Meet the Staff of CAOD

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Miriam Yohannes Montgomery serves as the Chief for the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) within the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). Prior to serving as the Chief, Miriam helped stand up the Commission’s first-ever grants infrastructure as well as serving as the Lead for the ACP Outreach Grant Program. Prior to joining the FCC, Miriam spent years at the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) within the U.S. Department of Commerce helping stand up the Nation’s first Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. Miriam also spent over a decade at various components within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security such as FEMA and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Office of Emergency Communications standing up and leading various counterterrorism, all-hazards preparedness, and emergency communications policy initiatives and grant programs. Miriam has an extensive amount of experience in federal grants management, enterprise strategic and operational planning, performance management, stakeholder engagement, and more. Miriam has a Strategic Management Graduate Certificate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University.

 

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Sherry L. Dawson is Deputy Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Since 2003, she has managed and executed the Division’s initiatives to educate and inform consumers about the FCC and its role in addressing telecommunications issues that affect their daily lives. A career-employee with the FCC, Ms. Dawson has worked in various Bureaus and Offices throughout the agency. She views consumer outreach as her most rewarding work at the Commission. Ms. Dawson represents the FCC at public meetings and conferences by presenting on consumer issues and/or speaking directly with consumer groups. She feels that "speaking directly to consumers and receiving their feedback is vital to providing trust and establishing relationships with consumers and the organizations that represent them." Ms. Dawson is a native of Washington, DC. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Wake Forest University.

 

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Keyla Hernandez-Ulloa is the Deputy Chief for the Federal Communication Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division. In this capacity, she provides strategic leadership with regards to planning, developing and managing the Division’s consumer-facing outreach efforts and agency-wide projects as assigned. From March 2015 to June 2016, and then again from January to June 2018, she served as Acting Deputy Chief managing several leadership transitions. Previously, she served as the Division’s Associate Division Chief, responsible for communicating information regarding Commission rules, policy, programs and activities and developing and implementing consumer outreach and education policies, goals and objectives targeted to consumers at the federal, state, and local levels. Prior to joining the FCC in October 2007, Ms. Hernandez-Ulloa was the Community Relations and Press Manager for the New York State Department of Health. She focused primarily on addressing the health concerns of all the residents in the State of New York. Ms. Hernandez-Ulloa received both a Bachelors of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management and a Masters of Business Administration in Business Management from Pace University in New York.

 

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Joy Sears is the Supervisory Grants Management Specialist in the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) responsible for program development and strategy. She also serves as the Grants Management Officer for Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program where she is responsible for grants administration and financial oversight. Ms. Sears joined the FCC in July 2022 to co-develop the Commission's first-ever grant program after acquiring over acquiring 15 years of program development, oversight, and grants management experience for various federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Homeland Security.

 

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Anthony Butler is a Consumer Education and Outreach Specialist in the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division. He is responsible for educating consumers about the Commission’s issues and policies that directly affect consumers. The goal is to empower consumers to make more informed decisions with regards to their technology needs. He uses various outreach to deliver consumer messaging include planning and executing events such as a digital literacy workshop for older adults and a telehealth technology expo. Previously Mr. Butler was a Consumer Advocacy and Mediations Specialist in the Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division. Prior to this position, Mr. Butler was employed in the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) as an Office Automation Clerk. Mr. Butler has been with the FCC since 1990.

 

Ms. Coho serves as a Deputy Designated Federal Officer on the FCC's Communications, Equity, and Diversity Council. She researches telecommunications issues affecting consumers such as digital literacy, broadband adoption, mHealth, Text-to-911, cramming, bill shock, robocalls, emergency communications, and disability rights. She develops and implements national outreach campaigns for FCC programs such as Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program, and facilitates partnerships with multiple consumer groups, agencies, and other stakeholders. In this capacity, she creates and delivers training; arranges and presents on webinars and podcasts; arranges exhibits, tours, presentations, and other special events. Ms. Coho published blogs on the FCC webpage and contributes to content posted on the FCC’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division webpage. Prior to joining the FCC in 2011, Ms. Coho’s diverse experience included managing a training and outreach division in the private sector; managing contractors; designing, delivering, and implementing floodplain management and multi-hazard mitigation planning programs; program management, strategic planning and process improvement; regulatory analysis; policy development; grants management for state, local, and Tribal officials; Congressional relations and correspondence; as well as emergency management and Tribal issues. Ms. Coho is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

 

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Renee Coles is a Consumer Education Outreach Specialist for the Consumer Affairs Outreach Division (CAOD). She works with her team to help bring awareness and educating consumers about their rights and options from the FCC. During her career at the FCC, she has served as the Confidential Assistant for Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, the Staff Assistant to former Commissioner Michael Copps and worked in Human Resources as a Specialist in Payroll and Benefits. She worked on projects with WIN (Washington Interfaith Network) to enhance community awareness for enhancements and development in Washington, DC neighborhoods. She worked with the Mayor’s Office and the City Council and lead meetings as a representative for the community. Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Coles owned a small business and served as a manager in the field of retail.

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Alma Hughes is a Consumer Education & Outreach Specialist in the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division. In her present position, Ms. Hughes provides outreach to numerous constituencies including K-12 and older adults, educating them on the importance of telecommunications programs as well as the rules and polices that have been implemented by the Commission. Since May 1983, she has held positions in the Mass Media Bureau’s (now Media Bureau) Cable Division, Video Service Division, and the Policy Division as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist. She is continuously looking to expand her career in communications while addressing the needs of consumers. Earlier in her career, Ms. Hughes attended classes at the University of the District of Columbia. During her high school years in the Washington, DC area, she was employed as a part-time clerk typist at the Department of Defense/Air Force JAG Office.

