2018 Ideas Summit Leader Attendees – NewDEAL

Mark Warner

actualize — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:38:29 +0000

Mark Warner

U.S. Senator, Virginia

Mark Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008, and reelected in 2014. In his first term in the Senate, Senator Warner established himself as a national leader in efforts to find bipartisan consensus to create balanced solutions to reduce the federal debt and deficit. He also is a leader in Congress in efforts to promote private-sector innovation and to help our nation’s small businesses and start-up companies succeed. From 2002 to 2006, Senator Warner served as Governor of Virginia, where he worked in a bipartisan way to turn record budget deficits into a surplus. Governor Warner also focused on improving public education and expanding economic opportunity in every region of the state. Before entering public office, Senator Warner was an early investor in the cellular telephone business. He co-founded the company that became Nextel, and ultimately made early investments in hundreds of start-up technology companies that have created tens-of-thousands of private sector jobs.

Warwick Sabin

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:30:11 +0000

Warwick Sabin

Former Representative | Little Rock, AR

Warwick Sabin is the President and CEO of Deep South Today, the networked hub of nonprofit newsrooms serving the Southern region of the United States.

Deep South Today includes Mississippi Today, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for its investigative series on Mississippi’s sprawling $77 million welfare scandal. The Deep South Today network expanded to New Orleans in 2022 with the launch of the Verite newsroom, which covers inequities facing communities of color, and it plans to broaden its reach into nearby states.

Sabin served three terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2013-19, and in 2014, he was among 24 national political leaders awarded the Rodel Fellowship by the Aspen Institute for his “outstanding ability to work responsibly across partisan divisions and bring greater civility to public discourse.”

Before assuming his position at Deep South Today, Sabin was Chief Strategy Officer at Interfaith America, and previously he was the Executive Director of Strategic Engagement at the Aspen Institute. Earlier he was the Senior Director of U.S. Programs at Winrock International and the founding director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. From 2008-13 he was the publisher of the Oxford American magazine, and in 2009, he was named to the FOLIO:40, a list of the 40 most influential people in the national magazine industry. Sabjn’s additional professional experience includes serving as director of development for the Clinton Foundation, as well as working on Capitol Hill, at the White House, the U.S. Embassy in London, and at Foreign Affairs magazine. He is a Marshall Scholar and a Truman Scholar, and he holds an M.A. (Oxon) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a B.A. (summa cum laude) in Political Science from the University of Arkansas, where he graduated as valedictorian and was president of the student body.

He received the University of Arkansas Young Alumni Award in 2005 and was named to the Arkansas Business “40 Under 40” in 2003, and he has volunteered and served on the boards of directors for numerous community and nonprofit organizations and projects.

Andrew Platt

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:30:10 +0000

Andrew Platt

Former Delegate | Gaithersburg, MD

Andrew Platt was elected Delegate to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014 and served from 2015 to 2019. He is a first generation college graduate who worked his way through school. After graduating, Andrew went to work for Donna Brazile, the Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation for the Democratic National Committee. Andrew then got a job on Capitol Hill working for the House Democratic Caucus, the legislative and communications hub for House Democrats. As a staffer for the Caucus, Andrew worked to help advance legislation to create jobs, grow our middle class, and protect Social Security and Medicare from drastic cuts. While working full-time on Capitol Hill, Andrew went to graduate school at night and received his Master’s degree.

Janette Millin Young

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:30:07 +0000

Janette Millin Young

Former Senator | U.S. Virgin Islands

On November 2, 2010, Sen. Millin Young was elected to serve in the 29th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, and was sworn into office on January 10, 2011. Where she served from 2011 to 2019. She served as the Senate’s Chairman of the Committee on Education, Youth and Culture. She served as the 30th Legislature’s Legislative Secretary and Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture, and Planning. The senator Chaired the Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Planning. In August 2015, Senator Millin Young was elected to serve as the National Council of State Legislature’s Eastern Region Representative of the Women’s Legislative Network.

Before her election, she published a local monthly magazine, worked in journalism and communications, spent time working for the Virgin Islands Legislature and Department of Health, and also worked in the Governor’s Office in communications and public relations.

Rob Werner

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:08:04 +0000

Rob Werner

City Councilmember | Concord, NH

Rob Werner is the New Hampshire State Director for the League of Conservation Voters, a national advocacy organization that works to turn environmental values into national, state, and local priorities. Rob formerly served as the National Field Director of Americans for Campaign Reform.

A public policy analyst and advocate, Rob has organized successful advocacy and legislative campaigns for the American Heart Association, Smoke-Free NH Alliance, and the American Cancer Society. Rob has extensive experience in the health care sector, working in the private, government, and non-profit areas.

Rob is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School and the University of Vermont. He earned a Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University as well as two certificates from the Harvard Kennedy School, Senior Managers in State and Local Government and Climate Change and Energy Policy. Rob is serving his sixth term on the Concord City Council, chairing the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee

Active in the Greater Concord, NH Chamber of Commerce, Rob serves on the State Government Affairs Committee. Rob serves on the board of the Harvard Club of New Hampshire and Chairs the Harvard Kennedy School New Hampshire Network. Rob is a graduate of Leadership New Hampshire and a member of the Bow, NH Rotary Club.

Anne Sung

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:07:58 +0000

Anne Sung

Former School Board Member | Houston, TX

Anne Sung was elected to the Houston Board of Education in 2016, until January 2022

She was committed to pursuing equitable policies and programs that build strong schools in every neighborhood and focuses her attention on fiscal responsibility to ensure that district dollars are managed to the greatest benefit for students’ academic success.

