Joyce Boghosian – Mentor Trip Photographer
Former White House Photographer
What began as a three-month internship at the White House Photo Office in 1988 was the start of a career spanning six U.S. presidents. Joyce Naltchayan Boghosian was mentored in her earlier years by her late father, renowned Washington Post photographer for 35 years, Harry Naltchayan. She began working as a photographer at local community newspapers. During the last three months of President Ronald Reagan’s administration, she interned at the White House Photography Office. In 1989, under the direction of President George H. W. Bush’s personal photographer David Valdez, she was hired as a photo assistant for the full term of the administration. In 1994, she joined Agence France-Presse International Wire Service (AFP) as a staff photojournalist at the Washington, DC bureau, mostly assigned to the White House Press Corps covering President Bill Clinton.
Boghosian left AFP wire service in 2004 to once again join the White House photo team under the direction of Chief Photographer Eric Draper. This time she served as an official White House photographer, covering President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. She documented their daily schedule, both official and personal, at the White House as well as on domestic and foreign travel. In January 2009, she was held over by the Obama administration. She continued her duties as White House photographer under the direction of Chief Photographer Pete Souza, who mostly assigned her to First Lady Michelle Obama. After the first few months of the Obama administration, she left her position to be with her three young children.
Boghosian returned to the White House Photo Office in 2017 under the direction of Chief Photographer Shealah Craighead as an official photographer during President Donald J. Trump’s administration. During these unprecedented times, she documented the president’s daily meetings as the coronavirus evolved, adding to the daily challenges and intense environment.
Her work has taken her to foreign countries, where she has photographed leaders from all around the world. Highlights in her career were photographing three administration’s transition days in the Oval Office, P.M. Margaret Thatcher, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, Pope John Paul II, the funeral of Jordan’s King Hussein, and five U.S. Presidents standing together in the Oval Office at the White House. Boghosian is currently a freelance photographer based in the Washington, DC area.
Vin Weber – Former Member of Congress
Former U.S. Representative (Minnesota) & Partner at Mercury in Washington, D.C.
Vin Weber is a Partner at Mercury in Washington, D.C. He provides strategic advice to institutions with matters before the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. Vin has successfully advised numerous clients on matters pertaining to mergers & acquisitions, crisis management, strategic communications and international strategies.
Vin served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1993, representing Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. He was a member of the Appropriations Committee and an elected member of the House Republican Leadership.
Vin is one of the most prominent and successful strategists in the Republican Party and enjoys strong bipartisan relationships across the legislative and executive branches of government. He serves as a trusted advisor to senior officials in the Administration and on Capitol Hill, and has counseled numerous Presidential campaigns. In 2004, Vin was the Bush-Cheney ’04 Plains States Regional Chairman. He also served as Policy Chairman for Governor Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign. He is featured often in national publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, National Journal, POLITICO and Financial Times. He is a sought-after political and policy analyst, appearing frequently on major television outlets, including NBC’s Nightly News, PBS News Hour, Bloomberg’s With All Due Respect, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC and he contributes often to NPR, including the Diane Rehm Show. Washingtonian magazine named Vin #5 in their list of Washington’s 50 top lobbyists.
Vin is former Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy, a private, nonprofit organization designed to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. He serves on the Board of The Council on Foreign Relations and co-chaired a major independent task force on U.S. Policy Toward Reform in the Arab World with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Vin is a former member of the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, and he also served on the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion. For twelve years, Vin co-directed the Policy Forum—formerly the Mondale Forum—at the Humphrey Institute of the University of Minnesota along with former Congressman Tim Penny and he continues to be active with the school. In addition, Vin has served on the boards of over a dozen for-profit corporations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies.
Vin has authored and contributed to a number of task forces and reports. He co-directed the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ project on U.S. international development strategies and co-authored, along with former White House counsel, Greg Craig, a report on U.S. policy toward Egypt, published by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Currently, Vin co-chairs the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Health and Housing Task Force and serves as an advisor to the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Strategy Task Force, led by from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisory, Stephen Hadley.
Prior to opening Clark & Weinstock’s Washington, D.C. office in 1994, Vin was president and co-director with Jack Kemp, Jeane Kirkpatrick and Bill Bennett – of Empower America, a public policy advocacy group. Before his Congressional service, he was campaign manager and chief Minnesota aide to Sen. Rudy Boschwitz (1978-1980), and the co-publisher of the Murray County Herald (1976-1978).
