Climate change poses a serious threat to the economy and environment, with impacts on businesses, communities, and citizens. With Election Day behind us, it is more imperative than ever that we prioritize business action on climate, energy, sustainability, and the economy. Based on results, federal policies and priorities on these issues will change. On the state level, a new climate action plan launching in the next few weeks will differ dramatically from initiatives advanced by the White House and Congress.
Join ClimateWork Maine on Friday, November 22 for a webinar that breaks down the federal and state election results and starts to piece together what it means for legislative and regulatory action.
Meet Our Experts
Ashley Luszczki, Government Relations Specialist
Maine State Chamber
Ashley joined the Chamber in 2023 and oversees energy and environmental policy. She previously worked for the Maine Legislature, including serving as Director of Policy for the Senate President, and in fundraising. Ashley graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
Shawn Affolter, Vice President of Government Relations
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES)
Shawn Affolter is Vice President of Government Relations at CRES. From 2018 to 2021, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy. In that role, he was the agency’s principal liaison to the U.S. Senate and provided strategic advice to Departmental leadership on Congressional matters, including the Energy Act of 2020 and National Defense Authorization Act.
Since 2011, Shawn worked for U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). In this capacity, Shawn helped advance key energy priorities including infrastructure policies, public-private research partnerships, advanced energy technology initiatives, and federal permitting reform. His work primary focused on the Senate Energy and Appropriations Committees, where he helped manage oversight and budget hearings, legislative mark-ups, agency nominations, and funding requests.
Mr. Affolter is a native of North Dakota and graduate of North Dakota State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and political science.
Moderator: Kathleen Summers-Grice, Managing Principal
Dirigo Partners
.Kathie Summers-Grice is the Managing Principal of Dirigio Partners, where she directs all the firm’s operations while also advising clients across New England and the United States. From elected officials, Fortune 500 companies, to non-profit organizations, Summers-Grice’s clients encompass a wide range of sectors and communities and have benefited immensely from her over 30 years of experience in grassroots advocacy, public relations, and political campaigns.
Throughout her career Summers-Grice has designed and implemented more than 200 grassroots campaigns locally, regionally, and nationally. These campaigns have focused on a diverse collection of issues and were developed to not only positively impact her clients’ immediate goals but address and prepare clients for their long-term aspirations. Her award-winning career has included speaking engagements, decisive campaign victories, and accolades like being a finalist for her 2016 AARP national advocacy campaign, which she was managing partner.
Her clients have included AARP, Verizon, Charter Communications, Delta Airlines, Jet Blue, Pfizer, The Pew Charitable Trust, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Summers-Grice is a well-known political strategist, advisor, and manager who has led and advised over nearly two dozen candidates in New England. She was the architect of two of the most significant upset victories in New England Republican politics this century. The first coming as chief strategist for Lincoln Chafee’s come-from-behind primary win in 2006 and the second helping lead the Republican sweep of Maine’s Senate in 2010.
Summers-Grice has been named one of the most influential people in Republican politics in Maine and has been included on ‘Campaign and Elections’ list of their top 500 influencers. Prior to founding her firm, Summers-Grice served 4 years in President George W. Bush’s administration as the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Labor in Boston. She was born and raised in Upton, Massachusetts, attended Providence College where she graduated with both a bachelor's and master's degree. She currently resides in Cumberland, Maine with her husband Roy Grice.