Staff

Sarah Joy Hays

Interim Executive Director

Sarah Joy Hays began working with the Data Coalition as a consultant May of 2013. After a successful Data Transparency 2013, she began full-time work with the Coalition. Alongside Hudson, Sarah Joy helped grow membership, cultivate the existing members, as well as coordinate the events and programs produced by the Data Coalition. Sarah Joy is a graduate of Louisiana State University and brings a background of non-profit management, conference planning, and development to her role as Interim Executive Director. Sarah Joy Hays can be reached at sarahjoy.hays@datacoalition.org.

Jessica Yabsley

Senior Director Communications

Jessica Yabsley is the Senior Director of Communications at the Data Coalition. She focuses on strategic outreach and all internal and external communications at the Coalition. Prior to joining the Coalition, Jessica worked for a boutique federal government affairs firm and completed a legislative fellowship with U.S. Congressional Office. Before relocating to the U.S. from Australia Jessica worked for a number of federal and state Parliamentarians, most notably Australia’s Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Sydney with a Bachelors in Political Economy and has a Masters in Public Policy from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Jessica Yabsley can be reached at jessica.yabsley@datacoalition.org

Christian Hoehner

Senior Policy Director

As Senior Policy Director, Christian Hoehner leads the Coalition’s legislative and executive branch advocacy efforts. Prior to the Data Coalition, Christian spent five years with the independent government affairs firm Van Scoyoc Associates where he worked with the firm’s university, research and development, and technology contractor client base. He conducted legislative policy research, tracked the budget process, identified federal programmatic funding opportunities, and developed relations with Congressional staff and industry leaders on behalf of the firm. Christian is a two time graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in both U.S. Government and Sociology and a Masters of Science in the Management of Information Technology (MS-MIT) from the McIntire School of Commerce. Christian can be reached at Christian.Hoehner@datacoalition.org

Sarah Kerner

Development Director

Sarah Kerner joined the Data Coalition in 2017 as Director of Development. In her role, she works directly with the Coailtion’s leadership and Board to expand the organization in a way that meets their goals and vision. From working with several non-profits in the Washington, DC area, Sarah brings with her experience in foundation and corporate relations, as well as individual fundraising. She is originally from Rochester, NY and graduated with degrees in Psychology and Political Science from Wheaton College (IL). Sarah is the main point of contact for prospective members and can be reached at sarah.kerner@datacoalition.org.

Ashley Nelle-Davis

Member Services and Operations Manager

Ashley serves as Member Services and Operations Manager. In this role, Ashley manages a range of logistical, financial, and relational matters. Prior to joining the Coalition, Ashley focused on U.S. defense policy, international security, and regional analysis at DC-based think tanks, including the American Action Forum, the Atlantic Council, and the Center for European Policy Analysis. Ashley earned her Master’s degree in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where she specialized in European and post-Soviet security and regional studies. During her studies, she worked at the Clements Center for National Security, served as the President of the Alexander Hamilton Society, on the editorial boards of the Baines Report and LBJ Journal, and as a student representative on Outreach and Engagement Boards for the LBJ School’s “50 for 50” Summit, marking the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Originally from Arkansas, Ashley taught high school social studies in Little Rock for five years before deciding to shift to a career in policy and public service. Ashley can be reached at ashley.nelle-davis@datacoalition.org.

Andrew Luckett

Communications Associate

Andrew Luckett joined the Data Coalition in June 2018 as a Communications Associate. Andrew helps manage the Coalition’s strategic outreach, social media channels, as well as internal and external communications. He brings with him over three years of non-profit and association experience with focuses on communications and government affairs. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Law at Lafayette College. Andrew can be reached at Andrew.luckett@datacoalition.org.

Hudson Hollister

Consultant

Hudson Hollister founded the Data Coalition in 2012 to serve as the leading industry advocacy group for open data in government. He has helped to craft landmark U.S. government data reforms, including the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) and the Financial Transparency Act. He received the FCW Federal 100 award in 2015 and was a Fastcase 50 winner in 2016.

Prior to founding the Data Coalition, Hudson served as counsel to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives and as an attorney fellow in the Office of Interactive Disclosure at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Before his government service, he was a securities litigator in the Chicago office of Latham & Watkins LLP. Hudson can be reached at hudson.hollister@datacoalition.org.