Barbara J. Comstock – Former Member of Congress
Former Congresswoman (Virginia) & Senior Advisor with Baker Donelson
Barbara Comstock provides strategic counsel to clients on a range of matters, including cybersecurity and privacy issues, and managing high-stakes oversight hearings of businesses and individuals.
Barbara Comstock, senior advisor with Baker Donelson, offers clients decades of policy experience in the legislative, administrative, and private sector arenas, as well as a lifetime of relationships, to build winning coalitions and strategies for clients in today’s challenging policy and political environments. She’s active in the technology and cybersecurity areas, national security and space, and congressional investigations.
Barbara was elected to Congress in 2014, and served two terms representing Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District, making her the first woman elected to that seat. She was named as one of the “Top Ten Most Effective Lawmakers” in the 115th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint effort of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University.
During her time in Congress, Barbara was a leader on technology and cybersecurity issues, chairing the Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Research and Technology subcommittee, as well as serving on the Joint Economic Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her legislative achievements include passing legislation to promote women and disadvantaged populations in STEM, as well as expanding research in the technology space. Barbara also was the leader on anti-sexual harassment legislation in Congress, and legislation to tackle the opioid crisis and gang crime. She partnered with Senator McCain to reauthorize multi-year firefighter grants to increase innovation and public safety. While in Congress, Barbara was the only woman in the Virginia congressional delegation and the only Virginia member to chair a subcommittee.
Prior to serving in Congress, Barbara served as a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. There she was also a leader on technology issues serving as chairwoman of the Science and Technology Committee. She also served on the Commerce and Labor Committee and the General Laws Committee. Barbara was a go-to leader in technology, authoring and passing legislation such as the Research and Development Tax Credit, Data Center Tax Incentives, the first Telework bills in Virginia, and legislation on human trafficking and health care. She received the Virginia Chamber’s Free Enterprise Award and Competitiveness Award.
Prior to elected office, Barbara co-founded her own public affairs firm and was a senior partner at Blank Rome Government Relations. She also served as Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice, overseeing the communications efforts at the Justice Department and FBI, handling communications dealing with major terrorism investigations, corporate fraud, and antitrust matters.
Barbara worked as a strategic advisor for the Mitt Romney presidential campaigns, was head of Research and Strategy at the Republican National Committee, and worked with the George W. Bush 2000 presidential campaign. Barbara first worked on Capitol Hill as a senior aide to Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf (1990 – 1995), working on transportation, health care, business, and appropriations matters. She also served as the Chief Counsel for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and as outside counsel on numerous high-profile investigations.
In 2013, Barbara founded “The Young Women’s Leadership Program” for women in high school and junior high, which is now housed at the Barbara Comstock Institute for Women in Leadership at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.
Barbara has served as a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics, the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future, and American University’s Sine Institute.
Barbara also serves as an ABC News political contributor and appears regularly on CNN, PBS, and MSNBC. She serves on the boards of Vivint Home Security, Trustar Bank, UVA’s Miller Center for the Study of the Presidency, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She is a mother of three and grandmother of seven and lives in McLean, Virginia, with her husband, Chip, a lifelong high school educator and administrator.
Joe Crowley – Former Member of Congress
Former U.S. Representative (New York) & Senior Policy Director
Congressman Joe Crowley is a senior policy director in Dentons’ Public Policy practice and provides strategic advice and consulting to clients on a wide range of public policy matters, including tax, financial services, and healthcare. As a former Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, the fourth-highest ranking position among House Democrats, Congressman Crowley brings strong negotiation skills, a deep understanding of complex congressional politics, and extensive experience in navigating the legislative process to his practice.
Congressman Crowley represented the people of New York’s 14th congressional district, including his hometown of Woodside, Queens, for 20 years. He served in the House Democratic leadership for six years, first as Vice-Chair and then as Chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He also served as chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a chief deputy whip, and sat on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
During his tenure, Congressman Crowley served on the prestigious House Ways and Means Committee, where he worked to protect Social Security and Medicare, championed efforts to pass the Affordable Care Act and make healthcare more affordable, and pushed to cut taxes for middle class Americans and small businesses. Before being appointed to the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Crowley was a member of the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. He was a three-time co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, co-chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs and an active member of the Friends of Ireland Caucus, and co-founder of both the Bangladesh Caucus and the Rare Diseases Caucus.
