Abby is a seasoned professional with almost three decades of experience in business and government affairs at the federal, state, local, and international levels, with a specific expertise in ESG, corporate governance, and public policy. Utilizing her proven track record navigating complex regulatory landscapes at the intersection of government and business, Abby now serves as a Director on four multinational corporate Boards including:
Ardagh Group and Ardagh Metal Packaging (NYSE-AMBP): Luxembourg-based global sustainable packaging companies which manufacture infinitely recyclable aluminum cans and glass bottles for leading brands such as Coca-Cola, White Claw, Budweiser, and Smucker’s.
SafetyHoldCo (SmartStart Inc): Dallas-based SmartStart is the number one alcohol interlock device company in the world, owned by leading private equity firm Apollo, and housed within the Apollo Impact Mission (AIM) platform.
VitaKey: Borrowing from the pharmaceutical arena, this targeted technology platform enhances food and beverages utilizing its innovative precision delivery system. The platform enables targeted and time-controlled release of micro-nutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, nutraceuticals, antioxidants, and flavors as well as unprecedented bioavailability within the body.
In August of 2022, Abby departed the Kraft Heinz Company after 21 years having led their Global Government Affairs function for 10 years, and most recently also serving as Senior Advisor on Government and ESG Affairs, Advisor to the Board of Directors, and a member of the Kraft Heinz
Foundation Board. During her first several years at Kraft, she held a variety of other positions.
Prior to shifting to business, Abby worked in and around government including on Capitol Hill, within a national trade association, two federal agencies, and in presidential and party politics.
Abby holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and English from the University of Maryland and has been named one of the DC’s Top Influencers by Washingtonian Magazine for the past two years. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Inn at NIH, Ford’s Theatre, and the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Foundation. Mrs. Blunt is also a member of the Washington Economic Club (WEC) and Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB). She and her family split their time between Springfield, MO, and Washington, D.C.
Following a distinguished career in public service, Senator Blunt left the U.S. Congress in January 2023 after representing Missouri for 12 years in the United States Senate and 14 years in the United States House of Representatives. Among his many achievements in Congress, Senator Blunt is one of only two Americans in congressional history to be elected to a leadership position by his colleagues in both the House and the Senate.
During his 12 years in the Senate, Roy served as Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and Senate Rules Committee and led the Presidential Inaugural Committees for the 45th and 46th Presidents of the United States. In addition, Senator Blunt was a key member of the Appropriations and Commerce Committees, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Within each of these policy areas, Blunt led his colleagues to prioritize key issues for all Americans. As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Roy redirected resources and raised awareness of critical issues including increased funding for medical research. Blunt has been recognized by many health research advocates for his leadership during the Covid crisis and in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease research and mental health. And the National Institute of Health (NIH) recently named their Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia’s in his honor.
Prior to his tenure in Congress, Senator Blunt was a history teacher, a university president, a county official, and Missouri’s Secretary of State.
Senator Blunt is actively involved in promoting and preserving the arts and history. He has served as a member of the Smithsonian Museum’s Council of American Art, a member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and is President of the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Currently, Senator Blunt serves as an Executive Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington DC, Chair of the Advisory Board of the National Geospatial Agency of the U.S. Government, and serves on the Southwest Airlines and Tenet Healthcare Boards of Directors.
Michael DeSantis is the Founder of DeSantis Trusted Advisors, LLC. Michael is a senior-level business advisor and executive business coach, having coached and advised Board Chairs, Entrepreneurs, CEOs, C-level executives, and Managing Directors on achieving high-level strategic and professional impact. Michael spent 30+ years as a lawyer, public company executive, and member of the Board of many corporate and non-profit Boards.
Michael and his husband Patrick Baugh also produce theatrical shows on Broadway and around the world, and have won numerous awards including three Tony Awards for “Kinky Boots”, “The Inheritance”, and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”. They have twin sons, one at Bullis School and the other at The Field School.
Patrick Baugh is a 30+ year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives, having served as a Financial and Payroll Administrator for over 40 Members of Congress and five Committees, overseeing 300 employees and over $50 million annually.
Patrick and his husband Michael DeSantis also produce theatrical shows on Broadway and around the world, and have won numerous awards including three Tony Awards for “Kinky Boots”, “The Inheritance”, and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”. They have twin sons, one at Bullis School and the other at The Field School.
Pinkie is Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Graham Holdings Company (formerly The Washington Post Company). She serves as a key member of the executive team responsible for corporate affairs, public relations, communications, strategic initiatives, and advising the Chairman on matters of special interest. A seasoned finance executive, Pinkie previously served as the Vice President of Corporate Solutions. Prior to joining the Washington Post Company in 1998, Pinkie was a Vice President and Trust Officer at NationsBank (now Bank of America) in the Investment Services Division. She began her career with Prudential-Bache Securities.
With a strong commitment to community service focused on the advancement of women and children through education, Pinkie currently serves on the board of directors of the District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, and is a trustee of the Philip L. Graham Fund.
Pinkie graduated magna cum laude with a BA in business administration from Trinity Washington University and earned an MBA from the University of Maryland University College. She and her husband, Carl, live in Washington, DC with their two children.
Carl A. Mayfield is the Executive Vice President of Design and Construction at Park Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:PK). As an officer and a key member of the executive team, he provides global leadership with responsibility for all design and construction activities associated with Park’s multibillion-dollar real estate portfolio including the $2.7 billion acquisition of Chesapeake Lodging Trust.
Prior to joining Park Hotels, Mayfield served as Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at RLJ Lodging Trust and RLJ Development, LLC where he was part of the executive team that raised $1.1 billion in capital and subsequently launched RLJ’s 2011 IPO. During his fourteen-year tenure, he was instrumental in RLJ’s growth from a $300 million to a $6 billion asset-based company.
Over his 35-year career, Mayfield has developed in excess of $20 billion in real estate. He has held progressive leadership roles in large-scale multi-faceted projects in a variety of sectors and asset classes including hospitality, sports and entertainment, commercial, industrial, and institutional real estate projects. He has been honored with numerous awards for project excellence over the span of his career.
Deeply committed to the community, Carl serves on the board of directors of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Region and is an executive mentor to graduate students at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.
Carl earned a BS degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware and an MS degree in real estate development and business from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Pinkie Dent Mayfield, live in Washington, DC, with their two children.
Congressman David Trone was elected in 2018 to serve Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties. Congressman Trone serves on the powerful Appropriations Committee, the Joint Economic Committee, and Budget Committee, where he is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including addiction, criminal justice reform, the mental health crisis, medical research, and education.
David grew up on a chicken and hog farm with his mother, a public school teacher, and his father, a WWII veteran and member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Though the family lost the farm to bankruptcy, David was given an opportunity through education. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Wharton School of Business.
In Congress, Rep. Trone is co-founder and co-chair of the Second Chance Task Force, and co-founder and co-chair of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.
