Meet the NFWL Staff

Jody Thomas

Jody Thomas | Executive Director

Jody has served as Executive Director of NFWL since December 2013. As such, she is responsible for the leadership and management of NFWL according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors. Prior to that, she was National Finance Director of two presidential campaigns, managed numerous issue-oriented groups and a vast array of special events, campaigns and committees. Jody was a partner at a public affairs firm for six years. For eight years she managed all fundraising and political activity for Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts. She was then appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of Public Liaison for the Office of Personnel Management. Jody holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is the 2021 recipient of the Women in Government Relations Lifetime Achievement Award.

You can email her at jody@womenlegislators.org.

Jody Thomas

Renee Dabbs | Director of Strategy

Renee leads all NFWL projects related to strategy and the best approach to achieving the organization’s goals. She has spent a career working at the highest level to ensure that organizations, like NFWL, drive results. She is the principal at Renee Dabbs, LLC where she provides clients with strategic, operational and sales expertise. She has a passion for leading organizations to exceed expectation as well as deliver sustainable results. She brings order to chaos. Renee has spent a lifetime supporting women and is the founder of WEWILL Symposium where she helps women become more engaged in the political process. She also is a board member of Women’s Exchange, an organization that works toward getting more women government appointments. Renee’s business background includes serving as the COO of a top tier Republican media production firm in Florida. Before that she built a sixteen-year track record of success with Procter and Gamble, rising to a senior management position with oversight of a $220 million business and a multi-million dollar marketing client.

Jody Thomas

Brenna Kehew Sculley | Director of Policy & Programming

Brenna Kehew Sculley joined the NFWL team in August of 2016. She plays an integral role in planning the program for the Annual Conference, and helping to shape the general policy outlook for the organization. With nine years immersed in state policy, she has developed a particular passion for nonpartisan collaboration and supporting women in power. Previously, Brenna served as the Associate Director of Policy and Programs at Women In Government, where she directed the conference and state briefing programming, website content, social media, and policy resource creation for the organization. Previously, she honed her communications skills as an intern at the American University Graduate School of Communications, worked on congressional advocacy as an intern with the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, and has been a regular volunteer for campaigns on both sides of the aisle.  Brenna currently resides in Hartford, CT, with frequent trips back to DC, where she provides consulting and grant writing services for non-profit groups, and grassroots organizing expertise for a variety of legislative initiatives. You can email her at brenna@womenlegislators.org.

Jody Thomas

Christine Hall | Director of Development

Christine Hall joined NFWL in March 2017, bringing over a decade of diverse fundraising experience.  As NFWL’s Director of Development, she works to obtain major gifts and corporate sponsorships.  She also plays an active role in developing the organization’s annual fundraising plan.  Prior to her role at NFWL, she served as a development director for various entities.  Her experience includes presidential campaign work, nonprofit and political fundraising events and direct marketing, as well as low-dollar, mid-level and high-dollar programs.  Christine is a graduate of The Catholic University of America with a major in politics. You can reach Christine at christine@womenlegislators.org.

Jody Thomas

Ayushi Mehta | Director of Membership and Operations

Ayushi began interning with NFWL in August 2018 and quickly grew into her role as the Membership & Outreach Director. She is responsible for overseeing the management of membership recruitment and engagement, managing social media accounts and communications, assisting in the planning of events, supporting daily operational assignments, and serving as an overall project leader for various foundation projects. Ayushi is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she obtained her MBA with a concentration in management. You can contact Ayushi at ayushi@womenlegislators.org.

Jody Thomas

Anna Hale | Communications Coordinator

Anna joined the NFWL team in 2023 as an intern before stepping into the role of Communications Coordinator in 2024. In this role, she is responsible for all of NFWL’s social media and email communications, as well as assisting with special projects, event planning, and day-to-day operations. Anna is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in political science at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. You can email her at anna@womenlegislators.org