Scott Alexander

Director of International Relations, The Houston Airport System

Scott Alexander, director of international relations for The Houston Airport System, is the liaison with 90 consulates in the Houston area and works with federal partners. These include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, and stakeholders to improve passenger facilitation through Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. Alexander coordinates the airports’ efforts to combat human trafficking through training and awareness.

Previously, he worked for Continental Airlines where he led its international customer service operations at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Alexander is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives and president of the South Central Chapter.

Julie Abraham

Director, Office of International Transportation and Trade, Office of the Secretary,

 U.S. Department of Transportation

Julie Abraham is director of the Office of International Transportation and Trade in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Abraham leads the department’s international transportation and trade program, overseeing multimodal international policy, trade promotion, and cross-border  transportation issues. She manages international technical assistance programs and represents the department in bilateral and multilateral international transportation organizations and trade negotiations. Abraham also oversees the counter-trafficking initiative.

Previously, Abraham served as the secretary of transportation’s representative to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and director of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At NHTSA, she led activities relating to the global harmonization of motor vehicle safety regulations.

Abraham was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2005. 

She earned her Master of Science in bioengineering from the University of Michigan and her Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from Wayne State University. 

Maha Alkhateeb

Senior Adviser at the Office of International Transportation and Trade, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

Maha Alkhateeb, senior adviser at the Office of International Transportation and Trade in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), coordinates domestic and international policy to combat human trafficking through the department’s Counter-Trafficking Initiative and across the aviation sector through the Blue Lightning Initiative.

As a transportation specialist for DOT’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking initiative, she engages with federal, state, and local stakeholders to bolster counter-trafficking policies, partnerships, employee training, and public awareness. In addition, she contributes to developing anti-trafficking strategies for international multilateral transportation organizations, including the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Transportation Working Group.

She supported establishment of the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking and worked in conjunction with the committee to develop the Combating Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector report. 

Previously, Alkhateeb served as co-director of the Peaceful Families Project combating domestic violence in the U.S. and abroad through educational resources and research. Alkhateeb was also the managing director of FotoDC where she coordinated the annual FotoWeek DC festival and produced art events. Earlier, she conducted research for a Pew Charitable Trusts study at The Catholic University of America on civic incorporation among new immigrants. 

Alkhateeb earned a Master of Arts in sociology from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from George Mason University. 

Nicole Bambas

Program Manager for Trade and Investment, Office of International Transportation and Trade, Office, U.S. Department of Transportation

Nicole Bambas, program manager for Trade and Investment in the Office of International Transportation and Trade at the U.S. Department of Transportation, coordinates the department’s role in trade policy, negotiations, and implementation as well as the counter-trafficking initiative. 

There she facilitated the launch of the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking stakeholder partnership and the Blue Lightning Initiative, supported the establishment of the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT), and developed with ACHT the Combating Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector report. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs from The George Washington University and an M.B.A. from Marquette University. 

Robert Beiser

Strategic Initiatives Director, Sex Trafficking, Polaris

Robert Beiser is the strategic initiative director for sex trafficking at Polaris. Beiser heads a team working to prevent and reduce sex trafficking in the U.S., relying on Polaris’ experience, data, and partnerships from over a decade of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Beiser comes to Polaris after serving as executive director of Seattle Against Slavery, a nonprofit focused on advocacy, mobilization, education, and technology to stop human trafficking. At Seattle Against Slavery, Beiser increased the number of sex trafficking survivors by connecting with support services in Washington state and worked on measures to disrupt online sex trafficking nationwide.

Previously, he worked at Microsoft as an operation analyst, then entered the nonprofit sector as a social justice advocate.

He holds a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Washington.

Christopher R. Bidwell

Senior Vice President, Security, Airports Council International – North America

Christopher R. Bidwell is senior vice president of security at Airports Council International-North America where he leads the association’s efforts on aviation security and oversight of its regulatory activities.

Bidwell represents industry aviation security interests as a member of several U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration committees and working groups. He chairs the DHS Aviation Sector Coordinating Council and serves as vice chair of the TSA Aviation Security Advisory Committee.

Previously, Bidwell served as managing director of security at the Air Transport Association where he represented member airlines on aviation security issues.

His experience also includes acting as manager of corporate security at American Airlines; director of safety and security at Reno Air; and staff engineer of occupational and environmental safety at United Airlines.

Bidwell is a multi-engine, instrument-rated commercial pilot and has a Master of Science in Aviation Safety from the University of Central Missouri.

Michael Billet

Director, Policy Research, Employment Policy Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Michael Billet, director of policy research at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, keeps members and internal Chamber policy staff up to date on pending labor and immigration legislation, as well as federal regulatory and subregulatory activities. He also serves as the program director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Task Force to Eradicate Human Trafficking.