 

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Since 2018, David Savolaine has been a Consumer Education and Outreach Specialist for the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On behalf of CAOD and the agency, Mr. Savolaine has spoken with many consumers (in-person and virtually,) as well as with many issue stakeholders in the private sector and various levels of government, about FCC programs and subjects. Previously, Mr. Savolaine worked in the Web and Print Publishing Division (WPPD), where he wrote and edited numerous consumer outreach materials, as well as being the Contracting Officer Representative for a contract to translate materials into several other languages. Mr. Savolaine joined the FCC in 2001 as part of the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) after having worked as legislative staff for Sen. John Glenn and Rep. Sherrod Brown. In 2003, he joined the Media Bureau’s (MB) Office of Communications and Industry Information, where he responded to Congressional inquiries and FOIA requests, as well as drafted briefing memos on MB issues. Mr. Savolaine has a B.A. in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University, and a M.A. in American Government from American University. He is the proud father of two sons, lead a Cub Scout pack for seven years, enjoys performing music and theater, and sings and plays bass in the FCC Band.

 

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Deandrea Wilson is a Consumer Education and Outreach Specialist in the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD). She has been with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since 1999. Prior to her role in the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) Ms. Wilson served six years as an Outreach Specialist in the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau where she provided expert advice, and guidance to the Director of Strategic Communications, and Bureau management. She planned, developed, coordinated, and implemented national-level public safety and homeland security outreach and education initiatives to educate and inform targeted audiences about the Commission’s public safety programs. In her current role in CAOD, she leads the planning and execution of expos that reach national audiences. She also develops outreach materials for high-level Commission outreach projects.

 

Kimberley (Kim) Marshall joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) as a Grants Management Specialist in December 2023. She is responsible for grants administration and financial oversight for Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program and serves as a liaison between the FCC and grant recipients. She also works to develop various policy documents and standard operating procedures. Kim has over 25 years of experience having worked at the U.S Department of Justice, U.S Department of Homeland Security and U.S Department of Treasury holding several leadership roles responsible for program development, oversight/monitoring, strategic planning, and grants management.

 

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Ashley Pendleton joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) as a Grants Management Specialist in September 2023. She is responsible for grants administration and financial oversight for Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program and serves as a liaison between the FCC and grant recipients. She also works to develop various policy documents and standard operating procedures. Prior to the FCC, Ashley worked for the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency as Program Analyst. She administered and implemented multiple preparedness grant programs, including the Homeland Security Grant Program, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program. She is originally from Olney, MD and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and minors in Business Administration and Communication Studies. Ashley currently resides in Rockville, Maryland with her husband, Larry; son, Law; daughter, Layne; and precious pup, Haven.

 

Lindsey Tomes joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) as a Grants Management Specialist in November 2022. She is responsible for grants administration, financial oversight, and co-development of policy documents and external resources for the FCC’s first-ever grant program, the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (ACOGP). Prior to joining the FCC, Lindsey worked for the U. S. Department of Homeland Security – Federal Emergency Management Agency for 10+ years as a Program Analyst in support of various anti-terrorism grants, including the Homeland Security Grant Program. She currently resides in the Cleveland, OH area with her husband and 2 daughters.

 

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Chantal Virgile is a National Community Impact Manager (NCIM) for the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD) at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). She joined CAOD in 2014, where she focuses on creating and maintaining outreach materials to educate consumers about the commission’s initiatives and resources. Currently, she coordinates awareness on initiatives such as affordable connectivity, illegal robocalls and providing information to assist consumers with access to telecommunication services. Ms. Virgile began her career at the Commission in 2002 with the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) working on broadband mapping. She has worked with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) on outreach campaigns such as Text-to-911, and emergency alerting, preparedness and disaster response efforts. Most recently, she helped to manage the commission’s first Grants Outreach Program which provided funding and resources to select recipients to increase awareness and enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – the largest internet discount program in U.S. history. Post the Affordable Connectivity Program, Chantal’s focus also includes promoting digital literacy and education for consumers to connect with affordable broadband advocacy groups and resources such as, libraries, digital literacy groups and the Lifeline program. Ms. Virgile is an alumni of University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. She lives in Maryland with her husband and 3 daughters.

 

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Gerard Williams has been with the FCC since 2014, when he joined CAOD as a staff Sign Language Interpreter on the Section 504 team. He subsequently served as the Section 504 Compliance Officer before moving into his current position as National Community Impact Manager in Spring 2023. As a nationally certified American Sign Language/English Interpreter with a Masters Degree in Interpretation from Gallaudet University, and a BA in Theatre from George Washington University, he brings a unique blend of skills to the table facilitating access to information important to communities throughout the country. He has a passion for the intersection of communication, data, and information technology to help tell important stories that can shape the conversation around important issues at the FCC.

 

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Amy Cresap serves as the Section 504 Compliance Officer in CAOD and works to advance the FCC’s mission by ensuring its activities and materials are accessible to the public. She joined the FCC in 2018 as a Sign Language Interpreter, and after five years of providing interpreting services to FCC staff and visitors, she moved into her current position. Before joining the FCC, Amy worked as an ASL interpreter for many years, developing an interest in interpreting that continues to this day. She holds the National Interpreter Certification, along with a master’s degree in Sign Language Interpreting, a BS in Sign Language Interpreting, and a BA in Portuguese.

 

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Ella Fagone is a Sign Language Interpreter in the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division (CAOD). Ella provides interpreting services for deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind employees and guests of the Commission. When not interpreting, Ella enjoys traveling, non-fiction, and spending time with their teenage children and dogs.