Speakers 

Stephanie Badger, Vice President, The Nickels Group

Stephanie Badger is a Vice President at The Nickles Group. She leads the firm’s financial services practice while also assisting clients on legislative and regulatory issues relating to health care, intellectual property, budget, and energy. Stephanie works closely with client coalitions, building groups that share a common interest and leveraging their collective advocacy strength to make an impact.

Stephanie’s strategic council and leadership helped a broad coalition successfully fight unfair debit and credit card fees and her ability to foster collaboration – complete with member recruitment – was instrumental in the creation of a non-profit organization dedicated to the value of copyright as an agent for creativity, jobs and growth. Stephanie’s previous experience includes research analysis and legislative assistance for a range of clients. 

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-6-AZ) 

Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. An immigrant who came to the United States as a child, Ciscomani grew up in Tucson in a working-class family and became the first in his family to graduate from college after attending Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. Before being elected to Congress in 2022, Ciscomani served as a Senior Advisor to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and Vice Chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, where he worked on international trade, border issues, and economic development. In Congress, he has focused on expanding economic opportunity, strengthening workforce development, and increasing housing supply.Ciscomani is a leading sponsor of the CONSTRUCTS Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s shortage of skilled construction workers by establishing a grant program to support residential construction education and certification programs at community colleges and trade schools. The legislation seeks to expand pathways to high-demand, well-paying careers while helping increase housing production and improve affordability nationwide.

Matt Esgeurrra, Chief of Staff, Congressman Lance Gooden (R-5-TX)

Matt Esgeurra serves as Chief of Staff to Congressman Lance Gooden, a lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. As Chief of Staff, Matt leads the Congressman’s legislative and policy strategy, oversees day-to-day office operations, and manages staff across both the Washington and district offices. He serves as the Congressman’s principal adviser, coordinating communications, stakeholder engagement, and floor strategy to advance the office’s priorities, including CCCA. Previously, Matt served as Senior Communications Adviser for the House Committee on the Judiciary and as Communications Director for Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-7).

Steve Hansen, Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Steve Hansen is a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, where he advises on finance, tax, housing, and related economic policy issues. He serves as the Senator’s lead staffer on swipe fee reform and has been closely involved in advancing related legislation in the Senate. Previously, Steve served as Legislative Director to Congressman Max Miller (R-OH) and held legislative roles in the office of Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

Mike Kingsella, Founder & CEO, Up for Growth

Mike Kingsella is Founder & CEO of Up for Growth, a national policy association dedicated to solving America's housing shortage through cross-sector partnerships, evidence-based policy, and effective federal advocacy. With two decades of experience bridging housing policy, community development, and real estate investment, Mike founded Up for Growth driven by the belief that abundant housing is key to enabling every person and community to realize their full potential.

As a policy leader, Mike has shaped national housing policy, crafting bipartisan legislation including the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, Housing Supply and Affordability Act, and Build More Housing Near Transit Act. His leadership secured $235 million in PRO Housing Grants for local zoning reform, unlocked transit-oriented federal land for affordable housing, and established the bipartisan Congressional YIMBY Caucus. Mike regularly speaks at industry forums and has been featured in publications including AFIRE Summit, Economic Development Journal, and Urban Land.

Bruce E. Lundegren, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (SBA)

Bruce Lundegren currently serves as an Assistant Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.  The Office of Advocacy oversees federal agency compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, a law that requires federal agencies to assess the impact of their regulations on small business and to consider less burdensome alternatives.  As such, Bruce works closely with federal agencies, business and trade groups, and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to ensure that the voice of small business is heard within the regulatory process.  Bruce’s areas of responsibility include occupational safety and health, transportation, and homeland security.  Prior to joining the Office of Advocacy, Bruce served as Director of Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as Regulatory Counsel for the National Association of Home Builders.  Before that he worked in the private practice of law.  Bruce received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his law degree from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University.  He is a member of the bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Madeleine Marr, Housing Policy Adviser, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)

Madeleine Marr is as Housing Policy Adviser to Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, supporting the Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee. In this role, she advises on federal housing policy, community development programs, and efforts to expand housing supply and affordability. Previously, Madeleine served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), where she managed a portfolio that included housing and related domestic policy issues.

Fred Moore, Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC)

Fred Moore is a Professional Staff Member with the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, serving on the staff of Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC). In this role, he plays a key part in shaping the Committee’s housing agenda and has been closely involved in the development of the ROAD to Housing Act. Previously, Fred served as a aide to Congressman Michael Rulli (R-OH) and as a Financial Services Fellow for Congressman French Hill (R-AR). He also held multiple roles in the Ohio Office of the Governor under Governor Mike DeWine, serving as a Legislative Affairs and Policy Associate and earlier as a Legislative Assistant. Fred began his career in public service as a Legislative Aide to State Representative Andrea White (R-OH).

Kaylee Mulgrew, Policy Advisor, Senate Democratic Whip, Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Kaylee Mulgew is a Legislative Assistant to Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin, where she manages the Senator’s financial services portfolio. In this role, she works on a range of banking and payments policy issues, including swipe fee reform, and has been closely involved in advancing the Credit Card Competition Act in the Senate. Prior to serving in her current position, Kaylee held other policy and legislative roles on Capitol Hill including as a Legislative Fellow for the Senator.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, (D-5-WA)

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is a fifth-generation Washingtonian, former small business owner, and mom who serves as Southwest Washington’s independent voice in Congress. As the daughter of an immigrant and pastor, Marie learned by example the importance of working for her community. In Congress, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez serves on the House Appropriations Committee in the 119th Congress, and she served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Small Business Committee in the 118th Congress. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is a lead sponsor of H.R. 1050, the CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025, an NLBMDA-supported bill that would expand the capacity of junior or community colleges and area career and technical education schools to conduct training services, education, and outreach activities for careers in the residential construction industry.

Janis C. Reyes, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (SBA)

Janis C. Reyes is the assistant chief counsel for labor, employment, immigration, and disabilities law at the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Reyes has held this position for almost twenty years. Reyes reviews regulations from the Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also completed a detail as a policy analyst at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the White House Office of Management and Budget. Reyes received her B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles and her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.  Reyes is a member of the Virginia Bar.

Eric Schmitz, Office of the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson

Eric Schmitz serves as Coalitions Director for Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Named in 2025 as one of the top 25 staffers who keep Capitol Hill running, Schmitz brings more than a decade of experience navigating the Washington policy and political landscape. Prior to joining the Office of the Speaker, he held several senior roles within House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s office. As Coalitions Director, Schmitz oversees relationships with outside trade associations, including NLBMDA. He works to address industry concerns and build support for the House leadership’s legislative agenda.

Ken Wingert, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Association of Home Builders 

Ken Wingert serves as the Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  Wingert leads the joint efforts of the association’s Federal Government Affairs, State and Local Government Affairs, Housing Finance, Legal Advocacy, and Regulatory Affairs departments, as well as BUILD-PAC, NAHB’s political action committee.  These teams are responsible for advancing the interests of the residential construction industry at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Wingert brings over 20 years’ experience in housing and construction policy to NAHB.  His previous positions include leading the financial services practice for Monument Advocacy, Head of Federal Government Relations at Zillow, and lobbying roles at the National Association of Realtors and the Associated Builders and Contractors.  He is also a veteran of several political campaigns at the state, federal and presidential level.

Wingert holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from the University of Iowa and Master’s Degree in Real Estate Finance from Georgetown University.