Jessie Stolark
Executive Director
Jessie Stolark is the executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, which is convened and staffed by the Great Plains Institute. The Coalition brings together more than 100 companies, unions, and conservation and environmental policy organizations, building federal policy support to enable economywide, commercial-scale deployment of carbon management technologies.
Based in Washington, DC, Jessie leads the Coalition’s successful federal advocacy, convening, and education work to foster economywide deployment of carbon management.
She joined the Great Plains Institute in 2019 as the Coalition’s public policy and member relations manager. Previously, she was a policy advisor at Third Way, where she managed the organization’s carbon capture and industrial decarbonization portfolio. Jessie also served as a policy associate at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. She holds a master’s degree in applied geosciences from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Madelyn Morrison
Government Affairs Director
Madelyn Morrison joined the Great Plains Institute (GPI) in 2021 and serves as the government affairs director for the Carbon Capture Coalition, convened by GPI and brings together 80-plus members from industry, labor, and NGOs to advance carbon capture policies and commercial deployment.
Based in Washington, DC, Madelyn works on the Coalition’s growing and successful national policy and legislative work. She is responsible for outreach to members of Congress, the presidential administration, as well as broader constituency engagement.
Madelyn joins GPI from the Alzheimer’s Association, where she was a federal affairs specialist, managing and building relationships with lawmakers on a variety of topics related to Alzheimer’s and dementia policy, including building support for increased federal appropriations for Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health, representing the concerns of Native American communities impacted by Alzheimer’s to Congress, and serving as the policy lead on the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, a coalition of national organizations. Previously, Madelyn served as a political appointee in both the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and as a member of former Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s (D-ND) staff. She holds a BA in political science and English from the University of North Dakota.
Christian Flinn
Public Policy Manager
Christian is the public policy manager of the Carbon Capture Coalition, which is convened and staffed by the Great Plains Institute. The coalition brings together more than 100 companies, unions, and conservation and environmental policy organizations, building federal policy support to enable economywide, commercial-scale deployment of carbon management technologies.
Based in Washington, DC, Christian works with coalition staff to design, enact, and implement the next generation of policies necessary to deploy the full suite of carbon management technologies at the pace required by midcentury climate goals.
He joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023, having previously worked as a policy associate at the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), where he helped advance policy priorities aimed at transitioning our food system away from animal agriculture. Christian also served as an honors law clerk at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He holds a JD from the George Washington University Law School and a BA from Georgetown University.
Sangeet Nepal
Technology Specialist
Sangeet Nepal joined GPI in 2023 and serves as technology specialist for the Carbon Capture Coalition. Sangeet is originally from Nepal, where he completed his bachelor’s in environmental engineering from Kathmandu University. Sangeet completed his dual master’s degree in public affairs and environmental science with a concentration in energy from Indiana University Bloomington in May 2023. Before coming to the United States for higher studies, Sangeet worked for an intergovernmental organization ICIMOD and co-founded an idea lab Green Decision Labs and Research.
Leo Duke
Communications & Member Relations Specialist
Leo Duke joined the Great Plains Institute in 2022 and serves as the communications and member relations specialist for the Carbon Capture Coalition. In his work, Leo helps to support the Carbon Capture Coalition, which is convened by GPI and brings together over 100 members from industry, labor, and NGOs to advance carbon capture policies and commercial deployment.
Leo earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and citizenship & civic engagement from Syracuse University. Prior to joining GPI, Leo worked primarily on Democratic campaigns, first with the Biden 2020 campaign in Pennsylvania, and he most recently worked on the 2021 New Jersey legislative cycle. Outside of GPI, Leo enjoys listening to his records or playing with his puppy, Penny.
Coalition Consultants
RENEWPR
Communications Consultant
The RENEWPR Team is led by Ben Finzel, a former Congressional staffer, presidential appointee and public relations firm executive and it includes seven senior professionals who work with Ben on client projects, and a network of ten agency partners.
Visit their website for more information: www.renewpr.com.
Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid
Government Affairs Consultant
KDCR Partners’ bipartisan and bicameral principals have nearly 19 decades of collective experience in both public and private sectors and are suited to provide clients with advice on how to navigate Washington’s policy making and get results. This smart, hands-on, and dedicated team strives to get results for our clients have the experience and ability to effectively represent your organization.
Visit their website for more information: www.kdcrpartners.com.
Steptoe LLP.
Tax & Regulatory Consultant
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions.
Visit their website for more information: www.steptoe.com.
