AIC Directory

Will Dunham is President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Investment Council (AIC), an advocacy and resource organization that represents the private equity and private credit industries. In this role, he leads the AIC team to effectively advocate for private investment’s powerful role in supporting jobs, building better businesses, and strengthening retirement across America.  

Prior to this, Will Dunham was the AIC’s Executive Vice President of Government Affairs. He led AIC’s bipartisan advocacy and education efforts on behalf of the private investment industry, taking the industry’s story directly to lawmakers, and promoting a tax and regulatory environment that supercharges American job creation.

Earlier in his career, Will spent two years as a Policy Director at Brownstein, the largest lobbying firm in the United States, working for a diverse group of clients in the financial services, health care, and consumer brands sectors. 

Will spent more than 13 years in Congress. He served for seven years as former-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) top policy aide and liaison to House committees, the Senate, and executive branch, through every type of political terrain. As the lead House Republican staffer in bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, Will developed a deep understanding of the legislative process. His negotiating experience spans from perennial National Defense Authorization Acts and appropriations bills, to crisis legislation including the historic COVID legislative response. Prior to his work for former-Speaker McCarthy, Will also served as executive director to now-Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).  

Will graduated from Hillsdale College with a Bachelor of Science in English.

Mazin Abdelgader serves as the Vice President of Creative at the American Investment Council (AIC), where he leads the organization’s brand, design, and creative strategy. In this role, he oversees all visual and digital communications across AIC’s platforms — including social media, publications, events, and digital campaigns — to effectively convey how private equity and private credit strengthen the American economy.

With a multidisciplinary background in design, marketing, and strategic communications, Mazin brings a keen eye for storytelling that bridges data, policy, and public understanding. He collaborates closely with AIC’s leadership and member firms to develop engaging campaigns that highlight the industry’s impact on small businesses, workers, and retirees nationwide.

Before joining AIC, Mazin directed creative strategy for national brands and advocacy organizations, helping them build cohesive identities and communicate complex ideas with clarity and purpose.

Mazin received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from George Mason University.

Caitlin Carroll brings 15 years experience in political communication, including nearly a decade on Capitol Hill leading media strategy and crisis communications on top national issues. She joined AIC from Weber Shandwick, where she was a senior vice president advising Fortune 100 companies, trade associations, and non-profits on public affairs and crisis communications.

Prior to that, Caitlin was Communications Director for Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), leading his comms operation while he served as Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In that role, she worked on leading problems in public health policy, including the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response, school closures and learning loss, the F.D.A.’s baby formula shortage crisis. 

She also brings experience from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the Republican Study Committee, presidential and congressional campaigns, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Jimmy Guiliano is Vice President of Government Affairs at the American Investment Council, where he works on federal policy issues affecting private equity, private credit, and the broader private capital markets. His work focuses on financial services and capital markets regulation, tax policy, retirement and investor access, and investment policy related to national security. He regularly engages with Members of Congress, committee staff, regulators, and industry leaders on behalf of the private equity industry.

Before joining the AIC, Jimmy spent more than six years on Capitol Hill, including serving as a senior policy advisor to Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) on the Senate Finance Committee and as a professional staff member on the Senate Banking Committee. In those roles, he worked on a wide range of financial services and economic policy issues, including capital markets regulation, tax and trade policy, outbound investment controls, sanctions, and export controls. He also supported oversight of financial regulators and agency rulemaking and was closely involved in managing complex legislative processes, including reconciliation.

Jimmy earned a B.A. in Economics from the College of William & Mary, where he completed the International Finance program.

Kevin Callahan serves as Vice President of State Government Affairs at the American Investment Council. In this newly created role, Callahan leads the AIC’s state-level advocacy efforts, ensuring state legislators nationwide understand the critical role private investment plays in supporting small businesses, investing in local communities, and creating jobs. He brings extensive experience shaping and influencing legislation at the state level.

Jamal Hagler serves as Senior Vice President of Research at the American Investment Council. In this role, he leads the AIC’s research department. Previously, Jamal served as Director of Research at the AIC. Prior to joining the AIC, Jamal worked at the Center for American Progress, where he researched a range of policy issues.

Jamal earned his bachelor’s degree from Howard University.

Yasmine Hamandi is the Office Manager at the American Investment Council. In this role, she supports the Vice President of Finance and Operations.

Prior to joining the AIC, Yasmine worked in the mortgage industry in Washington DC as well as in the food industry in Dubai and United Kingdom.  

Yasmine received her MA International Marketing and Communications from the University of Surrey in Guildford Surrey and her BSc in Economics and Business Administration from University of Kent in Canterbury, Kent

Yasmine was born in Surrey, United Kingdom.

Negra Husikić is the Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations at the American Investment Council. In this role, she oversees the Council’s overall financial strategy and operating efficiency. Negra also serves as Secretary of the AIC Board of Directors.

Prior to joining the Council in 2014, she worked in accounting/finance for Groom Law Group and as a Personal Banker/Loan Officer for Bank of America.

