Senior Counsel, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Joe Davis joined Becket in 2017 as Legal Counsel. His work at Becket has included appellate litigation in both federal and state courts, including representing religious entities and governments sued because of their openness to religious expression in precedent-setting victories before the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Eleventh Circuits. Joe has appeared in national media to discuss religious liberty issues, including on Fox News and numerous radio and print outlets, and his academic work on topics related to religious liberty has been published at venues including the Yale Law Journal Forum and the Notre Dame Law Review Online.
Before joining Becket, Joe worked as a litigator at Jones Walker LLP in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked on a variety of matters from commercial and criminal litigation to bankruptcy. From 2014 to 2015, he clerked for the Honorable E. Grady Jolly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Joe graduated summa cum laude from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2014, where he served on the Virginia Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. While in law school, Joe studied religious liberty law with one of the top religious liberty scholars and litigators in the nation. He also worked as a researcher for the law school’s Supreme Court Litigation Clinic. Before going to law school, Joe received his B.A. in Economics with a minor in Religion, summa cum laude, from Mississippi State University.
Joe is married to his high school sweetheart. When he’s not helping her corral their four young children, he tends to be reading the classics, watching college football, or listening to his vinyl collection.
Co-Owner, Grandview Bed & Breakfast
Gwendolyn Smith is an innkeeper and owner of Grandview Bed & Breakfast in Mount Dora, FL. She has a long history working in hospitality that includes Disney, Marriott and Starwood Hotels. Gwendolyn is a Board Member of the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association, Florida Inns Chapter and serves on the Marketing Council for FRLA. She graduated from Rollins College with a B.A. Degree in Organizational Communication.
Head of Tech & Innovation, Centre for Policy Studies
Matthew Feeney is Head of Tech & Innovation at Centre for Policy Studies. Before joining CPS, Matthew was the director of Cato Institute’s Project on Emerging Technologies. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, City A.M., and others. He received both his BA and MA in philosophy from the University of Reading.
Retired Commissioner, Orange County, Florida
Growing up in a military family, Pete traveled a great deal and lived in Seattle, Germany, Alabama, France and Milton in Northwest Florida. While still a teenager, his father passed away unexpectedly, and his widowed mother moved to the family to Orange County. Pete graduated from Boone High School and subsequently continued his education — earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of West Florida. While working for the State of Florida at the Orange County Health Department and later Orange County government’s Health and Family Services Department, he earned Master’s degrees in Education and Public Health from Florida State and in Management from Rollins College Crummer School of Business.
During Pete’s own military service in the Florida Air National Guard, he completed coursework in Hospital Administration/Health Services Management at Sheppard Air Force Base with the United States Air Force. He has furthered his education through FEMA Emergency Management coursework, and is certified in the National Incident Management System. He has completed Leadership Orlando, as well as extensive coursework through the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Professionally, Pete’s long-term public career has provided far-reaching benefits for residents and visitors in our entire community. As Deputy Director of the Orange County Health and Family Services Department, he was responsible for services including inmate health care at the Orange County jail, the District Medical Examiner’s office, Animal Services, Mosquito Control, the Great Oaks Village residential services for abused, abandoned and neglected children and teens, the EMS system medical direction, Disaster Management, our Environmental Protection Department, Orange County’s mental health services, Social and Family services, Head Start, Community Action, the county Parks and Recreation Division, the county Veteran’s Services Division, and many other units and programs across Orange County. Those responsibilities included oversight and management of over 1,000 employees and budgets approaching 150-175 million dollars. Under his management, budgeting was taken very seriously and his departments did not over-budget to allow a return of funds at years end.
