About State Policy NetworkState Policy Network was founded to support the growth of a collaborative and entrepreneurial network of state think tanks. The network of state think tanks is committed to delivering results that strengthen working families and defend our rights by promoting policies that create a level playing field and safeguard personal freedom, economic liberty, rule of law, property rights, and limited government.
While our mission appropriately focuses our efforts on building a movement, our vision guides us to fight for real issues -- such as worker freedom and better options in education and healthcare for all Americans.State Policy NetworkSPN_85ac535c-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2cState Policy Network is a national nonprofit organization pursuing a vision of an America where personal freedom, innovation, opportunity, and a more peaceful society help all Americans flourish.StatesState Policy Network promotes state-based solutions so that they achieve national impact.CommunitiesWe believe that real and lasting positive change -- where all Americans thrive -- originates in communities and emanates from effective networks of leaders and activists with the capabilities to accomplish change at the state level.American WorkersIncreasingly the deck is stacked against average, hard working Americans. They are overlooked and ignored while Washington favors those with money and influence.State LeadersSPN works side-by-side with these leaders to catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high performing independent think tanks so that every American has a voice.Thomas RoeFounded in 1992 by South Carolina entrepreneur Thomas Roe at the urging of Ronald Reagan, SPN supports a powerful movement of 64 independent state think tank affiliates and over 90 associate partners. State Policy Network Board of DirectorsCarl O. Helstrom, III(Chairman)
The Lynde and Harry Bradley FoundationTracie J. Sharp(President) State Policy Network -- As president and CEO of State Policy Network (SPN), Tracie Sharp serves a 150+ member peer network community of independent, non-partisan, free-market allies in all 50 states.
For the last quarter century, SPN has worked to be a force for good locally, catalyzing thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing, independent state think tanks.
Under Tracie's leadership, State Policy Network has grown from 36 think tanks in 34 states with combined revenues of about $15 million in 1999. Today SPN serves over 150 think tank members, including 65 state-focused think tanks in 50 states, employing over 500 staff, with combined revenues approaching $100 million. During that time SPN’s own revenues have grown from just under $200,000 in 1999 to $15.9 million in 2018.
Background:
Tracie helped launch Oregon's market-oriented state think tank, Cascade Policy Institute, in 1991. Prior to her leadership at Cascade Policy Institute, Tracie worked alongside Washington State radio commentator John Carlson. She served as director of programs at the Washington Institute for Policy Studies in Seattle (now Washington Policy Center). She was also active in the Puget Sound Big Brother/Big Sister program.
Tracie earned a degree in history from the University of Washington. She and her husband and sons live in the San Francisco Bay area. Her family is active in local charitable efforts, including the award-winning e-Soccer and e-Hoops programs, serving special needs children across the Bay area.Stanford D. Swim(Secretary)
The GFC FoundationThomas L. Willcox(Treasurer)
The Roe FoundationTheodore D. AbramAmerican Institute for Full EmploymentLawson BaderDonorsTrust and Donors Capital FundKaren Buchwald WrightAriel Corporation and Ariel FoundationJohn HoodJohn William Pope FoundationAdam MeyersonPhilanthropy RoundtableBridgett G. WagnerThe Heritage FoundationCharity NavigatorSPN has earned the highest Charity Navigator rating. State Policy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and any contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributors’ generous financial donation.USPTOState Policy Network and SPN are registered trademarks with the US Patent and Trademark Office.SPN StaffCaroline WillcoxDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE -- Caroline Willcox is the Development Associate at State Policy Network. In this role, she works with the Associate Director of Advancement to assist with efforts to create personalized mailings to donors, gift entry, database management, and supporting the development team with projects and fundraising campaigns.
Caroline joined SPN in May 2019 after graduating from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in Government and Classical Languages and a minor in Art History. She lives in Washington, DC.Ladan NowrastehDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS -- Ladan Nowrasteh is the director of development communications at State Policy Network. In this role, she works with the fundraising and communications teams to share the story of SPN and its achievements with a donor audience.
Prior to joining SPN, Ladan served as the director of marketing at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University for seven years, overseeing a team of marketers in charge of Mercatus' brand and core communications channels. Before Mercatus, she worked at the American Enterprise Institute on their digital team in charge of their website, social media, and live events.