Congressman Crowley’s rise in the House of Representatives and in the Democratic Party leadership is indicative of his tireless work to elect Democrats at every level of government and his commitment to mentoring both colleagues and candidates. Recognized as one of Capitol Hill’s most strategic and influential legislators, Congressman Crowley earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans alike. Before entering national politics, Congressman Crowley served in the New York State Assembly from 1987 to 1998.
In 2021, Congressman Crowley was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the America 250 Commission (U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission), which is charged with orchestrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. He is also involved with many charitable organizations, including N Street Village and Ford’s Theatre, and is a co-producer of the Broadway musical “Paradise Square.”
Horace Cooper – Constitutional Scholar
Senior partner at Monument Communications
Horace Cooper is a senior partner at Monument Communications — a crisis PR firm. He is also a senior fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, chairman of the Project 21 National Advisory Board and also a legal commentator.
Horace averages over 250 talk radio appearances per year and appears regularly on Fox News including Fox News Sunday, the Laura Ingraham show, and the Hannity show among others.
Horace taught constitutional law at George Mason University in Virginia and was a senior counsel to U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. He also served in two cabinet agencies of the Bush Administration.
He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and GMU School of Law.
Horace has contributed numerous essays to Constituting America’s online studies, and is always a favorite guest on our Constitutional live Chats podcasts.
Horace Cooper is a writer and legal commentator. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and Fox as well as in a variety of print publications. He is also a Research Fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research, a Senior Fellow with the Heartland Institute and the Director of Law and Regulation at the Institute for Liberty. From June 2005 – June 2007 he was a visiting assistant professor of law at George Mason University School of Law. While at GMUSL his research focus was on U.S. intellectual property rights policy, the role of the United States Supreme Court in the American constitutional system, political forecasting, the legislative process and federal labor law.
Mr. Cooper has served in senior capacities in the George W. Bush Administration including stints as chief of staff at the Voice of America and the Dept of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration. Horace Cooper previously served as Counsel to the Honorable Richard K. Armey, (Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives from 1994 – 2002). Mr. Cooper’s interests include current issues involving law and American society, political forecasting, and the changing makeup of the United States Supreme Court.
David Norcross – Constitutional Scholar
Politician
David Norcross focuses his practice on legislative affairs, legislative and executive department liaison, and public affairs. Mr. Norcross has particular experience with: energy issues, healthcare, transportation, management of legal team election activities and election observation (foreign and domestic). Mr. Norcross has undertaken missions overseas in: Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Russia, and others. Mr. Norcross was the chairman of the Republican National Convention’s Committee on Arrangements for the 2004 Republican Convention, held in New York City. He formerly served as general counsel and member of the board of the International Republican Institute, general counsel to the Republican National Committee, and general counsel to the Center for Democracy. Mr. Norcross has received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Norcross is a member of the Federalist Society and the Republican National Lawyers Association. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee and is the chairman of the RNC’s Standing Committee on Rules. He formerly served as secretary (Ch) of the Burlington County Board of Elections (N.J.) for many years. Mr. Norcross served in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, assigned to the U.S. Army Security Agency from 1962 to 1965, stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia.
Laurie Norcross – Constitutional Scholar
Director of Federal Affairs for The Port Authority of NY & NJ
Laurie Michel currently serves as Director of Federal Affairs for The Port Authority of NY & NJ. The Office of Federal Affairs is responsible for identifying issues and advocating policy and legislative positions that affect the Port Authority’s mission, business objectives, operations, programs and facilities to the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch. Prior to joining the Port Authority (May 2010), Laurie was Senior Director & Counsel of Federal Policy and Government Relations at Merck. She was responsible for shaping the federal legislative and policy environment in the following issue areas: vaccine financing and access; patent reform and domestic intellectual property; research regulation; legal reform; and environmental regulation. She was responsible for ensuring Merck’s compliance with federal lobby disclosure and contributions reporting requirements.
