Leadership · Team
BENJI BACKER, PRESIDENT
BenjiBacker is President and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition, thelargest right-of-center environmentalorganization in the country. For his work with the ACC, he has been awarded the Fortune 40 Under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30, GreenBiz 30 Under 30, and Grist 50. He serves as a Board member for the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum and Mainstream Republicans of Washington. A frequent contributor to multiple national media outlets,Benjiis one of the leading youth environmental voices in the country.
Benjigrew up in Wisconsin and is an avid Wisconsin sports fan. He spends his free time hiking, skiing, and drinking unsweetened iced tea in hiscurrenthome city of Seattle.
Through ACC,Benjiis excited to be uniting Americans on pro-environmental reforms and changing the narrative when it comes to the environment.
DANIELLE BUTCHER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Danielle Butcher is a nonprofit executive who aides organizations in developing and implementing their national strategies.
Danielle currently serves as Executive Vice President of the American Conservation Coalition and is a Visiting Fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum. She is also a member of the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network and sits on the Advisory Board of the British Conservation Alliance.
Danielle is an international speaker and has appeared as a frequent guest on NPR, Fox News Radio, One America News, and Newsmax. Her work can be found in publications such as The Times, National Review, Washington Examiner, New York Post, Vox, and more. In 2020, she was recognized by Forbes as a 30 Under 30 award winner for her work in energy.
Danielle attended Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she studied Political Science and Rhetoric Communications.
Contact: danielle@acc.eco
STEPHEN N. PERKINS, VICE PRESIDENT OF GRASSROOTS Strategy
Stephen Perkins is a conservative strategist and activist who builds movements and develops the leaders that advance them.
As the American Conservation Coalition’s Vice President of Grassroots Strategy, Stephen manages the organization’s grassroots programming, strategy, and growth, while empowering the field team, staff, and local activists to grow as leaders in the environmental movement.
Prior to joining ACC, Stephen served as a Partner of a conservative digital marketing agency, helping clients grow their online communities. And prior to that, he provided marketing consulting, advocacy training, and leadership coaching to national political and education organizations.
Originally from the Houston area, Stephen graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a B.A. in Political Science and currently resides in Fort Worth, TX.
Contact: stephen@acc.eco
LinkedIn | Twitter: @Stephen_Perkins
QUILL ROBINSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF Advocacy
Quill is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle. As an undergraduate, Quill gained experience working on political campaigns, interning in the US Senate, and conducting research for a local free-market think tank. After graduating in 2018, he studied and worked in Germany for a year as a fellow with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.
A Seattle native, Quill grew up backpacking, skiing, and fly fishing in the Cascades. In his free time, Quill enjoys reading about history, collecting maps, and occasionally escaping DC to visit a new National Park. As Government Affairs Director, he is excited to connect ACC's students with their representatives in Washington and turn ACC’s bold vision into real policy solutions.
Contact: quillan@acc.eco
KARLY MATTHEWS, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Karly Matthews graduated with degrees in journalism, political science, and Spanish from Philadelphia’s Temple University in May 2020. During college, Karly interned in both the Pennsylvania and United States House of Representatives as well as in the Washington D.C. nonprofit sector. She was also involved in the Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans, Network of Enlightened Women, and Future Female Leaders while writing for her university newspaper and anchoring at the university TV studio.
At ACC, she manages ACC’s messaging, media relations, and more. Her work has been published in The Washington Examiner and The Hill, and she’s a frequent guest on radio, podcasts, and TV. A black coffee drinker and color-coding aficionado, Karly spends her free time exploring Washington D.C. and spending time with her corgi, Pennie.
Contact: karly@acc.eco
CHRIS BARNARD, POLICY DIRECTOR
Christopher Barnard is half-American, half-Belgian, and joined ACC after havingspent the first 22 years of his life in Europe. Whilst living in England, he founded the UK version of ACC - the British Conservation Alliance, which quickly grew to become the largest environmental campus network in the country. During his time with BCA, he spoke at over 20 events and conferences in 10 countries and wrote regularly for the Daily Telegraph, CapX, Washington Examiner, etc. He also published the bookGreen Market Revolution, which he co-authored with a host of innovative environmental pro-market thinkers and scholars, and which has now been read in 91 countries around theworld. He achieved this alongside completinga master's degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics.
