist to release NASEM’s 2023 report, “Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States.” I led message development to persuade policymakers in Congress and the Biden Administration to review the report and pursue evidence-based policies to decarbonize heavy industry, transportation and other sectors. I developed collateral to support the release, including one-pagers, slide deck, and press release. I also prepared high-profile committee members, who authored the report, for congressional testimony and agency meetings.
