New Year, New Staff, AND New Board
Happy New Year from America’s Future!
We are pleased to announce three new team members for 2016 who will help you advance AF’s mission to recruit and cultivate young professionals to become effective, lifelong advocates for liberty. AF Executive Director Roger Custer noted:
“We are privileged to have a top-notch staff at AF. Heather, Roger, and Laurel all bring unique new insights that will help us achieve our vision of inspiring millennials with the ideas of liberty. We look forward to working with you in 2016 to build excellent programs that expand freedom’s influence nationwide.”
Heather Pfitzenmaier joins the staff full time as Director of Chapter Programs on January 19. She will oversee the national chapter program and focus on cities where AF has an established presence, using her experience as the co-director of AF’s Southeast Michigan chapter since 2014. She will also manage Kathryn Shelton, AF’s current Director of Chapter Advancement, and support her work to recruit new leaders and launch their chapters. Pfitzenmaier has served as Director of the Young Leaders Program, and previously Intern Coordinator, at the Heritage Foundation since 2007. There she oversaw Heritage’s efforts to reach young people including the internship program, campus outreach, and events for young professionals. She is the recipient of the Young Conservatives Coalition Buckley Award, Forbes magazine “30 Under 30” in law and policy, and “30 Under 30″ by Red Alert Politics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from the University of Michigan and will be based in southeast Michigan. She writes:
When I first moved to DC I asked for advice on how to meet people and grow professionally. Nearly everyone pointed me to one place: America’s Future Foundation. I attended my first monthly Roundtable and have stayed actively involved with AF ever since. I have particularly enjoyed working with other leaders in Michigan to launch and grow AF’s presence. It can be difficult to make professional and intellectual development fun, but AF does just that. I cannot wait to join the team full time and focus on working with incredible fellow young professionals across the country to spread liberty in their communities.
Roger Ream joins the Board of Directors. Ream has devoted the past 24 years to The Fund for American Studies as executive vice president and president since 1998. In 2013, Roger also became president of the sister organization of TFAS, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE). His focus has always been on spreading the ideas individual freedom and human flourishing. In addition to his work with TFAS and FTE, Roger is chairman of the board of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), and serves on the boards of Donor’s Capital Fund, the U.S. Air Force Academy Foundation, Ethics and Economics Education, and the International Freedom Educational Foundation. He is a founding member of the Frank S. Meyer Society, past president of the Philadelphia Society, and serves on the advisory boards of the Philanthropic Enterprise and Talent Market. Ream received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife have three children. Regarding his new role, he said:
I have been involved in some capacity with AF ever since its humble beginning. It is the premier networking and professional development organization for young conservatives and libertarians nationwide. Its innovative programs offer young professionals unique opportunities they cannot find elsewhere. AF provides the crucial next step after students graduate and seek to continue advancing liberty.
Laurel Buckley joins the team part-time as Director of Development Programs. She will oversee the Development Fellows Program. Buckley has been an AF member for more than four years. She currently serves as the Director of Development and Midwestern Relations at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Before joining ALEC, Laurel led development efforts for other nonprofits and has created strategic plans for their programming efforts. Laurel has a master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University. She commented:
As a young professional in the nonprofit world, it’s important to understand the donor relationship. However, it is a skill not often taught in a classroom. I have been fortunate enough to learn firsthand from some of the most amazing development professionals in the area – including through the AF programs. I’m looking forward to giving back and helping facilitate this educational training program for new young professionals.