Negra received her BA in International Politics from The Pennsylvania State University. While at Penn State, Negra completed her BA in International Studies and BA in French and Francophone Studies in Paris, France. She holds a Certificate in Corporate Finance from Georgetown University.
Negra was born in Bosnia, grew up in Pittsburgh.

Dillon Iwu serves as Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Investment Council.

Prior to joining the AIC, Dillon worked for five years as a Senior Field Representative for Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), who also serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. In this role, he drafted and tracked legislation that expanded opportunities for equity investment in low-income communities.

Dillon also has extensive grassroots political experience working as an organizer for the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) and as a Senior Field Director for both Vote Atlantic City Proud and Stand Up & Vote Louisiana.

Dillon also serves as a board member for the Los Angeles Venture Associates updating the organization on state and federal legislation that would impact the venture capital and private equity ecosystem in California.

Dillon received his B.A. in Political Science from Towson University in 2013 and his M.P.A. from Wilmington University in 2016.  

Rebekah Goshorn Jurata serves as General Counsel for the American Investment Council (AIC).  AIC, a leading trade association in the financial services industry, is an advocacy, communications, and research organization established to advance access to capital, job creation, retirement security, innovation, and economic growth by promoting responsible long-term investment.  In her capacity as General Counsel, Rebekah assists in developing the policy positions of its members and coordinates the responses to regulatory agencies rulemakings and actions that impact private equity and credit.  

Before joining the AIC, Rebekah served as a Board Member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).  The PCAOB oversees the audits of public companies and registered brokers and dealers. As a Board Member, Rebekah assisted in the oversight and operations and actions of the agency, advised on all policy-related matters impacting the PCAOB’s statutory mandate and voted on enforcement actions and inspections of auditors. 

Prior to the PCAOB, she served in the White House as Special Assistant for Financial Policy at the National Economic Council where she worked on a wide array of financial services policy issues including the U.S. capital markets, banking, insurance, and consumer protection. Before receiving her appointment as a commissioned officer at the White House, Rebekah held a variety of senior roles in the Federal Government including serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Financial Markets at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Senior Securities Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, and Counsel to Commissioner Daniel M. Gallagher of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  Rebekah has also spent time in the private sector where she worked as a Senior Associate in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm.

A California native, she earned a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Master of International Affairs with a concentration in International Management from the University of California, San Diego.  Rebekah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science Economics, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science also at the University of California, San Diego.

Jess Kodad serves as Executive Assistant to the CEO and PAC Coordinator at the American Investment Council. In this role, she supports executive-level calendar and priority management, board and leadership coordination, and oversight of PAC operations, reporting, and compliance tracking. Jess brings nearly two decades of experience supporting C-suite executives and senior leadership teams across consulting and government affairs.

Prior to joining the AIC, Jess spent nearly three years at West Monroe, supporting senior leadership with executive operations, office management, and strategic communications in a fast-paced consulting environment. She previously spent more than 11 years at McKinsey & Company, where she supported senior consultants and partners and developed expertise in executive support, global coordination, and communications across a highly matrixed organization.

Lee Slater serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Investment Council.

Prior to joining the AIC, Lee was a senior member of the Biden-Harris Administration, serving as Deputy Assistant to President Biden and Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs. In this role, he led congressional engagement strategies and served as a primary administration negotiator with House and Senate leadership. Previously, Lee was a Special Assistant to the President and House Legislative Liaison as well as a member of the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition team.

Prior to the White House, Lee worked in the House of Representatives for 14 years. He held roles including Director of Outreach and Member Services for the House Committee on Ways and Means under the leadership of then Chair Richard Neal (D-MA) and Chief of Staff to Congressman John Larson (D-CT). 

Lee came to Washington, D.C. after serving as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve where he volunteered for multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq and received numerous awards and decorations for his military service.

Shelby Begany Telle serves as Deputy General Counsel for the American Investment Council (AIC). In this role, Shelby brings critical hands-on expertise as the AIC advocates on significant regulatory and legislative proposals affecting private equity and private credit.  

Before joining the AIC, Shelby worked as a senior associate specializing in securities litigation and enforcement at the international law firm, WilmerHale. Shelby also served as Confidential Assistant to Chairman Jay Clayton for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Prior to her time at the SEC, she spent several years on Capitol Hill working for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) serving on the professional staffs of the Senate Banking, Appropriations, and Rules Committees. 

While working full-time in government, Shelby earned a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.

Chris Toppings serves as Co-Head of Government Affairs at the American Investment Council, where he leads AIC’s bipartisan advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels alongside Lee Slater. Chris brings nearly two decades of Capitol Hill experience and deep expertise in tax, trade, and financial services policy.

Prior to joining AIC, Chris served as Senior Policy Adviser to U.S. Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD), where he led policy development for the Senate Finance and Banking Committee provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 and helped secure passage of the GENIUS Act, which established the first federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. Earlier in his career, he served as Legislative Director for Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and worked on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY). Chris began his Capitol Hill career in the office of Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH).

At AIC, Chris works with member firms and lawmakers across the political spectrum to educate policymakers on how private investment strengthens small businesses, creates jobs, and supports the retirement security of millions of Americans.