Bryce Harlow Foundation

Kristen Batstone grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where everyday life included driving an hour for groceries or struggling to find a doctor. Although it felt normal at the time, later she realized those experiences pointed to bigger structural gaps. “I saw how often rural voices were left out of the conversation,” Kristen says. “After volunteering at my local food pantry, I also saw how quickly hardship could touch any household.”

These realizations propelled her toward a career in public service and public policy. After earning her undergraduate degree at American University, Kristen built her career around bringing rural perspectives into national discussions. During her work at Save the Children, leading its domestic nutrition policy portfolio, her advocacy efforts caught the attention of congressional staff, and this year she stepped into a new role as a Legislative Assistant on the House Agriculture Committee, covering the nutrition portfolio.

The Bryce Harlow Fellowship is natural fit for Kristen, and she’s especially excited about working with her mentor, Alison Bodor, who also specializes in food and nutrition policy. Kristen sees her own path as aligned with the spirit of Bryce Harlow himself. “I love working alongside Congress to make a difference and am looking forward to learning from experts in the profession.” Kristen said.

We’re delighted to welcome Mike Gottlieb, Senior Partner and Managing Partner at PENTA, to the Bryce Harlow Foundation Board. At PENTA, Mike helps government affairs professionals measure and demonstrate the impact of their work — drawing on a career that has spanned public service at the White House, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His mix of federal experience and private-sector insight gives him a unique perspective on how advocacy is changing and what it takes to succeed.

Mike was drawn to the Foundation through colleagues and clients already on the board, people he describes as some of the “smartest, kindest, most principled professionals” he knows. Their endorsement, along with the chance to contribute in a more direct and personal way, made the decision to join an easy yes.

After years of public service at the federal level, where results often unfold slowly, Mike is eager for the chance to make a direct impact on the next generation of advocates. He credits his own career success to the mentors who guided him along the way and now looks forward to paying that forward by helping fellows gain perspective, build long-term careers, and navigate an increasingly complex profession.

He also believes the Foundation can have a vital role in shaping the standards of the field itself. With government affairs evolving far beyond traditional lobbying, the need for principled, effective, values-driven advocacy has never been greater. For Mike, the combination of supporting young professionals and strengthening the standards of the profession is what makes this work so meaningful.

Zil Joyce Dixon Romero is the State Government Affairs Manager at the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in policy management at Georgetown University.  Born in Las Vegas and raised in Henderson, Nevada, Zil credits his path to advocacy with beginning at age three, when his grandfather taught him a simple but powerful message, “If you have the ability to help people, you should do so.”

This remains his core belief today. He learned about the everyday impact of policy through internships on Capitol Hill after getting his undergraduate degree from American University.  “Advocacy starts with people and communities, not partisanship,” Zil said.  “Begin with the community you care about, learn what they need, and then map out a path together.”

This philosophy guides his work at NRHA, where he focuses on keeping rural hospitals open, ensuring access to care, and addressing gaps in health education and workforce. “Rural healthcare is one of those rare issues that unites both Democrats and Republicans,” Zil said. “Shining a light on it and finding pragmatic solutions is the most important thing I can do.” His graduate studies at Georgetown complement his advocacy, giving him the tools to design policy solutions while testing ideas in practice.

As a Bryce Harlow Fellow, Zil is eager to learn from leaders who model ethical, effective advocacy. He’s excited to continue a career rooted in the values his family instilled and hopes the Fellowship will help him build his network and deepen his skills.

Nicole Collier is Vice President of North America Government Relations and Public Policy at Procter & Gamble, where she leads the company’s engagement with policymakers across the region. Raised in Syracuse, New York, in a family active in public service—and where dinner often meant watching the evening news together—she developed an early fascination with how policy shapes people’s lives.

Her first introduction to the Bryce Harlow Foundation came years ago at the annual dinner. She remembers the impact of walking into a room filled with so many leaders from her professional world and being struck by the Foundation’s focus on the positive qualities of lobbying – both in individuals who practice it and in the craft itself. At a time when the profession was under scrutiny, the idea of honoring integrity, expertise, and thoughtful advocacy resonated deeply. Her new Board role with the Foundation feels especially meaningful, as P&G has deep ties to Bryce Harlow himself.  Mr Harlow is widely considered the first corporate lobbyist, and Nicole takes pride in carrying forward that legacy of credibility and integrity.

For Nicole, those values remain essential, and she draws energy from conversations, even the tough ones. “In my 25 years of lobbying I’ve has seen how quickly the environment can shift,” Nicole said.  “Success in this field requires agility, curiosity, and above all, strong communication — informing people with a goal of gaining their understanding and helping them see the significance and lasting impact of the issues at hand.”

She believes the best advocates balance substance with diplomacy, pairing a strong grasp of issues with an ability to connect authentically. That balance, she says, is what gives advocacy real impact.

Nicole is excited to meet and work with the Foundation’s Fellows to help them approach their careers with flexibility and openness. For Nicole, the Foundation’s enduring strength lies in shaping advocates who can navigate change while holding fast to credibility and integrity.

Annie Perrin “AP” Grisham, is originally from northern Alabama, growing up at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains where community and place shaped her sense of service. During college at the University of Mary Washington, she worked with the Appalachia Service Project during the summertime, helping to repair homes for families living without basic necessities such as running water and electricity. During the school year she interned on Capitol Hill for a member of Congress.

When tornadoes devastated the very district where she volunteered, AP helped the Congressional office research federal disaster funding. Seeing her work contribute directly to communities she cared about was a turning point. It inspired her to study political science and confirmed her belief that policy can drive meaningful change.

