2025 Annual Conference Policy Resources

NFWL Leadership Academy

All conference participants are welcome to reflect on civility, create an action plan to be a civility champion,
and bring the NFWL civility resolution to life.

Speakers:

Renee Dabbs, Clifton Strengths Facilitator, Director of Strategy, NFWL

Town Moderator Jamie Belsito, Former State Massachusetts Representative, Topsfield,
Massachusetts

Resources:

NFWL Leadership Academy

NFWL Civility Resolution

 

The Digital Launchpad: TikTok’s Role in Scaling Women-Owned Small Businesses

Small businesses are turning to TikTok to reach new customers, share their stories, and grow—often with
viral success and limited budgets. Dive into how elected women can support businesses in their
communities by expanding digital access and championing policies that help entrepreneurs – especially
women – thrive online.

Moderator: Representative Dar’shun Kendrick, Georgia State Legislature

Speakers:

Desiree White, Founder and Owner, Crown’s Corner Mechanic

Felicia Jackson, Founder and Owner, CPRWrap

Sara McDaniel, Founder, Simply Southern Cottage

Christy Butler, Founder and Owner, Modern+Chic

 

Managing Mental Health

Discuss barriers to mental health access and what policy solutions are available to help state leaders
balance cost management with timely, effective treatment access. How can we better consider patient and
provider perspectives in complex healthcare issues and how can the pharmaceutical industry work with
advocacy organizations to elevate important issues to legislators?

Speakers:

Leah Baldwin, LCSW, CSAC, Healthcare and Advocacy Director, Johnson & Johnson

Judge Simone Levine, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Section A

Resources:

NAMI Louisiana

 

State of the States for the Biopharmaceutical Industry

Explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the biopharmaceutical industry across the
states and how medical innovation creates better outcomes for all patients.

Speaker: Scott LaGanga, Executive VP of State Government Affairs, PhRMA

Resources:
PhRMA State Economic Impact
Clinical Trials

Programs and Initiatives
STEM
340 B

 

Meta’s Approach to Supporting Parents and Providing an Age-Appropriate Experience

From online safety to digital literacy and mental well-being, we’ll discuss strategies and partnerships that
empower youth, strengthen communities, and create inclusive systems of support for the next generation.

Speaker: Jennifer Hanley, Safety Policy Manager, Meta

Resources:
Youth Well-Being Resources via Meta

 

Addressing Serious Mental Illness in Louisiana: From Data to Action

Learn about Louisiana’s efforts to address serious mental illness through improved care coordination,
community-based treatment, and policy reform—moving from data to action to strengthen the state’s
behavioral health system and improve outcomes for individuals and families.
Introduction President Pro Tempore Regina Barrow, Louisiana State Legislature

Speakers:

Georgia Torrence, Deputy Director, NAMI Louisiana

LaShonda Williams, Executive Director, NAMI Louisiana

Resources:
Conference Presentation
NAMI Louisiana

 

Policy Roundtables

1. Fuel & Energy – How can refining and petrochemical facilities innovate to ensure safe and cost-
effective energy supply?
Table Host: Arika Brunson, Senior Manager of State Government Affairs, American Fuel and
Petrochemical Manufacturers

2. Menopause Policy – How can elected women pursue policies that promote health equity for women at
midlife, plus improved education and access to care?
Table Hosts: Julie Cox, Director of Government Affairs, & Kristin Clevenstine, Lead US
Strategic Enablement, Astellas Pharma

3. Technology in Prisons: Enhancing Connectivity and Reentry Outcomes – How is technology
evolving to support communication and successful reintegration throughout the justice process?
Table Hosts: Ashley Furst, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives, & Shamia Lodge, Director of
Stakeholder Engagement, Aventiv Technologies

4. Shaping Tomorrow’s Connectivity: Wireless Policy Priorities for 2026 – This roundtable will look at
emerging trends, key challenges, and opportunities for policymakers as they work to ensure strong and
reliable connectivity for all communities.
Table Host: Anissa Reed, Director, State and Local Affairs, CTIA

