Meet Our Team
Liz Watson
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Liz comes to the CPC Center after having served as the Labor Policy Director and Chief Labor Counsel on the House Education and Labor Committee, the Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, and the Director of the Workplace Justice Program at the National Women’s Law Center. In 2018, she was the Democratic nominee for Congress in her home district of IN-09 and ran a bold, progressive, grassroots-led campaign.
Alan Barber
POLICY DIRECTOR
At the CPC Center, Alan leads the policy team and the Center's Policy and Research Council, a coalition of think tanks, advocates and experts dedicated to strengthening the progressive movement. Prior to joining the CPC Center, he supported communications and policy efforts at the Center for Economic and Policy Research on a wide range of economic issues. He was a proud member and former president of IFPTE Local 70, the “Union for Non Profit Workers”. He earned degrees in Government and Psychology from Georgetown University and lives in Washington, DC with his wife and daughter.
Ross Brennan
SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE
Ross comes to the CPC Center after serving seven years on Capitol Hill for the House of Representatives. Most recently, he was the Senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI), a CPC Vice-Chair and Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. In this role, Ross also served as the office liaison to the CPC. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Wheaton College (MA) in Political Science and is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Parker Breza
COMMUNICATIONS FELLOW
Parker serves as the Omidyar Network Communications Fellow, focusing on building the narrative infrastructure to reimagine a more just economy for working families. He comes to the CPC Center with a background in community organizing, progressive policy, and political communications experience. Most recently, he was a press and communications intern for Representative Ilhan Omar in her Washington D.C. office. Parker has helped to build local, state, and national campaigns to challenge systems of oppression ranging from cancelling student debt to international human rights. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University in American Studies and Colonialism Studies.
JOHN COOK
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
John comes to the CPC Center after over a decade as the director of finance and administration for the Economic Policy Institute, where he was responsible for accounting, finance, IT, business operations, compliance and human resources. John was previously the business manager at Community Action Partnership, where he secured the award of and implemented a complete association management system and technology refresh. Prior to that he was CFO of the Wild Bird Centers of America, and spent a number of years in real estate and consulting. He has an M.B.A. in Accounting and Economics from the University of Maryland and a B.A. in History and English from the University of Richmond.
Kia Hamadanchy
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS MANAGER
Kia comes to the CPC Center after having served as an oversight counsel on the House Education and Labor Committee. He received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Michigan and then moved to Washington, DC, to serve as a staff member in the U.S. Senate. As a counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee under the leadership of education and disability rights champion Senator Tom Harkin, he worked to expose the exploitation of students by the for-profit college industry. After Senator Harkin’s retirement, Kia joined the staff of Senator Sherrod Brown where he worked on judiciary, education, and telecommunications issues. In 2018, he was a Democratic candidate for Congress in his home district of CA-45.
MATT HAYWARD
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
Matt comes to the CPC Center with a wealth of experience in the House and Senate. Most recently, he served as Rep. Jan Schakowsky's Legislative Director and Floor Assistant. Prior to that, he worked as a legislative staffer for Sen. Al Franken and research assistant at the Federal Reserve Board. He got his start on Capitol Hill as an intern for Rep. Keith Ellison while studying at the University of Minnesota. In 2018, he finished traveling to all 50 states.
KARAM JOHAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Karam comes to CPC Center from Sandino Consulting, a political consulting and fundraising firm where she worked with candidates including the California State Treasurer and Controller, state legislators, and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. As a proud intersectional feminist, she began her career in activism as a canvasser for Grassroots Campaigns, Inc., where she became the Assistant Canvass Director, leading a team of 20-30 to raise funds for LGBTQ equality and voting rights. She went on to become the top Voter Registration Organizer for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) during the 2016 election cycle and worked as PPAC's Manager of Executive Services and Board Liaison. Karam is a staunch advocate for gender and racial equity, and a musical theatre and Harry Potter enthusiast. She holds a Bachelors’ degree in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Irvine and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
HEBAH KASSEM
ORGANIZING AND POLICY ASSOCIATE
Hebah joins the CPC Center with diverse experience in community & grassroots organizing, political strategy and health equity. Prior to joining the CPC Center, she helped lead national efforts to empower Muslim Americans and other communities of color through the political and legislative process. She also held leadership roles on numerous progressive campaigns. Previously, she focused on evaluating health policies and providing services to eliminate disparities aimed to achieve health equity for diverse communities. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan.
