Meet the Team
Wayne Valis
Founder & CEO
For over four decades, Wayne Valis has built a track record of success on major public policy issues and business development. He has an unsurpassed knowledge of the inner workings of the White House and U.S. Executive Branch. A political impresario par excellence, Wayne connects clients and coalitions to the Congressional/Executive Branch offices to accomplish their regulatory goals.
Wayne started his D.C. career at the American Enterprise Institute before going on to personally serve three U.S. Presidents: Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. Under those three Administrations, Wayne worked closely with the business community on regulatory reform issues and coalition building. In 1983, he founded Valis Associates, an independent public policy consulting, lobbying and advocacy company.
Valis has written numerous articles and reviews as well as two books, The Future under President Reagan and The Lincoln Magna Carta: an Icon of Freedom for the Twenty First Century. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University.
Maura Valis
President & Executive Director of Coalitions
Maura plans and runs all of the Valis Network events. She serves as the moderator/host for our online and in-person programs. Along with coalition and research work, Maura brings synergy and creativity to the Valis team. With a spirit of bipartisan cooperation, Maura brings the eye of a political independent to the Valis team.
Previously, Maura learned that "People are Policy" while working at The Heritage Foundation for four years in the 1990s under Ed Feulner's capable tenure. She edited Heritage’s Insider Newsletter and staffed Heritage's Resource Bank for three years, as well as assisting Ed Meese to run monthly legal roundtable luncheons for three years. Some of her prior experiences include working for the Fairfax County Public Library system, along with editing, desktop publishing, and tutoring work. She joined the Valis Associates staff in 2008.
Maura graduated from Bryn Mawr College and resides in Virginia.
Steve Harro
Of Counsel
With over two decades of government service, political campaign management, and corporate executive experience, Steve Haro’s work in Congress, the executive branch and the private sector has spanned countless issues, challenges and disciplines. His unique, broad background provides clients, collaborators and colleagues a holistic view and an ability to execute that few can match.
Previously, Haro served as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at TelevisaUnivision where he oversaw all U.S. policy, advocacy and political work for the 15,000-employee company. He was also with the government affairs firm, Mehlman Consulting, where he provided strategic policy and political counsel to Fortune 500 companies, venture-backed startups, trade associations, and many others. Haro’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Commerce, and Chief of Staff to Sen. Martin Heinrich.
The Hill named him to its “Top Lobbyists” list twice. He is also the Hispanic Lobbyist's Association's 2024 "Lobbyist of the Year" recipient.
Chris Yablonski
Vice President, Research and Strategic Information
As Vice President, Chris focuses research and strategic information. He is master of data wrangling and deep-dive research.
Previously, Chris worked in policy in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Community Planning and Development 2019-2021. In that role, Chris helped oversee proposed regulatory reforms for the Community Development Block Grants program and relating to HUD’s compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Chris also helped coordinate HUD’s response to COVID-19 and the implementation of the CARES Act for the $9 billion in housing grant programs under his office’s purview.
From 2012 to 2019, Chris worked as a general researcher for Fox News and associated platforms. Over that time, Chris authored 5,600 research items for dozens of Fox shows and online outlets. He also provided dedicated research support to anchors and producers for the No.1-rated America's Newsroom. Chris has also worked as an editor, researcher, fundraiser, and consultant for public policy-oriented nonprofits and philanthropies.
Chris is a graduate of the College of William & Mary.
Karen Perry
Director of Operations
As Director of Operations, Karen handles internal operations, web consulting and development, contracted client services, and all things procedural. With a passion for details and analysis, Karen seeks to serve clients and colleagues in finding detailed, complete, and efficient solutions.
Prior to joining the Valis team, Karen honed her skills in operations management, team leadership, and web development at firms including MicroNeil Research Corporation, Computer Science Corporation, and Acuent, Inc. She has also lent her web consulting experience to several non-profit organizations.
Karen is a graduate of James Madison University, and an MBA candidate at Boston University.