Prior to joining Merck, Laurie was Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Pasteur/Merieux/Connaught (now Sanofi). She began her Washington career as Legislative Assistant to Cong. Ed Derwinski (R-IL) and as staff assistant in the Office of Legislative Affairs of the U.S. Treasury. She then headed the Washington office of Nabisco Brands, Inc. for four years before joining the Philadelphia law firm of Ballard,Spahr, Andrews and Ingersoll, where she was a member of the public finance and legislative practice groups.
Laurie returned to legislative practice in Washington at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, before going Pasteur/Merieux/Connaught. Laurie serves on the Board of the Federal Judicial Center Foundation and is a graduate of Smith College (A.B., American Studies) and George Washington University Law School (J.D.).
Peter Roff – Constitutional Scholar
Media Fellow, Newsweek Contributing Editor and Columnist
Peter Roff is a Newsweek contributing editor and columnist. Between 2008 and 2019, he wrote a column three times a week for U.S. News and World Report from 2008 to 2019. From 2000 to 2005 he was on the Washington desk at United Press International.
His writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Washington Times, The New York Post, The Daily Caller, Investors Business Daily, The Washington Examiner, The Detroit News, The Orange County Register, The Houston Chronicle, and The Hill.
He’s also appeared on “MSNBC,” “Fox News,” “CBS News Overnight,” “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” “The Dennis Miller Show,” “C-SPAN’s Washington Journal” and on the 90’s ABC comedy “Spin City” playing himself.
As senior political writer for United Press International, he authored the Washington insider “Capitol Comment” and “White House Watch” columns and well as news analyses, and commentary.
He is a former member of the White House Correspondents’ Association and a member of the News Leaders Association.
Tony Williams – Constitutional Scholar
Bill of Rights Institute Senior Teaching Fellow
Tony Williams is Senior Teaching Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute and most recently joined our Constituting America team as Special Advisor.
Tony holds history degrees from Syracuse University and Ohio State University. He taught history for fifteen years and was a fellow at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Dr. Williams is the author of six books, including a book he co-authored with Professor Stephen Knott: Washington and Hamilton, the Alliance that Created America!
Tony has contributed numerous essays to Constituting America’s online studies, has been a special guest for our Book Club discussions and is always a favorite guest on our Constitutional Chats podcasts.
Maura Gillespie – PSA Mentor
Founder & Principal at Bluestack Strategies, LLC
An established communications professional and proud New Jersey native, Maura established Bluestack Strategies to help tell the stories of those who wish to grow their business, develop strategic communications plans, expand their brand, and/or build an audience. She brings her political consulting experience and years of communications expertise to this endeavor and to her role as a Partner at Foxhound Advisors, a principal-level-only public affairs and communications firm that provides a customized, creative approach for clients across industries and issue areas.
Suhail Khan – STEM Mentor
Director of External Affairs at Microsoft Corporation
Suhail A. Khan serves as Director of External Affairs at Microsoft Corporation and a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement, a Christian religious freedom think tank.
Suhail served as a policy advisor and counsel on Capitol Hill, and a senior political appointee with the Bush administration, where he served in the White House and as an advisor for two cabinet secretaries. He was awarded the U.S. DOT Secretary’s Team Award in 2005 and the Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in 2007. Suhail was awarded the Young Conservative Coalition’s Buckley Award in 2010.
Suhail was elected to the Board of Directors for the American Conservative Union in 2007 and serves on the Board of Advisers for the interfaith Center for Interreligious Understanding. In 2014, Suhail was appointed by RNC Chairman Reince Prebus to serve on the Asian Pacific American Advisory Council of the Republican National Committee. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Children’s National Medical Center, the American Jewish Committee’s Advisory Council and on the Board of Directors for the American Studies Center, the parent foundation for Radio America and the American Veterans Center. He has served on political campaigns in California, Iowa, Louisiana, Washington, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Kentucky, Virginia, Kentucky and Massachusetts.
In addition to his political efforts, Suhail has been a passionate advocate for religious freedom, both in the U.S. and around the globe participating in efforts in countries such as China, Vietnam, Europe and throughout the Middle East. In combating Holocaust-denial and anti-Semitism, Suhail led delegations of major American and global faith leaders to Europe’s death camps in 2010, 2013 and 2020.
Suhail was born in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in California. His parents immigrated to the US from southern India. He holds a BA in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a JD from the University of Iowa.
