Welcome to the SGAC Mentorship Directory
Looking to grow your career, expand your network, or gain insight from experienced professionals in state government affairs? You're in the right place.
Below you'll find a list of SGAC mentors - members who are excited to share their knowledge and help support your professional journey. Each profile includes details about their background, areas of expertise, and how they prefer to connect.
As a mentee, you're encouraged to browse the directory and reach out directly to the mentor(s) who align best with your goals. Not sure where to start? We're happy to help match you - just contact Crislyn Lumia at [email protected].
Mentorship is what you make of it - take the first step today!
Looking to grow your career, expand your network, or gain insight from experienced professionals in state government affairs? You're in the right place.
Below you'll find a list of SGAC mentors - members who are excited to share their knowledge and help support your professional journey. Each profile includes details about their background, areas of expertise, and how they prefer to connect.
As a mentee, you're encouraged to browse the directory and reach out directly to the mentor(s) who align best with your goals. Not sure where to start? We're happy to help match you - just contact Crislyn Lumia at [email protected].
Mentorship is what you make of it - take the first step today!
Zeny Agullana
Location & Time Zone Sacramento | Time Zone: PST Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 916 - 532 - 1035 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Sr. Director, State Government Relations, TIAA Years of Experience 30 Years Professional Style Collaborative and Engaging Proudest Accomplishment Managing personal and professional lives; transitioning from public to private sector Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Early career but open to all Communication Style Encouraging empathetic | Big-picture thinker Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month 1-2 hours Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me I am a true believer in mentoring and helping others move their careers forward. Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote All the Light We Cannot See (but so many good books to read!) Worst Career Advice I Ignored Stay where you're at. It's easy and comfortable Coworkers Would Say I'm Reliable Dream Dinner Guests Dalai Lama & Ernest Hemmingway Hidden Talent or Party Trick Tuning out the negative noise Productivity Hack I Swear By To Do List Skill Everyone Should Learn Patience Dream Vacation Destination Machu Picchu Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times Mrs. Doubtfire Most-used App on Your Phone? Apple Music Theme Song of My Life Freedom (George Michael) Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Dog Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Foreign Languages: Japanese, Spanish & Italian One Word that Describes You? Resilient 
Pierce J. Haley
Location & Time Zone Boston| Time Zone: ET Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-830-5240 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Partner Serlin Haley LLP Industry | Areas of Expertise Contract Lobbyist, Insurance Years of Experience 20+ Years Professional Style in a Few Words Disarming, factual Proudest Accomplishment Growing a business from one state to multiple states Mentoring Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Looking for a general sounding board, 3rd party verifier Communication Style Straight to the point Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month 1 - 2 hours Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me Married father of 2 Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Nothing good happens fast Worst Career Advice I Ignored Jump to the next job dangled in front of me Coworkers Would Say I'm ON Dream Dinner Guests Mick Jagger and Joe Walsh Hidden Talent or Party Trick Singing Productivity Hack I Swear By Don't have one but a due date works Skill Everyone Should Learn Basic auto repair Dream Vacation Destination Mt. Everest base camp Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times Bull Durham, any violent action film Most-used App on Your Phone? Weather Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Neither allergic Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Guitar One Word that Describes You? Fun 
Ninia Linero
