My mom bought me a keychain that said, “I’m not bossy…I just have better ideas.” This is the perfect quote for me because sometimes I voice my opinion a little too loudly. I graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Political Science which is the perfect major for opinionated people. In college, I became a member of Alpha Chi Omega and served on the executive board. I volunteered with Father’s Eyes, church service projects, and Operation Christmas Child. Volunteering and sorority taught me, among other things, the importance of working together as a team to get things accomplished. I had the opportunity to work with the West Virginia Legislature while it was in session at the state capital. After that experience, I knew that I wanted to continue being involved in politics. I think politics is the perfect job for me because I am able to help people and I have a place to voice my opinion. Currently, I work as a Field Representative for Senator Sharon Runner. Working in the district office has provided me with numerous opportunities that I would have never thought possible and I greatly enjoy being able to get involved in political organizations. I am looking forward to the Bergeson Series and am so excited to learn and get to work alongside like-minded women.

Meet Claire McNeal
Claire McNeal is a California native, born in the 1950’s in the San Francisco Bay area. She is the eldest of five siblings. Her Mother and Grandfather greatly impacted her early life. She was inspired by her Mother who taught her that all of us have a responsibility to our Community; and to work within it to change it for the better, and the importance of having the courage of your convictions.

Claire’s Grandfather John E. Cooter, who was the Head of the Legislature of Oregon in the 1930’s also influenced her later life; sharing with her stories and documents of his tenure as Head of the House. It was then that she began to have a lifelong interest in politics.

The highlight of her early years was meeting Edward Kennedy while working as a volunteer for a television fund raising program.

In the late 1960’s Claire met and married her husband of 43 years, Bob McNeal and moved to the South Bay area where they started their family, and raised their two children. During that time Claire was a stay at home mom, involved in local politics and a volunteer with programs such as Women in Business and as a Docent for the San Jose Museum of Art.

In 1976 Claire worked with her husband to build their newly created business; McNeal Enterprises, Inc. a manufacturing company located in Silicon Valley, California. It was during this time that she became more involved in local and state politics, working as a PAC chairperson for the local division of the National Tooling and Machining Association. She also volunteered her time to help elect candidates to City Council, the Assembly and to the Senate.

In late 1980’s ,Claire and her husband Bob hosted a Symposium at their place of business regarding the importance of manufacturing in the United States. The event received national and state media coverage. In attendance were the Honorable Senator John Seymore, Condollezza Rice, Senator Becky Morgan and other notable political persons.

By the 1990’s Claire became more concerned about the increasing regulations and interference of the Federal Government on her business, and her Constitutional Rights. She began to comment regularly and testify on environmental issues and their impact on small business, local tax bases, and personal rights.

Claire presently lives with her husband on their ranch in El Dorado County. She is actively involved in local politics and has worked to elect the counties current Sheriff and a member of the High School Board. Claire is the current Vice Chair of the El Dorado County Republican Central Committee, serves as an Ex Officio for Congressman McClintock and is past Vice President of the El Dorado County Republican Women. She serves at the pleasure of Assemblywoman Beth Gaines as a member of the Assembly Woman’s Small Business Advisory Council.

Claire McNeal is a Conservative Republican believing that the country and it’s people are best served when allowed to create and innovate without Government interference.

Meet Laura Scheper

Laura Scheper is a media relations specialist for the Orange County Transportation Authority. She joined OCTA in 2007 and serves a spokesperson for the agency, which is responsible for county bus service, freeway and Metrolink funding and planning, the 91 Express Lanes, Measure M administration, streets and roads programs and taxi oversight.

She is responsible for working with members of the media and speaking on behalf of the agency, writing and distributing press releases, preparing board members and executive staff for speaking engagements, and planning special events and press conferences.

While in college, she was an inaugural member of Chapman University’s Young Republicans Club. She has since stayed active in Republican politics, supporting various political platforms and candidates as well as volunteering for local campaigns.

Scheper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies with a minor in public relations from Chapman University. A native of Orange County, she currently lives in Ladera Ranch with her husband, Scott and pug, Mr. Winston. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing and training at her gym, CrossFit 714.

