Leadership

The Honorable Mary Bono is a nationally recognized leader, former U.S. Congresswoman, and accomplished businesswoman. During her tenure in the United States House of Representatives, she was described by The Washington Times as the “embodiment of powerful American womanhood.”

Elected to Congress in 1998 following the untimely passing of her husband, Congressman Sonny Bono, Mary went on to serve seven terms representing California’s 45th Congressional District from 1998 to 2013. She quickly established herself as a respected and influential voice on a wide range of critical national issues. Her committee assignments included Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, Judiciary, and Small Business. Known for her ability to build bipartisan consensus, Mary authored legislation signed into law by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

Today, Mary is widely recognized as a leading national advocate in addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. While in Congress, she co-founded the first- ever Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus and led hearings addressing the growing opioid crisis. She continues to be at the forefront of efforts to combat substance use disorder and the fentanyl epidemic—issues impacting communities across the country. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse (MAPDA), advancing education, prevention, and policy solutions nationwide.

In 2022, Mary was honored with the Distinguished Graduate Merit Award from her alma mater, the University of Southern California. She is married to former astronaut and Rear Admiral Steve Oswald (U.S. Navy, Retired), and is a proud mother, grandmother, and dog mom. She resides full-time in La Plata County, Colorado.

Rick has 25 years of experience in the pet industry, holding key executive roles in notable companies such as Petco, Natural Balance, Del Monte, Big Heart Pet Brands, and Lucy Pet Products. His deep expertise encompasses pet food nutrition…

Allison brings over 20 years of experience in high-level project management as a consultant within the Federal government, in addition to her executive roles in the District of Columbia government. Her notable career includes serving as the…

Karla has dedicated her career to working with special needs and disadvantaged youth as a Psychologist with Riverside Unified School District.
Karla is a member of the California Positive Network of Trainers (PENT), a consortium dedicated to meeting the needs of students with behavioral and emotional challenges. Additionally, Karla serves on the Riverside Unified School District Crisis Response Team.
Karla holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of California, Riverside, a Master of Science in Counseling Guidance from California State University, San Bernardino, and Pupil Services Credentials in counseling and Guidance and School Psychology.
Karla resides in Riverside, California with her husband Marc Troast and children Kelsey and Evan.

a seasoned government and public affairs professional with over two decades of experience and trusted relationships across the US Government and the private sector. The Hill newspaper recognized her as a “Top Lobbyist.” Previously, she was Vice President and Head of Federal Government Affairs at Emergent BioSolutions, a life sciences company focused on addressing global public health threats. Hamaker built and led the leadership team that developed and implemented strategies to advance the company’s federal government affairs efforts, emphasizing engagement with both the Administration and Capitol Hill. Jill has deep policy expertise in many subject areas, including pandemic and public health preparedness, vaccines, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and infectious diseases. Hamaker has applied her sharp instincts and highly strategic approach to forge meaningful partnerships across stakeholders, including government agencies, trade associations, advocacy groups, and think tanks. She has successfully built and implemented holistic, highly-targeted public affairs campaigns to achieve critical policy-oriented results. With an extensive background in politics, Hamaker began her career in California state, local, and federal elections. After relocating to Washington, DC, in the mid-2000s, she consulted for numerous Members of Congress, raising tens of millions of dollars for both campaigns and committees. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit organization Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse, which is dedicated to connecting, engaging, and promoting female leaders while mobilizing the next generation of trailblazers and influencers.

A Strategic Advisor and Executive Coach with livingHR, where she focuses on leadership advisory, executive coaching, and executive search. She partners with CEOs, executive teams, and boards across private equity-backed, high-growth, enterprise, and mission-driven organizations to align talent strategy with business performance.

Previously, Hannah served as Head of Human Resources at Thoma Bravo, where she built and scaled the HR function during a period of rapid growth. She also helped extend talent and leadership practices across the firm’s portfolio companies. Later, she served as Chief Talent Officer for Elsewhere Partners, supporting early-stage software companies.