5. Bipartisanship & Campus Free Speech – How elected women can work together to protect all
students’ rights, regardless of their politics.
Table Hosts: Michael Hurley, Government Affairs Counsel, Foundation for Individual Rights
and Expression (FIRE) & Carolyn Iodice, Legislative & Policy Director, FIRE

6. The Future of Online Education – What has Florida learned since launching a comprehensive online
school in 1997, and what does the future hold?
Table Host: Kathryn Perry, Senior Director, FlexPoint and Melanie Bostick, Director, FLVS

7. Supporting the Sandwich Generation – Family caregivers are America’s unseen workforce, providing
billions in unpaid labor, yet still undervalued. How can policymakers recognize their contributions and
create meaningful support?
Table Host: Jill Roman, Associate Director, Otsuka

8. Focus on Connectivity – This table will discuss how the transformative power of 5G can strengthen
public safety and close coverage gaps where communities need it most.
Table Host: Lexi Herman, Senior Corp Counsel, T-Mobile

9. Supporting Foster Care – What You Can Do – Child-centered family units, through trauma-informed
approaches, have critical impact for children who have suffered abuse and neglect.
Table Host: Sonya Thompson, President, Compass Connections

10. Diaper Policy & Period Product Access – What can states look for in 2026 to support the women
and children in their communities.
Table Host: Lacey Gero, Chief of Government Relations, National Diaper Bank

 

Frauds and Scams and What Elected Women Can Do

Frauds and scams threaten families, small businesses, and seniors in every community. Elected women
can lead efforts to prevent financial exploitation through education, partnerships, and smarter policy. Learn
practical steps to boost financial literacy, protect residents, and build safer, more resilient communities.

Speakers:

Emi Alexander, Executive Director – State Government Relations Director, Trust & Security Team, JPMorganChase

Special Agent Felton Joseph, United States Secret Service

Resources:

FAQs

 

Turning Discovery into Access: The Policy Fight for Biomarker Testing

Biomarker testing is a gateway to personalized medicine. It has been used to help people with cancer
receive timely and tailored treatment— it can do the same for those living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,
certain autoimmune conditions, and other diseases. Unfortunately, coverage for biomarker testing is
inconsistent. Right now, access depends on what insurance a patient has, what state they live in and what
kind of test they need. This patchwork approach leaves patients behind. Join us for a discussion on the
importance of expanding appropriate coverage of biomarker testing in all states.

Speakers:

Madelaine Feldman, MD, VP of Advocacy & Government, Coalition of State
Rheumatology Organizations

Maureen Japha, Associate Vice President of Alzheimer’s Corporate Affairs, Eli Lilly

Jennifer Rosen, Vice President of State Affairs, Alzheimer’s Association and the
Alzheimer’s Impact Movement

Resources:
Alzheimer’s Impact Movement

 

Keeping Care Within Reach: Policy Solutions to Protect Your Constituents with Diabetes

Join this session to learn about proven strategies you can use in your states to increase access to care.

Speakers:

Erin Callahan, Chief Operating Officer, Diabetes Leadership Council
Nancy Dhondt, Clinical pharmacist/ Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Resources:
Conference Presentation
Diabetes Leadership Council

 

Leading with Care: Advancing Maternal Mental Health

This session features an expert from the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance and gives elected
women a clear look at the challenges new parents face. Participants will share their own policy efforts,
learn emerging strategies to strengthen care and access, and explore bipartisan approaches to support
maternal mental health in their communities.

Speaker: Town Moderator Jamie Belsito, Former State Massachusetts Representative,
Founder and Policy and Partnership Director, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance

Resources:
Conference Presentation
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance

 

Workshop: Safety Concerns of Foreign/Illicit Compounding of Obesity Medication

When fraudulent treatments are widely available, what can states do to protect their
constituents?

Speaker: Nancy Glick, Director of Food and Nutrition Policy, National Consumer Protection League

 

Workshop: Collaboration in Action: A Model for Protecting Exploited Youth

Across the nation, millions of youth- those we see at school, in church, and in our
neighborhoods — are being exploited every day, far too often by the very people they trust
most. It is a crisis that no single system can solve alone. This powerful session highlights a
proven, replicable model, developed in Texas and now thriving in Louisiana, that unites
advocacy organizations, child protection systems, law enforcement, and community
partners to form an ironclad network of care. The result: survivor-centered responses that
promote healing, prevent re-victimization, and advance the pursuit of justice.

