Building a stronger nation through stronger communities

Our Leadership

Board Chair – Ambassador Allan Katz
Founding Co-Chairs – Peggy Dunn and Mary Bloch

Amb. Allan Katz

Board Chairman

Mary Jorgenson

Board Secretary, Community Volunteer

Tom McDonnell

Board Treasurer, Ret. DST Systems

Azzie Amani-Taleshi

SVP, Brand and Engagement Strategy Director

Ryan Bernsten

Writer, Author, Speaker & Creative

McClain Bryant-Macklin

VP of Policy and Impact

Rebecca Coulson

Program Officer at Hall Family Foundation

Jon R. Gray

Judge

Esther George

Ret. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Adam Hamilton

Sr. Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

Larry Jacob

Civic Leader

Ward Katz

Real Estate Investor

Alana Muller

CEO Coffee Lunch Coffee, Business Consultant

Sue Nerman

Kansas City Art Institute

Greg Orman

Businessman, Entrepreneur, U.S. Political Reformer

Bill Pratt

Ret. Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Mary Sanchez

Senior Reporter, Kansas City PBS

Shaun Stallworth

Holman Schiavone, LLC

Jamila Weaver

Chief Operating Officer, Mission Vision Project KC

APS National Steering Committee

Members of the national steering committee provide strategic support to the organization as it seeks to expand its impact through diverse programming formats, topics, panelists and more. Each member brings a wide array of experiences and expertise, particularly in the national political landscape. They each serve in an advisory capacity to the organization’s Board of Directors, Executive Director and staff.

- - Sally Bradshaw, business owner and longtime conservative political advisor
  - Jason Kander, President of National Expansion at Veterans Community Project, co-host of the Majority 54 podcast, bestselling author, and Founder of American Rescue Project
  - Kevin Madden, senior partner – Penta; former senior advisor – Romney for President
  - Colleen Nelson, executive editor of The Sacramento Bee and McClatchy Regional Editor for California

- - Terry Nelson, founder and managing partner – FP1 Strategies; campaign and media strategy expert
  - Deval Patrick, author, businessman, attorney and former governor of Massachusetts
  - Margaret Talev, Founding Director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism & Citizenship, in Washington, DC, and senior contributor at Axios

Our Team

Claire Bishop

Executive Director

An experienced leader and organizational transformation expert, Claire believes in the power of community and advancing the missions of organizations. A proud Kansas City native, Claire has served as a marketing executive and board member in for-profit and nonprofit organizations. A seasoned communication professional, Claire brings clarity, organization and passion to the APS community.

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