Mariam Malik
FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATE
Mariam Malik joins the CPC Center from the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on House Administration, where she assisted the committee with its work related to election administration, voting rights, and election security. Prior to arriving on Capitol Hill, she was in London, United Kingdom, where she received her Master of Science in European Union Politics with a specialization in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research analyzed transatlantic foreign and security cooperation and compared the capabilities of the U.S. State Department, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and European External Action Service to implement their policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a graduate student, she also worked part-time in the British Parliament on issues such as women’s rights, Brexit, the war in Yemen, and the NHS. She received her Bachelor's of Art in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.
Ricardo Pacheco
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE
Ricardo comes to the CPC Center after serving for over three years in the Office of U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) in various roles. Most recently, he managed a diverse portfolio that included immigration, education, and housing and oversaw the office’s work with the House Committee on Homeland Security. Hailing from Compton, California, Ricardo has devoted much of his professional life to advancing progressive policies rooted in environmental, racial, and economic justice. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles.
VIMALA PHONGSAVANH
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR
Vimala comes to CPC Center having served as the Director of Programs and Community Engagement at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), the Policy Director at the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), and the Assistant Director at Common Cause Rhode Island. She got her start as a youth organizer in Chinatown Boston, and as a community organizer in the Southeast Asian community in Rhode Island. Vimala proudly served two terms as an elected school committee member in her hometown of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where she eventually became the Chairwoman. She is a founding board member of New Leaders Council Rhode Island and currently serves as a board member of the Laotian American National Alliance (LANA). She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Providence College and her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Rhode Island.
JESSICA JUAREZ SCRUGGS
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Jessica comes to CPC Center with more than a decade of experience in political communications, organizing and progressive policy. Most recently, she served as Interim Policy and Legislative Director for People’s Action Institute, a grassroots network active in 30 states that fights for racial, economic and gender justice on issues including healthcare, housing justice, the climate crisis, fighting toxic contamination, mass liberation and consumer protection. She has a Masters in Political Communication from American University and a Bachelor's in public policy and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
jade wexler
PROGRAM INTERN
Jade (she/her) joins the CPC Center with a background in community organizing, communications, and grassroots lobbying in the Asian American, immigrant, and transnational transracial adoptee communities. While her previous work has centered on fighting for racial, immigrant, and adoptee justice, Jade believes in the power of progressive policy and intersectional grassroots organizing to build a more just, resilient, and sustainable world for all. She is the Outreach & Communications Coordinator, Social Media Manager, and serves on the board of Adoptees for Justice. She holds a degree in Ethnic Studies from Brown University, and will attend Brown's Alpert Medical School in the fall of 2021.
Michael Zwirn
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Michael joins CPC Center as the first director of development, where he focuses on securing foundation and institutional grants for our work and improving our ability to engage our online audience of activists and supporters. Michael has deep experience in foundation and donor relations, especially in environmental policy and international relations. He has previously worked in senior programmatic and fundraising roles in environment and conservation organizations, international development NGOs, and policy and research think tanks. Michael received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Carleton College and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with a focus on international environment and resource policy. He lives in Washington with his wife, son, and cat.
vaibhav vijay
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Vaibhav comes to CPCC with a background in progressive policy, and digital communications with a focus on anti-corruption, racial justice, housing justice, civil liberties, and climate justice issues. He got his start on Capitol Hill interning for Senator Maria Cantwell and most recently, he was the Digital Strategist for a leading progressive Member of Congress. Vaibhav holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Political Science with a Public Policy Focus and is currently studying for his Master of Public Policy with a focus on Urban Policy.