Somewhere between boots and saddles, briefcases and taxis…

About

Jess Peterson.

Jess Peterson represents and monitors legislative interests for a growing number of agricultural, business, and academic clients. Peterson and the WSS staff provide clients a full-time presence in Washington, DC and actively maintain a consistent dialogue with federal, state, and local policymakers. Peterson also serves as a spokesperson for various membership groups and frequently appears on national media forums and industry panels representing member concerns and interests.

As a 5th generation rancher and Montana native, Jess Peterson is familiar with the concerns of rural America. For the past four years Peterson has successfully represented the interests of thousands of Americans on Capitol Hill and inside the Administration. Jess also understands the need to continually listen to the voices of the countryside, and maintains open bi-weekly conference calls for membership groups to facilitate active dialogue on industry concerns.

Mr. Peterson also manages a cow-calf operation near Miles City, Montana. Continually playing an active role in the management of the ranching operation keeps Peterson aware of the needs and importance of American agriculture and strong rural communities. Peterson is a proud alumnus of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana, and of Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington.

 

Kelly Fogarty

Kelly was born and raised in the small town of Oakdale, California, in the heart of the Central Valley. She grew up working on her family’s 5th generation beef cattle ranch and reveled in the time she was able to work alongside her parents. Kelly graduated from UCLA in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Science. While attending school, she continued her love of sports by playing for the school’s club water polo team. After graduation, Kelly returned to the family ranch where she worked full-time for a year before deciding to make her way out East to Washington, D.C. While working for her family, Kelly saw the importance of ranchers having a voice in Washington and wanted to contribute her services to the cause. Kelly is familiar with the ins and outs of D.C. from her time spent here as an intern. Currently, Kelly manages the day to day activities for WSS in D.C. Her primary portfolios include the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and the Society for Range Management.

 

Stacia Couch.

Stacia Couch, WSS Washington D.C. Operations Manager, has over 13 years of professional experience in the legal, academic, public policy, information technology, and business consulting fields. Most recently, Stacia provided best practices research on IT infrastructure design and implementation to Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that, she served as a research associate in a public policy research center where she managed large-scale research projects primarily for Tennessee government clients.

Her diverse interests and background give her a unique ability to manage people, projects, and client and vendor relationships. At WSS, she manages all IT, including designing and maintaining WSS’s online presence, and assists the team with legislative and industry-related research, writing, and bookkeeping.

Stacia holds a master’s degree in communication and information from the University of Tennessee and a B.A. in English from Clemson University. She co-directed and designed Education Crossroads, a book and website designed to alter public opinion regarding the true value of education, and co-authored An Economic Report to the Governor of the State of Tennessee (several annual editions); School-to-Work: Do Tennessee’s Higher Education Graduates Work in Tennessee, Part 1: State-level Labor Market and Earnings Trends; The State of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance, and Behavioral Intention Determinants towards Post-Secondary Education: Clues for Strategic Message Development. She also has volunteered as site coordinator for Project Northstar, a program helping homeless and low-income children in the city, and works with The Princeton Review to teach SAT-prep courses in DC Public Schools.