Alvord served in various positions on Capitol Hill for 17 years. First in the U.S. Senate, including as press secretary to Senator Ted Stevens, communications director for the Committee on Appropriations, and as assistant staff director for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Her tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives includes service as a senior policy advisor to Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, and as professional staff for the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

While Alvord was raised primarily in Virginia and in Germany, she has strong roots in Texas stemming from her great-grandfather’s time as a manager at Taft Ranch and as Professor of Agriculture at Texas A&M. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American Government from the University of Virginia.

Roger Bohnert brings a diverse transportation operations, project delivery and policy background to the Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau (the "Bureau"). He entered the Senior Executive Service in the Department of Transportation in 2003.

Roger is the Director of Outreach and Project Development in the new Build America Bureau within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. The mission of the Bureau is to improve transportation infrastructure investment through increased technical assistance to project sponsors, expanded access to DOT credit programs and enhanced utilization of private capital in public-private partnerships.

As Director of Outreach and Project Development, Roger’s team serves as the single point of contact for project sponsors seeking to modernize or build transportation infrastructure. The Bureau serves as the single point of contact for states, municipalities and project sponsors. The Bureau helps sponsors utilize federal transportation expertise, access federal transportation credit programs and explore ways to secure private capital in public private partnerships.

Prior to his appointment to the Bureau, Roger served as the Deputy Associate Administrator of the Maritime Administration’s Office of Intermodal System Development, where he led initiatives to develop and fund port modernization projects. He was the architect of the new StrongPorts program, which helps the Nation’s ports meet their modernization and expansion needs. Roger was the agency lead for the TIGER discretionary grant program, which has allocated nearly $600 million to nearly 50 port and marine transportation projects since 2009. Roger also oversaw development of the America’s Marine Highway Program, which seeks to expand the use of our nation’s coastal and inland waters to transport freight and passengers more efficiently.

Prior to joining the Maritime Administration, Roger was the Acting Director of the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response and Military Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation. While in the Coast Guard, he spent over thirteen years aboard Cutters, and sailed as Commanding Officer of two vessels. His last assignment in the Coast Guard was as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation. He was licensed as Master, vessels of unlimited tonnage, on all oceans.

In 2014, Texans overwhelmingly re-elected Senator John Cornyn to represent them for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Since he was first elected in 2002, Cornyn has earned a national reputation as an articulate and powerful voice for Texas and conservative values in Washington. Cornyn, a San Antonio native, strongly believes that more Texas solutions are needed in Washington.

He has committed himself to strengthening our national defense, securing our borders, repairing our broken immigration system and strengthening the economy by keeping taxes low, reducing federal spending, and fighting job-killing regulations from Washington bureaucrats. Cornyn has also been an advocate for Texas military personnel, veterans and their families, and he has fought to provide these Americans with the best possible support, care and benefits.

In addition to serving on the Senate Finance, Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, Cornyn served in the 114th and 115th Congress as the Majority Whip, a position giving Texas a powerful seat at Congress’ leadership table.

Cornyn has served the people of Texas for the last three decades, first as a district judge and later as a member of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Attorney General.

In 2012, Ted Cruz was elected as the 34th U.S. Senator from Texas. A passionate fighter for limited government, economic growth and the Constitution, Cruz won a decisive victory in both the Republican primary and the general election, despite having never before been elected to office.

In the Senate, Cruz serves on the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on the Judiciary; the Joint Economic Committee; and the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Before being elected, Cruz received national acclaim as the Solicitor General of Texas, the State’s chief lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court. Serving under Attorney General Greg Abbott, Cruz was the nation’s youngest Solicitor General, the longest serving Solicitor General in Texas, and the first Hispanic Solicitor General of Texas.

Curtis Dubay, chief economist in the Economic Policy Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, tracks the condition of the economy, analyzes the impact of public policy on economic growth, and runs the Chamber’s Chief Economists Committee. The committee consists of chief economists from member businesses. It helps the Chamber formulate economic policies and provides analysis to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

Previously, Dubay was senior economist at the American Bankers Association where he worked on tax issues and followed the economic trends affecting the banking industry. Prior to ABA, he was a research fellow in tax and economic policy at The Heritage Foundation. There he researched and published on tax and economic policy issues.

Earlier in his career, Dubay worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the firm’s transfer pricing division structuring international transactions, and before that at the Tax Foundation where he authored three widely recognized and cited reports: Tax Freedom Day, State-Local Tax Burdens, and The State Business Tax Climate Index.

Dubay has researched and published frequently on a wide range of tax and economic issues. He is regularly quoted by the press and has appeared often in the media, including on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, and C-SPAN. He has testified before Congress several times and been cited in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Politico.

