Tyler Thiret is a senior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Political Science, with a minor in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (the PPE program). In addition to his major and minor, Tyler has dedicated much of his elective course work to Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, including accounting, business law, and consulting.

Tyler is a student in Notre Dame’s Glynn Family Honors Program, which is comprised of the top 100 incoming freshmen of each class. Throughout their four years, Glynn students take honors courses and small seminars from the University’s top professors in subjects ranging from biology to classical literature, culminating in the writing of a senior honors thesis.

During the entirety of his junior year, Tyler studied in Paris, France at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (the Institute of Political Studies) as a participant in an exchange program between Notre Dame and IEP. In courses with a mixture of French students and other internationals, he was immersed in a multicultural frenzy of political opinion, granting him great insight into political thoughts existing outside the United States, how they are expressed, and how debate operates in an international context. More...

Hilary Kelly is a Project Liaison Intern for Capitol Management Initiatives. As a senior Political Science major at the University of Notre Dame, with a minor in European Studies, Hilary has a strong background in foreign affairs and development. By means of classes focused on the American Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Constitution, Hilary has also acquired a deep understanding of domestic political structures. Hilary has cultivated strong research, writing, and analytic skills during her time at Notre Dame.

In the past four years, Hilary has worked for both government and non–profit organizations. As an intern for Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia, Hilary coordinated publicity with local publications, assisted with Family and Life Education classes, and gained knowledge of the interactions between non–profit agencies and local government.

While serving as a Volunteer Teacher for WorldTeach, an NGO, Hilary created lesson plans with a focus on oral English skills and taught elementary and high school students in Hunan Province, China. During a summer internship in Dublin, Ireland, Hilary worked in the Press Office of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. More...

Katherine F. Baker is a junior at the University of Notre Dame studying Marketing and Public Policy, with concentrations in International Relations and International Business. When she is not discussing current events or giving campus tours to prospective students, Katie can be found utilizing her planning, organizational, and communications skills in her service to Notre Dame’s Student Government.

As a sophomore, Katie was selected to serve as the Social Chairman of her class, wherein she planned and hosted numerous networking events for hundreds of her classmates. Katie is also involved in the policy side of Student Government, utilizing her critical eye and marketing mindset to serve as Chief Communications Officer for the Student Body President’s election campaign during her sophomore year. In this campaign, Katie’s organizational and creative skills ensured the integrity of all campaign materials and their adherence to one streamlined message of "Hope in Action"–the hope for a student government that successfully addresses both issues of convenience in everyday student life and issues of consequence, encouraging Notre Dame students to think globally on issues of the day. More...

Dana M. Marston is a leading member of the Capitol Management Initiatives team, serving as Director of Strategic Initiatives. After over nine years with Anheuser–Busch Companies, Dana brings an exceptional understanding of the intersection between business and government to the firm and its clients.

Her proven experience in operations, logistics, project management, and relationship development have been honed in positions of increasing leadership and responsibility. Employing these valuable skills, Dana leads CMI’s grasstops and grassroots teams, focusing on the firm’s non–profit and foundation clients.

At Anheuser–Busch, Dana played a key role in the transformation and growth of the company’s government affairs operation before, during and after its 2008 merger with InBev. With an eye for detail, efficiency and effectiveness, she provided an invaluable link between departmental staff spread across the U.S., maintaining open lines of communication and awareness of initiatives. Throughout her tenure with the company, she was successful in coordinating with all levels of management as well as corporate partners, such as lobbying groups, charitable organizations and government entities. More...

Andrew W. Mills, Vice President at Capitol Management Initiatives (CMI), is an experienced Capitol Hill veteran that brings a diverse background in legislative policy and strategy. Andrew is known for his keen ability to build relationships and maintains a strong network of trusted relationships throughout Congress and the Executive branch.

In his nearly six years on Capitol Hill, Andrew has served in numerous capacities. In 2005, Andrew started working as the Personal Assistant to Senator Richard Lugar, then the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. In recent years, Andrew has been addressing many critical issues in the legislative and policy arena, advising the Senator on federal projects, telecommunications, immigration, human services and other issues.

As the Senator's Grants Coordinator, Andrew was instrumental in assisting universities, non-profits, and communities across the State of Indiana locate funding, acquire grants, and contact agencies on federal funding matters. One noteworthy accomplishment occurred in 2008, when Andrew's assistance led to the acquisition of funding for the creation of the Burmese Advocacy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. More...

Former Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV) serves as a strategic partner and valued member of the CMI team. Jon Porter brings nearly three decades of experience as a public servant at the local, state and federal levels. Known for his legislative abilities and pragmatic political instincts, Porter is a government affairs professional that not only understands how Washington works, but how Main Street works as well.

From his time as City Council Member and Mayor of Boulder City, Nevada, then later as Nevada State Senator, and finally as a widely-respected Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, Porter has always appreciated the delicate intersection between federal, state, and local governmental policy.

Prior to founding the Porter Group, Porter served as Director of Public Policy at Akerman Senterfitt, a full service government relations firm in Washington D.C.

At Akerman Senterfitt, Porter maximized his years of public service and firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing companies doing business with all levels of government to deliver goal oriented results to his clients. More...

Matt Keelen the founder and President of the government affairs firm the Keelen Group, has joined forces with Capitol Management as a strategic partner. Keelen is a widely known and highly regarded lobbyist and political strategist with over 20 years experience building relationships with key figures and a reputation for consistently delivering hard-earned victories.

Keelen's ability to effectively navigate the landscape between legislative policy and political reality has made him a respected and sought after voice, not only in Washington D.C. but around the country. Acknowledged for his innate ability to establish and develop long lasting political relationships, Keelen has dozens of time-tested relationships with Members of Congress, including many who are in positions of considerable influence today. Currently there are over 50 members serving in the House and Senate that Keelen assisted in getting to Washington.

As government affairs professional Keelen has a proven track record of success with his work on the Pension Reform Act of 2005 standing out as a significant highlight. His ability access key Congressional Committee's such as the Ways and Means Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Committee on Small Business, and the Committee on Armed Services make Keelen extremely valuable to his clients. More...

Scott D. Hatch is the founder and Managing Partner of Capitol Management Initiatives (CMI), a leading Washington, DC consulting firm that specializes in business strategy and brand management, legislative and political advocacy, and organizational development.

Mr. Hatch founded CMI in 2001 when Bono's (the lead singer of the band U2) anti-poverty foundation, now known as the ONE Campaign, became his first client. In this capacity, he worked closely with Bono to facilitate a bipartisan agreement between the White House and Congress on passing and funding the historic $39 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) legislation. Mr. Hatch's efforts were also instrumental in fostering passage of the White House's Millennium Challenge Account program, a $10 billion humanitarian program to help developing nations improve their economies and standards of living.

Since then Mr. Hatch has managed CMI's growth into a leading consulting firm with a diversity of clients in the defense, aerospace, health care, and foundation fields. In doing so, he has applied his managerial expertise, strategic planning and legislative/political skills in assisting corporations, candidates/elected officials, and non-profit organizations in achieving their strategic interests in Washington, DC. More...