Andrew Langer – Essay Mentor
President of the Institute for Liberty
Andrew Langer is the President of the Institute for Liberty, as well as the Director of the CPAC Foundation’s Center for Regulatory Freedom. Andrew has been involved in free-market and limited-government causes for more than 25 years, has testified before Congress nearly two dozen times, spoken to audiences across the United States, and has taught at the collegiate level.
As President of the Institute for Liberty, Andrew became recognized as an expert on the Constitution, especially issues surrounding private property rights, free speech, abuse of power, and the concentration of power in the federal executive branch.
Andrew has had an extensive career in media—having appeared on television programs around the world as well as creating and hosting podcasts including a highly-rated weekly program on WBAL NewsRadio 1090 in Baltimore, as well as numerous other nationally-syndicated and satellite radio programs. He has also appeared on numerous television networks, including Fox News and One America News, and regularly writes for publications such as Townhall, Daily Caller, the American Spectator and the National Review.
Andrew has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy University and a degree in International Relations from William & Mary.
Jay McConville – Song Mentor
Management Professional & Strategy Consultant
Jay McConville is a military veteran, management professional, strategy consultant, active civic volunteer, and issue advocate. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, he was the founder and owner of Emerald Collaborative Partners (ECP) LLC of Richmond, Virginia, a management, strategy, government affairs, and new business consultancy focused on the Aerospace and Defense industry. As part of his consultancy, he also served for three years as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Privia LLC, a proposal management software company in Herndon, Virginia.
In addition to his own business, Jay has held multiple key technology and management positions within industry including Director, Vice President, Executive Vice President and President and CEO within several leading Aerospace and Defense firms.
Jay is also a military Veteran. Enlisting in 1981 and commissioned in 1985, he served as a US Army Intelligence Officer in multiple positions around the world, including with the 1st Cavalry Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Throughout his career, Jay has been active in civic and industry volunteer associations. He ran for the Virginia House of Delegates from the 44th Legislative District (Mt. Vernon) in 2009, and while unsuccessful, was subsequently elected to lead one of Virginia’s largest Political Committees. He also served as the volunteer Virginia Co-Chair for a top-tier Presidential Candidate during the 2016 Presidential Primary. Jay is a past two-term President of the Washington DC “Capitol” Chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and two-term President of the Ft. Hunt Youth Athletic Association (FHYAA). Today he serves on the Operating Board of Directors of “Constituting America,” a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to teaching America’s youth about the principles of the United States Constitution.
Jay is a Distinguished Military Graduate from Georgetown University ROTC. He has a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College (since renamed the National Intelligence University). He is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
Jay lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife of 35 years, Susan Ulsamer McConville. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Michael Pack – Short Film Mentor
President and CEO of Palladium Pictures LLC
Michael Pack is the President and CEO of Palladium Pictures LLC, as well a producer, director, and executive producer for Palladium’s upcoming films.
Michael is also President of Manifold Productions, Inc., an independent film and television production company, which he founded in 1977. Through Manifold Productions, he has written, directed, and produced numerous award-winning nationally broadcast documentaries as well as corporate and educational films.
His most recent film, Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, a two-hour documentary, opened in movie theaters on January 31st, 2020 and was broadcast nationally via PBS on May 18th, 2020. The Washington Post called it “a marvel of filmmaking,” and the Washington Examiner said it is “magnificent and necessary.” Also, upcoming, The Last 600 Meters, tells the story of the 2004 battles of Najaf and Fallujah, the two biggest battles of the Iraq War.
Michael’’s other major television credits include: RICKOVER: The Birth of Nuclear Power, starring Tim Blake Nelson and narrated by Joan Allen (2014); Rediscovering Alexander Hamilton, hosted by Richard Brookhiser (2011); God and the Inner City, narrated by Phylicia Rashad (2003); Rediscovering George Washington, hosted by Richard Brookhiser (2002); The Fall of Newt Gingrich, narrated by Blair Brown (2000); The Rodney King Incident: Race and Justice in America, narrated by Robert Prosky (1998); Inside the Republican Revolution: The First Hundred Days, hosted by Don Lambro (1995); Hollywood vs. Religion, hosted by Michael Medved (1995); Campus Culture Wars: Five Stories about Political Correctness, narrated by Lindsay Crouse (1993); America’s Political Parties, hosted by Ben Wattenberg and David Gergen (1988 & 1992); Fire from the Sun: The Search for Fusion Energy, hosted by E. G. Marshall (1990); Hollywood’s Favorite Heavy: Businessmen on Prime Time TV, hosted by Eli Wallach (1987); among others. All have been nationally broadcast on PBS, except The Rodney King Incident, which premiered on TLC.