Sung is a product of HISD, having attended Askew Elementary School, TH Rogers Middle School, and Bellaire High School. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. She also earned master’s degrees in physics and public policy, also from Harvard.

Jack Schnirman

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:07:51 +0000

Jack Schnirman

Former County Comptroller | Nassau County, NY

Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman was elected in November 2017 until January 2022.

As Comptroller, Jack has brought a new energy to his position as the County’s Chief Financial Officer. He has increased transparency through innovative approaches such as Open Checkbook and the Comptroller’s Scorecard on the Open Nassau Transparency Hub, launched audits that have achieved results, and strengthened oversight of the County’s finances and contracting processes.

His administration launched a Policy and Research Unit focused on data-driven reports, fact sheets, and analysis to help inform the policy-making process, highlighting critical demographic trends, Black Economic Equity, veterans data, women entrepreneurship, food insecurity, the 2020 Census, and how the County can retain and meet the demands of the next generation. The Comptroller’s office has forged new partnerships with leaders in the nonprofit, MWBE, and tech communities, advocating for local businesses and pushing to grow our economy.

Prior to being elected Comptroller, Jack served as Long Beach City Manager. He helped put the City on the road to recovery from the brink of bankruptcy and the devastation from Superstorm Sandy. On Jack’s watch, Long Beach’s bond rating was upgraded twice and received nine consecutive credit positive reviews.

He previously served as the Town of Brookhaven’s Chief Deputy Town Supervisor, helping stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars on no-bid contracts, patronage, and scandals, with the help of data-driven government.

Jack lives in Long Beach with his wife, Joan, and children, Sage and Oz, and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Steven Reed

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:07:48 +0000

Steven Reed

Mayor | Montgomery, AL

Steven L. Reed was elected as the Probate Judge of Montgomery County, Alabama in November 2012. He is the first African-American and youngest person elected to the county’s highest elected office.

Steven L. Reed was born and raised in Montgomery where he attended public schools, played sports, and participated in YMCA programs. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Morehouse College. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Steven L. Reed is a co-founder of the Healthy Minds Network, a public private partnership, which aims to improve outcomes of those impacted by mental illness. A graduate of Leadership Alabama he sits on the board of Trustmark Bank, the River Region United Way, and the Metro YMCA. He represents the state of Alabama on the United States Election Assistance Commission and also serves on the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Government Coordinating Council Election Integrity Commission.

Highlighting a growing list of public recognition Steven Reed was honored to be nominated for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award and is also the proud recipient of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy/Leadership Award for Governmental Service.

Steven Reed has appeared in several national and international media outlets such as: “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, “German Television,” the Washington Post, NPR, and The New York Times.

On October 8, 2019, Steven L. Reed was elected as Montgomery, Alabama’s first African American mayor in the city’s 200 year history. He has since appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and Politics Nation with Al Sharpton as a result of his historic win. On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, he was sworn in as the city’s 57^th mayor.

Mayor Reed is the Moderator at Community Congregational United Church of Christ as well as an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Mayor Steven L. Reed and his wife Tamika are the proud parents of three children.

Elena Parent

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:07:47 +0000

Elena Parent

Senator | Atlanta, GA

Elena is a State Senator, attorney, and progressive champion. First elected in 2010 as one of 12 Democrats in the nation to unseat a Republican incumbent, Elena focused her efforts in her first term on government transparency and ethics, including independent redistricting. Elected to the State Senate in 2014, Elena has focused on improving access to early childhood education and health care, promoting common-sense gun safety measures, and defeating job-killing and discriminatory “religious freedom” legislation. She has also continued her work toward an independent redistricting commission for Georgia. Elena passed a bill that would close a loophole that allowed severely mentally ill Georgians to acquire guns and is also working toward keeping guns away from those committed of domestic violence. She played a key role in passing Georgia’s Pursuing Justice for Rape Victims Act in 2016. In 2019, she passed CJ’s Law to provide further justice for victims seriously injured in hit-and-run accidents. She continues to lead the state’s fight for portable benefits for gig and other non-traditional workers through a study committee and legislation. In 2018, Elena was elected Vice Chair of Campaigns and Fundraising to the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus, which allows her the opportunity to recruit and raise money for progressive candidates in Georgia. She is currently serving as NewDEAL’s Education Policy Co-Chair alongside Mayor Steven Reed.

Matt Meyer

actualize — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:07:43 +0000

Matt Meyer

Governor | Delaware

In 2020, when COVID-19 threatened the health and safety of Delawareans, Meyer led efforts that resulted in Delaware being the first state in the country to offer open, free COVID-19 saliva tests, having provided nearly 300,000 tests to date. New Castle County monitored sewers to identify COVID-19 hotspots quickly and implemented programs to get high speed wifi access to the hardest to reach communities. In two weeks, New Castle County created the largest full-service homeless shelter in state history, converting a 192 room three star hotel into the NCC Hope Center in order to provide dignity and comprehensive services to the most vulnerable Delawareans.

The Meyer Administration also eliminated wasteful spending and streamlined government expenditures, creating a rapid response JobsNow program that facilitated development projects with over 12,000 jobs. He launched NCC innovates, the most extensive effort to start and grow small business in county history and created GreeNCC, an ambitious agenda to address climate change, preserve open space, bikeable-walkable trails and clean water. His Vacant Spaces to Livable Places initiative rapidly reduced the number of vacant delinquent residential properties by more than 30% while generating millions of dollars of new revenue for schools. His community policing initiatives, Hero Help and the Police Mental Health Alliance, have diverted over 500 individuals facing substance abuse and mental illness from incarceration into treatment.