Our Board of Directors

Amy Plaster has served as Executive Director of Federal Governmental Affairs for CMS Energy and its subsidiaries, including its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy, since 2008. She is responsible for CMS Energy’s office in Washington, D.C., and leads the company’s federal governmental and public affairs efforts. Plaster previously served in the offices of several Michigan members of Congress, including as chief of staff to Michigan U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra. She also worked as the director of federal policy for the Eastman Kodak Co. and in government affairs for the Food Marketing Institute.

A native of Muskegon, Mich., Plaster earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy from Hope College, in Holland, Mich. She also earned a law degree from the Washington College of Law at The American University, in Washington, D.C., and was admitted to the Maryland bar. She has served twice on the board of directors of Women’s Policy Inc., including as chair for the term beginning in 2012 and again starting in 2016.  Plaster also serves on the board of the Congressional Management Foundation and previously served as chair of the board of directors for the Little Scholars Child Development Center operated by the Library of Congress Child Care Association.

Anna-Maria Schneider is the Senior Vice President, Industry-Government Relations at Volkswagen Group of America.  She is responsible for the development of the company’s legislative and public affairs priorities, and leads all advocacy efforts at the federal and state level. Active in leadership positions in several trade associations and chambers of commerce, she promotes and builds awareness among key audiences in Washington and in the states of the Volkswagen Group’s environmental stewardship, safety innovations and corporate philanthropy.  She sits on the Board of the Volkswagen Workers Foundation.

Schneider previously served as vice president of Industry and Government Affairs and the deputy to the Group Vice President at Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA), the holding company for Toyota’s North American sales, engineering and manufacturing operating units.  There she was responsible for oversight of department operations, including personnel, office administration, budget, affiliate relations and development of public policy priorities. 

Before joining Toyota, Schneider was Executive Director for Government Relations of the U.S. Operations for Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) where she headed Mitsubishi’s government relations office for 13 years. 

Prior to joining Mitsubishi, Schneider served as Director for Intergovernmental Affairs for Global USA, Inc., an international trade consulting firm, where she worked closely with foreign governments and corporations, assisting them in understanding and responding to U.S. government policies.   Earlier in her career, Schneider served as an account executive in the International Trade Practice Division of Hill and Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide. 

Schneider graduated with honors from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and has a Master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University.  She also studied at the Institute for European Studies in Vienna, Austria.  She sits on several Boards, including the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (Vice Chair), DC Scores (Sustainability Committee Vice Chair), Public Affairs Council, the Organization for International Investment, the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (Secretary, DADSS), the U.S. Capitol Historical Society (Development Committee Chair) and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.  She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Congressional Study Group on Germany, a division of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.  She enjoys fundraising for the March of Dimes, mentoring, and is the executive sponsor of Volkswagen Group’s Women’s Employee Resource Group.

Amy Hunt is a Vice President in Goldman Sachs Office of Government Relations and represents the company on a broad range of issues before Congress and the Administration. She joined the firm in 2013. From 2009-11, Amy was counsel to United States Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) where she was the principal adviser to the Senator on economic policy issues including financial services, corporate governance and international trade. Amy was actively involved in the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as well as the Credit CARD Act, and helped to negotiate key provisions in both bills. Amy worked closely with the State of Delaware and business community on critical corporate governance issues before the SEC and Congress. Prior to her service in the Senate, Amy was the Chief of Staff for the Government and Industry Relations department at Fannie Mae in Washington, DC. In this role, Amy was responsible for overseeing all policy, political and administrative issues for the department, including establishing and directing the Fannie Mae Political Action Committee. Amy began her career as an associate attorney at the national law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., in Washington, DC, where she practiced in the white-collar criminal defense and public law and policy groups. She represented individual and corporate clients in federal criminal matters, including Department of Justice, Congressional and Independent Counsel investigations. Her cases included the Clinton Presidential Impeachment and Whitewater investigations, among others. Active in the firm’s Pro Bono program, Amy received the Akin Gump Pro Bono Award in 1999. Amy received a B.A. in International Studies from Emory University in 1991 and a J.D. from The Catholic University of America in 1994. A resident of Alexandria, VA, she is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. A

Connie Morella served as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris from 2003-2007. She is the first U.S. Ambassador to the OECD ever to have served in the U.S. Congress.