At CompTIA, Hannah served as Interim Chief People Officer and later as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Market Development, leading global workforce initiatives and market expansion efforts across the technology ecosystem.

Hannah holds a BS in Journalism: Strategic Communications and a BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas and earned her Certificate in Executive Coaching from NYU. She resides in Barrington, Illinois, with her husband, three stepchildren, and their two dogs.

A corporate affairs executive and leader of organizations that integrate a deep understanding of where public policy intersects with business, including initiatives related to drug abuse prevention. In 2025, Ms. DeLorenzo and her business partner, Gulden Mesara, founded M&D Advisors, specializing in C-suite communications and public affairs advisory services. With 30 years of communications and public affairs experience in private sector, political, and government settings, Ms. DeLorenzo is skilled at building and leading highly effective teams, including her leadership team, that defend corporate reputation and shape more favorable external operating environments for clients, especially at pivotal moments. Prior to working in the private sector, she served in the administration of President George W. Bush, working in the White House Coalition Information Center at the outset of the war on terror, and in the Bureau of International Information Programs at the U.S. Department of State. She also worked in the United States Senate and on political campaigns, including support for nonprofit organizations. Ms. DeLorenzo holds a BA in Government and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago.

Nicole Pursley is Vice President, Government Relations at Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe), where she advocates for and promotes Cboe’s public policy interests with legislators and regulators. She represents Cboe on Capitol Hill and engages with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate on both sides of the aisle to educate them and their staff about Cboe and its business. Nicole focuses on policy issues affecting the financial industry and the markets, including those related to derivatives, market structure, and tax. Additionally, she is committed to drug abuse prevention initiatives, recognizing the importance of community support in these efforts. Nicole also covers policy matters impacting Cboe at the state level and represents Cboe in several industry associations and coalitions, showcasing her leadership team within the nonprofit organization sector. Nicole joined the firm over 12 years ago and previously served in an attorney role at Cboe. She holds an undergraduate degree from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Nicole resides in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Steven, their young sons, Jack and Frank, and dog, Elvis.

Karen brings a multidisciplinary background in healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship to her role on the leadership team of a nonprofit organization. She holds a BS in Business from the University of Southern California and a BS in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University, providing her with a strong foundation in research and evidence-based practice. Karen’s professional experience spans corporate leadership, business ownership, clinical nursing, and nursing education. Additionally, she is a master soap maker and the founder of an independent soap company, which she successfully built and scaled to serve over 300 retail stores nationwide, enhancing her expertise in operations, compliance, and sustainable growth. Karen is dedicated to drug abuse prevention, education, and informed decision-making, and she is honored to support MAPDA’s mission through thoughtful governance and service-oriented leadership. In her personal life, she enjoys hiking and is a proud mom and dog mom to two standard poodles.

Christina Patera brings over a decade of experience in strategic outreach, wellness education, and client-centered advocacy to her role as Chief of Staff at MAPDA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to health and community well-being. With a background spanning SaaS sales, neuroscience-informed coaching, national prevention campaigns, and trauma-sensitive wellness, Christina integrates operational leadership with a deep passion for public health and harm reduction. As part of the leadership team, her career includes working in equine-assisted therapy, wellness program development, and account management for health-forward organizations. Christina has supported neurodiverse youth and adults with trauma-informed, somatic-based practices and has overseen regional outreach initiatives focused on drug abuse prevention and behavioral health. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at Grand Canyon University with the goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Christina is beginning her clinical training with Community Bridges Inc. in Phoenix, where she will provide assessments, treatment planning, and support services for individuals experiencing substance use disorders. Her work at MAPDA reflects a commitment to prevention, education, and holistic approaches that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Jill E. Sommers is a former Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), having been nominated by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate for two consecutive terms. With more than 30 years of experience in the derivatives industry, she is widely recognized for her expertise in financial markets and regulatory policy. Ms. Sommers previously served as Chair of the Derivatives Practice Group at Patomak Global Partners and currently serves on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Research Advisory Committee (FRAC), as well as the boards of several SEC- and CFTC-regulated organizations.