The Office of Governmental and Community Affairs
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The Office of Governmental and Community Affairs |
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| Our Staff John T. Engelen Betty
E. Willis Linda
Womack Cameron
P. Taylor Lesley Denise Walker Jenka T. Fyfe Kaletta Moody
John Engelen is Vice President for Governmental Affairs for Emory University where he oversees Emory’s state, federal, and local government affairs efforts. He joined Emory in January 2007. From July 1999 to December 2006, Mr. Engelen served as Director of Federal Relations for the University of Minnesota where he represented the University of Minnesota’s interests with Congress and federal funding agencies and directed the activities of the Office of Federal Relations. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, Mr. Engelen served on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator David Durenberger from 1981-1985 and was subsequently appointed professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Government Affairs Committee. From 1989-1993, Mr. Engelen directed government affairs in Washington, DC for American Cyanamid, a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical and agricultural product company where he also chaired ACEPAC, the corporate political action committee. In 1993, he joined Ecolab, an international manufacturer of cleaning and sanitizing products, where he directed government relations and regulatory agency affairs in all 50 states and Canada. At Ecolab, Mr. Engelen created a corporate get-out-to-vote program and chaired the Ecolab Lifeline-for-Children-At-Risk initiative. In 2002, Mr. Engelen was named by the Minnesota congressional delegation as one of the most influential lobbyists in Washington in a survey published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He is a member of the YMCA Wilderness Camp Menogyn Board of Directors and the DeLaSalle High School athletic field steering committee. He was previously a Board member for the Park Square Theater from 1994-1999. Mr. Engelen is a graduate of University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Political Science and was president of the UST Washington, DC alumni chapter.
Betty Willis is Senior Associate Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs at Emory University and works to develop and implement strategies to promote the interests of Emory University and Emory Healthcare on the local, state and federal levels. She joined Emory in 1996 as Director of Community Affairs and assumed her current position in July 1999
Prior to coming to Emory, Betty worked in governmental affairs for 15 years in Washington, D.C. She was Assistant Director of Government Relations for the American Psychological Society, the professional association representing behavioral research scientists, and worked as a legislative analyst for the Society for Neuroscience, the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians engaged in research of the brain and central nervous system.
As Director of the Washington office for the State of Georgia during Governor Joe Frank Harris' second term, Betty served as the Governor's liaison to the Georgia congressional delegation, federal and state agencies and the executive branch. She began her career in Washington in the office of Congressman Charles Hatcher, for whom she worked as a legislative assistant for five years.
Betty serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce (2000-present), the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce (1997-present; Board Chair 2003), Central Atlanta Progress (2004-present), the Regional Business Coalition (2003-present; Board Chair, 2009), Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (2003); Leadership DeKalb (2006-09), the Georgia Brain Train Group (2006-present; Board Secretary), Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. (2003-05); the DeKalb History Center (Board-1998-2005; President, 2001, Trustee Chair, 2006-10), the DeKalb Workforce Investment Board (2005-present), the Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association (1997-present; President 2005-present) and the Alliance to Improve Emory Village (1999-present). She is a member of the Decatur Rotary Club (2004-06 Board of Directors), The Commerce Club, Leadership DeKalb (class of 1997), Leadership Atlanta (class of 2002), the Regional Leadership Institute (class of 2000), the Civic League for Regional Atlanta, the Association of American Universities, Council on Federal Relations, and Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Council and Transportation Policy Committee. She also serves on the Georgia Executive Advisory Board of AAA Auto Club South. Betty was honored to be selected by Georgia Trend Magazine as a “Notable Georgian” in 2004, 2007.
A native of Bainbridge, Georgia, Betty received a B.S. degree from Radford University in Virginia. Director of State Government Affairs Contact: 404-727-5306 or linda.womack@emory.edu Linda Womack has worked in governmental and public affairs for over 30 years with the past 12 years in healthcare. Prior to joining Emory University, Linda served as State Government Regional Manager for the Warner Lambert company, and was responsible for 10 Southeastern states. While at Warner-Lambert, she was twice honored as a recipient in the Winners Circle program, designed to acknowledge the company's very top performers. She also received the National Management Achievement Award. As State Regional Manager for the Southeast, Linda represented Warner-Lambert before state legislatures, Medicaid agencies, boards of pharmacy and medicine, as well as other health care agencies and regulatory bodies. Linda not only represented the company on pharmaceutical and consumer products issues, but on a wide range of health care issues impacting public policy. Specific to each state, she developed appropriate legislative/regulatory strategy on legislation and regulations. In addition, she served as both chair and vice-chair of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association's Georgia Task Force.
Prior to joining Warner-Lambert, Linda worked for seventeen years in the electric utility industry. She established the first Governmental Affairs Department for Oglethorpe Power and was responsible for legislative and regulatory proposals, analyzing and formulating company policy and position, and implemented strategies to address and resolve issues. Linda followed through in representing the company with the Georgia Legislature, Georgia Congressional Delegation, Georgia's Public Service Commission, Environmental and other regulatory agencies.
