Our Leadership

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Ben is a senior advisor to Democratic leadership, campaigns, and mission-driven organizations navigating high-stakes policy and political moments.

Over the past 20 years, Ben has worked at the intersection of policy, politics, and communications, advising policymakers, Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and public agencies on issues ranging from healthcare and economic policy to regulatory strategy, reputation risk, and organizational growth.

Before founding Civic North, Ben helped build Eve & Co. (formerly Ichor Strategies), a national public affairs and community engagement firm that grew from a startup to a 65-person organization. He led both the healthcare and political practices, directing major statewide and national initiatives, including efforts that enrolled more than six million people in Medicaid, increased vaccination rates in underserved communities, and helped win multiple statewide elections by decisive margins.

Earlier in his career, Ben served as Policy Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as a senior advisor within Senate Democratic leadership, working with Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Chuck Schumer. He began his policy career on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, advancing healthcare legislative priorities, including the Affordable Care Act. 

Ben holds a Masters' of Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, and previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua. He is originally from New Mexico and is a green chile enthusiast. 

Laura is a senior advisor to Democratic campaigns, philanthropists, and mission-driven organizations — known for her strategic instincts, startup energy, and ability to build high-impact operations from the ground up.

In her 20-year career, Laura has worked at the highest level of executive experience in politics and advocacy, stewarding the vision of organizations and leaders in fast-paced environments. 

Before joining Civic North, she worked across innovative federal advocacy organizations promoting climate solutions, protecting our democracy, cracking down on corporate power, and advancing economic justice. This included a stint at the Hub Project, a vanguard campaign incubator where no idea is too insane to try and no challenge is too difficult to tackle.

Early in her career, Laura found her home in the Democratic Party and the intersection of policy and politics. This included working as the Policy Director for the DSCC and advising candidates in red, blue, and purple states on policy platforms and debate prep, before becoming the inaugural Deputy Chief of Staff for Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). She advised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Chairman Chuck Schumer on economic policy at the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center (DPCC) –  where she first met Ben Nathanson. Her policy career began like many idealistic young people: by giving up a burgeoning bartending career and moving to Washington with hopes of making a difference. Without the immense generosity of senior staff from Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Mike Honda, and many others, it would’ve been a short-lived endeavor.

Laura holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, where she played NCAA Division I women's basketball (Go Bison!). She lives in Sunnyside, Queens, and is a devoted Arsenal supporter.