Charles Debnam, MCHES, CTTS , Chair DC Tobacco Free Coalition

DC Representative, African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council

Charles has over 20 years experience working nationally and locally on HIV/AIDS issues and 15 years of experience working with chronic disease. He is a member of the DC Tobacco Free Coalition for 6 years and Chair for the past 2 years. Charles is experienced in grassroots organizing, community outreach and health promotions particularly in disparate communities, and he has held various leadership roles with non-profit organizations. He is a Certified Master Health Education Specialist (MCHES), Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS) and a Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC). Fun fact: Charles is a native Washingtonian and meditates every day for at least an hour.

Susan Walley, MD, MHCM, NCNTT, FAAP, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National Hospital

Dr. Susan Walley is a pediatric hospitalist and serves as Chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine at Children's National Hospital in Washington DC. Nationally, Dr. Walley is an expert in the prevention of youth tobacco and nicotine use and tobacco-related diseases. She serves as the immediate past-Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Nicotine and Tobacco Prevention and Treatment and on the Board of Directors of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Her research interests include developing effective healthcare and school-based interventions to decrease youth tobacco use. In addition, Dr. Walley is a nationally certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and has led advocacy efforts to implement policies to protect youth and families including smoke-free municipalities.

Caroline Bennett, MPH, Manager of Activism & State Strategy, Truth Initiative

Caroline Bennett is currently the Manager of Activism & State Strategy at Truth Initiative. She is responsible for building and sustaining partnerships with youth-serving community organizations across the country, and mobilizing activists on key issues through online and offline campaign strategies. Caroline received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and public Health and a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University.

Chris Bostic, MSFS, JD, Director for Policy, Action on Smoking and Health

Chris Bostic is the Policy Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and has been a leader in global tobacco control since 2001 when he attended negotiations for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as a civil society international and human rights law expert.

Chris oversees the development and implementation of ASH’s programs. His current priority areas include Project Sunset (tobacco endgame), the environment, UN and WHO treaty negotiations, trade agreements, tobacco industry monitoring, human rights, and tobacco industry liability. In addition to his close involvement in the WHO FCTC negotiations and implementation, Chris actively participated in negotiations for the TransPacific Partnership Agreement from 2011-2016 and the negotiating sessions of the UN Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. Since 2018, he has served on advisory committees for the tobacco endgame at the state, national, and global levels.

Throughout his career, Chris has worked on tobacco policy at the local, state, national and international levels. Prior to joining ASH, he worked with the American Lung Association, where he helped to develop SLATI (State-Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues), a national database of tobacco control regulations. He has also served as a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Law, and was a member of the board of directors of the Human Rights and Tobacco Control Network until it merged with ASH in 2019.

In 2009, Chris led the efforts of an international coalition to redevelop a civil society shadow reporting program for the FCTC, culminating in the periodic publication of Tobacco Watch, which tracked global implementation of the treaty.

He has also served as a legal counsel, policy advisor, policy taskforce leader, and FCTC COP Daily Bulletin Editor for the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control (now known as the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control).

Chris holds a Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law, and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He regularly presents at regional, national and global conferences and has been a guest lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center, University of Maryland School of Law, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Howard University School of Public Health, University of Illinois-Chicago, & Gettysburg College.

Elizabeth Davis, MHA, Government Affairs Manager, Children’s National Hospital

As the Government Affairs manager for Washington, D.C., at Children’s National Hospital, Elizabeth participates in the strategic planning and implementation of legislative activity on behalf of Children’s National in the District of Columbia. She monitors local legislation and regulations and engages with government stakeholders to ensure that children are kept in the forefront of the development of policies and regulations. 

Stuart Berlow, Sr. Region Lead, State Government Relations, American Heart Association

Stuart is a collaborative team and coalition builder, with more than 20 years of experience in state and local government relations and advocacy, and public health policy and programs. A strategic leader bringing diverse teams together to achieve a shared mission, utilizing and cultivating the skillsets of each team member. A passionate, innovative, mission-focused advocate, partner, and lifelong learner.

Mike Bento, CEO, Engage Strategies LLC

Mike is an accomplished strategic marketing executive, with a 25 year track record of results in a variety of clients in the tourism, conservation, education, and public health sectors. 

Mike has consulted with major for profit and non-profit organizations including the Anacostia Watershed Society, the D.C. Department of Health, the Montana Office of Tourism, the National Park Service, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Perfect Health Inc., the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, and many others.

On the client side, Mike was the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communication at Communities In Schools, the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, as well as the Senior Vice President at the National Park Foundation, overseeing all corporate and consumer marketing programs and channels.  For thirteen years, Mike was a Senior Vice President at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, directing the agency's work on behalf of the National Park Service, Miller Brewing Company, Pfizer, Nestle, and the U.S Centers for Disease Control among others.   

Dr. Kendric Dartis, Vice President of Engagement & Outreach, Truth Initiative

Dr. Kendric Dartis is the Vice President of Outreach and Engagement at Truth Initiative, America's largest nonprofit public health organization focused on preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction. He leads the organization's efforts to engage communities and stakeholders, particularly in underserved populations like Black Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals, and brings years of tobacco regulatory experience from his time at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. A Tennessee native and proud graduate of Tennessee State University, Dr. Dartis is also an adjunct professor, civic leader, and holds advanced degrees in healthcare administration and public health.

Megan C. Diaz, PhD, Managing Director of Research, Truth Initiative

Megan Diaz, is a Research Managing Director at the Schroeder Institute at Truth Initiative. She has co-authored research on the prevention and reduction of illicit tobacco and the health effects of raising tobacco, alcohol, and sugar sweetened beverage excise taxes. In addition, she has provided analytic work to support defending tobacco control and alcohol tax policies in international and state tribunals and provides technical expertise to the World Health Organization.  Megan has a Ph.D. and master’s in Economics from the University of Illinois Chicago.