Before venturing into communications, Ladan spent many years working as a reporter at newspapers and broadcast outlets including NBC, the Houston Chronicle, and Radio Free Europe. Ladan has a master's degree in journalism from American University and a bachelor’s degree in English from DePauw University in her home state of Indiana.Ivan RubioSALESFORCE ADMINISTRATOR -- Rubio is the Salesforce Administrator at State Policy Network. In this role, he builds and manages the CRM operational systems that support growth and efficiency. He works across the organization to ensure SPN departments have the tools they need to operate efficiently, adding the most value possible. Previously, Ivan managed operations at Americans for Prosperity Foundation and the LIBRE Initiative, where he recognized the power of free-market policy and education.
A native of Florida, Ivan currently resides in the greater DC area where he enjoys hiking, personal finance podcasts, and great food.Elyssa GiordanoEVENT MANAGER -- Elyssa Giordano is an Event Manager at State Policy Network. In this role, she works together with the events team to bring together the various peer networks across the state think tanks. She also works closely with the LDI team to host meetings for strategic positioning and planning. After seeing policy success in the states while previously working at Americans for Prosperity, Elyssa strongly believes change across the country starts in local communities with people in various positions who want to make a difference.
After eight years of living in Arlington, VA, Elyssa recently returned home to Bergen County, NJ, where she remains dedicated to the cause of advancing freedom via the free-market movement.Emily WismerGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & POLICY SPECIALIST -- As SPN's Government Affairs and Policy Specialist, Emily works directly with state think tanks to develop transformational policy efforts and cultivate high-performing policy leaders at the state level. Emily also serves as a policy advisor to state think tanks in their efforts to remove barriers to job creation and entrepreneurship in their state. She helps groups strengthen the quality of their research, use research to promote state-based solutions (government affairs), and catalyze a collaborative movement to promote strong jobs policies amongst the states.
Emily stumbled upon the freedom movement while working on budget, tax, and education policy for US Senator John Cornyn. She was impressed by its ability to both develop excellent free market research and solutions to relevant policy issues and then communicate those solutions in a way that impacts change. It was a match made in heaven, and she left the Hill to do policy research.
Most recently, Emily served as Assistant Director of State Outreach at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University where she built relationships with policymakers and educational nonprofits, strategized policy solutions and academic research needs, briefed scholars of upcoming policy issues, and informed policymaking with peer-reviewed research. Prior to that, she produced research papers, briefings, media presentations, and op-eds on energy and international women’s issues as Policy Analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum. Her work has been published in The Huffington Post, U.S. News & World Report, The Hill, and Townhall.
Emily loves being outdoors and spends her free time hiking, rock climbing, and doing yoga. Juliana McMahanEXECUTIVE ASSISTANT -- Juliana McMahan serves as executive assistant to Lynn Harsh, State Policy Network's Vice President of Strategy. In this role, she manages travel logistics and calendars, as well as a myriad of other details. She also assists nonprofit organizations in maximizing their use of their databases. Juliana is a true believer in the freedom movement and has worked most of her life to help advance the cause. She spent almost 19 years with the Freedom Foundation in Washington state, starting as an intern during the organization’s start-up years and eventually serving as Development Director, managing over 5,000 donors. Juliana loves caring for and spending time with her family and enjoys frequent visits from her young niece and nephews who live nearby.Amanda MeyerBUDGET MANAGER -- Amanda Meyer is the Budget Manager for State Policy Network. She serves as a member of the Operations Team and manages all aspects of the day-to-day execution of SPN's budget. She is a graduate of the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University's Romney Institute of Public Management. Prior to joining SPN, Amanda oversaw the daily operations, human resources, and financial compliance at Sutherland Institute. She is passionate about maintaining a free-market society where nonprofit and community-driven solutions thrive. Amanda and her husband, Travis, have three children and value family time above all else.Julie BurdenSENIOR DIRECTOR OF EVENT STRATEGY -- Julie Burden is the senior director of event strategy at State Policy Network. She has over twenty years of experience in fundraising and event management.
Prior to joining SPN, she was the senior director of event strategy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She has also worked in fundraising and event management at the Tax Foundation, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington Chamber Symphony, and Biola University.