In his personal life, Chris loves football (the real kind), outdoor activities, nerdy philosophicaldiscussions, and hiking with his two border collies.
Contact: chris@tcc.eco
LUCERO CANTU, DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Lucero Cantu is a digital strategist creating at the intersection of communication strategy, culture, and political science. She graduated from the University of North Texas with her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During her time at UNT, Lucero helped build a non-partisan women’s political organization from the ground up.
Lucero has spent her undergraduate and postgraduate career honing in her communications and content strategy skills in various industries from artificial intelligence to interactive design to workforce solutions, and more. At ACC, Lucero leads ACC’s digital department with the priority of creating meaningful content that resonates with our various target audiences.
Contact: lucero@acc.eco
Alex Joyce, development director
Alex is an experienced development strategist with a background in political and non-profit fundraising. As Director of Development, he leads our development efforts and works with senior leadership to chart a successful fundraising strategy and expand ACC’s capacity.
Prior to joining ACC, he spent four years with a Washington, D.C.-based political and business consulting firm advising US Senators, Governors, non-profits, and national business coalitions and managing their fundraising strategies.
Alex graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a degree in Government. Although now based in New York City, he was born and raised in the D.C. area and is a die-hard Capitals fan, loves world travel and watching European soccer.
Contact: Alex@TCC.eco
MADISON LINK-REES, Executive Operations Manager
Madison currently serves as the team's Executive & Staff Operations Manager. A social impact conservative, she's drawn to movements that seek to create and implement solutions to the issues affecting our nation.
Her previous professional experiences include serving as a grassroots coordinator for a faith-based public policy organization, a marketing and events assistant for a Fortune 500 company, and an operations manager at a think tank.
In 2017, Madison graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in Government. She recently moved back to her home state of North Carolina after spending the last few years in Virginia and Washington, DC.
Contact: madison@acc.eco
Logan Luse, Florida State Director
Logan is from a small town in North Florida, Mayo, where he grew his passion for agricultural and environmental advocacy. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Agricultural Education and Communications, and he currently lives in Melbourne, Florida where he serves on the City of Melbourne Code Enforcement Board, Brevard County Planning and Zoning Board. Logan also serves as the Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation and has previously worked for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation as a District Field Representative, advocating for the needs and concerns of farmers and their communities.
In Logan’s spare time away from advocacy and community engagements, he loves to enjoy our great outdoors. You can often find him hiking and snowboarding in the mountains, kayaking the Everglades, or scuba diving in Florida's natural spring systems. Logan is extremely excited to continue marching forward with Florida’s growing need in environmental sustainability and conserving the beautiful wildlife all the Sunshine State has to offer for future generations to come.
Will Galloway, South Carolina State Director
Will Galloway is a senior at Clemson University, where he is studying political science and military science. His passion for the environment began growing up farming, hunting, fishing, and hiking in South Carolina, where he learned the importance of taking care of our land. He is the former chair of the South Carolina College Republicans and has extensive grassroots and campaign experience in South Carolina. When he isn't working or in school, he's probably reading philosophy, hiking, playing above-average guitar, or below average golf.
Hanna Pritchett, eastern regional Director
Hanna is a native of north Texas and a graduate of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prior to joining TCC, Hanna worked as a Legislative Aide in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Her respect for the great outdoors was inherited early in life from her parents, and has only grown with time. She is passionate about helping new leaders and activists find their niche in the environmental movement, and empowering them to make a lasting and positive impact.
Outside of work, Hanna enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring the endless natural and historical treasures found throughout the eastern U.S.
Contact: hanna@tcc.eco
John bratton, tennessee state Director
John Bratton is an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Prior to joining TCC, John served abroad as a fellow in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program in Germany. Before that, he interned with the Tennessee state parks as an Interpretive Ranger and volunteered with a number of nonprofit organizations in his local community of Chattanooga.
Outside of work, John enjoys classic literature, swimming, and petting his dog.