From June 2020 to January 2021, Michael served as the first Senate-confirmed CEO of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the government’s five international broadcasting networks: Voice of America, Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Together, they reach an audience of over 350 million people a week, in over 60 languages, with a budget of more than $850 million per year. Mr. Pack’s goal was to return the agency to its core mission: to offer objective, balanced news to oppressed people; to “tell America’s story” to the world; and to promote American ideals such as freedom and democracy.
From 2015 to 2017, he served as President and CEO of the Claremont Institute in Upland, CA, and Publisher of its Claremont Review of Books. During his tenure, Michael revamped its management and organizational structure, created a new communications department, which vastly increased its national prominence, and opened offices in DC to launch new programs and increase its profile in the policy world.
From 2003-2006, he served as Senior Vice President for Television Programming at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He restructured the programming department and launched several new initiatives. These included: America at a Crossroads (a series of 20 documentary films addressing issues facing America in the wake of the attacks of 9/11) and the American History and Civics Initiative (innovative, new media designed to address the crisis of historical amnesia in middle and high school students).
In 2002, President Bush nominated and the Senate confirmed Michael to serve on the National Council on the Humanities, which oversees the National Endowment for the Humanities. He served from July 2002 to February 2005.
In 1993, he served as Co-Chair of the International TV Council at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In this capacity, he oversaw the Council’s efforts to determine the feasibility of launching a cooperative program between American public television producers and stations and their counterparts in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Previously, he received a political appointment as Director of WORLDNET, the U.S. Information Agency’s global satellite network. WORLDNET produced, acquired, and distributed programs to over 127 countries and over 200 cities on all continents twenty-four hours a day. He oversaw WORLDNET’s 291 employees and annual budget of $23 million. WORLDNET, now called VOA-TV, has merged with the Voice of America.
Michael attended Yale College, the University of California at Berkeley, and studied film at New York University. Before launching Manifold Productions and Palladium Pictures, he worked extensively in production and post-production. He worked as a staff editor for RAI, the Italian TV network, and for Pathé News in New York. Michael and his wife, Gina, also at Palladium Pictures, have three sons and reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His favorite film is The Man who Shot Liberty Valance.
Gina Pack – Short Film Mentor
Executive Producer at Palladium Pictures
Gina Cappo Pack is an Executive Producer at Palladium Pictures and also handles a wide range of managerial tasks. She also serves as Executive Producer for Manifold Productions’ film and educational projects, which are on-going.
Gina’s recent background is in development and film promotion. In her past, she worked in corporate management, marketing, and personnel. Her early skills and experience as a corporate executive have lent direction to Manifold Productions, while helping to maintain an efficient use of resources.
She has worked in fundraising, promotion, and management since 1987 for Manifold Productions, and serves as an executive producer. She consulted in donor relations for the Claremont Institute in Southern California, while continuing her development work at Manifold Productions.
Previously, she worked in operations planning and new product development before she left corporate management at Pandick Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of a financial printing firm. Along with assisting the expansion of offices in twelve cities, she worked closely with regional sales and operations, while reporting to the president. Prior to this, Gina consulted for a variety of expanding businesses, both for-profit and not-for-profit. While still in college, she managed a division of TemPositions, Inc., a New York temporary help firm, where she was initially responsible for personnel interviewing and placement; later assisting the sales force, coordinating training, and managing departmental operations.
Gina is a graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York. She is married to Michael Pack; they have three grown sons and reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Her favorite film is To Be or Not to Be.
Thomas Pack – Short Film Mentor
Program Director, Associate Producer
Thomas’ lifetime of film experience began when he was born into the Pack family. He has worked as a Production Assistant on several films including Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in his Own Words, and Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power. Thomas has extensive experience working at educational organizations including in leadership roles, most recently as Director of Student Programs at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and as Head of Operations at the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation. Thomas is excited to take his education and management experience back to the family business to direct the Incubator Program, which will train the next generation of documentary filmmakers. Thomas received his Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, and his Masters in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former Hertog Foundation Fellow and a former Claremont Institute Publius Fellow. Thomas’ favorite film is Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.