Location & Time Zone Washington, DC| Time Zone: ET Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 608-769-3807 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Sr. Manager, State Government Relations, ACT | The App Association Industry | Areas of Expertise Tech (current), Hospitality, Healthcare Years of Experience 8+ Years Professional Style in a Few Words Innovative, effective, resourceful Proudest Accomplishment Lobbying / grassroots campaign to bring back the world-class Milwaukee Marathon Mentoring Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Critical thinker, early career, driven but in need of career direction Communication Style Encouraging and empathetic, Big-picture thinker, Detail-oriented Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month 3+ hours Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me I am still a young professional myself but am ready to start guiding the next generations. I have learned so much from my mentors and wouldn't be where I am without them and their support over the years, so I'm excited to pay it forward. Worst Career Advice I Ignored Don't negotiate too high or they'll pull the plug Hidden Talent or Party Trick I was a gymnast for 10 years. Every once in a while I'll still whip out a flip. Dream Vacation Destination Italy or the south of France Most-used App on Your Phone? TikTok (oops) Theme Song of My Life Man! I Feel Like a Woman! - Shania Twain One Word that Describes You? Curious |
Dex Battista
Location & Time Zone Detroit | Time Zone: ET Contact Information Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dex-battista-93a9499a/ Phone: 248-283-9674 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Director of Government Affairs, Magna International Industry | Areas of Expertise Automotive / Manufacturing Years of Experience 10+ Years Professional Style in 3 Words Committed, thoughtful, and candid Proudest Accomplishment Advancing from intern to a role with a global scope. Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Early career, curious and open to a broad set of professional outcomes Communication Style Encouraging and empathetic Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month It depends Get to Know You
What Mentees Should Know About Me Sometimes the best conversations happen spontaneously, so don't be afraid to just call my cell. Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Thinking, Fast and Slow Worst Career Advice I Ignored Don't talk about personal interests Coworkers Would Say I'm Reliable Dream Dinner Guests Paternal grandfather and great grandfather Productivity Hack I Swear By Organized inbox Skill Everyone Should Learn Cooking Dream Vacation Destination Italy Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times Back to the Future Theme Song of My Life You Get What You Give Most-used App on Your Phone? Messages Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Neither (but dogs> cats) Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Spanish One Word that Describes You? Tall 
Anika Hagenson
Location & Time Zone Minneapolis, MN| Time Zone: CT Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 202-697-2274 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Director, State Corporate Affairs and Public Policy, Intuit Industry | Areas of Expertise Corporate Lobbyist, Tech, FinTech, Retail, Grocery Years of Experience 25+ Years Professional Style in a Few Words Collaborative, honest, organized Proudest Accomplishment Being a mom to two amazing kids while having a successful career. Mentoring Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Early career, Career change Communication Style Encouraging and empathetic, Detail-oriented Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month 1 - 2 hours Get to Know Me
Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Whatever you are, be a good one. Abraham Lincoln Worst Career Advice I Ignored Move back to D.C. Coworkers Would Say I'm Dependable Dream Dinner Guests My great grandmothers Hidden Talent or Party Trick Speaking and learning new languages. Productivity Hack I Swear By Making a list, capturing to dos and tracking progress Skill Everyone Should Learn How to meet a new person and have a conversation. Dream Vacation Destination Scuba diving in the Maldives Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times European Vacation Most-used App on Your Phone? Podcasts Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Dog Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Underwater photography One Word that Describes You? Engaging 
Sharon Sykes
Location & Time Zone Washington, D.C. | Time Zone: ET Contact Information Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontsykes/ Phone: 804-240-9919 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Sr. Director, State & Local Government Affairs, American Hotel & Lodging Association Industry | Areas of Expertise Multi-State Government Affairs Years of Experience 25 Years Professional Style in 3 Words Strategic, Analytical, Collaborative Proudest Accomplishment Took the teen work permit process online in Virginia during my time with Gov. McDonnell's administration. It was previously a triplicate paper process done through the schools and required a legislative fix. Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Either a career changer, as I did that too; or early career, as I have a passion for helping someone find what makes them happy professionally sooner rather than later. Communication Style Encouraging empathetic | Detail Oriented Preferred Ways to Connect Video Chat Time Commitment Per Month 1-2 hours Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me Helping others makes me happy, and there's something to learn from everyone at every level. Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Wolves of K Street Worst Career Advice I Ignored Stay in your lane Coworkers Would Say I'm Focused Dream Dinner Guests James Madison and Susan B. Anthony Hidden Talent or Party Trick I'm pretty good at flip cup. Productivity Hack I Swear By AI- ChatGPT Skill Everyone Should Learn Budgeting Dream Vacation Destination Tahiti Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times Footloose Most-used App on Your Phone? American Airlines Theme Song of My Life Stronger - Kelly Clarkson Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Cat - but really both Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Piano One Word that Describes You? Nice |