Contact: johnbratton@tcc.eco
BRIAN MARTINEZ, MIDWESTERN REGIONAL Director
Brian grew up in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As an undergraduate, Brian worked on political campaigns throughout Southeast Wisconsin, interned in the circuit court system, and also was his graduating class’s student commencement speaker. After graduation, Brian worked on the RNC’s get-out-the-vote digital operations in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining TCC, Brian was a Legislative Aide in the Wisconsin State Senate.
Born in Puerto Rico, Brian’s love for the environment runs deep. From tropical rainforests to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Brian believes that we have all have a part to play in conserving and being good stewards of our environment
Outside of work, you can find him cheering on the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, or petting a dog.
Contact: Brian@tcc.eco
Lily Moll is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University, where she studied history and public policy. During college, Lily worked on Governor Bill Lee’s Gubernatorial campaign, a United States Senate campaign, and a variety of local campaigns. Prior to joining ACC, Lily worked at a lobbying firm in Nashville that specializes in broadband accessibility, healthcare policy, and property rights.
Lily’s love for the outdoors started at a young age, when she learned the importance of taking care of our land from her Grandparents in rural, Southern Mississippi. She is passionate about American politics, advocacy work, and the free market. Lily serves on the Event Planning Committee for the Adventure Science Center and is an active member of Living Sent Ministries. In her free time, Lily enjoys graphic design, traveling, and spending time outside with her dog, Max.
Contact: lily@acc.eco
Luke Dretske, Finance and Administration Manager
Luke graduated from Ripon College in 2020 with degrees in Finance, and Politics and Government. In college, Luke served as the Student Senate President, President of the Ripon College Republicans, and the Treasurer of the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans. In addition, Luke interned for the Republican Party of Wisconsin as well as in the United States Senate.
Prior to joining ACC, Luke served as a Legislative Aide in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Outside of work, Luke serves on the City Council in Berlin, WI, and on the County Board for Green Lake County. He likes to travel, golf, and watch America's football team the Green Bay Packers.
Zack Abnet, Texas State Coordinator
Zack Abnet is a native North Texan who has lived in the United States for 18 years. Zack was born in the east African nation of Ethiopia, immigrating to the U.S at the age of seven. This unique background has informed his decision to pursue a career in public service in order to give back to a nation that has given so much to him. With this in heart, Zack graduated from Texas State University with his bachelor's degree in political science in 2020. During his time in school, he interned with the Texas State legislature's 86th session.
Prior to becoming Texas State director, Zack was president of the ACC Dallas branch, working to engage with local partners to address climate issues specific to Texas.
Outside of work, Zack is an avid but constantly disappointed fan of the Dallas Cowboys and other Dallas teams. He enjoys history, political debate, and any nature of work that expands humanity's reach into space. While attending Texas State in San Marcos Zack fell in love with the outdoors life. He’s a regular kayaker and hiker of the many beautiful trails of the Texas hill country. Zack has a goal of visiting all 7 continents before the age of 30.
Contact: zack@acc.eco| Twitter
SARIYAH KHALDI, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
Sariyah is currently a social media specialist on the team. She graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Media and communications and a minor in digital media production.
She loves to find creative solutions to help the environment in any way possible. Sariyah is an activist for environmentalism and helping animals. Her unique passion for animals started at a young age rescuing injured animals. This later grew into her love for the environment and all things living. Anything that she can create to raise awareness for the environment and animals, she is already on it.
When she’s not working, she is working out, hiking, watching sports, or playing with her bulldog. Although the Detroit Lions are her favorite team, she does have a winning spirit and will do anything to help the environment.
BROOKE THIGPEN, GRASSROOTS OPERATIONS Coordinator
Brooke Thigpen is a native of Dacula, Georgia, and currently resides in East Tennessee. She grew up on her family’s farm, where she established an early appreciation and respect for animals and nature. She graduated from Brenau University in 2021 with a degree in History/Political Science. While in college, she completed two consecutive terms as the state secretary of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, volunteered and managed local campaigns, and served as her sorority’s president.
Prior to joining ACC, she served as the Deputy Communications Director for the Georgia Secretary of State. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys cooking, volunteering at her church and her alma mater, and researching historic architecture and interior design.
Contact: Brooke@ACC.eco