Previously, Billet worked as the public policy assistant at the National Business Group on Health where he provided administrative and logistical support for the annual Business Health Agenda conference, conducted research, and wrote policy materials. This included drafting testimony, letters to Congress and the administration, briefings for Hill visits, and other public policy activities.

Earlier in his career, he analyzed public opinion research at the American Enterprise Institute and worked at the Congressional Management Foundation and for former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).

Billet has a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree in governmental studies from the Johns Hopkins University.

Michael Camal

Senior Adviser, COR III, Blue Lightning Initiative, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Michael E. Camal is a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign, the department’s public awareness campaign to combat human trafficking.

Camal leads the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) to address human trafficking with the aviation industry. Under his leadership, BLI has tripled and expanded its reach to airports and the aviation industry and has trained over 200,000 staff on trafficking indicators and how to report this crime.

He supports the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, which coordinates across 16 DHS components to support the department’s domestic anti-trafficking mission.

He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from the University of Rhode Island.

Lisa Caselli

Officer and Program Manager, Travel and Tourism Initiatives Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Lisa Caselli is an officer and program manager in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Travel and Tourism Initiatives Office. She is responsible for oversight and policy of the Carrier Liaison Program and is a member of the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI).

BLI, which is led by CBP, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Department of Transportation, trains airport and airline personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims and report their suspicions to federal law enforcement.

Caselli represents CBP on travel and tourism. She oversees the White House travel support team and travels with the White House staff and press corps on presidential international trips.

She was assigned to the Fraudulent Document Analysis Unit for a decade, where she was responsible for oversight and policy of the Fraud Prevention Program.

Caselli began her career with the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1997 as an enforcement officer at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

She is a graduate of St. John’s University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has a master’s degree in criminal justice.

Sam Cho

Commissioner, Port of Seattle

Sam Cho was elected to the Port Commission of Seattle in 2019. There he promotes trade, environmental sustainability, workforce diversity and inclusion, and anti-human trafficking.

Cho founded and served as CEO of Seven Seas Export, an international trading company headquartered in Seattle where he took advantage of the avian flu crisis of 2016 to export over 2.5 million pounds of American egg products to Asia in two years.

Earlier, he was a political appointee under former President Barack Obama at the U.S. General Services Administration. As a special assistant, Cho helped manage a federal agency of more than 10,000 federal employees and worked on executing the administration’s policies in real asset management, federal procurements, acquisitions, and technology.

Cho worked as a congressional staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives for Rep. Ami Bera and in the Washington State Legislature for Sen. Bob Hasegawa. He also served as an analyst at the U.S. Department of State.

Cho has a B.A. from American University and a Master of Science degree from The London School of Economics.

Matthew Daggett

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief System Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory

Matthew Daggett is a member of the technical staff in the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Systems Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. 

His research is centered on the systematic study of human exploitation in order to design, employ, and evaluate systems and technology to help federal, state, and non-governmental organizations combat human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and global humanitarian challenges. 

He writes and speaks on the role of technology and ethical, privacy, and societal implications of its use, including testimony before the U.S. Congress. 

He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 

Mary David

Chief Communications Officer, Stopping Traffic

Mary David, an advocate for women, girls, and trauma victims, has devoted her life to empowering survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and human trafficking owing to her personal experience as a survivor of child sexual abuse and domestic violence.

David is chief communications officer for Stopping Traffic, a nonprofit working to eradicate modern-day slavery through awareness campaigns, training, and empowering survivors. The organization’s award-winning documentary “Surviving Sex Trafficking” examines the struggles of sex trafficking survivors.

Previously, she served as director of communications at Journey Out. There she educated stakeholders on the dangers of sex trafficking and mechanisms to support human trafficking survivors.  

David also was a prosecutor in Baltimore City, Maryland, where she handled cases of assault and sex crimes and testified on behalf of the State’s Attorney Office for judiciary and public hearings in support of human trafficking legislation. 

As a U.N. adviser on Women and Children’s Issues, David defended the rights of domestic violence victims and disenfranchised populations. She continues promoting the advancement of women and ending gender-based violence as communications director of the U.N. Women’s Los Angeles Chapter.

David holds a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Melanie Herman

Director of Corporate Security, Cape Air

Melanie Herman, director of corporate security at Cape Air, is the principal responsible for day-to-day management and corporate oversight in developing, implementing, and maintaining the airline’s security program. Herman also serves as Cape Air’s point of contact for all security-related matters and collaborates with host and domestic government regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and professional organizations to address security.

She joined Cape Air 25 years ago, initially working in the airport services department at the regional airline’s Boston hub and then branched out to other airports. Bringing her expertise from the front line, Herman bolstered the company’s training department practices, teaching security and checkpoint screening classes to employees., In addition, she managed the employee background vetting process.