Speaker: Irasema (Iris) Resendez, National Director of Human Trafficking Prevention and Response at BCFS Health and Human Services

 

Energizing Growth: Louisiana’s Edge in the Data Economy

Louisiana is positioning itself as a national leader in attracting large-scale investment from companies with
demanding energy needs. Entergy’s groundbreaking agreement with Meta demonstrates how the state can
deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in ways that set it apart from other regions. Dig into how
Louisiana is competing to win in the energy-intensive economy — from powering data centers to
strengthening grid resiliency while keeping residential bills low so the state is ready for whatever comes next.

Speaker: Laura Beauchamp, Vice President, Business Operations and Strategy, Entergy Louisiana

 

Strengthening Trust in Vaccination Together

Vaccine policy can be one of the most complex and emotionally charged issues facing state leaders today
— touching on public health, trust in institutions, and equitable access to care. In this interactive plenary,
speakers will lead legislators through an engaging and reflective session exploring how they think, feel, and
talk about vaccines in their communities. Through storytelling and dialogue, participants will hear firsthand
accounts of preventable diseases and reflect on the real-world impact of vaccine access.

Speakers:

Leonard Friedland, MD, VP, Director Scientific Affairs and Public Health, GSK Vaccines

Jennifer Herricks, PhD, Advocacy Director at American Families for Vaccines

Meg Olson, State Director for Oregon Families for Vaccines

Resources:
American Families for Vaccines

 

Workshop: The Daily Struggle of Chronic Disease

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects millions yet remains underdiagnosed and often
misunderstood. This session explores how policymakers and providers can close coverage
gaps, reduce stigma, and advance equitable, patient-centered approaches to
gastrointestinal health through improved access, education, and research.

Speakers:

Laura Williams, Chief Patient Officer, Ardelyx, Inc.

Kimberly O’Roark, Western Regional Patient Advocacy Manager, Ardelyx, Inc.

 

Workshop: The Survivor Model: Confronting Demand to Prevent Exploitation

Sex buyers fuel the demand for the commercial sex trade, incentivizing pimps and
traffickers to prey upon vulnerable individuals, disproportionately women and girls, to
sustain that demand. This presentation will explore the Survivor Model, a policy framework
that targets demand by holding exploiters and sex buyers accountable while ensuring
services and legal protection to those engaged in prostitution.

Speakers:

Bella Peracchi, Policy and Program Associate, World Without Exploitation
Sarah Thacker, Legislative Analyst, Public Policy Team, National Center on Sexual Exploitation

Resources:
World Without Exploitation

 

Workshop: Vaccine Hesitancy & Protecting Public Health

This session explores bipartisan, data-driven strategies to build trust, improve
communication, and support effective vaccination policies that protect communities while
respecting individual concerns.

Speakers:

Bea Mina, Director, Strategic Marketing Planning – Patient Health Innovation, Merck

Jennifer Herricks, Advocacy Director, American Families for Vaccines

 

Workshop: Building Youth-Centered Policy Solutions with the New Orleans Youth Alliance

This session brings elected women together with the New Orleans Youth Alliance to
explore policies that truly center young people’s needs and voices. Participants will hear
insights from community youth leaders, discuss barriers and opportunities in local systems,
and share their own policy efforts. Together, we’ll identify actionable, equity-focused
strategies to support the wellbeing and future of New Orleans youth.

Speakers:

Dr. Brian Turner, Director of Policy, New Orleans Youth Alliance

Tearani Nance, Policy Program Manager, New Orleans Youth Alliance

 

Safety In Leadership

Political violence against elected women extends far beyond traditional threats to encompass systemic
harassment. Learn about the scope of harm and share how prioritizing safety will be key for the future for
all elected women and commit to the important work of building well-being and resilience in women’s
political leadership.

Speaker: Dr. Aparna Ghosh, Founder & Executive Director, Gosh Innovation Lab