Staff Bios
Sandra Swirski
Executive Director
Ms. Swirski co-founded Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC in 2010. Prior to this she was a partner at Venn Strategies, LLC since 2001. Swirski has extensive experience in non-profit policy circles. In addition to advising several non-profits, she currently represents The Philanthropy Roundtable and is a frequent speaker at philanthropic and non-profit conferences. A tax lawyer, Ms. Swirski was a senior Congressional aide for two of the most prominent Republicans to serve on the Senate Finance Committee—Senator Jack Danforth (R-MO) and Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY). Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Ms. Swirski was an associate with Ernst & Young. She holds a JD from the George Washington University and an LLM in taxation from Georgetown University.
Sue Santa
Sue Santa joined The Philanthropy Roundtable as senior vice president for public policy in September 2008. Prior to joining the Roundtable, Sue served as a consultant and senior director of public and legal affairs for International Speedway Corporation (ISC). In addition, she served as a spokesperson for ISC on legislative efforts, property development projects, and special events. Sue was also an associate for five years in the legislative practice group of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand in Washington, D.C. She participated in a wide variety of projects, including energy and oil production policy, transportation issues, international trade development, and crisis management for a major airline. Sue’s first experience in Washington was as special projects coordinator for Senator Jeff Bingaman. She managed projects related to education, human services, children’s issues, and the arts. She holds a B.A. in journalism and political science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Anne Urban
Anne Urban is co-founder of Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC. Ms. Urban brings more than twenty five years of legislative, public policy and government relations experience both on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. Before Urban Swirski, Ms. Urban was a partner at Venn Strategies, LLC. Prior to Venn, Ms. Urban was a managing director in the D.C. office of Clark & Weinstock, where she advised clients on a wide range of legislative and executive branch issues, particularly tax, financial services and other economic issues. Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Urban was Legislative Director and Tax Advisor to Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE) overseeing all aspects of the Senator’s legislative work on the Senate Finance Committee, top economic advisor to Senator Joseph Lieberman and as a Ways and Means Committee policy advisor for former Cong. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT). In addition, she ran two of the Congresswoman’s reelection campaigns. Ms. Urban has written, researched, and edited a number of books and reports, including The Real David Stockman, published by St. Martin’s Press in 1986, which she co-authored. Ms. Urban received a B.A. with honors from Amherst College.
Amy Takeuchi-Wanlass
Ms. Takeuchi-Wanlass, Assistant Vice President at Urban Swirski & Associates, comes to ACR with a strong knowledge of Capitol Hill and non-profit policy issues because she works closely with most of the non-profit clients. Ms. Takeuchi-Wanlass previously worked as a Senior Government Relations Associate with Venn Strateies, LLC and Legislative Aide to Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), where she supported the Congressman’s work on issues before the Committee on Ways and Means. Amy received her B.A. from the University of California at Davis.
William Coughlin
William Coughlin comes to ACR with experience in both the government and non-profit sectors. William worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), supporting the Congressman’s work on the House Financial Services Committee. Before Capitol Hill, William worked for the E. M. Kauffman Foundation on their Youth Advisory Board and for the CORO Foundation on program development.