Staff

Hudson Hollister

Executive Director

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.

Christian Hoehner

Policy Director

As Policy Director, Christian Hoehner leads the Coalition’s legislative and executive branch advocacy efforts. Christian most recently 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 studied political affairs and public policy at the University of Virginia where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in US Government and Sociology. Christian can be reached at Christian.Hoehner@datacoalition.org

Sarah Joy Hays

Membership Services and Programming Director

Sarah Joy Hays began working with the Coalition as a consultant May of 2013. After a successful DT2013, she began full time work with the Coalition. Along side 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 Member Services and Programming Director. Sarah Joy Hays can be reached at sarahjoy.hays@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

Operations Associate

Ashley serves as Operations Associate. 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.

John Runyan

Treasurer

John Runyan is the President and founder of Runyan Public Affairs, an independent government relations firm and serves as the Treasurer of the Data Transparency Coalition. John has worked at the intersection of business, government and politics for more than 25 years.  He has helped organizations of every size address both legislative and regulatory challenges and successfully advance their public policy agendas regardless of the partisan climate or party control in Washington. Success in Washington requires more than a few well-timed meetings on Capitol Hill. RPA was organized to help clients develop a broader effort that focuses their constituent and grassroots resources, recruits key allies and coalition partners and builds a sustainable public policy effort that can achieve long-term success.

John Runyan has demonstrated outstanding leadership in all facets of the government relations profession.  He has managed the federal government relations lobbying team for a Fortune 100 global corporation, developed and managed both corporate and association political action committees, played leadership roles in major multi-industry business coalitions and chaired the business community’s largest grassroots and voter education program. John enjoys a solid reputation on Capitol Hill and among business and NGO leaders throughout Washington.

Jessica Yabsley

Communications Director

Jessica Yabsley is the Communications Director of 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. Jessica is a graduate from 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

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