Meet Laurie Davies
Laurie Davies was raised in Wisconsin, in 1981 she drove out to California where she earned a BA in Radio/TV/Film from the University of Long Beach. She moved to Laguna Niguel in 1995 where she currently lives with her husband of 17 years. For the last 11 years Laurie has owned her company Five Star Weddings & Events. She is very involved in the community including being newly appointed as Laguna Niguel Traffic and Transportation Commissioner, Vice President of Mirador Association, Ambassador for the Laguna Niguel Chamber and 3rd Vice President of the Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated. In Laurie’s spare time she loves traveling with her husband and talking politics.

Meet Kyndell Paine

As Manager, Government Relations, Kyndell Paine aides in developing policy initiatives and creating strategies to support operations and expansion for the Disneyland Resort, which encompasses Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the Disneyland Hotel, Disney Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Paradise Pier Hotel and Downtown Disney.

Before coming to the Disneyland Resort, Kyndell served as a Policy Advisor for Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach. During her tenure with the County, she handled legislative affairs for the Second District. Kyndell also has experience in political fundraising, having worked on a presidential election, followed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Kyndell is proud to serve on the Anaheim Sister City Commission and is on the board of directors for the California Women’s Leadership Association (CWLA). In addition, Kyndell is a Fellow at the Jesse M.Unruh Institute of Politics at USC, serves on the Chapman University alumni board and is an active member of Assistance League.

Kyndell received her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California, and her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University.

Meet Kelly Kennerknecht

As the Public Affairs Representative for one of the nation’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans, Kelly Kennerknecht manages area-specific internal communication, patient communication, media relations as well as community and government relations.

A native of Central New York, Kelly moved to the Antelope Valley in 2007. Prior to moving, she held positions in development and communications for health care organizations including Donor Relations Specialist for Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York and Community Relations Assistant for Heritage Health Care Center in Utica, New York.

Kelly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional and Technical Communication from the State University of New York Institute of Technology in Utica, New York where she continues to be an active alumna mentoring students in career development.

Her community involvement includes participating in the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Community Academy; graduating from the Palmdale Partners Academy; and completing the Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team training.

In 2009, Kelly held the position of Membership Chair for Antelope Valley Public Relations Officials and was a member of the Antelope Valley YMCA’s Medical Advisory committee. Kelly served as the Treasurer for the Antelope Valley Jaycees in 2009 and was elected as the Executive Vice President for 2010. Kelly is also a board member of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade and Chairman for the Antelope Valley Board of Trade Health Care Committee.

In the fall of 2009, Kelly was honored as one of the “40 Under 40” young professionals in Santa Clarita Valley/Northern Los Angeles County.

In 2010, Kelly was selected to participate in Leadership California’s “California Issues and Trends” program. Kelly was one of sixty women selected for the Class of 2010. The “California Issues and Trends” program provides focused development of women leaders, exposing them to critical public and private sector issues and enhancing their competitive knowledge on California from state, national, and global perspectives.

In 2011, Kelly was selected to be a delegate for Senator Sharon Runner. Kelly has attended and carried proxies at the 2011 California Republican Party conventions in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Kelly has also volunteered at phone banks at the Antelope Valley Republican headquarters and has been a member of the Antelope Valley Republican Women Federated since 2009.

Meet Jessica Ng

Jessica Hsiang Ng currently serves as director of the newly launched Miller Public Affairs Group. Previously, she worked as press secretary to state Senator Anthony Cannella, for whom she developed and launched a communications strategy designed to position the targeted freshman legislator as a pragmatic leader willing to work across party lines to stimulate job creation and economic growth.

Prior to her service in the state Legislature, Ng worked as deputy communications director to former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Officer and U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, serving as the campaign’s primary writer and editor. As an account executive at Wilson-Miller Communications, Ng provided media relations support to corporate and nonprofit clients, successfully pitching stories designed to highlight their community engagement efforts.

Ng previously served as Assistant Secretary of Planning and Communications for the Office of the Secretary of Education, where she directed and executed an earned media strategy designed to bolster Governor Schwarzenegger’s education reform priorities and initiatives.
From 2007 to 2009, she served in the Governor’s Office as Associate Special Assistant for Executive Communications, researching and writing high-level correspondence for the governor. Ng began her career in the Schwarzenegger administration as a constituent affairs representative.

Ng graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley with Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and psychology.

• To encourage, mentor and prepare selected Republican women leaders to seek new levels of involvement in government and politics;
• To provide participants access to political and governmental leaders responsible for candidate recruitment and/or appointments;
• To establish an executive bank of highly qualified Republican women who are educated and motivated to assume key roles in public service; and,
• To form an effective statewide political network for women.