Ms. Burden studied at Biola University in California and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English literature.Rebecca PainterVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT -- Rebecca Painter is Vice President of Development for State Policy Network, where she serves as a liaison between State Policy Network and its investors. In this role, she also leads the development team and drives State Policy Network's overall development strategy and operation. Before rejoining State Policy Network in August 2017, Rebecca served as Senior Development Officer at Norwich University where she was responsible for raising major gifts towards a $100 million campaign goal. Rebecca holds more than ten years of development experience and has spent a collective six years raising funds for the freedom movement. From 2012-2014, Rebecca served as Donor Relations Manager for State Policy Network.
Prior to that role, Rebecca spent four years as Director of Development for the South Carolina Policy Council. Rebecca has built high performing development teams. She has designed and implemented fundraising programs for major gifts, foundation giving, and membership programs. She has also established high-dollar direct mail initiatives and executed a wide variety of fundraising events. Rebecca graduated from University of South Carolina, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and minor in French. She and her husband live in Columbia, South Carolina.Chantal LovellDIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS -- Chantal Lovell is State Policy Network's Director of Strategic Communications and is a member of the Communications team and Leadership Development Initiative. In her role, Chantal works alongside state-based think tanks to help them more effectively communicate their ideas and solutions.
Prior to joining the State Policy Network, Chantal worked as the communications manager at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan, and as the Nevada Policy Research Institute’s communications director. In 2014, Lovell won the inaugural Great Communicators Tournament at the State Policy Network's Annual Meeting for a speech she gave regarding the immorality of Medicaid expansion.
Chantal, who spent most of her life in Southern California, received a bachelor's degree in Government from the University of Redlands and a master's degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska.
Before beginning her career in the liberty movement, she was a journalist in Redlands, California and the Napa Valley, where she received awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for investigative reporting, economic reporting and features writing.
Chantal lives in Midland, Michigan with her miniature schnauzers, Winston and Lola.Cindy KilduffSENIOR DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING -- Cindy Kilduff is State Policy Network's Senior Director of Institutional Giving. She helps foundations, corporations, and organizations develop resource partnerships with State Policy Network that maximize SPN's impact, our shared values, and their return on investment. Cindy develops and executes strategies to deliver successful event sponsorships and exhibit spaces. She creates proposals, reports, and other correspondence to attract investment and ensure resource partners are well informed.
Cindy also directs the Freedom's Future Legacy Society, advancing SPN's planned giving opportunities for donors.
Cindy brings more than three decades of leadership and development experience, including as Donor Relations Manager for SPN, Vice President of Advancement for ArtsinStark, and Advancement Officer for Culver Academies. She has a life-long interest in entrepreneurial creativity, free markets, and individual liberty that stems from developing and operating several businesses. Cindy graduated cum laude from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science and minors in Sociology and French.Christina PajakDEVELOPMENT OFFICER -- Christina Pajak is Manager of Donor Relations for State Policy Network. In this capacity, she serves as a liaison between SPN and its investors in the northwestern states. Christina has been involved in fundraising and the state-based liberty movement for nearly a decade. She served as Director of Development for the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, one of SPN's affiliate think tanks, and most recently as Senior Manager of Donor Relations at the state-based investigative journalism organization, the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, an SPN associate.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wheaton College in Illinois and now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In her free time, Christina enjoys cooking, traveling, exploring local restaurants and coffee shops, and working on home renovations with her husband. Max HuntleyLEADERSHIP GIVING OFFICER -- Max Huntley is State Policy Network's Leadership Giving Officer, serving as a liaison between SPN and its investors to ensure our partners are fully aware of the impact they are making. Max joined SPN in April 2016 after graduating from George Mason University with a degree in Global Affairs. In 2015, Max interned at Americans for Prosperity Foundation as a development intern. He enjoys golfing, skiing, and traveling. He currently lives in Arlington, VA.Denise StevensonOFFICE MANAGER -- Denise Stevenson is the Office Manager for State Policy Network. She brings over 15 years of experience in office administration, human resources, and customer service from both the private and public sectors. In this role, she designs and implements office policies by establishing standards and procedures that keep SPN's office in Arlington, VA, running smoothly. She also manages IT infrastructures for the entire SPN team, forges vendor relationships to maximize performance, and maintains employee health benefits and files. Denise serves her community and fuels her passion for helping people as an active board member of the Southern M.D. Food Bank and committee member of the mobile soup kitchen pilot program, Four Wheels and a Meal. It also brings Denise great joy to be able to work alongside her husband as Outreach Ministry Administrators and Marriage Counselors for her church. In recognition of her volunteerism, Denise received the Governors Volunteer Service Award in 2014 & 2015. In her spare time Denise enjoys spending time with her family at the shore (not the beach – she’s from New Jersey), working on her book, and road trips.Madison RayDIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT -- Madison Ray is director of strategic engagement at State Policy Network, serving on SPN's Leadership Development Initiative team. A May 2015 graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, Madison double majored in political science and Spanish. Prior to her senior year in the summer of 2014, Madison interned with SPN, and further grew her passion for liberty, state focused policies, and limited government. Madison is a graduate of the Koch Associate Program.Sharon MilhollinSENIOR EVENT MANAGER -- Sharon Milhollin is the Events Manager for State Policy Network. In this capacity, she plans and executes meetings and retreats for the SPN Team, including SPN’s signature event, the SPN Annual Meeting. Sharon and the rest of the events team strives to execute every plan with cheerful hearts and give attendees amazing experiences. If you are happy, we are happy.Brad GruberOPERATIONS DIRECTOR -- Brad Gruber is the Operations Director for State Policy Network. He serves as the point person for all day-to-day internal SPN operations to include finance, HR, IT, and a variety of other things.
