Deborah Smolover is a nationally recognized social innovation policy expert with 30 years of experience in law, public policy, and advocacy in Washington, DC. Deb has served as America Forward’s Executive Director for over a decade, leading America Forward’s strategy and overseeing America Forward’s policy work, advocating for more innovative and effective solutions to our country’s most pressing challenges affecting

Chase Sackett is America Forward’s Policy Director. Chase leads America Forward’s economic mobility, postsecondary education, and social innovation policy and advocacy work, and he supports new policy development across the America Forward Coalition’s issue areas. Chase’s commitment to advancing policies that expand opportunity, in particular through evidence-based programs and practitioner-centered innovation, led him to his role at America Forward. Chase

Heather Rieman is America Forward’s Advocacy Director. Heather leads America Forward’s early childhood care and education, K-12 education, youth mental health and wellbeing, and national service policy and advocacy work. Heather also oversees America Forward’s Advocacy Institute. Heather comes to her role at America Forward having dedicated her over 20-year career to ensuring that all youth have the supports they

Ariette Agnew is America Forward's Advocacy Manager. Ariette helps lead America Forward’s early childhood care and education, K-12 education, youth mental health and wellbeing, and national service policy and advocacy work. She also co-leads the America Forward Advocacy Institute, a hands-on training Institute that equips America Forward Coalition members with the knowledge and skills they need to become better, bolder

Daniel López is America Forward’s Policy and Development Manager. Daniel helps lead America Forward’s economic mobility, post-secondary education, and social innovation policy and advocacy work, with a special emphasis on evidence-based policy development and implementation. Daniel also supports America Forward’s development, investor relations, and grant-management efforts. In addition to his role with America Forward, Daniel is a Campus CoGenerate Program

Nicole Hall serves as America Forward's Operations Specialist. Nicole oversees management of internal operations and provides strategic support for the team. Prior to joining America Forward, Nicole had the opportunity to work in many communities across the country and witnessed systemic inequities firsthand. She was drawn to America Forward’s work because of its commitment to uniting social entrepreneurs with policymakers

Lee Foley serves as America Forward's Senior Policy Advisor, and he is a Managing Partner at Capitol Hill Partners. For more than 30 years, Lee has worked as one of Washington's foremost counselors on policy and legislative advocacy before Congress and the Executive Branch. Lee's extensive policy expertise includes: elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, employment and training, employment security and

David Belluck serves as America Forward's Advisory Board Chair. For over 30 years, David has served as a General Partner at Riverside Partners, a private equity firm located in Boston. David also currently serves on the National Advisory Board for Public Service at Harvard College. Previously, David was the Vice-Chair of The Alliance for Business Leadership, and he served on

Carla Javits serves on the America Forward Advisory Board. Carla is the former president and CEO, and current board member, of REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund). Previously, Carla served on the Governor's Future of Work Commission in California, she was the president and CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing and worked for the City and County of San Francisco

Jim Cutler serves on the America Forward Advisory Board. Jim is the managing partner of Cutler Partners, a firm specializing in strengthening organizational and leadership performance, executive coaching, and strategic alignment. His work spans many sectors, including social entrepreneurship. Previously, Jim served as the Chief Talent Officer at Cimpress, and he was the founder of the Monitor Group's Organization and