Dubay received his master’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and his bachelor’s degree in economics and leadership studies from the University of Richmond. He resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife and three sons.

As vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Division, Ron Eidshaug helps oversee a team of 10 full-time Capitol Hill lobbyists. Eidshaug is a sought-after speaker providing an insider’s perspective of Congress. He appears at engagements with governors, senators, members of Congress, administration officials, and business leaders across the U.S. and speaks to a wide range of international audiences.

Eidshaug has a unique ability to translate Washington-speak into language that business leaders can understand. In addition, Eidshaug is the Chamber’s chief lobbyist on energy, environmental, and regulatory reform issues. He joined the Chamber team in 1999 and has served in a variety of roles.

A native New Yorker, Eidshaug worked in the New York State Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform from 1995 to 1999 during the George Pataki administration. He has a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Albany. He resides in Vienna, Virginia, with his wife, Pam, and their son, Evan.

Acts as the central point of contact between FHWA staff and Congress. Responds to Congressional requests for technical assistance or project status reports. Serves as liaison with program offices and field to prepare timely responses to requests. Coordinates and manages meetings and conference calls among agency personnel and Congressional staff. Serves as central point of contact for meetings with State and local fly-in delegations.

Luke Rhine is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education with the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to his role with the U.S. Department of Education, Luke served as the Director of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and STEM workgroup at the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE).

Prior to working at DDOE, Luke was a Program Specialist in Career and Technology Education with the Maryland State Department of Education. Luke has also served as a high school Technology and Engineering teacher in Howard County Public Schools and a middle school Technology Education teacher in the Millville Public School System. Luke earned his B.S in Technology Education from California University of Pennsylvania (2002) and a M.A in Instructional Technology from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (2005).

Luke has received several state and national awards, which includes being named as the Delaware Department of Education – Employee of the Year (2016), an ITEEA Leader to Watch (2012), the ITEEA Council for Supervision and Leadership – Supervisor of the Year Award (2011), the Technology and Engineering Educators Association of Maryland – Leadership Award (2011), and the California University of Pennsylvania – Emerging Leader Award (2009). In addition, Luke received a Japan Memorial Fulbright Scholarship in 2005 and was a member of the 21st Century Leaders Program sponsored by the Council on Technology Teacher Education, class of 2012.

Sean Mason is the Deputy Director for the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations. Sean previously served as a staffer to Representative Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) and the Committee for House Administration. Before working in Washington, D.C., Sean was a Legislative Director in the Texas House of Representatives. Sean received his Master's from the University of Texas at Austin and bachelor's from Appalachian State University.

Dr. McClain is the Assistant Secretary Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In February 2021, she joined the Biden – Harris Administration as Deputy Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. McClain joined the HUD team in January 2023.

Dr. McClain is an international government relations executive with a 30-year proven record of working across the defense, intelligence, financial services, and management consulting sectors. Dr. McClain has served in a variety of roles to include Director Congressional Strategy, Senior International Advisor for Latin America, Director of Defense Senior Leadership Development Program, Senior International Cooperation Advisor, Senior Strategic and Executive Communications Consultant, and Risk Operations Manager.

Dr. McClain retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2021 after 29 years of service. She has led across all levels of the Air Force including international affairs, legislative affairs, and as an E-3 AWACS Senior Air Battle Manager.
Dr. McClain earned her Ph.D. in international business from Northcentral University, an M.S. in human relations and international business from Amberton University, and her B.A. in psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington.

An active member of her community, Dr McClain is a member of the Xi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Washington, D.C, The Links, Incorporated and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

Marion Mollegen McFadden serves as HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development (PDAS for CPD), managing an annual budget of more than $10 billion and staff of 900 people. In this role she oversees the administration of federal financial assistance to assist communities in ending homelessness, creating and preserving housing affordable to people of modest means, strengthening local economies, and recovering from and mitigating disasters.

Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration in the summer of 2022, PDAS McFadden served as Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Senior Advisor for Resilience at Enterprise Community Partners. She led affordable housing policy development, research and advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. She led nationwide work to create healthy, green affordable housing and to support resilience planning and programs in communities impacted by flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and extreme heat. Additionally, she served as the Executive Sponsor for Enterprise’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, quadrupling the number of dedicated DEI staff and contractors, planning an organizational equity assessment, and supporting the formation of seven employee resource groups.

Previously, PDAS McFadden served CPD’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs, where she oversaw affordable housing and community development programs, including the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the Housing Trust Fund, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and CDBG Disaster Recovery funds. In this role, she formed and facilitated multiple public-private partnerships, including the award-winning Rebuild by Design initiative and the National Disaster Resilience Competition. Earlier in her career she served as Chief Operating Officer and Acting Executive Director of the federal Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force and as program counsel for CPD and Native American programs. PDAS McFadden holds a JD magna cum laude from Howard University and a BA from Northwestern University.

