Excellence in Advocacy Awards | 2015 Finalists

EXCELLENCE IN A FEDERAL ISSUE CAMPAIGN

Beth DeBrosse
Senior Director, Government Relations
American Iron and Steel Institute, Leveling the Playing Field Act and Trade Promotion Authority

For her efforts to raise the voice and level the playing field for the steel industry and its hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs in the Congressional vote on Trade Promotion Authority.

Shari M. Erickson
Vice President, Governmental Affairs and Medical Practice
American College of Physicians, Enactment of Legislation to Fundamentally Reform Medicare Payments to Support High-Value Primary Care

For bringing about fundamental changes in how Medicare pays for primary care, as embodied in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), signed into law in April 2015.

Ann Sullivan
President
Madison Services Group, Inc., Improving Access to Federal Contracting Opportunities for Women-Owned Small Businesses

For her perseverance and leadership in advocating for the economic power of women-owned small businesses, including her role in the recent passage of legislation providing sole source authority and a new disparity study for expanding the Women-Owned Small Business Procurement Program.

EXCELLENCE IN A STATE ISSUE CAMPAIGN

Kathleen Bernstein-Harris
Sr. Program Manager – Teen Driving Initiative
National Safety Council, National Safety Council Teen Safe Driving Initiative

For leading a successful and widely supported, state-based National Teen Safe-Driving Campaign. This effort has impacted the lives of countless American teen drivers with state Graduated Driver Licensing laws, online educational and interactive tools for parents, and research via a partnership with the Allstate Foundation.

Danielle Clore
Executive Director
Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Government-Nonprofit Contracting Reform Task Force

For raising the consciousness of legislative and executive branch policymakers on the economic impact of Kentucky’s non-profit sector, including passage of legislation creating a Government-Nonprofit Contracting Reform Task Force to streamline processes, enhance accountability, and save money.

Darcy Olsen
President & CEO
Goldwater Institute, Right to Try Campaign

For spearheading the Right to Try Initiative, passed in 24 states in less than two years, which gives terminally ill patients access to potentially life-saving medicines.

EXCELLENCE IN A CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN SERVING WOMEN

Katrina Anderson
Senior Human Rights Counsel
Diana Lugo-Martinez
Senior Director of Community Engagement Programs
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and Center for Reproductive Rights, NUESTRO TEXAS: COMUNIDAD, SALUD Y FAMILIA

For their collaborative efforts to provide a platform for advocacy and community mobilization with the goal of securing the human right to affordable reproductive health care for all Texans, including Latinas and immigrants.

Inuki Pantin
Director of Advocacy
United Nations Foundation, Girl Up

For her actions to initiate and build support for the passage of the federal Girls Count Act, which supports programs in developing countries to help improve the current 40% rate of birth registration and documentations for all children. This will improve the lives of girls, who without a birth certificate are denied access to government services including education and health services.

EXCELLENCE BY AN UP AND COMING ADVOCATE

Cassie Gaffney
Policy Associate
Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC

For successfully advocating, at both the state and federal levels of government, on behalf of enhancing early childhood, pre-school, K-12, and urban education opportunities as well as for training advocates across the U.S. for causes that impact our nation’s children.

Katie Simon
Policy Organizing Manager
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

For her significant volunteer coordination and chapter engagement success in advocating for gun violence prevention

Dana T. Weekes
Associate
Squire Patton Boggs

For her education and higher education policy advocacy leadership, creativity and customer-focus on behalf of her clients, her firm, and the community.

EXCELLENCE BY A VETERAN ADVOCATE

Jacqueline Gillan
President
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

For three decades of spearheading life-saving, federal and state highway and auto safety initiatives including safety belt requirements, child restraint and motorcycle helmet use, impaired and distracted driving penalties, and rearview camera vehicle safety.

Verna L. Jones
Executive Director
The American Legion

For honorable military and civilian service to our nation and as an advocate impacting millions of veterans on issues such as military transition, employment, disability, access to Veterans Administration healthcare, and federal and state benefits.

Carol Kelly
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy
NACDS

For her lifelong commitment to advancing healthcare issues in the best interest of patients and America’s healthcare system, including patient access to medications, reform of long-term and post acute care services, and on behalf of chain drug stores, managed care groups, hospitals, and medical technology industries.