Prior to joining SPN, he spent six years in the commercial sector in numerous management roles and six years in the Air Force. Brad holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Computer Science and a master's degree from Regent University in Organizational Leadership.Victoria Wakefield BartolomeoASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT -- Victoria Wakefield Bartolomeo is project manager of advancement services at State Policy Network. Prior to joining SPN, Victoria worked for Americans for Prosperity Foundation and the John W. Pope Civitas Institute. Growing up around her family's small business, Victoria developed her passion for free-market ideals and classical liberal studies at a young age. Victoria is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina State University.Betsy ThravesEXECUTIVE ASSISTANT -- Betsy serves as executive assistant to SPN's Vice President for Strategic Partnerships. In this role, her primary task is to secure visits with major investors and pre-investors and to manage travel and calendar for her boss. She also enjoys serving as donor liaison, copy editor, project manager for an annual fundraising campaign production, and -- her favorite activity -- occasional coach and encourager for her counterparts and other development staff at SPN member organizations. She relishes providing comic relief for her team as needed. In her free time, Betsy enjoys good conversation over coffee, photography, card making, frolicking with her two rescue dogs, Bart and Baxter, and hosting weekend guests.Crystal Bouziden BakerDIRECTOR OF DONOR RELATIONS -- Crystal is State Policy Network's Director of Donor Relations, serving as a liaison between SPN and its investors in the southeastern states. Crystal joined SPN in April 2015, after six years of working for a Denver-based public affairs consulting firm serving as the Director of Operations for the Vernon K. Krieble Foundation, Krieble Foundation, and Leadership Program of the Rockies, a non-profit public policy leadership program which trains leaders in action in the timeless principles. Originally from Frankfort, IL, she’s a recovering political operative who started her career working on Governor Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign in Iowa. She has nearly a decade of experience with political campaigns, grassroots advocacy, operations management, event planning, and fundraising. Crystal attended the University of Iowa where she received a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Political Science. She enjoys cooking, walking culinary tours, running on the beach, and new adventures. She lives in Jacksonville, FL.Meredith TurneySENIOR DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS -- Meredith Turney is the Director of Strategic Communications for State Policy Network's Leadership Development Initiative. She oversees SPN’s internal and external communications strategy, as well as assists SPN affiliates in developing effective and compelling messaging. Her love for communicating the principles of freedom led Meredith to become involved in politics and public policy at the tender age of fifteen. She has served as the Legislative Liaison for Capitol Resource Institute in Sacramento, California Communications Director for Americans for Prosperity, a columnist for Townhall.com and spokesperson for Craig James for U.S. Senate. Meredith is a graduate of the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University, and received her juris doctorate, with cum laude honors, from Oak Brook College of Law. Meredith is an avid country music fan who enjoys yoga, Pilates, college football and spending time with family.Kristina Mitten SandersSENIOR DIRECTOR OF LEADERSHIP AND PHILANTHROPIC STRATEGY --
Kristina Mitten Sanders joined SPN in April 2011 and is SPN's Senior Director of Leadership and Philanthropic Strategy. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication studies from the University of Indianapolis, a master's in philanthropic studies from Indiana University, and a certificate in fundraising management from The Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Her professional background includes almost two decades of management and sales experience in addition to event planning, public relations, and fundraising. Kristina has vast experience in the nonprofit sector, ranging from national organizations, private foundations, membership, and grassroots efforts. Kristina has served as an active volunteer and member of board leadership for various local community organizations. As a descendant of Oliver Wolcott -- signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation -- Kristina has honored her family heritage by serving as past officer of the Henry Wolcott Foundation.Todd DavidsonSENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT -- Todd Davidson is State Policy Network's Senior Director of Strategic Development. Todd works directly with state think tanks to develop transformational policy efforts and cultivate high-performing policy leaders at the state level. Todd also serves as a policy advisor to state think tanks in their efforts to remove barriers to job creation and entrepreneurship in their state.