Linda has been a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Council for 30 years, previously serving a two-year term as chair. She has chaired the Council's Labor and Employment Committee, and is a member of the Health, Judiciary, Education and General Business Committees.
Linda currently serves on the Wesley Woods Long Term Care Hospital Board and also serves on the Mental Health and Aging Policy Committee, a coalition of individuals representing organizations in Georgia that are committed to issues affecting aging and mental health. She is a member of the Georgia Hospital Association's Lobbying Committee and works with the Medical Association of Georgia and specialty societies including: Georgia Society of Ophthalmology; Georgia Association of Anesthesiology; Georgia Chapter American Society of Pediatrics; Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association; Georgia College of Emergency Physicians and Georgia Radiological Society. Linda also works with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and health advocacy groups that include the Georgia chapters of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Diabetes Foundation, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and Families First of Georgia.
After graduating from Middle Georgia College and Georgia Southern University, Linda began her career in Washington, D.C., serving on the staff of her own Member of Congress from Georgia. She worked in the areas of Constituent Services and Special Projects.
Linda
is a resident of Decatur, and an enthusiastic Atlanta Braves fan who enjoys
playing the piano.
Washington Representative Contact: 202-441-0058 or cameron.taylor@emory.edu Cameron P. Taylor is Emory's Washington representative and advocates on behalf of the University and Emory Healthcare to develop and maintain productive relationships with members of Congress and key staff and other government decision-makers; promotes Emory's accomplishments and contributions; and helps formulate national policy positions on issues related to higher education, and academic and medical research.
Cameron has over a decade of experience working on Capitol Hill. From 1993 through 1995, she worked for the Office of Technology Assessment, advising congressional Committees on resource policy issues. From 1996 through mid-1998, she served as Legislative Assistant and Legislative Director to Congressman Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, who serves on both the Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. In addition to overseeing Committee work, Cameron's responsibilities included healthcare, tax and budget, and energy issues.
In June 1998, Cameron moved from the House to the Senate to serve as Legislative Director for the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition. At that time co-chaired by Senators James M. Jeffords of Vermont and Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, the bipartisan Coalition works to advance economic development and environmental quality in the Northeast-Midwest region.
Cameron orchestrated the development of the Senate Smart Growth Task Force (SGTF), designed to focus federal efforts on assisting local communities with growth management planning.
In June, 2001, Cameron joined the staff of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She managed legislative strategy during committee hearings, markups, Senate floor action and conference with the House of Representatives. One of her accomplishments was the enactment of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (H.R. 2869) in 2002.
She has a M.S. in Resource Policy and Administration from the University of Michigan and received a B.A. in Sociology and Ecology from Emory University in 1990. She has served on Emory's Board of Governors since 2000, and is the past vice-president of the DC-Baltimore Chapter of the Association of Emory Alumni. A native of Potomac, Maryland, Cameron lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Gordon, also an Emory graduate, and their children. Assistant Director of Community Affairs Contact: 404-727-5172 or lwalke6@emory.edu Lesley Denise Walker currently serves as the Assistant Director of Community Affairs. She functions in a hybrid role; not only dealing with projects/issues impacting the Emory University/Clifton Corridor community but also those of critical importance to the entire State of Georgia, including, transportation, healthcare, strategic planning, and economic development. After attending the University of Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Governmental Affairs, Denise completed a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Georgia. This program is geared towards the development and training of capable leaders for careers in both the public/private sectors. Since her tenure in graduate school, Denise has gained invaluable expertise utilizing a multi-faceted approach that combines a knowledge of policy issues, organizational skills, and program management. Prior employment includes serving as a Housing Planner the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within the Housing Finance Division, and in the Office on Smoking and Health at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Visiting Fellow/Program Analyst. Denise came to Emory from Fulton County’s Intergovernmental & Interagency Division where she served as Legislative Officer. One of her primary responsibilities was to research, monitor, and evaluate legislation and critical policy issues and their potential impact on the citizens of Fulton County. Also, Denise served as a registered lobbyist on behalf of Fulton County, working closely with members of the Fulton County Delegation and members of the Georgia General Assembly on key legislative initiatives. As a member of the Division’s Legislative team, Denise was responsible for the tracking and dissemination of critical information to the Board of Commissioners, the County Manager, and various Department Heads and staff. Her various positions afforded Denise the opportunity to collaborate with various state/local jurisdictions, governmental/business associations, and key legislative leaders. Denise was selected as Employee of the Year for the County Manager’s Office in Fulton County in 2005. Denise’s community involvement includes volunteer efforts with Hands On Atlanta, Incorporated, The WhiteHouse Project, Board Member (Vice President) of Rowley Residence located in DeKalb County, Fulton County Vote Review Panel Member/Chair, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and various mentorship programs. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Denise resides in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Executive Administrative Assistant Contact: 404-727-5311 or jenka.fyfe@emory.edu Administrative Assistant Contact: 404-727-5166 or klmoody@emory.edu |
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© 2004 Emory University,
Atlanta, Georgia
Office of Governmental and Community Affairs
1599 Clifton Road, 5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322-4200
phone 404-727-5166
fax 404-727-5313
For web comments or questions, contact jenka.fyfe@emory.edu