From 1987 until 2003 Ambassador Morella represented Maryland’s 8^th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she developed a national reputation as a leading advocate for women, children, and families as well as a promoter of economic growth through science and technology. Before her election to the U.S. Congress, Ambassador Morella was elected to and served in the Maryland General Assembly for eight years. Prior to elective office, Morella was Professor of English at Montgomery College, Rockville, MD. Her service on the first Montgomery County Commission for Women motivated her political career.

In 2008 she was a Resident Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School Institute of Politics.

Since 2009 she has been Ambassador in Residence at American University School of Public Affairs “Women and Politics Institute.”

Stacey D. Stewart joined March of Dimes as its fifth President on January 1, 2017. In this role, Stewart heads the organization leading the fight for the health of all moms and babies. She is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s strategy, vision and operations. Stewart came to March of Dimes from United Way Worldwide, where she held several positions, most recently serving as U.S. President of United Way, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization. There she provided strategic direction for more than 1,000 local United Ways. Stewart was also responsible for United Way’s national efforts in education, financial stability and health as well as guiding efforts to enhance the brand and grow revenue. Stewart spearheaded the transformation of United Way from a pass-through fundraiser to a leading organization for local community impact. Prior to becoming U.S. President, Stewart served as Executive Vice President, Community Impact Leadership and Learning. In this role, Stewart developed global partnerships to advance community impact in more than 40 countries. A business veteran, Stewart has also held a number of senior roles, including Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer for the Fannie Mae Foundation. Additionally, Stewart has an extensive background in finance and investment banking, having served as Vice President for Pryor, McClendon, Counts & Co., and as a senior associate for Merrill Lynch, specializing in financings for state and local governments.  Stewart has a master’s of business administration in finance from the University of Michigan and a bachelor of arts in economics from Georgetown University. She also holds honorary degrees from Trinity University, Morgan State University, Texas Southern University, Lincoln University and Alabama A&M University. She currently serves on several boards nationally and in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Stewart is married to Jarvis C. Stewart, the Chairman and Managing Partner of I + R Media, LLC, a strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. The Stewarts have two children, Madeleine and Savannah.

Kenny Thompson is the Senior Director of Government and External Affairs at PepsiCo a leading global food and beverage manufacturer of diverse and beloved brands such as Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade, Lay’s and Pepsi-Cola. He develops and leads PepsiCo’s strategy for targeting, investing, cultivating, and maintaining partnerships with external stakeholders to support PepsiCo’s broader business goals. Working in conjunction with PepsiCo’s public policy experts across the globe, Thompson analyzes investment opportunities for programs, events, and initiatives that enhance PepsiCo’s involvement with community leaders, the public, government and regulatory authorities, shareholders and employees.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Thompson was Director of Message Events for Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. In this capacity he managed the Vice President’s public events and coordinated messaging strategy with members of the Obama Cabinet and Administration staff.

From 2010 -2012 Kenny served as Senior Advisor and Executive Secretary to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk.  In this role he was responsible for the long-term planning and day-to-day operations of the Ambassador’s office. Thompson also provided policy, political, communications, and legislative advice to Ambassador Kirk.

Thompson began his tenure in the Obama Administration as Special Assistant & Advance Lead for President Obama.  As an Advance Lead, he oversaw the logistical coordination and execution of President Obama’s trips, both foreign and domestic. Prior to joining The White House staff, he spent two years on the Obama for America Campaign as a member of the National Advance Staff where he traveled to 41 states and over 100 cities during that time frame.

Before leaving his hometown of Austin, Texas, Thompson served as Policy Director for City Council Member Sheryl Cole of the Austin City Council. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and   Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Texas Christian University (TCU) where he lettered in baseball for the Horned Frogs.

Currently, Kenny serves on the board of directors of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute, the Addran College of Liberal Arts at TCU, and is a member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council.

Cindy has served as president of WCPI since January 1999.

Prior to her current position, Cindy worked on Capitol Hill for more than 17 years for four Members of Congress, including 12 years for Ambassador and former Rep. Connie Morella. During her Hill service, she focused on women’s health, and budget, tax, and appropriations issues.

Cindy received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Colgate University.