Voices in Advocacy Podcast

On today’s show we speak with a grassroots advocacy expert whose organization created a Member Activation Program (MAP) that has sent over 4 million advocacy emails in its first 2 years. Now that is some advocacy production.

ABOUT The GUEST

Kristen Prather has been a grassroots professional working at the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) since 2008. In her role as State Director of Grassroots Programs she works with credit union advocates to advance credit union priorities at the state and federal level. In 2020 she was named one of the “Top 20 In Advocacy” by The Advocacy Association. Prior to joining CUNA she was a PAC fundraiser for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. She also has experience on Capitol Hill, with a small lobbying firm, and on many campaigns. In addition to working in advocacy she is also a dance teacher in Alexandria, VA.

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates

On today’s show we have the creator of the U.S. Chamber’s Women Taking the Lead initiative, Ashley Wilson. This important major advocacy initiative brings together high-performing women leaders in business and in government to solve critical problems and advance a growing network of leaders at the VP-level and above. Today our guest is a recognized voice on women in leadership.

ABOUT The GUEST

Ashley Wilson, Vice President, Government Affairs & Executive Director, Women Taking the Lead, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She is the creator of the U.S. Chamber’s Women Taking the Lead initiative bringing together high performing women leaders in business and government. Ashley’s role includes serving as the U.S. Chamber’s chief tax lobbyist and providing general legislative strategy and direction for its powerhouse lobbying team. She is also in charge of helping build out the Public Affairs arm of her division to showcase the Chamber's work on Capitol Hill and putting a spotlight on the many ways business can lead in advocacy. Ashley’s career started on Capitol Hill, where she served for 5 years as Senior Advisor for Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

#WomenTakingThe Lead

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates

Roger Rickard believes in advocacy and believes in the right of each and every American citizen to be an advocate, in fact, it is our role and responsibility to participate in our form of self-government. Catch up on his advocacy reflections this Thanksgiving.

Roger is the Founder & President of Voices in Advocacy®, author of 7 Actions of Highly Effective Advocates, and host of the Voices In Advocacy podcast. He has more than 30 years of experience as an advocacy professional, speaker, trainer, consultant, and author. As a recognized expert in advocacy engagement and grassroots activation, Roger works with a wide cross-section of organizations from diverse industries. His vibrant personality and a good sense of humor make for engaging and interactive programming that is packaged and delivered in an easy to understand, easy to apply format combining his education, experience, and enthusiasm to drive advocacy success.

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

Promoting Better Health – Voices for Kidney Health Advocacy Campaign. Our interview with Matthew Fitting, Director of Grassroots Advocacy at the National Kidney Foundation.

ABOUT The GUEST

Matthew Fitting is Director of Grassroots Advocacy with the National Kidney Foundation, where he provides strategic direction and oversees implementations for all of NKF’s advocacy activities. Prior to joining NKF, he was an Advocacy and Engagement Specialist with the American Nurses Association (ANA), where he led the organization’s efforts to deepen nurses’ involvement in the political process. Prior to ANA, Matthew led public affairs campaigns to engage and activate the American Heart Association’s volunteer community as federal grassroots advocacy manager. Prior to his time at the AHA, Matthew was a senior associate with the Dewey Square Group’s grassroots practice, guiding issue advocacy campaigns for clients that included national non-profits, trade associations, corporations, and political campaigns.

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

Advocacy Success Delivered by Multiple Touch-points with State Legislators. Our conversation with Zach Shamberg, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA). 

ABOUT The GUEST

Zach Shamberg, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA). Zach is the former Director of Government Affairs at PHCA, and was also Chief of Staff to state Representative Todd Stephens. Zach was recently named to the ‘Healthcare Power 100’ by City & State PA, a statewide political publication. 

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Also listen for this episodes advocacy tip.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

The Vital Nature of Cultivating Meaningful Relationships between Advocates and Members of Congress. Our conversation with Meghan Cruz, Director of Grassroots Advocacy at the National Retail Federation. Meghan is part of the team that was awarded the 2021 Reed Award for Grassroots Trade Association of the Year given by Campaigns and Elections.

ABOUT The GUEST

Meghan Cruz, the Director, Grassroots Advocacy at the National Retail Federation. In this role, Meghan is responsible for developing and implementing effective grassroots campaigns, strategies and tactics in accordance with state and federal legislative action plans. She served as a scheduler for an Ohio congressman.

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Also listen for this episodes advocacy tip.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

On this episode we speak with Davon Gray, Senior Director of Advocacy Capacity Development at The American Institute of Architects, where he is build grassroots champions that empower their voices.

Davon Gray, Senior Director of Advocacy Capacity Development at The American Institute of Architects. He is an advocacy strategist and leader in political affairs with a demonstrated record of leading PAC and grassroots campaigns that ignite action on a range of policy issues for 20 years. Davon is passionate about building strong advocacy organizations that empower member’s voices. In 2020, Davon was named to the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics top 20 list for his association advocacy work.

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Also listen for this episodes advocacy tip.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

On today's episode we speak with Jon Hoffman, Senior Director of Government Affairs for Food Allergy Research and Education known as FARE. FARE is the world's largest non-governmental organization focus on life threating food allergies.

Jon Hoffman, the Sr Director of G.A. for Food Allergy Research and Education known as FARE where she has served since 2016. He brings ten years of experience in the digital advocacy realm, leading campaigns and utilizing new media to motivate and direct advocates to make their voices heard with legislators and regulators. He leads federal lobbying in the House of Representatives for the organization.  Previously, Jon worked at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as the Senior Manager in Advocacy Development.

Thank you to our sponsor: Rap Index, tell them Roger sent you.

https://www.rapindex.com

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Also listen for this episodes advocacy tip.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

In this episode, Amanda Karhuse shares how the National Association of Secondary School Principals works to protect the interests of its members and for the good of students and parents.

Amanda Karhuse has served as the director of advocacy for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) since 2006. She led the creation of the NASSP Policy & Advocacy Center in 2018, which is the only national center devoted solely to the advancement of policies and practices that support principals, assistant principals and other school leaders. Karhuse coordinates all federal policy and advocacy efforts for NASSP, which includes lobbying congressional staff, monitoring legislation affecting school leaders, and participating in coalition-building activities with other national education organizations. She also serves as a staff liaison for the NASSP Board of Directors’ Programs and Services Committee, which is responsible for developing position statements and policy recommendations on issues of national significance.

Karhuse is a founding member of the Women in Government Relations (WGR) Education Task Force, which was formed in 2008 to enhance the knowledge of women working in education policy and provide a forum for discussion among policymakers, advocates, and practitioners. She served as a co-chair of the task force for seven years and two terms on the WGR Board of Directors, and now leads the WGR Professional Women in Advocacy Conference Committee. Karhuse also represents NASSP as the president of the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training and as chair of Advocates for Literacy.

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.

I wanted to take this time to share a brief update. Some of you have been asking where the show has been for a few weeks.  We took a some needed personal time to recharge and refresh. As well as to set up our lineup of outstanding upcoming guests from people that know advocacy.

This podcast is dedicated to the art of advocacy.

Contact Voices In Advocacy at:

www.VoicesinAdvocacy.com

480 488-9150

At Voices in Advocacy we work with organizations that want to inspire, educate, engage, and activate their supports to become even better influential advocates.