Dena Benson-Scearce
Location & Time Zone Nashville| Time Zone: CT Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 615-200-3027 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Director, Government Affairs Industry | Areas of Expertise Healthcare (Pharma, Med Device, Insurance) Years of Experience 25+ Years Professional Style in 3 Words Collaborative, focused, adaptable Proudest Accomplishment Building government affairs programs for two large medical technology companies. Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Early career and / or those looking for growth in her / his career Communication Style Straight to the point, Encouraging and empathetic, Connection-focused Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings Time Commitment Per Month It depends Get to Know You
Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Anything by Wally Lamb Worst Career Advice I Ignored Practice law Coworkers Would Say I'm Determined Productivity Hack I Swear By Notes app for keeping a to-do list Hidden Talent or Party Trick Absquatulating! Skill Everyone Should Learn Public Speaking Dream Vacation Destination Right now it's the Churchill Polar Bear Tour in Canada Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times The original Willy Wonka Most-used App on Your Phone? Either Delta or Libby Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Dog Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Sailing One Word that Describes You? Inquisitive / Curious 
Kristina Hermach
Location & Time Zone Olympia| Time Zone: Pacific Contact Information Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-hermach Phone: 360 - 951 - 9559 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization Senior Director State Government Affairs West & Gilead Sciences Industry | Areas of Expertise Biopharmaceutical / State Government Affairs Years of Experience 35+ Years Professional Style in 3 Words Inspired, collaborative, seasoned Proudest Accomplishment Exceeding expectations and loving my work after all these decades Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Open and driven Communication Style Straight to the point | Encouraging and empathetic Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings, Phone, Email Time Commitment Per Month It depends Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me I'm really an introvert who has always extroverted for a living. Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Mantras are constraints for me - stay out of the kitty litter box, onward, and shoot for the moon Worst Career Advice I Ignored Don't change a job because of a boss Coworkers Would Say I'm Driven Dream Dinner Guests Eleanor of Aquitaine, Cleopatra Hidden Talent or Party Trick "Speaking" to animals but I don't know how to party Productivity Hack I Swear By Past work Skill Everyone Should Learn Organization Dream Vacation Destination Home. A safe Nile river cruise or living a local in Vienna or Edinburgh Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times I don't rewatch movies unless we count movies with my children when they were little. Most-used App on Your Phone? Messages Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Cat person and I love dogs Something I've Always Wanted to Learn Sign language One Word that Describes You? Wonderous 
Amy Waggoner
Location & Time Zone Indianapolis| Time Zone: ET Contact Information Email: [email protected] Phone: 317-748-1321 Professional Background
Current Role & Organization VP, State & Local Government Affairs, Salesforce Years of Experience 20+ Years Professional Style Collaborative, Decisive, Ethical Proudest Accomplishment Raising my son Mentorship Style & Preferences
Ideal Mentee Match Early career, ready to prep for promotion ask or to interview for upleveled role Communication Style Straight to the point Preferred Ways to Connect Video Meetings Time Commitment Per Month 1-2 hours Get to Know Me
What Mentees Should Know About Me I enjoy mentoring to learn more about other roles / companies much more than doling out "advice" - I will ask a lot about your role! Go to Book, Podcast, or Quote Podcast - NPR Up First Coworkers Would Say I'm Dependable Dream Dinner Guests Varies with my mood Productivity Hack I Swear By Turning off notifications Skill Everyone Should Learn Dependability Dream Vacation Destination Morocco is high on the list Movie You've Seen Way Too Many Times The Fugitive Most-used App on Your Phone? Slack Dog, Cat, or Chaos? Cat Something I've Always Wanted to Learn How to repair automobiles One Word that Describes You? Human |
