CPI Practitioners Principal

CPI has a growing corps of practitioners who serve as members principal. We are actively recruiting members experienced in government affairs, research and data, law, and a variety of sectors, to join our team. CPI members principal are currently pro-bono, driving our strategic planning, expansion, building new solutions and partnerships with policy centers & legislators, and supporting our associates and university chapters. If you are an early, late, or mid career professional with available time and belief in our mission to of building new local & state nonpartisan solutions- email us if you would like to be considered as a member principal.

These members also serve on the advisory board along with chapter directors, which steers CPI as a whole.

Member Principal

Lead Advisor

Neil Trautwein, JD

Neil Trautwein is a Louisville Kentucky native and alumni of the UofL department of political science. A founding advisor with CPI, Neil provides key guidance on CPI's advisory board and insight to fellow practitioners. Trautwein holds over 35 years experience in Washington D.C. and served on the staff of senior members of the US Senate. He has testified in multiple Congresses before several House and Senate Committees. Trautwein has been quoted in the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Politico, among other publications. He has appeared on NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox and Fox Business, and NPR. And has testified to several House and Senate Committees. Neil is a registered federal lobbyist with Trautwein & Associates, with experience ranging from the American Chamber of Commerce to the Partnership for Employer Sponsored Coverage. Neil holds extensive experience in representation and coalition building with associations including four prominent Washington trade associations. Neil provides critical seminars to the university chapter Associates of CPI and strategic guidance on our advisory board.

Member Principal

Co-Founder & Hon. Fellow

Lauren Reuss

A Bullit County native, Lauren Reuss is a Commonwealth Ambassador and recently served as a Fulbright Scholar to Thailand under the U.S. Dept. of State. Lauren holds degrees in political science, economics, and philosophy, has conducted research involving Fortune 500 companies in Louisville. She holds policy interest in economic policy, economic development, and enterprising solutions to local to global food insecurity. A founding member of CPI, Lauren serves as a member principal driving CPI's strategic plan including building center partnerships, recruiting other members principal, advocating state & local solutions, and providing guidance to university chapters building CPI's Associates. Lauren is an alumnus of the McConnell Scholars Program at the University of Louisville where she worked with the KY Dept. of Veterans Affairs, managed operations and partnerships of the Cardinal Cupboard, and worked with the KY Legislative Research Commission.

Fellow Principal

Founder & Board Director

Samuel Kessler, MPP

A Taylor County native, Samuel Kessler is a George Mitchell Scholar, and Congressman Hal Rogers Scholar alumni, and Fellow with CPI. From evaluating nonpartisan state think-tanks across the US and connecting with General Assembly members, Sam established CPI's initial structure, relations with the General Assembly, research groups, and Congress for Kentucky-proud policy innovation. He specializes in evidence-based policy development and advocacy, and areas including natural resources & energy, agriculture & environment, and linked economic development. His work includes introducing tax credit legislation to support business upcycling waste from the bourbon, brewing, and ethanol sectors. He has joined briefs in areas including rural healthcare, improving Louisville's TIF legislation, and others. Sam holds a Masters of Public Policy, & degrees in Applied Geography and Industrial Ecology from UofL. He has recently worked for Horizon Europe, KY Resources Council, and US Dept. Interior.

Associate Fellow

Executive Director, University of Louisville Chapter

Team Lead - Education Policy, Center for Education

Sarah Youngman

Sarah Youngman is acting director of CPI's first University of Louisville chapter. With her officer team, Sarah serves on CPI's advisory board as a member principal directing the UofL chapter. The chapter includes members from undergraduate to postgraduate level, and multiple teams advised by faculty and officers guided and certified by CPI practitioners. In addition to facilitating the chapter and serving as a board member, Sarah has worked on a variety of policy teams at CPI including improved access to Medicare-funded residency slots. She is currently focused on improving state education policy and forming a new CPI Center for Education. Sarah has previously worked for the Legislative Research Commission in Frankfort and is a student at UofL.

Members Principal

VACANT & SEEKING:

CPI is recruiting members principal to join our pro-bono team.

We seek those "better than us" - we are recruiting a set number of young-professionals in early to mid career stages, and late career professionals (i.e. those with more available control of employed time, or else in or nearing retirement), who believe in our mission to empower local & state legislators innovative solutions built in Kentucky.

We seek professionals across government affairs, law, policy research, topical quantitative & qualitative research, and communications. We also welcome attorneys seeking pro-bono time.

Email us directly at cpiky.org@gmail.com

University Chapter Directors & Center Partners

VACANT & SEEKING:

CPI is seeking postgraduate, law, or PhD students interested in founding a new chapter and building our center partnerships at UK , WKU, EKU, and other research universities in the state university system. We also welcome interested law, postgraduate, and PhD candidates in Louisville to join the UofL chapter.

We also welcome interested faculty to contact us who may have interested students, interest in serving as a general advisor in a key policy area, or joining CPI as a member principal.

Email us directly at cpiky.org@gmail.com

CPI Associates

University Chapters
Below are CPI's active Associates & Associate Fellows. CPI recruits new members as Associates through University Chapters which are organized under the CPI advisory board, and registered as a campus organization with the local university. Chapters are advised by faculty and practitioners to certify members as Fellows. Chapters also welcome surrounding citizens to apply to join, so long as 50% of CPI Associates in a chapter are enrolled at the campus. In the process, chapter teams are formed which operate similar to a legal clinic though in a policy context -- developing new solutions to key issues as a public service, guided by faculty and practitioners. Associates solve challenges in sectors covered by CPI's Centers and connect with research faculty. These associates pursue challenges of their own interest, from legislator intake, and/or with CPI practitioners. Those certified as Fellows develop novel policy solutions at a state/local level.

Associate Fellow

Director of Operations, University of Louisville Chapter

Ariel Ringo

Ariel Ringo serves as operations director of CPI's University of Louisville Chapter, and as an Associate Fellow focused in CPI's Center for Healthcare Disparities. Ariel has co-authored briefs from CPI's Congressional Summit, and is leading a policy team focused on improving rural residency slots in Kentucky.

Associate Fellow

Director of Communications, University of Louisville Chapter

Jack Reynolds

Jack Reynolds serves as the Director of Communications for the University of Louisville chapter, and works as an Associate Fellow with the Center for Healthcare Disparities. Jack has co-authored briefs from CPI's Congressional Summit and has focused on developing a new critical access pharmacy program.