​Congratulations to all of the Professional Certificate Program Graduates!

Read About The Professional Certificate Program

2024  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Rachel Carl, Walmart
James Cox, AICPA
Ryan DeMara, Duane Morris Government Strategies
Lauren Doroghazi, MultiState Associates
Brittany Duffy, Otsuka
Travis Frazier, Association of National Advertisers
Michael Heltzer, BASF
Greg Herzog, Bristol Myers Squibb
Amy Hill, Walmart
Matt Kiessling, American Gas Association
Lauren Neill, T-Mobile, USA
Andrew O'Connor, Entertainment Software Association
Kevin Pula, Deloitte
Patrick Stone, Otsuka
Amy Waggoner, Salesforce
Erika Webb-Hughes, Pearson
Fred Zeytoonjian, Apple

2023  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Zeny Agullana, TIAA
JC Considine, Pearson
Ritchie Engelhardt, Ancestry
Sherri Giorgio, Gilead Science
Karla Kiriako, Neurocrine Biosciences
Blake Otto, State Farm 
Jason Riederer, American Hotel and Lodging Association
Brooke Scott, Magna
Jeni Santana, T-Mobile
Gretchen Spear, International Paper
Ryan Stevens, Duane Morris Government Strategies
Abby Sztein, American Forest and Paper Association
Sharon Sykes, American Hotel and Lodging Association
Angela Williams, Stride K12

2022  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Meredith Beeson, The Global Business Alliance
Britt Carter, American Chemistry Council
Tracy Colvard, Maxim Healthcare Services
Lindsey Dellas, Johnson & Johnson
Tom Foulkes, BSA The Software Alliance
Hayley Heath, Magna International
Kate Kulesher Jareke, Sandoz
Erin Liang, Vertex
Sarah Matz, GovExperts
Jeff Shaffer, RELX
Angela Storseth, McKesson Corporation
Shane Turner, Security Finance

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2021  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Winn Atkins, Diageo
Dex Battista, Magna International
Kenneth Lin, International Paper
Denise Quarels, Siemens
Jennifer Richmond, Coca Cola Consolidated
Tim Shestek, American Chemistry Council
Ben Whipple, National Association of State Lobbyists

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2020  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Jill Benoit, LafargeHolcim
Erik Castaneda, 1-800 CONTACTS
Francisco Domenech, Politank Corporation
Erica Drury, Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc.
Chani Feldman, Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc.
April Grant, Alkermes
Kirk Hanna, IHS Markit
Karen Heymann, RELX, Inc.
Michael Lambert, McKesson Corporation
Matt Lenz, The Toy Association
Robbie McLuckie, Consumer Healthcare Products Association
Tracey Meeks, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Elisa Munoz, Politank Corporation
Erin Riley, Power Design, Inc.
Gabby Reed, RELX, Inc.
Collan Rosier, Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc.
Angela Storseth, McKesson Corporation
Terrell Sweat, Johnson & Johnson
Jacque Twiggs, ACT, Inc.
Sandra Westerman, Alkermes
Beata Wierzba, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

2019  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Mindy Baker,  The Toy Association
Dena Benson-Scearce, Zoll Medical
Katie Bernard Wright, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Michelle Erbeyi, Mary Kay Inc.
Kathryn Gunter, Entertainment Software Association
Anika Hagenson, Intuit
Gamble Hayden, State and Federal Communications
Alexi Madon, CompTIA
Erika Scheffer, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
Katie Segal, Biogen
Divya Shridhar, McGraw Hill
Rebecca South, State and Federal Communications
Fred Tayco, National Apartment Association
Airika Walker, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers

​​2018  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Erin Archer,  Association for Accessible Medicines
Patrick Atagi, National Wooden Pallet and Container Association
London Biggs, RELX, Inc.
Christine Csizmadia, Nuclear Energy Institute
Cashion Drolet, International Council of Shopping Centers
Aimee Grmoljez, State Law Resources, Inc.
Michelle Jacquis, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Gregg Lanez, Celgene Corporation
Beth Medina, Mylan Inc.
Gary Riddle, Indivior Inc.
Robert Williams, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

​2017  Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Trista Adams, Feld Entertainment
Ronnie Coleman, Benevis, LLC
Pierce Haley, Serlin Haley LLP
Jeff Hartgen, MultiState Associates Inc.
Robert Kearley, Best Buy Co., Inc.
Melissa Kelly, National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Amber Fish Linke, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Jennifer Gibbons, The Toy Association
Andy Oreffice, Benevis, LLC
Beth Percynski, Procter & Gamble
Eric Schuller, Oasis Financial
Audrey Robinson Tedford, IHS Markit
Danielle Waterfield, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
Terry Webber, American Forest & Paper Association
Nola Werren, State and Federal Communications, Inc.