A visionary leader, Pete is well known as a man who recognizes challenges in our community and strives to develop solutions to needs. Through his extensive history of networking and collaborating with both the private and public sectors, he has provided strategic leadership in creating, developing and managing a number of significant programs benefitting residents and visitors. These include the Primary Care Access Network (Access to Care) offering medical care to the uninsured and underinsured, the After School Zone which provides after school care to all middle school children in Orange County public schools, and the Sexual Assault Treatment Center which provides a safe, secure and sensitive response to the medical, psychological and forensic needs of those who have experienced sexual trauma. He was instrumental in the privatization of the Victims Service Center, and in the creation and development of both the Juvenile Assessment Center and the Central Receiving Center. This brief list is just the beginning, and is clear evidence of Pete’s exceptional ability to bring the right leaders to the table, to facilitate open dialogue regarding challenges and issues, and to get the job done.
Pete’s life is a testament to his belief in, and commitment to, public service. Well before running for office Pete gave of his time to his community through his work on a myriad of local and statewide Boards, Coalitions and groups, focusing on issues important to a wide range of individuals, families, organizations and businesses. His service has included participation in the Health Council of East Central Florida (which addresses health care access and cost issues), the Child Advocacy Center Advisory Board (provider of Child abuse exams), the United Way 211 Advisory Board (which created the 211 system), the Health Care Center for the Homeless Advisory Board, the Senior Resource Alliance Council to promote senior access to services, and the Health Alliance (where he was Past Chair and co-founder) and facilitated the constructed a 26,000 sq. ft. clinic in east Winter Garden. Pete created the Primary Care Access Network (PCAN) which provides access to care for more than 90,000 Orange County residents through a collaborative created in 2000. He has furthered served as past chair of the Lake Eola Charter School Board, and the Shepherds Hope Board, the Low Income Pool Council (a State Appointment) which directed 1 Billion in Medicaid funding to Safety Net Hospitals and local projects, the Florida Public Health Association (Past President; state-wide association), the Drowning Prevention Task Force (ultimately spurring development of funding for swimming lessons for Head Start children in Orange County), Hope Now International (Past Chair and Co-Founder) provider of the largest back pack and health screening program in our area, and the AIDS Resource Alliance (Past Chair/Founding Member) offering a case management not-for-profit created for the Ryan White grant programs.
Following his career with Orange County Government, Pete was tapped to serve as Corporate Director of Community and Governmental Relations for Community Health Centers, Inc. — a local leader in access to health care for our residents. His efforts assured the organization was aligned with community partners and expectations — further evidence of his ability to work and collaborate effectively with both the private and public sectors.
In 2012, Pete was elected as our District 3 County Commissioner and was re-elected in 2016 by a nearly 70% margin. His extensive efforts to help our citizens and community have continued to provide much-needed solutions to the problems and challenges we face today. During his terms he has been honored to have his fellow Board members recognize his leadership and vision, and support many initiatives he proposed, including his Ordinance to allow the additional homestead exemption to our seniors; his Ordinance to require certain businesses to post the Human Trafficking Hot Line information; his Resolution against Fracking; his proposal to provide funding for the first and only adult human trafficking emergency shelter in the state (which has recently opened and is now accepting trafficking survivors); and supported his motion to return to the weekly bulk- item refuse pick up wanted by our residents. Numerous other successes during his service as our Commissioner include Water quality projects for our lakes; additional acreage for Cypress Grove Park; increased athletic fields and a splash pad and all-children’s playground for Barber Park; the Pine Castle/South Orange Avenue corridor plan; the Hoffner Road Overlay and Conway Acres wall; and the Small area studies (Rural Enclaves).
While serving as Orange County’s District 3 Commissioner, Pete’s community involvement continues through his efforts with a number of organizations and interests. These include the local Metro Plan (Vice Chair), the Transportation Disadvantaged Council (Past Chairman), the Central Florida Water Collaborative (Secretary), Community Action Board (Chair), the Citizens’ Commission for Children Advisory Board, the Central Receiving Center/Children’s Mental Health Board of Directors (Chair), Kiwanis Club of Central Orlando (Past President), Florida Abolitionists Board of Directors (dedicated to eradicating Human Trafficking and modern-day slavery), the Urban Caucus, where he serves as co-chair, the Florida Association of Counties, and the Healing the Children Advisory Council. His multi-agency and diverse community involvement further serves to demonstrate his commitment to the entire community and all its residents and visitors.
