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Washington Resource Associates (WRA) is a public affairs consulting firm specializing in strategy and planning, public policy education, communications, and industry collaboration with all levels of government and other stakeholders. Drawing on decades of combined experience, the WRA team is recognized for its expertise in helping clients achieve their public and government affairs priorities. Biographies
Christopher Long serves as President and CEO of Washington Resource Associates (WRA). Founded over 15 years ago, WRA has become a leading public affairs consulting firm that specializes in strategy and planning, public policy education, communications, and collaboration between industry and all levels of government. Mr. Long has built a successful practice advising a diverse array of clients on a broad range of issues while helping them work effectively with government. Mr. Long is one of the nation’s visionary leaders in building successful and innovative partnerships and coalitions, having founded or co-founded several of Washington's most respected policy forums, an industry trade association, and national grassroots campaigns. He is founder of the Digital Dialogue Forum, Washington, DC's premiere technology roundtable, which engages many of the nation’s leading technology innovation companies. He also led the creation of the highly acclaimed Homeland Security Dialogue Forum, which promotes superior collaboration between public and private sectors to address the nation’s critical homeland security issues. Aside from working closely with industry and federal government, Mr. Long's leadership has created a powerful grassroots network of community organizations across America and he has established valuable relationships with numerous senior state elected officials. Mr. Long has pioneered new models of collaboration between government, industry, and community partners, in addition to developing strategic approaches to maximize corporate philanthropic giving. Mr. Long has helped lead a national campaign for many years to provide free tax assistance to lower and moderate income families. In this role, he has organized hundreds of tax assistance events and training sessions to educate elected officials, community leaders, and the general public on the availability of free online tax preparation and e-filing services through the Free File Alliance programs. As a long time Virginia resident, Mr. Long has worked with state leaders throughout the Commonwealth on technology policy matters. He served as Chairman for Virginia Governor-elect Tim Kaine's Technology Policy Transition Committee. He has also served on the Advisory Committee for the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Technology and Science. Mr. Long is a founding member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council Political Action Committee (NVTC TECHPAC) and serves on the TECHPAC Board of Directors. He is a trusted advisor to many senior state and federal officials on matters related to technology policy and homeland defense.
David Macklin is Senior Vice President of Washington Resource Associates (WRA). Mr. Macklin manages WRA's state government affairs programs and strategic philanthropic initiatives. Under his leadership, WRA has cultivated a nationwide network of senior state legislative and executive branch officials and community-based organizations. Through this network, WRA is able to communicate quickly and effectively either to targeted audiences or broadly to educate and build support for client initiatives. David Macklin is a respected leader on matters related to technology policy. He serves as Executive Director of the Digital Dialogue Forum, Washington DC's premier technology policy round table. Comprised of world-leading technology companies, the Digital Dialogue Forum promotes sensible public policy while strengthening relations between the high tech industry and government. Mr. Macklin has traveled throughout the country participating in media and public affairs events, speaking on behalf of the industry in support of innovative public-private partnerships. Prior to joining WRA, Mr. Macklin served as a senior aide to former Congressman Robert J. (Bob) Mrazek of New York, where he specialized in immigration and education matters. Mr. Macklin graduated from the University of Vermont in 1986 with a B.A. in Political Science, and completed graduate courses in American Government at The American University in Washington, DC.
Paul Chandler serves concurrently as Vice President, Communications & Government Affairs at Washington Resource Associates; and as the Executive Director of the Homeland Security Dialogue Forum (HSDF), a dynamic public-private partnership that is an authoritative voice on public policy issues related to homeland security and national defense. Mr. Chandler is a communications specialist who has experience as the chief spokesperson and communications director for both national trade groups and congressional leaders. As HSDF's Executive Director, he works to strengthen the dialogue between private industry and public officials; advance policies that will protect American citizens and secure the vital interests of the United States; and educate leading public officials on industry concerns.
Kate Mereen serves as Director of Government Affairs for Washington Resource Associates (WRA) and the Digital Dialogue Forum (DDF). Ms. Mereen provides valuable program support and expertise to WRA's government affairs initiatives. In her work with DDF, she is primarily responsible for managing DDF's more than twenty events a year, preparing comprehensive reports from each event, updating the group's award-winning website, and researching and analyzing a range of technology issues. Ms. Mereen comes to WRA with a unique blend of prior experiences in the public sector, having worked in politics on the federal, state, and local levels, and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a government oversight capacity. Immediately prior to joining WRA in 2007, she worked as a legislative aide to a Philadelphia-area member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She is also familiar with a broad range of issues before the United States Congress, having worked previously in the House of Representatives for the then Select Committee on Homeland Security. Kate Mereen was graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she received a B.A. in Political Science.
Megan Ignash is Manager of Government Affairs for Washington Resource Associates (WRA) and the Homeland Security Dialogue Forum (HSDF). In this capacity, Ms. Ignash provides logistical and communications support for the more than 25 HSDF meetings hosted annually. In addition, Megan interprets and disseminates defense industry news for clients and provides in-depth research and analysis on a variety of domestic and international issues. Ms. Ignash brings to WRA a unique understanding of international politics gained through her work with the Public Affairs Office at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain. In that capacity, she successfully developed and participated in cultural affairs and media relations programming to support the mission of the Department of State and engaged in public speaking forums to promote democratic ideals. Additionally, Ms. Ignash successfully completed a study abroad program at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom where she worked on European foreign policy and political economies. Stateside, Ms. Ignash served as a legislative aide to Michigan State Senator Hansen Clarke where she successfully addressed constituent needs and researched public policy issues contributing to the development of legislation. Megan is a graduate of James Madison College, Michigan State University with a B.A. in International Relations.
Lori Baux is Senior Manager for Grassroots Programs, directing public education and outreach projects for Washington Resource Associates (WRA), one of the top public affairs consulting firms in Washington, DC.
Ms. Baux is a grassroots public affairs and public relations specialist with an extensive record of results in managing successful nonpartisan and bipartisan national and local campaigns, referendums, philanthropic initiatives, and major media events for corporations, trade associations, interest groups and issue coalitions. Since launching her own consulting firm in 1994, Ms. Baux led and supported numerous high-impact projects, including gaming referendums, national conventions, emergency preparedness workshops, national healthcare campaigns, grassroots philanthropic programs, and school funding initiatives, among others. Ms. Baux specializes in a wide-rage of activities in support of client programs, including message creation and execution, communications strategy, coalition-building and mobilization, opinion-leader outreach, network building, activist training, meeting and events planning, materials development and fundraising. Ms. Baux began her professional career working for the Iowa Democratic Party. An early Iowa Carter for President staff member, she was selected to serve in top White House positions - first as Associate Director and later as Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel - during the administration of former President Jimmy Carter. Ms. Baux is a well known political strategist who has worked on six presidential campaigns as well as congressional races and ballot initiatives. Ms. Baux graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Miriam Lopez is Washington Resource Associate’s Administrative Assistant; a position she has held since 2000. Ms. Lopez provides critical administrative support for WRA’s signature programs, the Digital Dialogue Forum and the Homeland Security Dialogue Forum, as well as other programs and projects for WRA and its clients. Ms. Lopez is also responsible for managing and maintaining several databases, conducting research projects, and supervising all in-house production processes of event materials, signage, and all other internal materials. A native of Peru, Ms. Lopez became a United States citizen in 2005. She is fluent in both Spanish and English.
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