A former high school debate team champion, Jeremy Marsh loves fighting for causes he believes in. He also likes the challenge of learning quickly about new topics, a skill that has served him well working as an associate in government advocacy at the Klein/Johnson Group.

Jeremy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Management from the George Washington University. He often applies what he learns in school to his daily work, from understanding how different groups can influence legislation on Capitol Hill, to the practical side of politics and the importance of corporate public affairs.

“Being a Bryce Harlow Fellow has been a great experience so far,” Jeremy said. “This community of people is demonstrating every day why lobbying is so important. There’s a right way to do it, and I’m proud to be part of an organization upholding those values.”

Anne Policastro became interested in government during college at Miami University after interning for her Cincinnati, Ohio member of Congress in their district office. After graduating, she turned her dream of moving to Washington D.C. into a reality by getting a one-year fellowship with UPS in DC. She liked the company and moved up the ranks, becoming a manager, then a director, and now works as the Vice President of Public Affairs, where she covers tax and pension policy.

Anne is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration to learn more about how policy could be shaped to better serve businesses and produce the best outcomes. She also wants to develop a stronger background in finance and strategy to combine with her experience in politics and government relations.

Having grown up in Cincinnati where Proctor & Gamble is such a big company, Anne noted that Bryce Harlow was an optimist for the lobbying industry. “Mr. Harlow seemed like a calm, steady hand who helped get things done without people getting too partisan or frustrated,” Anne observed. “He embodied the spirit of doing what’s right even when others aren’t looking. Lobbyists must have integrity, as trusting people is crucial to getting things done,” Anne said. “This is exactly what the Bryce Harlow Foundation stands for, and I am proud to be part of the Fellowship community.”

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is pleased and proud to announce its new board members and officers for 2020.  Read all about it here: 2020 BHF new officers and board members.

Innovation in the future of health care is what drives Bryce Harlow Fellow Lauren Fresconi. In her current role as a Legislative Associate at the Nickles Group she learns all she can through her advocacy work with physicians and medical groups — especially around new ways to treat pain, how to solve the opioid crisis, and finding better ways for patients to navigate the insurance system and manage unexpected medical bills.

Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Lauren Fresconi went to the University of San Francisco to earn her bachelor’s degree and is now studying for her master’s degree in public policy at Georgetown University.

“The Foundation validates that being a lobbyist is an honorable career,” Lauren said. “Being named a Fellow is a high honor, and gives me the opportunity to demonstrate to others government affairs can – and is – done with integrity. We have a personal stake in the issues we work on.”

The Bryce Harlow Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 Bryce Harlow Fellowship, a prestigious award including scholarship funds and mentoring. We encourage you to please help spread the word, or to apply if you are working full time, going to graduate school part time and are interested in the field of lobbying and government advocacy. The deadline for applying is Sunday April 26, 2020. For complete information, including a link to the on-line application, please visit our website.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation announced its honorees for the upcoming 2020 Annual Awards Dinner. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will receive the Bryce Harlow Award and Dawn Sweeney, former President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association will receive the Business-Government Relations Award.   Read all about it here: BHF 2020 Honorees Announced

A passionate nutrition advocate who once worked part-time as a cheesemonger in D.C.’s Eastern Market, Michelle Smolarski is dedicated to the food industry in every way – from connecting with consumers to influencing public policy.

Today, Michelle works as Associate Manager, External Affairs & Issue Management for Unilever, where she leads advocacy efforts to address key issues facing the food and consumer products industries. She is also earning an MBA at Georgetown University, focusing on the intersection of policy and business as a mechanism to improve public health.

Diagnosed with Type I diabetes at four years old, Michelle has a personal connection to nutrition and its role as an essential tool to manage health. She became interested in nutrition and policy in high school, volunteering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and traveling to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress. She later interned on Capitol Hill and continued working in nutrition policy and regulatory affairs for the food industry. Today, she’s excited to be part of the innovative initiatives in her industry that could help solve some of the most complex global challenges, from climate change to consumer health issues.

“The Bryce Harlow Foundation is a shining beacon for lobbying with integrity, and celebrates the profession for creating many positive outcomes for the public,” Michelle said. “I’m proud to be a Bryce Harlow Fellow, and to be part of a community contributing to this positive change.”

At 16 years old, Kristen Morse became passionate about stopping human trafficking. Since then, she’s raised thousands of dollars and helped start the A21 Campaign, a global nonprofit working to eradicate human trafficking. As the Global Reach Director, she works with 14 offices in 12 countries to strengthen laws and increase funding and awareness about taking action on this important issue.

After seeing gaps in the way some non-governmental organization (NGOs) work with governments, Kristen decided to pursue a Master’s degree in public policy at American University to improve her organization’s ability to influence policy and on-the-ground field work.

Kristen is honored to be a Bryce Harlow Fellow. “I am grateful for this opportunity to learn from leaders and peers who share similar values and who choose to live their lives for purposes greater than themselves,” Kristen said.

Growing up in Georgia, Phillip credits his early internship in the state Senate with his start in government advocacy. He then worked on a successful congressional campaign, followed by a stint on Capitol Hill, and now works as a government relations representative for International Paper (IP). One of Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies in the World,” IP works with elected government officials at the federal, state, and international levels.

Phillip is pursuing an MBA from the University of Maryland. “An MBA will help me to understand how my work impacts the business – and will allow me to better communicate with business leaders and elected officials when discussing the impact of legislation or regulations,” Phillip said.

He also sees the value of the Bryce Harlow Foundation and is proud to be a Fellow. ““I’m grateful for the mentorship the Fellowship offers,” Phillip said. “The Foundation board members are highly respected individuals, and each of them has likely had a mentor to help them get to where they are today. These connections are so important, especially when starting your career in lobbying.”

An avid hunter and fisherman, Brian Malat likes to be quick on his feet in all he does – even at work.

Brian is a Manager of Government Relations for Van Scoyoc Associates, where he helps clients better understand the appropriations process in Congress, and crafts strategic lobbying plans.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he is earning a law degree at American University. Brian chose law to learn about creating statutes and regulations and study how courts interpret them in cases at the state and federal levels.

Brian is proud to be a Bryce Harlow Fellow noting, “The mission statement of the Foundation is one I strongly support. Being around like-minded younger professionals has already made a positive difference for my career development. I’m happy to be part of a group leading by example in the lobbying profession.”