Pete currently lives in the Conway area with his wonderful wife Cathie, attends and volunteers for Discovery Church, and enjoys golf, riding his “bike” and playing in a classic rock band.
Raoul Berger Professor of Legal History at Northwestern University School of Law
Stephen Presser is a leading American legal historian and expert on shareholder liability for corporate debts. He is frequently an invited witness before committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on issues of constitutional law. He holds a joint appointment with the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and also teaches in Northwestern's history department.
Carol Matheis practices law business litigation and insurance law in Newport Beach, California. She earned her J.D. at Western University College of Law and is a graduate of George Mason University.
Western Region Director, State Affairs, R Street Institute
Steven Greenhut oversees R Street’s efforts in California, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Washington state, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Wyoming and Hawaii. His duties include authoring op-eds and policy studies, testifying before state and municipal legislative bodies, and representing R Street as a speaker, public commentator and coalition ally in venues where it is possible to move state and local policy in a free-market direction.
He most recently served as California columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune. In this role, from his base in Sacramento, he wrote a regular reported news column covering the State Capitol and issues outside of San Diego. Previously, he was vice president of journalism at the Franklin Center, where he oversaw a team of watchdog editors and reporters in state capitols.
Steven is the author of two books, Abuse of Power: How the Government Misuses Eminent Domain (2004) and Plunder! How Public Employee Unions are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation (2009). In 2005, he received the Thomas Paine Award, granted by the Institute for Justice in recognition of his writing to promote liberty. In 2011, he placed second in the International Policy Network R.C. Hoiles Prize for Journalism.
He received his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in journalism from George Washington University.
Steven and his wife of 35 years live on an acreage outside of Sacramento and have three adult children, 30 goats, five cats, six chickens and two dogs.
Carol Matheis practices law business litigation and insurance law in Newport Beach, California. She earned her J.D. at Western University College of Law and is a graduate of George Mason University.
Vice President and Legal Director, National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, Inc.
William Messenger is Foundation Vice President and Legal Director. He was a staff attorney for over twenty years and, during that time, represented individuals in numerous cases that sought to expand worker freedom of choice. This includes acting as lead counsel in three cases before the United States Supreme Court. In 2018, Messenger argued Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, where the Supreme Court held it violates the First Amendment for governments and unions to compel individuals to financially support unions and their speech. Originally from Youngstown Ohio, Messenger attended Ohio University as an undergraduate and then the George Washington University School of Law.
Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Judge Nelson was confirmed to the Ninth Circuit in October 2018, as the youngest Circuit Judge to serve from Idaho and he has chambers in his hometown of Idaho Falls. Prior to his confirmation, Judge Nelson served for nine years as General Counsel of Idaho Falls-based Melaleuca, Inc., a consumer goods company. He previously worked in Washington, DC, where he served in all three branches of the federal government, including as Special Counsel for Supreme Court nominations to the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Deputy General Counsel to the White House Office of Management and Budget; Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice; and a law clerk to Judge Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He has argued in most of the federal courts of appeals and worked on dozens of Supreme Court briefs. He started in the Washington, DC office of Sidley Austin as an appellate lawyer, after clerking for Judges Mosk and Brower of the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal at The Hague, and for now-Judge Tom Griffith, then-Senate Legal Counsel, during the impeachment trial of President Clinton. Judge Nelson earned his B.A. from Brigham Young University and his J.D., with honors, from BYU Law School. Judge Nelson has been a member of the Federalist Society since 1998.
Special Counsel, Hopkins & Carley
Chuck Reed is a member of Hopkins & Carley’s Real Estate Practice in the San Jose office. As Special Counsel to the firm, Chuck brings his years of experience in government to help clients solve complex problems in a variety of practice areas, including:
Chuck was Mayor of San Jose from 2007 to 2014, a member of the City Council from 2000 to 2006, and a city and county Planning Commissioner for 14 years before being elected to office. Before taking office as Mayor of the tenth largest city in the country, he was a lawyer in private practice in San Jose.
