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Paul Tencher
Paul Tencher has been a trusted senior adviser to five U.S. senators and high-profile business leaders. His communications and government affairs consulting has taken him from the Rust Belt of Indiana and Ohio, through Detroit's resurgence, to the technology and life sciences corridors of New England.
Paul served as a senior advisor for more than a decade to Senator Gary Peters, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs where Peters worked to prepare and fund the country, and the private sector, for cyber attacks.
Paul's experience in qualitative and quantitative research has helped leaders across the country make timely, informed decisions. His data-driven approach has powered against-the-odds political victories and modernized the voting process of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Academy Awards.
A battle-tested strategist, Paul brings the business acumen required to lead in moments of crisis. As a managing director at one of the world's leading independent public relations agencies, he advised C-suite leaders—from Yelp to Waste Management—on crisis communications, issues management, and executive eminence.
Paul earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame and his undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University. He serves on the Board of Directors of Notre Dame's venture capital fund.
Barbara Cottam
Barbara Cottam is a trusted adviser to C-suite leaders in the financial sector and to senior officials across government. In 2022, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo appointed Barbara as a senior adviser at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where she led national efforts to close the digital divide. She has since returned to the private sector, focusing on counseling organizations through high-stakes crises.
Previously, Barbara spent more than two decades at Citizens Financial Group, serving as Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs. In that role, she oversaw public affairs, government and media relations, and corporate philanthropy across the bank's commercial and retail footprint. A central component of her work involved leading communications and stakeholder engagement in preparation for cyber incidents and data breaches, working closely with legal, security, and regulatory teams.
From 2015 to 2022, Barbara served as chair of the Rhode Island Board of Education, which governs the state's K–12 system as well as Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island. She also served on the Board of Directors of the University of Rhode Island. Earlier in her career, she served as director of communications and press secretary to former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun and the Mayor of Providence.
Barbara holds a BS in Business Marketing and Business Management from Providence College and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School, INSEAD, and Wharton's Aresty Institute.
Dan Meuse
Dan Meuse is a national expert in healthcare policy, systems and communications, focusing on strategic development and program innovation to build trust and support enrollment. Dan has guided states through complex program implementations requiring federal approval.
Dan directs the State Health and Value Strategies, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation based at Princeton University's Center for Health and Wellbeing. In this role, Dan assists in managing and coordinating technical assistance for states as they seek to transform their healthcare systems.
As a member of the staff supporting the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission, Dan provided subject matter expertise on Health Benefit Exchanges, payment and delivery system reform and stakeholder engagement. He also facilitated and moderated the Rhode Island Exchange Stakeholder Workgroup, the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange Expert Advisory Council and the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission Payment and Delivery System Reform Workgroup.
With experience in Medicaid, private health insurance, data privacy, hospital regulation, and payment reforms, Dan braids subject matter expertise, external communications, and aspirational strategic visions for clients of all sizes. Dan also guides the leaders of tomorrow as a faculty member at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs.