Madeline Peltzer – PSA Mentor
Capitol Hill Press Secretary & Former We The Future Contest Winner
Madeline Peltzer is press secretary for Congressman John James of Michigan’s Tenth District. Previously she was a ghostwriter for Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel at the Republican National Committee where she wrote nearly 100 op-eds throughout the 2022 election cycle. Madeline got her start writing essays for national contests and as a freelance journalist. She is a 2021 graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan where she studied politics and journalism. She served as news editor for the Hillsdale Collegian, a student ambassador, and was elected vice president of student government. A life-long political junkie, she has interned at both the state and federal levels including the White House. Madeline is the oldest of three girls and hails from Arizona.
Moses Uvere – Song Mentor
Musical Artist
Born and raised in Dallas Texas, Moses Uvere was the first born to Patience and Gabriel Uvere, immigrants who came to America to seek the “American Dream.” Being brought up by parents from a different country, Moses witnessed first hand what the “American Dream” was all about and the struggle to achieve a better life. Living in poverty stricken areas Moses had an up close view of growing up poor, sharing clothes with his brothers, wearing hand me downs, and not getting much during the holidays. Moses was an active kid who always played sports and was a fine football prospect in high school where his career was cut short. Due to the fact that his mom left the family, he the eldest of the six, had to grow up quickly to help his dad raise his two little brothers and his little sister. “The things in my life didn’t break me, but made me the man I am today.”
Music had always been apart of his life and after being in the group Minority Authority for a few years, Moses struck out on his own. He met up with Dustin Cavazos who produced his first release, “From Worse to Better.” (2008) The album is a reflection of past experiences that he has seen and lived, Few years later (2011) Uvere signed a record deal with Universal / mo-town producer geoff rockwell under the imprint of chaos creative and released an album entitled “mind the gap” and Received critical acclaim. Following that album Uvere had his most (2014) highest profile release yet with “never been better” in which lead him to be in front of 13.9 million people according to Anchor Marketing. His next release (2016) Kingdom of the fallen the album reached the top 100 of the iTunes charts (47) and was followed up with a Performance at the historic Klyde warren park as the first Christian hip hop artist in its history to be invited as a headliner.
Moses Uvere is a multi-talented Christian rapper and artist who is the voice of a generation. A fearless wordsmith who isn’t afraid to break the norms and push the boundaries of possibility spending most of his upbringing Garland TX. His drive. focus. and tenacity have led him to become a relentless and emerging force in the independent hip-hop circuit. Moses Uvere is making music that is driven by a desire to reshape a generation and enthrall audiences worldwide.
His hard work has garnered him plaudits from peers and audiences as well as diverse and unique opportunities. He has toured with the national Christian association of Nigeria. He has opened up for industry giants such as 2 Chainz, Trey Songz. Meek Mill, Lecrae, and Andy Mineo, Derek Minor, Toby Mac, and Jeremy Camp. He has also made notable appearances on ABC, CBS, TB, CW 33 Dallas Morning News, Yahoo News, DLiving Magazine, and recently in 2021 he charted #1 in the top 100 on the iTunes charts as an independent artist.
Moses is also the recipient of the CBS 11 Texan With Character Award” and he was inducted into the Berkner High School Hall of Fame in October of 2019.
He is a husband, a father of three, and currently lead pastor at The Vine of Life in Garland, TX .
Eric Wilson – Social Media Mentor
Political Technologist
Eric Wilson is a political technologist driving innovation and digital transformation. He’s a veteran of numerous campaigns, having led Marco Rubio’s digital team during his 2016 campaign for president.
Today, he is a Senior Vice President at Bullpen Strategy Group, an insights-focused public affairs advocacy and strategic advisory firm. He’s also the Managing Partner of Startup Caucus, an investment fund and incubator for Republican campaign technology.
Named Campaigns & Election’s “2021 Technology Leader of the Year” and a Harvard Ash Center Technology & Democracy Fellow (2019-2021), he’s frequently interviewed by the media about campaigns and technology and regularly speaks domestically and internationally about the digital transformation of politics.
He’s a proud graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas.
Eric and his wife have a daughter and son and live in the Washington, D.C. area.