Todd began his career in the freedom movement at Kansas Policy Institute where his research focus was tax reform and K-12 finance. While at KPI Todd co-founded the Bastiat Society of Wichita and a Liberty on the Rocks of Wichita. Todd received a Bachelors and Master's degree in economics from the University of Kansas. In his spare time Todd enjoys hiking and cheering on the Kansas City Royals.Teresa BrownVICE PRESIDENT OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT -- Teresa Brown is State Policy Network's Vice President of Leadership Development. Teresa leads SPN’s Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) team, which provides state-based institutions with the practical guidance and support required to execute their missions, including knowledge and skill-building around leadership, strategic planning, board education, development, communications, and operations. LDI also assists leaders interested in establishing new state-based organizations.
Teresa previously served as a senior grant officer with a free-market foundation. She began her career in the free-market movement as the assistant to the late Leonard P. Liggio at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and then served as Atlas’s director of public affairs and publications. Early in her career, Teresa worked as a journalist and newspaper editor before leaving the real world for academia, working as an adjunct professor of European History. Teresa holds a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs from Florida State University and did doctoral work in European history.Rebecca PrimisDIRECTOR OF MARKETING -- As SPN's director of marketing, Rebecca develops and oversees platforms that provide online resources to accelerate SPN members' professional development, policy work, and talent development; connect SPN, state think tanks, and network partners; and promote the SPN members’ successes. These platforms include SPN.org, SPN's email communications (including the SPN Connector -- a weekly newsletter featuring network news, events, job postings, and opportunities), and SPN's social media channels. She is also the editor of SPN News, SPN's print newsletter reaching 6,000 think tank professionals, board members, and network investors. Contact Rebecca if you are interested in sharing your work via one of SPN's platforms.
Prior to joining SPN, Rebecca worked at the Freedom Foundation in Washington state, where her work focused on student outreach and communications. She graduated from Berry College (Rome, GA) with a bachelor's degree in English and economics. Rebecca is a volunteer in her local church community, and her hobbies include running and reading.Carrie ConkoVICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS -- Carrie Conko is the Vice President of Communications of State Policy Network. State Policy Network is the incubator and connector of the free market, independent, state-focused think tank network. Carrie provides strategic guidance to enhance and promote the State Policy Network brand and help build the communications capabilities of the network. Prior to joining SPN in 2016, Carrie was senior vice president at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University where she oversaw all aspects of communications, marketing, and outreach. Carrie joined Mercatus as director of communications in 2004 when the Wall Street Journal called Mercatus "the most important think tank you never heard of." That year Mercatus appeared in the media just 300 times. Under her guidance, in 2015, Mercatus scholars and research appeared in the media over 13,000 times. Prior to joining Mercatus, Carrie was a media relations and business development consultant within the legal industry. Before that, she was director of client services for a leading supplier of intellectual property services and software. Carrie also worked for five years at Washington National Cathedral, first in the office of public affairs and then as the Cathedral's first events manager. Carrie received her BA in International Relations and Anthropology from American University.Kathleen O'HearnSENIOR DIRECTOR OF POLICY ADVANCEMENT -- Kathleen O'Hearn is State Policy Network's Senior Director of Policy Advancement. Kathleen leads SPN's Advance Policy team, which works alongside state-based think tank staff to identify key policy reforms, help craft innovative ideas to advance human flourishing, and connect coalition partners across the country. This is Kathleen’s second tour of duty with the State Policy Network. She previously served as a Program Associate for SPN from 2006-2007. Prior to joining SPN for the second time, Kathleen served as the Associate Director for State Outreach and External Relations at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where she was responsible for connecting Mercatus scholars and their latest public policy research to state policy makers and collaborating with other policy groups both inside and outside the beltway on state issues. She also spent time as a staff assistant on Capitol Hill and working as a research intern for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Kathleen earned her BS in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, as well as a minor in Business Administration. She holds a Masters of Public Health from George Mason University.Lynn HarshVICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY -- Lynn Harsh is Vice President of Strategy for State Policy Network and a member of the Leadership Development Initiative team. She also serves as the creative and strategic lead for the SPN Annual Meeting.
