U.S. Speaker Program

Meet US Speakers, Cheri Bustos and Thomas Davis. Cheri Bustos has never lost an election, two for City Council and five for Congress in one of the toughest swing districts in America. She believes in coming together, compromise and bipartisanship, while staying true to key values. She sees it as the only way forward. Ms. Bustos pioneered her own highly successful candidate training program called Build the Bench. As a former college athlete, she knows a great team has a great bench. That’s the premise: build a bench of great candidates up and down the ballot for years to come. She is the co-author of two reports, focusing on successful political strategies and messaging: Hope from the Heartland and How to Win. The former Congresswoman became known in Congress for her innovative communication style that included an outreach program called Cheri on Shift, where she job shadowed hardworking men and women. Ms. Bustos was a journalist for almost two decades. An investigative reporter and editor, who began on the police beat, covered city hall, business and healthcare, she would win many awards for her in-depth reporting. She later went on to lead corporate communications for a multi-billion-dollar nonprofit health system before running for Congress, where she served in House leadership for most of her career. Tom Davis first entered office in 1979, achieving 14 consecutive victories over three decades. In 1993, he became chairman of the Fairfax County Board after 12 years as the Mason District supervisor, implementing reforms that earned Fairfax the title of best managed county in the U.S. by Governing Magazine. In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 11th District, becoming the first freshman in 50 years to chair a subcommittee. He played a key role in rescuing D.C. from fiscal troubles and closing Lorton Prison through significant legislation. As chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2000 and 2002, he helped maintain his party's House majority, known for his deep knowledge of political history. After 2002, he chaired the House Committee on Government Reform, leading hearings on performance-enhancing drugs in sports and authoring impactful legislation, including measures on tobacco regulation and metro system reinvestment. Currently, Mr. Davis is the Director of Federal Government Affairs for Deloitte LLP, focusing on effective, practical government solutions. Recently Cheri Bustos and Thomas Davis spoke virtually with audiences in Israel about open government and civil society and U.S. elections from the view from elected officials. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

Meet the election pair Scott Klug and Betsey Markey. Former members of the US Congress. Congresswoman Markey has over 35 years of leadership experience in the legislative, executive, and state branches of government. Congresswoman Markey was elected a Democratic Member of Congress from Colorado, where she was on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In 2011, President Obama appointed her as the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and later was appointed the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Congresswoman Markey was a co-founder of Syscom Services Inc. and owned, and later sold, Huckleberry’s, a coffee shop in Fort Collins, CO. More recently, Congresswoman Markey served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. She is currently a Global Strategic Advisor with Sumihiro investments, helping foreign-owned companies establish a presence in the US. Former Congressman Scott Klug is the co-chair of the Government Solutions practice at the national law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP. After a 14-year career as an Emmy award winning reporter he upset a 32-year Democratic Congressman. Despite winning 4 elections by an average margin of 62% he stayed true to his term limit pledge and retired. He had the 3rd most independent voting record of any Wisconsin Member of Congress in the last 50 years. Mr. Klug was appointed by President Bush to two terms on the President’s Advisory Board on Trade and Policy Negotiations. He’s also led training programs on journalism and political campaigns for the U.S. State Department in Venezuela, the Czech Republic, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Recently, Congress Scott Klug (R-WI) and Betsy Markey (D-CO) engaged key stakeholders in Denmark and Sweden from September 29th to October 4th, 2024, from the media, academia, and the business sector on the strength of US democratic institutions and potential outcomes from the November elections. The pair discussed election integrity, bipartisanship, and how the US trade and security relationship with Europe and NATO will be impacted in 2024. Congratulations on your successful program! #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

U.S. Speaker Ingrid Vanderveldt, founder and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women worldwide, recently supported the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a program for women entrepreneurs from August 12th to 17th. Vanderveldt spoke at the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Country Conference and the International Women's Conference by Sabah Women Entrepreneur & Professionals Association about topics like attracting, retaining, and growing Investment in Women-Led Businesses and AI and data analytics in economic and social stability.   Her dynamic sessions provided invaluable strategies and inspiration for women entrepreneurs, reinforcing her commitment to uplifting women as catalysts for global change and innovation. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

Meet U.S. Speaker Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, the former president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. She was the first African American president of the League of Women Voters, where she focused on increasing voter participation, campaign finance reform, and health care for underserved populations. Jefferson-Jenkins continues to be an advocate and activist for civil rights, social justice, educational excellence, and stronger citizen participation in the electoral process. She serves on numerous boards and advises community-based organizations, including Howard University’s Women Ambassadors Program. She also has contributed to numerous journals and books on election reform. Recently, U.S. Speaker Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins traveled to Denmark to engage with an audience on elections. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

Last month, U.S. Speaker and gaming industry expert Kate Edwards traveled to Tirana, Albania, to lead an inspiring program focused on the world of gaming. She connected with a vibrant group of young people, sharing insights on gaming trends, emerging tech, and exciting career paths in the industry. It’s thrilling to see the impact gaming and tech are beginning to make in Albania! #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld 

Last month, U.S. Speaker James R. LeMay—former CNN journalist, editor, and investigative journalism expert— traveled to Lithuania as part of the U.S. State Department's American Lecturers program. 🎤📰 LeMay delivered insightful lectures to communication and journalism students at Vytautas Magnus University, European Humanities University, and Vilniaus universitetas / Vilnius University on "When Facts Are Not Enough: How to Preserve Journalism in the Age of Disinformation." He also led a hands-on workshop for investigative journalism professionals, sharing his expertise on navigating today’s media landscape. Additionally, LeMay spoke at the Romas Sakadolskis Journalism Forum, exploring how the American presidential election campaign is reshaping the world of journalism. 🗳️✍️ #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

U.S. Speaker Ivy Schultz, director of entrepreneurship programs at Columbia University School of Engineering, was in Croatia for a program designed to help local scientists, entrepreneurs, and aspiring tech entrepreneurs create a roadmap for transforming technology into marketable products and services. She also participated in an event called "The Big Bang Camp" on the commercialization of science and met with the head of science and innovation at the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, a venture capitalist fund manager, a dean of a prominent engineering department, and the director of a deep-tech accelerator. The program's messaging supports U.S.-Croatia economic and academic partnerships. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

Interested to know what occurs in a U.S. Speaker program? U.S. Speaker Danetha Doe wrote an article about her experience as an U.S. Speaker in Germany for a program that focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and transatlantic partnership. Read her article to see how her trip to Germany impacted both her and the people she met. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld 

Baird Holm Partner David Kramer has been invited to participate in the U.S. Speaker Program in Beijing and Shenyang, China, to share his insights on the upcoming U.S. election with international audiences. This exclusive program runs for the next week with the objective of fostering meaningful dialogue among students, faculty, experts, and researchers from around the world. David’s presentation is titled, “Road to 2024: Elections and Polling.” A special thank you to the U.S. Speaker Program for the opportunity to promote mutual understanding and collaboration for people from around the world. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld

Last month, U.S. Speaker Emily Drew, a visiting professor of English at Davidson College and Emmy-winning TV news producer and journalist, traveled to Singapore to participate in a program on open government, civil society, democracy, and elections. In collaboration with U.S. Embassy Singapore, she joined the Singapore Press Club panel discussion, addressing the rising threat of disinformation, deepfakes, and the divisions among voters during election campaigns. Emily also visited organizations like the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Management, and Jom where she shared her experiences as a journalist, discussed the U.S. presidential elections, and explored the rapidly changing media landscape. #USSpeakerProgram #ExchangeOurWorld