"SGAC does an excellent job in providing its membership with quality continuing education. I felt that formalizing to a certificate program made me more accountable and encouraged me to make thoughtful choices about which workshops, seminars and panels were applicable to my current job responsibilities." - Theresa Flores, Mary Kay Inc.

​2016 Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Laura Dooley, eBay Inc.
Kia D. Floyd, RELX, Inc.
Chris Hudgins, International Sleep Products Association
Tim Johnson, Entertainment Software Association
Sean Moore, Consumer Healthcare Products Association
Barbara Morrow, Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Darren Reaman, Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association
Karin Ross, Personal Care Profucts Council
Todd Wynn, Edison Electric Institute
Josh Young, American Chemistry Council
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​2015 Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Bethanne Cooley, CTIA
 Chip Burpee, JM Family Enterprises
Chris Coulon, Adams and Reese LLP
Chris Oswald, Direct Marketing Association
Dan Felton, Philips
Eric Ebenstein, POET, LLC
Jason Meredith, Eastman Chemical Company
Jennifer Jura, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Joanie Cosgrove, State Law Resources, Inc.
Joe Gregorich, Apollo Education Group, Inc.
Martha Smith, Monsanto Company
Robin Brown, Ingredion Incorporated
Terra McClelland, Benevis, LLC

​"Get involved: There are numerous opportunities to work with and learn from other state government relations professionals. Obtaining the SGAC State Government Relations Professional Certificate was a professional goal for me. Working toward the certificate was beneficial; I received great ideas in the webinars and seminars that I was able to apply to my work, and the sessions also helped reinforce the work I have been doing.

​My employer, CEDIA strongly supports professional development and recognizes the need for specialized education within one's field. For CEDIA, SGAC is a respected source of professional development opportunities that support state government relations professionals and the profession." - Darren Reaman, CEDIA

​2014 Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Steve Arthur, Stateside Associates
Rodney Braxton, Southern Strategy Group
Dennis Brown, Equipment Leasing & Finance Association
Gerard Burke, Benevis
David Foy, Reed Elsevier Inc.
Stefani Grant, Unilever United States, Inc.
Ben Jones, McKesson Corporation
Bridget Lovett, Apollo Education Group, Inc.
CeeGee McCord, Eastman Chemical Company
Frank Plescia, Bryan Cave LLP
Luke Rollins, Reed Elsevier Inc.
James Warner, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
​Emory Wilkerson, State Farm Insurance Companies

​2013 Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Chris Badgley, Daiichi-Sankyo, Incorporated
Joe Crosby, MultiState Associates Inc.
Dave Christman, National Beer Wholesalers Association
George Cook, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Sherry Doctorian, State Law Resources, Inc.
Abby Gossman, MedImmune Biologics
Bryan Harrison, Amway
Michael Losow, Onyx Pharmaceuticals
Tracy Mihas, Mondelez International
Stephen Quinn, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
John Rainey, Altria Client Services, Inc.
Leslea Snyder, Forest Laboratories

​2012 Professional Certificate Program Graduating Class

Ron Barnes, Direct Marketing Association
Elizabeth Bartz, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Ab Basu, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
T.J. Bolger, General Electric Company
Jon Burton, Reed Elsevier Inc.
Jeff Case, CropLife America
Colin Chiles, Mylan Inc.
Jacqueline Clark, Ash Grove Cement Company
Myra Cottrill, State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Ben Dendy, The Advocacy Group
Theresa Flores, Mary Kay Inc.
Melissa Garrett, Bridgepoint Education
Donna Gehlhaart, International Paper
Andrew Hackman, Toy Industry Association
Amy Hamerton, MedImmune Biologies
David Hickerson, US Foods
Katrina Iserman, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Joan Lawrence, Toy Industry Association
Jennifer Mendez, The Carpet and Rug Institute
Mark Ourada, ACCCE
Tom Phillips, Siemens Corporation
Mike Prentiss, Procter & Gamble
Mike Thompson, Personal Care Products Council
Brock Wanless, Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
David Wefring, 3M Company

"​Being an active participant in SGAC over the years, has afforded me the opportunity to meet many other government affairs professionals from varying industries and diverse geographic locations, enhancing my network of likeminded professionals who have been valuable in building diverse coalitions for achieving legislative goals in the states. In addition, membership in SGAC has allowed me to grow professionally through completion of the SGAC Professional Certificate Program, and the added benefit of acquiring Continuing Legal Education credits at the same time to meet the mandatory CLE requirements."
​- Emory Wilkerson, State Farm Insurance Companies