Today, she is a Policy Associate with IEEE-USA, a national association representing more than 150,000 technologists, and is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration at George Washington University.

AP was drawn to the Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship because of its commitment to ethical, bipartisan advocacy. “I’ve seen first-hand how lobbying can be a force for good,” AP says. “I believe honest, bipartisan, advocacy will create positive change.” As a new Fellow, AP is most excited about the opportunity to work with her mentors, Genna Gent and Marissa Serafino. She looks forward to broadening her network, gaining outside perspective, and having trusted advisors to call upon for ideas and guidance.

Looking ahead, AP knows she wants to remain in the policy world, advocating for change where it is most needed. Whether that means continuing to shape technology policy or returning to social issues closer to her roots, she is determined to ensure her work has a lasting, positive impact.

Kristopher (Kris) Jones is Executive Vice President and Head of Government Relations at Fox Corporation, where he leads the company’s legislative, regulatory, and policy strategy in Washington DC. A long-time advocate for integrity in public affairs, he is a perfect match to serve on the Bryce Harlow Foundation board, which he joined at the beginning of 2025.

“Joining the board was an easy decision,” Kris says. “I was fortunate to meet Bryce Harlow II early in my career and have long admired him for following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a standard-bearer for Washington lobbying.”  For Kris, the Foundation embodies the very best of advocacy, with its board members and supporters demonstrating by example the power and importance of advocacy built on credibility, professionalism, and trust. “I recently read the new reprint of Bryce Harlow’s essay on Corporate Representation, which is timeless in its principles around integrity in lobbying,” Kris said. “I shared it with my team at FOX as an example of how lobbying should work.”

The mentorship aspect of the Foundation’s Fellowship also resonates with Kris. Having benefited from mentors who gave him opportunities and guidance early in his career, Kris feels strongly about paying that forward. He was recently paired with his first Foundation Fellow mentee, Ethan Miller, and sees the relationship as a chance to share guidance on how to be patient, seize opportunities, and build a reputation for trust.

Looking ahead, Kris hopes the Foundation continues its long track record of producing principled leaders who understand that lasting influence comes only when people view you as credible and trustworthy. Through his service on the Board, Kris is committed to helping ensure that Bryce Harlow’s legacy—and its guiding values—remain central to advocacy in Washington for years to come.

Keegan Zimprich’s career goal is to blend public policy and financial services. As Vice President of Federal Government Relations at U.S. Bank and an MBA candidate at Georgetown University, he is well on his way toward this goal, hoping to stay at the intersection of business and government.

Originally from Minnesota, Keegan’s passion for policy began with local campaigns and led to Capitol Hill, where he worked for Congressman Tom Emmer, Senator Joni Ernst, and Senator Kevin Cramer, focusing on banking policy. This experience helped lead to his current role, working closely with members of the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees.

Keegan sees policy work as a collaborative effort, requiring strategy, coordination, and shared objectives. The Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship has connected him with others in his cohort who are also balancing a job and graduate school coursework, providing him with insights and a like-minded peer group.

The Bryce Harlow Foundation recently announced it’s incoming class of Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellows.  Please join us in congratulating them and read all about it here: Bryce Harlow Foundation 2025-26 Fellows Announced.  More details on the current class of Fellows may be found HERE.

Mina Kato’s passion for advocacy dates back to her childhood in Southern California. Growing up in Yorba Linda—the birthplace of Richard Nixon and home to his presidential library—Mina was frequently exposed to the world of politics and public service, sparking her early fascination with government and civic engagement. She carried that passion with her to the University of California, Riverside, where she earned her undergraduate degree in political science/international affairs, followed by a master’s degree from American University.

Mina moved to Washington, D.C. after securing an internship on Capitol Hill. This led to a full-time role working for a member of Congress, where she saw advocacy in action, learning how government and industry collaborate and build trusted relationships.

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mina transitioned into advocacy and lobbying at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Today, Mina serves as Senior Manager of Advocacy Communications & Stakeholder Engagement at Vizient, Inc., a healthcare performance improvement company. Mina is also pursuing an Executive MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, to build cross-sector fluency and better understand the business implications of policy decisions.

Being selected as a Bryce Harlow Fellow is a meaningful milestone for Mina, helping expand her network and providing further tools and resources for effective advocacy.

Healthcare was always part of the conversation for Julia. Her family history is closely tied to it—Grady Hospital, one of the Southeast’s most well-known medical institutions, carries her great-great-great-grandfather’s name. But her decision to pursue healthcare policy wasn’t about legacy, it was about making a tangible impact.

After earning dual degrees in Public Relations and Spanish from the University of Georgia, Julia moved to Washington, D.C., drawn to the intersection of policy and communication. Her first full-time role at PLUS Communications gave her hands-on experience in public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and coalition building.

Her continued interest in health care policy led to her current role as Senior Legislative Affairs Associate with America’s Essential Hospitals. Julia manages advocacy programs, political fundraising, and board relations—and helped launch the association’s first-ever podcast to make healthcare policy more accessible. “I love the challenge of breaking down complex policy into something real and understandable,” Julia explains. “Healthcare isn’t abstract—it affects people’s lives every day.”

Julia is also pursuing her MBA at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business as a Forté Fellow, learning how business strategy and policy intersect to improve healthcare accessibility and sustainability.

Julia credits the Bryce Harlow Fellowship mentorship as one of the most valuable aspects of the program.  “Having a mentor like Chris Long, has been invaluable,” Julia said. “It’s refreshing to be part of a group where ethics and integrity in government relations is a priority.”