Herman has received awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation, AIG Aviation, and the New England Aero Club.

A native of New Hampshire, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Bridgewater State College (now Bridgewater State University).

Skiffington Holderness

Director of Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines

Skiffington Holderness is director of government affairs at Delta Air Lines. Previously, Skiffington worked in the U.S. Senate as special projects director for the Foreign Relations Committee, staff director for the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and senior adviser to U.S. Sen. James E. Risch (R-ID).

He earned a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University where he was a two-time Bryce Harlow Fellow and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from Boise State University. In 2019, he was designated a Young Leader with the American Council on Germany.

Keturah Johnson

International Vice President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO

Keturah Johnson, international vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA, AFL-CIO), assists the union to further the objectives and policies set by the board of directors. The board is made up of locally elected flight attendant leaders.

Johnson started her career as a combat veteran. She began working as a ramp agent at Piedmont Airlines in 2013, a wholly owned regional of American Airlines. After five years, she moved to the inflight department and became a flight attendant.

After becoming active in AFA-CWA, she was elected the master executive council president of Local 61. During her tenure, she secured a 100% vote during contract negotiations to strike if negotiations failed. In March 2022, Piedmont Flight Attendants ratified a new contract owing in part to her efforts.

Johnson began her term in June 2022 as AFA-CWA international vice president, making her the first Queer woman of color and combat veteran elected to serve in this role.

Keturah received her B.S. in hospitality management from Drexel University, where she minored in culinary and focused her concentration in food and beverage and travel and tourism.

Ryan LaBranche

Supervisory Special Agent, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Human Trafficking Investigations Coordinator, Criminal Fraud Investigations,

U.S. Department of State

Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Ryan LaBranche is the human trafficking investigations coordinator for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). He is responsible for DSS’ human trafficking policy, interagency coordination, and operational strategy. In addition, he coordinates multi-jurisdictional cases and advises and tracks human trafficking investigations.

His previous assignments included working in the Boston field office; on the U.S. Secretary of State’s Protective Detail; as an agent in Kathmandu, Nepal; Peshawar, Pakistan; and Cape Town, South Africa; and for the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Washington, D.C.

Earlier, SSA LaBranche was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. 

He graduated with a B.A. from University of Massachusetts Amherst and has an M.P.A. from the University of Oklahoma.

Jeff Lenard

Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives, National Association of Convenience Stores

Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores, oversees the organization’s communications campaigns to advance the role of convenience stores as economic, social, and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve. He also acts as lead spokesperson and has conducted more than 6,000 media interviews about trends and innovations at the nation’s 148,000-plus convenience stores.

Lenard is the creator and host of the association’s award-winning weekly podcast “Convenience Matters” and oversees the long-running video series “Ideas 2 Go.” He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. in marketing from Syracuse University

James Lewis

Communications Manager, Amtrak Police Department

James Lewis, communications manager for the Amtrak Police Department, coordinates its public affairs and media relations, social media, employee training, and employee and customer communications. His accomplishments include producing two Telly Award-winning videos targeting recruitment and human trafficking awareness.

As a liaison with the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and Transportation, he spearheads Amtrak’s efforts in training the 20,000+ workforce and educating travelers on human trafficking awareness. 

Lewis leads the Amtrak Police Department Human Trafficking Working Group and has coordinated methods for mitigating the potential for human trafficking in the passenger railroad system.

Elise Maiolino

Global Head of Women's Safety Policy, Uber

Elise Maiolino, global head of women's safety policy at Uber, leads the company's public policy work on women's safety and personal safety. There she partners with experts and advocates to help guide Uber's approach to safety. Maiolino's research has been published in the Journal of Women, Politics and Policy; the Canadian Review of Sociology; and UBC Press. 

Before joining Uber, Maiolino was senior gender and diversity adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.

She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in women's studies and feminist research from Western University.

Shamere McKenzie

Chief Executive Officer, Sun Gate Foundation

Shamere McKenzie is a consultant, activist, and subject-matter expert on human trafficking and an internationally recognized speaker. She also trains professionals on how to identify and respond to trafficking victims.

McKenzie is the chief executive officer at Sun Gate Foundation, an anti-trafficking organization that provides educational opportunities for trafficking survivors. She also is the training manager for the National Human Trafficking Hotline and co-chair of the Victims Services Committee at the Maryland State Human Trafficking Task Force. As a former program director, she developed an anti-trafficking program from the ground up and oversaw an emergency residential program for adult survivors.

Her own experiences with sex trafficking have been featured in several books, including a college textbook on social justice. Further, her story has been featured on television, radio, and documentaries and in blogs. Her most recent documentary titled “False Promises” serves as a tool to educate youth in the Caribbean about sex trafficking. She is the first appointed Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassador for Jamaica.

