Denise Edwards is director of government affairs for National Children’s Alliance (NCA), the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC). As director of government affairs, Denise develops, coordinates and leads all federal  and national legislative and public policy strategies for NCA and its members, including strategies to expand the use and awareness of CACs in the public policy arena.  Prior to her tenure with NCA, Denise served as manager of government affairs for Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., representing the company and its more than 16,000 small business franchises before Congress and State/Local governments.

Denise began her Washington career working in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving, among others, as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Bud Cramer; and on the legislative staff of Rep. Chet Edwards.  Denise is a graduate of Baylor University, with a master’s in Public Policy Administration and a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on financial planning.

dedwards@nca-online.org

Tracey Tabet has been with the Attorney General’s Office since 1994 and is the administrator for the Utah Children’s Justice Center (CJC) Program, where she oversees the state’s 23 Children’s Justice Centers. Under her leadership, the program has expanded services to 28 of Utah’s 29 counties, has implemented measures to promote equity and accountability, and has become a strong voice for victims on Utah’s Capitol Hill. As the coordinator for the Utah Chapter of the National Children’s Alliance (NCA), she co- chaired NCA’s Chapter Collaborative Work Group and the SHINE Campaign Collaborative Work Group. She received the Outstanding State Chapter Leader Award from NCA in 2012 and the Anne Freimuth Child Advocate of the Year Award from Prevent Child Abuse Utah in 2016. She currently serves on several boards, including the Utah Victims Council, the Utah Coalition for Protecting Childhood, and is a member of the Utah Women’s Forum. Tracey grew up in rural southeastern Utah and is a graduate of the University of Utah and Westminster College. 

Will Laird is the State Government Affairs Officer for the National Children’s Alliance, which is the national membership and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in the United States. Will is also a member of Charleston City Council in West Virginia’s capital city.  Prior to joining NCA, Will worked for the West Virginia Legislature’s House Committee on Finance as a Senior Budget Analyst for over a decade. Having worked under both Democrat and Republican administrations, Will brings a wealth of experience to helping State Chapters of Children’s Advocacy Centers advocate for legislative changes that positively support child abuse victims and the CAC model. When he’s not at work, Will is an avid outdoor adventurer and loves to spend time with his wife, two boys, and his garden. 

wlaird@nca-online.org