Ben Dennehy
Ben Dennehy is the Communications Director for the American Consumer Institute, where he works with the broader team to advance the Institute’s communication initiatives. Before coming to ACI, Ben worked at Young Voices within their external communications team and completed the Koch Associate Program. Ben has also worked within policy administration at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC, and brings a unique perspective to the ACI team, witnessing firsthand the impact government policy can have on individuals, families, and businesses across the globe.
Completing a Bachelor of Political Science from the Australian National University, Ben has applied his professional and academic experience to impact policy formation and execution in the US.
Tirzah Duren
As ACI’s Vice President of Policy and Research, Tirzah writes on a wide variety of technology and regulatory-related issues. Prior to coming to ACI Tirzah worked for the premier policy think tank in Pennsylvania where she focused on economic and fiscal policy.
Additionally, she has experience working with think tanks around the globe and has been fortunate to witness firsthand the positive impacts policy can have in individuals’ lives.
Tirzah brings an interdisciplinary approach to policy having received her B.A. in Anthropology from Eastern Oregon University, her M.A. in International Studies from the University of San Francisco and having professional experience in economic research departments across various think tanks.
Nate Karren
Nate is a policy analyst for ACI, focused on various technology topics, including consumer privacy, artificial intelligence, online platform policies, and antitrust regulations.
Before joining ACI, he was a graduate fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity while completing a Master of Science degree in Economics at Utah State University. Prior to this, Nate developed a background in utility management at Conservice while earning his Bachelor’s degree in Economics, also from Utah State University.
His thesis dealt with the intersection between immigration and innovation.
Logan Kolas
Logan Kolas is the Director of Technology Policy at the American Consumer Institute, where he coordinates and conducts research on technology policy issues. He focuses on artificial intelligence, data privacy, economic modernization, emerging technology taxation, workforce flexibility, and technological federalism.
Before joining ACI, Kolas was an economic policy analyst for The Buckeye Institute and a research associate at the Cato Institute. His commentary has appeared in regional and national outlets, including The Hill, RealClear Policy, The Columbus Dispatch, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and Cleveland.com. He earned his Bachelor of Science in economics and political science from George Washington University and holds a Master of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Maryland.
Justin Leventhal
Justin Leventhal is a Senior Economist at the American Consumer Institute, where he works on a variety of economic and consumer policy research. He has formerly been a Research Associate at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where his research focused on regulation, health care, and the Export-Import Bank. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He was awarded his master’s degree in economics in 2021 from George Mason University, and he is currently attending the same university to complete his doctorate in economics.
Steve Pociask
Steve Pociask is President and Chief Executive Officer for the American Consumer Institute. For over forty years, he has been involved in consumer public policy research. He has published numerous economic studies, including three books for the Economic Policy Institute, and policy studies for numerous independent nonprofit organizations. Many of his research studies have focused on the consequences of public policies on consumer welfare. He has extensive experience in various policy issues, including energy, insurance, consumer products, information technology and healthcare. He has conducted surveys of consumer opinion covering a wide variety of public policy issues.
He has participated as a consumer advocacy representative for policymaker organizations. He was the former chair for the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advocacy Committee under both Democratic and Republican FCC Chairmen. He has also written reports for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, including one on small businesses’ telecommunications and broadband expenditures and use. He has testified before Congress. He has appeared numerous times in the media, including Bloomberg News, NBC, FOX, the Hill, Forbes and others. From 1998 to 2000, Steve served as Chief Economist and Executive Vice President for Joel Popkin and Co., an economic consulting firm in Washington, DC. Prior to that, he was Chief Economist for the Bell Atlantic Corporation. He has completed his Ph.D. coursework in economics and has an M.A. in economics from George Mason University.
Trey Price
Trey Price is a Policy Analyst with the American Consumer Institute. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to working with ACI, he did an internship with the Cato Institute. He did his master’s on the Libertarian reaction to the Reagan administration’s policies and works on various issues with ACI.
Mia Reede
Mia Reede is a Communications Associate at the American Consumer Institute. Upon her recent graduation from Wake Forest University, Mia received her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Affairs with a double minor in Journalism and Chinese Language and Culture. Eager to utilize her diverse interests and skillset, she believes that cultivating transparent relationships across all subjects is an imperative first step in protecting and advocating for the interests of consumers, sustaining progress and clarity, and identifying ways to lessen the gaps within our nation’s system.
Nate Scherer
Nate Scherer is a Policy Analyst with the American Consumer Institute where he researches and writes about a diverse range of consumer issues.
He previously served as a Policy Analyst at the Reason Foundation and has also worked for several other nonprofits including the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Leadership Institute.
More recently, he worked an educator for Fairfax County Public Schools and performed research for Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab. He possesses a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education, Social Studies, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics. He currently resides in Arlington, VA.
Kristen Walker
Kristen Walker is a Policy Analyst where she researches and writes on a variety of consumer issues. She previously worked for the Competitive Enterprise Institute in development and donor relations. She also served as a political appointee under the Trump administration at the Department of Energy, working in public affairs and in the office of the under secretary of energy. She interned at Congressman Renacci’s office on Capitol Hill. Prior to jumping into public policy, she taught special education.
Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a Minor in Business from Brigham Young University (Provo, UT), a master’s in special education from Utah State University, and a master’s in political science from George Mason University. She lives in Arlington, VA.
Tyler Yzaguirre
With nearly a decade of experience in fundraising, executive communication, and team building, Tyler Yzaguirre is proud to bring a diverse background of experience to the American Consumer Institute team as its Director of Development. In the past, Tyler has served in various fundraising roles for the National Right to Work Foundation, Practice Without Pressure, and most recently, served as Director of Development for the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Tyler studied at the University of Delaware where he received a B.A. in Political Science and double minors in Spanish and History in 2015.