Meet the NVCA and Venture Forward Teams

Our team brings together a unique blend of experts in legislative and regulatory affairs, marketing and communication strategies, and technical expertise.
Rhianon Anderson
Senior Programs Director, Venture Forward
Fun Facts:
  • Lived in 3 different countries
  • Family had a pet llama growing up
  • Serves on a competitive trivia team
Gillian Carney
Manager of Government Affairs
Fun Facts:
  • Born in Anchorage, Alaska
  • Ran 8 half-marathons and is training for #9
  • Known to be early for being early
Robin Ceppos
Communications Manager
Fun Facts:
  • Worked on four political campaigns
  • Born and raised in Silicon Valley
  • Travel enthusiast with a severe case of wanderlust
Bobby Franklin
President and CEO
Fun Facts:
  • Latest project: 1970 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck
  • Youth competitive water skier in slalom, tricks, and jump
  • High school pole vaulter
Maryam Haque
Executive Director, Venture Forward
Fun Facts:
  • Born Southerner: spent her first 18 years in Mississippi
  • Football (i.e., soccer) fanatic: go Chelsea!
  • Wanderlust: favorites so far have been Malta (pre-GoT), Rio de Janeiro (where she first met Bobby Franklin!), & walking the last 100km of the Camino de Santiago
Savanna Maloney
Manager of Communications
Fun Facts:
  • On a quest to see all 30 MLB ballparks
  • Travel enthusiast
  • Loves spending time with family & friends
Christina Martin
Chief Operating Officer
Fun Facts:
  • Have passport, will travel. Visited all 50 states and over 45 countries…and counting
  • 100% American, 50% Cuban. Uniquely Kansan. Rock Chalk!
  • Happiest in a flower garden
Jonas Murphy
Director of Government Affairs
Fun Facts:
  • Philadelphia area native (Go Eagles!)
  • Enjoy traveling and the outdoors; always looking for a good hiking trail
  • Bucket list: earn a pilot’s license and fly to every continent
MiChele Solomon
Senior Director of Administration
Fun Facts:
  • Loves seafood
  • Bucket list item is to meet Barack & Michelle Obama
  • Family means the world to MiChele
Shiloh Tillemann-Dick
Research Director
Fun Facts:
  • Has 11 siblings
  • Perfected the art of making DippinDots at home thanks to his local welding supply shop
  • Serves as his apartment building’s semi-official bike mechanic
Jason Vita
Vice President of Business Development
Fun Facts:
  • Marathon runner
  • Golfs and surfs (but not very well!)
  • Certified yoga instructor
Kisme Williams
Director of Operations
Fun Facts:
  • Always listening to Yacht Rock Radio
  • Marine Corps Marathon finisher
  • Yes, her birth name is Kisme (pronounced Kiss Me)
Jenny Zemel
Director of Membership Engagement
Fun Facts:
  • Tries to read 100 books a year
  • Climbed to the top of Machu Picchu
  • Invested in any and all pop culture news