Network Staff

Ann Pratt  Executive Director

Ann brings thirty years of community organizing experience to Progressive States Network, including ten years of building and directing a diverse range of community organizations including neighborhood organizations, large social service agency, labor unions, regional faith-based organizing initiatives and a statewide parent and child advocacy organization. Most recently, Ann directed the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, a statewide advocacy organization committed to improving outcomes for young children. She has worked extensively on advancing progressive policies in Connecticut, including the nationally recognized Sustinet health care legislation, and recently spearheaded an initiative calling for the creation of a Department of Early Education that would serve children from birth to five years of age.
 

Nyrekia Mayers  Director of Human Resources and Operations

Nyrekia brings thirteen years of experience in Human Resources, Labor Relations and Operations. Before joining PSN she managed a multisite team of supervisors and Union employees at a multimedia company. At PSN, she manages and executes the Human Resource functions, as well as managing the overall operations of the organization. Nyrekia has been working in the nonprofit area for the last five and a half years and acts as Chief Operations Officer for a philanthropic fundraising organization in New York. Nyrekia spent a semester abroad writing her thesis on the socioeconomics of homelessness in London. Nyrekia has a Bachelors Degree in Education with a minor in Social Work. She also completed a dual Masters Degree program in Human Resources Management and Business Administration. She is currently pursuing a Six Sigma Green Belt and her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification.
 

Charles Monaco Director of Communications and New Media

Charles brings years of experience in new media, online organizing, and communications for progressive campaigns and causes to Progressive States Network.  He was a member of the team of online activists that helped propel Ned Lamont’s primary campaign for US Senate in Connecticut in 2006, where he served as Deputy Internet Communications Director during the general election.  In 2008, he served as Online Communications Director for Jim Himes’ successful campaign for U.S. Congress in Connecticut’s Fourth District.  As a blogger and new media consultant, he has written about and worked on numerous progressive issues and campaigns.  Charles holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and is a lifelong resident of New York City.
 

Susan Mottet  Legislative Director

Susan is responsible for PSN’s health care and tax and budget policy work. After receiving her law degree, Susan worked for the District of Columbia Council, where she wrote DC’s marriage equality law and worked on progressive health legislation including DC’s health insurance exchange law. As a member of DC’s Health Care Reform Implementation Task Force, Susan worked to ensure that the District took advantage of every provision of the Affordable Care Act and implemented the Medicaid expansion over three years ahead of schedule. Most recently, she worked on health care finance policy for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she advocated that federal implementation of the Affordable Care Act ensure that women can see the providers they trust for the services they rely on and worked with 84 Planned Parenthood affiliates to advocate that all 50 states did the same. Susan is from Washington State, received her Bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and her law degree from George Washington University.
 

Mike Maiorini  Online Technology Manager

Mike has been designing and developing websites for ten years with a Masters in Information Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science.  Before joining Progressive States Network, he worked in the Office of Web Communications at New York University.  He has also done freelance and volunteer projects for non-profits, unions, and activist groups.  Feel free to contact Mike with suggestions or ideas on how PSN’s website can better serve you.
 

Alvin Melathe  Immigration Policy Associate

Alvin comes to PSN with a background in political & policy research as well experience with issue-based campaigns and community organizing. He joins PSN to assist in developing the targeted research, legislative tracking, and broad partnerships necessary to spark progressive state-based immigration policy across the country. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Swarthmore College.
 

Leila Pedersen  Tax & Budget Policy Associate

Prior to joining Progressive States Network Leila worked for EMILY's List where she worked as a researcher, informing and executing independent expenditure programs for pro-choice Democratic women running for the US House and Senate. Previously, Leila designed advocacy programs for grassroots organizers for AmeriCorps. She went on to help a local AmeriCorps program raise their $6.2 million budget. Leila earned her Bachelor's degree from the Univeristy of California, Berkeley. As an undergraduate, she served as the President of the Berkeley chapter of the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network where she taught public policy analysis and advocacy.