Chuck has been recognized as a national leader by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, other national media, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities. The story of his work in San Jose has been noted in books, such as Boomerang by Michael Lewis and Fate of the States by Meredith Whitney, and he has been a frequent speaker on pension reform at conferences around the country.
Western Region Director, State Affairs, R Street Institute
Steven Greenhut oversees R Street’s efforts in California, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Washington state, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, Wyoming and Hawaii. His duties include authoring op-eds and policy studies, testifying before state and municipal legislative bodies, and representing R Street as a speaker, public commentator and coalition ally in venues where it is possible to move state and local policy in a free-market direction.
He most recently served as California columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune. In this role, from his base in Sacramento, he wrote a regular reported news column covering the State Capitol and issues outside of San Diego. Previously, he was vice president of journalism at the Franklin Center, where he oversaw a team of watchdog editors and reporters in state capitols.
Steven is the author of two books, Abuse of Power: How the Government Misuses Eminent Domain (2004) and Plunder! How Public Employee Unions are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation (2009). In 2005, he received the Thomas Paine Award, granted by the Institute for Justice in recognition of his writing to promote liberty. In 2011, he placed second in the International Policy Network R.C. Hoiles Prize for Journalism.
He received his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in journalism from George Washington University.
Steven and his wife of 35 years live on an acreage outside of Sacramento and have three adult children, 30 goats, five cats, six chickens and two dogs.
Carol Matheis practices law business litigation and insurance law in Newport Beach, California. She earned her J.D. at Western University College of Law and is a graduate of George Mason University.
Vice President and Legal Director, National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation, Inc.
William Messenger is Foundation Vice President and Legal Director. He was a staff attorney for over twenty years and, during that time, represented individuals in numerous cases that sought to expand worker freedom of choice. This includes acting as lead counsel in three cases before the United States Supreme Court. In 2018, Messenger argued Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, where the Supreme Court held it violates the First Amendment for governments and unions to compel individuals to financially support unions and their speech. Originally from Youngstown Ohio, Messenger attended Ohio University as an undergraduate and then the George Washington University School of Law.
Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Judge Nelson was confirmed to the Ninth Circuit in October 2018, as the youngest Circuit Judge to serve from Idaho and he has chambers in his hometown of Idaho Falls. Prior to his confirmation, Judge Nelson served for nine years as General Counsel of Idaho Falls-based Melaleuca, Inc., a consumer goods company. He previously worked in Washington, DC, where he served in all three branches of the federal government, including as Special Counsel for Supreme Court nominations to the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Deputy General Counsel to the White House Office of Management and Budget; Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice; and a law clerk to Judge Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He has argued in most of the federal courts of appeals and worked on dozens of Supreme Court briefs. He started in the Washington, DC office of Sidley Austin as an appellate lawyer, after clerking for Judges Mosk and Brower of the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal at The Hague, and for now-Judge Tom Griffith, then-Senate Legal Counsel, during the impeachment trial of President Clinton. Judge Nelson earned his B.A. from Brigham Young University and his J.D., with honors, from BYU Law School. Judge Nelson has been a member of the Federalist Society since 1998.
Special Counsel, Hopkins & Carley
Chuck Reed is a member of Hopkins & Carley’s Real Estate Practice in the San Jose office. As Special Counsel to the firm, Chuck brings his years of experience in government to help clients solve complex problems in a variety of practice areas, including:
Chuck was Mayor of San Jose from 2007 to 2014, a member of the City Council from 2000 to 2006, and a city and county Planning Commissioner for 14 years before being elected to office. Before taking office as Mayor of the tenth largest city in the country, he was a lawyer in private practice in San Jose.
Chuck has been recognized as a national leader by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, other national media, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities. The story of his work in San Jose has been noted in books, such as Boomerang by Michael Lewis and Fate of the States by Meredith Whitney, and he has been a frequent speaker on pension reform at conferences around the country.
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