She was co-founder and former chief executive officer of Washington State’s Freedom Foundation where game-changing research, litigation, community outreach, and communications initiatives were realized. She was a frequent public speaker while at the Foundation, and authored more than 200 op-eds, articles and research projects. Lynn believes human flourishing requires the ethical and economic underpinnings of a free society; and that this requires government that is small and close to home. In addition to the world of ideas, her great love is spending time with family and friends.Sarah C. KeenanCOALITIONS MANAGER -- Sarah C. Keenan is the Coalitions Manager at State Policy Network. Her role is to find, connect, and empower state-based and national free-market organizations across the country so that SPN can catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state.
Additionally, in her role on the Advance Policy Team, she builds online resources for think tanks and leads a working group of state and national think tanks focused on solving major problems facing cities and localities.Tony WoodliefEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT -- Tony Woodlief is Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network. He helps oversee SPN operations, supports SPN’s president in her guidance of the leadership team, and helps ensure the organization’s projects and programs measure success, evolve as SPN grows, and maintain alignment with our vision and mission. Tony previously served as president of the Bill of Rights Institute, and before that the Market-Based Management Institute. He has also served as president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina, he has a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from Wichita State University.An America where personal freedom, opportunity, and a more peaceful society flourish because collaborative and entrepreneurial leaders in the network secured lasting social change at the state and local level._85ac551e-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2cTo catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing, independent think tanks._85ac5712-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2cFederalismWe champion federalism -- the balance of power that exists between the states and the federal government -- because it protects average Americans. We believe that devolving power from the nation's capital to the state capitals strengthens our democracy.DemocracyPersonal FreedomEconomic LibertyRule of LawProperty RightsLimited GovernmentOpportunityPeaceCollaborationEntrepreneurshipNetworkingSocial ChangeIndependenceA strength of our community is that the affiliates of State Policy Network are all fiercely independent entities, with entirely separate legal and financial structures, staff, support bases, and boards of directors. Each of these innovative partners was founded on a unique vision for its state’s future, and designed to be highly relevant and responsive to the needs and concerns of its citizens.
SPN neither dictates nor officially endorses the individual decisions of our think tank affiliates, but instead focuses on ensuring a robust and diverse advocacy of liberty across this independent 50-state network. Reports of this network's activities and successes here on SPN.org do not constitute a formal authentication or coordination, but rather are presented to publicly share methods to remove barriers to opportunity and choice for all Americans.Think TanksIncubate think tanks and accelerating their development through strategic planning, training, and coaching_85ac58d4-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1State Policy Network works with our think tank affiliates to cultivate thriving free-market movements in every state that are deeply rooted in and committed to economic and political freedom. With its national network of state think tanks as the backbone, SPN advances a free society by executing on five priorities:LeadershipRaise up strong leaders with the vision, diligence, and humility required for transformational victory_85ac5a14-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1.1InfrastructureCultivate stable yet nimble state-level organizations working in collaboration to advance principled reforms_85ac5b18-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1.2MessagingDeliver powerful, moving messages targeted to the right audience at the right time_85ac5c1c-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1.3IntelligenceLeverage research and information into smart engagement in key policy areas_85ac5d3e-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1.4PartnershipsInspire partnerships that fund and drive wins._85ac5e38-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c1.5Transformational DonorsConnectionsConnect talented state leaders so they can learn, challenge, and grow together, with the aim of cultivating state solutions that collectively yield national impact_85ac5ffa-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c2_85ac6130-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2cDefenseDefend the 50-state think tank network by disseminating best legal practices, providing critical resources when members are attacked, and fighting organized assaults on free speech and donor privacy_85ac623e-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c3_85ac6342-9444-11e9-ba52-4686a67b1d2c2019-06-21OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net