McKenzie has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology and criminal justice from Loyola University Chicago.

Thomas Ruck

Senior Adviser, Blue Campaign,U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Thomas Ruck, senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, leads engagement with the private sector to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Previously, Ruck worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where he first served as director of the Fayetteville National Cemetery before being appointed director of the Los Angeles National Cemetery. In 2019, he brought to fruition the first National Cemetery Administration’s Urban Initiative Columbarium Project.

While at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Ruck created and jointly produced with local affiliate ABC 7 Memorial Day television programs in 2020 and 2021 honoring the veterans of Southern California.

Earlier in his career, he spent over 20 years in national accounts sales, marketing, and management in the clinical laboratory field.

Ruck is the author of Sacred Ground: A Tribute to America’s Veterans, which reached No. 5 on Amazon’s bestsellers list and garnered five book awards. Royalties from book sales are donated to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund for children of veterans who either lost a parent or their parent was severely injured while wearing the uniform of our country.

He is a visiting fellow at the Freedom Alliance Foundation, a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion.

Ruck holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia (Mizzou).

Annie Sovcik

Senior Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, Truckers Against Trafficking

Annie Sovcik, senior director of programs & strategic initiatives at Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), oversees TAT’s Coalition Build, Busing on the Lookout, and Empower Freedom programs.

Sovcik came to TAT in 2018 with over 12 years of experience as a human rights lawyer, working on anti-human trafficking, anti-torture, and refugee protection policies at a national and international level.

Earlier, she was director of the Washington, D.C., office of the Center for Victims of Torture. She has worked as a lawyer with Human Rights First and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and as a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Sovcik is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law and received her B.A. in international studies from the University of Denver.

Glenn Spencer

Senior Vice President, Employment Policy Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Glenn Spencer, senior vice president of the Employment Policy Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, oversees the Chamber’s work on immigration, retirement security, labor relations, human trafficking, wage hour and worker safety issues, EEOC matters, and state labor and employment law.

Before joining the Chamber in July 2007, Spencer spent six years at the U.S. Department of Labor in the Office of the Secretary serving as the deputy chief of staff and then chief of staff to Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Earlier in his career, Spencer was engaged in issue advocacy and grassroots lobbying for Citizens for a Sound Economy in Washington, D.C., and also worked as a senior analyst in the research departments of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee.

Spencer’s articles have been published in numerous leading newspapers, and he has appeared on nationally syndicated radio and television news programs. Spencer holds an M.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University.

Karinda L. Washington

Executive Director, Social Impacts & Campaign, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Karinda L. Washington, a member of the Senior Executive Service, serves as executive director of social impact and campaigns at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. There she coordinates DHS’ engagement with faith, non-governmental, and community organizations. She also oversees the department’s Blue Campaign and the If You See Something, Say Something® public awareness campaign.

In addition, Washington is the external affairs officer and private sector lead for Operation Allies Welcome, a whole-of-government approach to resettle over 85,000 vulnerable Afghans in the U.S.

Washington previously was acting assistant secretary for partnership and engagement where she coordinated DHS’ engagement with state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, SLTT elected officials and law enforcement, the private sector, and the faith community, among others, to ensure a unified approach to external engagement.

Earlier, she led the establishment of the Office of Partnership and Engagement’s (OPE’s) Faith Initiatives Division and the department’s Faith-Based Security Advisory Council. She also served as OPE’s chief of staff and as an external affairs specialist in the department’s Private Sector Office. 

Before joining the federal government, Washington worked at Michigan Legal Services, an organization that protects homeownership and advances affordable housing initiatives in the Detroit Metro region.   

Washington obtained a Bachelor of Science in English from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in communication from Wayne State University. She is a Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellows alumna.

Sterling Wiggins

Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Sterling Wiggins, senior director of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, represents the business community on transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain issues before the executive and legislative branches. 

Wiggins came to the Chamber from the U.S. Department of Transportation where he served as special assistant to the maritime administrator. There he worked on supply chain disruption, maritime environmental policy, and grant administration. In addition, he staffed the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force and supported port envoys in developing short- and long-term solutions to enhance supply chain resiliency. 

Earlier in his career, Wiggins was a senior consultant at Deloitte in its U.S. Drone Services where he supported clients in developing policy solutions to integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced aerials mobility (AAM) into the National Airspace System (NAS).

He also served as a program manager for the FAA's UAS Integration Pilot Program; policy analyst in the Office of Aviation Policy and Plans; member of the Transportation Security Administration's legislative affairs team; and government affairs representative for two aviation trade associations. 

Wiggins holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and a Master of Arts in transportation policy, operations, and logistics from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. 

He also holds a FAA Private Pilot Certificate.