Monday, March 19, 2018

Melanie Nakagawa Receives 2017 Truman Center Policy Leadership Award


The recipient of a master's degree in justice, law, and society from American University, Hayley Dierker is an experienced political office professional who most recently served as chief of staff of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Supplementing her pursuits in the field of politics, Hayley Dierker is a member of the Truman National Security Project (TNSP).

Comprised of more than 1,700 policy experts as well as post-9/11 veterans and frontline civilians, the TNSP works to shape and advocate for smart national security solutions. At its most recent annual awards dinner, the organization honored three of its distinguished members, including Melanie Nakagawa, who received the Truman Center Policy Leadership Award.

As head of climate initiative with Princeville Global, Ms. Nakagawa is developing an initiative to drive investments in global businesses delivering transformative solutions to climate change while also pursuing strong investor returns. She previously served as the U.S. State Department's deputy assistant secretary for energy transformation and senior energy and environment counsel to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In addition to Ms. Nakagawa's award, Ray Mabus was presented with the Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award and Nat Kreamer received the Truman Visionary Leadership Award.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Larry Fitzgerald Returning to Cardinals for 15th NFL Season


Drawing upon over a decade of experience in administrative experience in the political sector, Hayley Dierker recent served as chief of staff for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where she, along with executive team members, managed a two-year budget of $212 million. Outside of her professional pursuits, Hayley Dierker is an avid fan of the National Football League's (NFL) Arizona Cardinals. 

Despite a mix-up from TODAY Show weatherman Al Roker, Cardinals wide receiver will be returning to the team for his 15th season in 2018. While in South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Roker tweeted a picture of him and Fitzgerald with a caption stating he just met the "former" NFL star. After being informed by fans that Fitzgerald announced his intentions to play another season just days earlier, Roker apologized for the error and joked that he was sorry for retiring Fitzgerald early. 

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Fitzgerald will turn 35 years old before the start of the 2018 season, but the fact that he is returning is no surprise to those who follow the league. The former third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft produced his third consecutive and ninth career 1,000-yard season in 2017 after finishing the year with 1,156 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. He now has 15,535 career receiving yards and 110 touchdowns and needs only 92 pass receptions to pass Tony Gonzalez for second all-time in that category.