A Long Beach, California native, Justin Ramirez started in public service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria after graduating from Cal State University Long Beach. He returned to the United States to go to law school, where he focused on international law. After graduation, he practiced law in the Bay Area while volunteering on campaigns doing voter protection. Prior to joining the Department, he spent five years working at the Long Beach Mayor’s Office, where he served as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Board Deputy for Los Angeles Metro Transportation Authority.

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions has combined hard work, innovative thinking and common-sense principles to represent the 17th Congressional District of Texas.

After graduating from Southwestern University in 1978, Sessions worked for then-Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 16 years, retiring as District Manager for Marketing in Dallas. As a businessman, he served as Chairman of the Northeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

In 1996, the people of Dallas and the 5th Congressional District sent Congressman Sessions to Washington, D.C. to represent them in the United States House of Representatives. In 2002, Sessions began representing the 32nd Congressional District, created from redistricting. In 2020, the people of the 17th Congressional District called him back to Congress for his 12th term.

Sessions is a stalwart defender of U.S. homeland and national security interests, as well as the men and women who defend them. As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, he is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Sessions also believes that taxpayers deserve results from their government, and he has pursued common-sense, market-based reforms to help government operate more efficiently.

Sessions pursues his goals on these and other issues through his work on various Congressional committees and caucuses. He serves as the Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Rules. In 2008 and 2010, he was elected by the House Republican Conference as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Jenna is a Senior Director of Strategic Advocacy and Advisor to the Chief Policy Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. At the U.S. Chamber, Jenna works on policy initiatives and advocacy spanning various issues, including workforce, diversity, equity and inclusion, (DEI), and democracy. She has launched and oversees some of the U.S. Chamber’s most impactful initiatives and advocacy campaigns, notably the Equality of Opportunity and America Works initiatives. Jenna also leads the content and programming for U.S. Chamber policy events, briefings, and new research products.

Jenna has been a featured speaker at events and on podcasts on topics related to workforce, equality of opportunity, and polarization. She is a recipient of the U.S. Chamber’s Shared Purpose Award in Partnership for 2020.

Before joining the U.S. Chamber, Jenna spent nearly a decade in various legal, economic, and policy roles for San Diego-based tech firm, Qualcomm, focusing on intellectual property, antitrust, and emerging technology issues.

She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from San Diego State University and an Advanced Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Political Economy from the University of California, San Diego.

Sandy Sinclair is a Senior Public Engagement Specialist at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Public Engagement in Washington, D.C. For more than two decades, he has conducted extensive partner and stakeholder outreach, especially in conjunction with the Department’s efforts to protect the traveling public from roadway crashes. Prior to joining DOT, Sinclair oversaw grassroots injury prevention programming and community coalition development for nearly a decade at the National Safe Kids Campaign in Washington, D.C. Earlier in his career, he promoted primary health care as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines and later served as a Public Affairs Specialist.

A life-long resident of Howard, Pa., Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson represents Pennsylvania’s Fifteenth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to being elected to Pennsylvania’s geographically largest congressional district, GT spent 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator. Through his professional experiences, GT has touched the lives of thousands of individuals facing life-altering conditions. As a result, he has learned firsthand the importance of access to quality healthcare and has become a strong advocate for increased access, affordability, quality of care, and patient choice.

An Eagle Scout and 30+ year veteran of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council, GT has served as Scoutmaster, Council executive board member, and Council President. He has enriched the lives of youth throughout Central Pennsylvania. Among just 2,000 presented since 1969, GT received the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2012.

GT is also a former member of the Bald Eagle Area School Board, past vice-chair of the Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor, and a former Workforce Investment Board member. Because of these experiences, he was appointed to the House Committee on Education & Workforce in 2009. Rep. Thompson is also serving in his fifth term as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. In the 115th Congress, Thompson introduced the Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act which passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

A community leader and a volunteer firefighter with over three decades of service, GT is acutely aware of the challenges facing Pennsylvania communities. As Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and a senior member of the Education & Labor Committee, GT is in a unique position to bring his expertise and knowledge to bear on the issues facing rural businesses, communities, and families, in order to improve the lives of the citizens of the Fifteenth District.

GT is a top speaker on the House floor, he views this as a responsibility to be a strong voice for the citizens of the Fifteenth District and an opportunity to influence the Washington legislative agenda.
GT is a proud graduate of Penn State and Temple Universities, where he earned a B.S. and a Master of Education, respectively. He and his wife, Penny Ammerman-Thompson, have three adult sons, Parker, Logan, and Kale, and two grandsons. GT and Penny reside in Howard, Pa.