Elisabeth Messenger
CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment
Elisabeth Kines Messenger is the CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Elisabeth started her career in the publicity department at Atlantic Records in Los Angeles, CA. From there, she learned how to build organizations that would impact culture through positions in operations and business development at Universal Music Group, VEVO, and Beats Music.
In 2016, Elisabeth transitioned into working with liberty-focused non-profits, with a particular focus on public-sector labor reform. She served as Executive Vice President of the Palmetto Promise institute in South Carolina, where she grew up, and then became Executive Vice President at the Yankee Institute in Connecticut.
Elisabeth holds a degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina, and her advertising work in grassroots labor reform has won two Reed awards. She loves writing recipes and making playlists.
Isabel Blank
Senior Communications Director
Isabel Blank is Senior Communications Director at Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Prior to joining Americans for Fair Treatment in 2021, Isabel worked in media relations at Travelers Insurance and held government affairs and communications roles with Yankee Institute.
She has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish, both from the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!).
Isabel is a Connecticut native, but loves exploring local businesses and hiking in her new home of Colorado Springs.
Brigette Herbst
Senior Organizing Director
Brigette Herbst is the Senior Organizing Director of Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Prior to joining Americans for Fair Treatment in 2018, Brigette’s career included working in the public sector for New York State, teaching elementary school, coaching high school sports, and working as a municipal county employee.
This unique experience offers Brigette an inside perspective on public employee culture in New York. She focuses on educating New Yorkers about their constitutional rights with regard to union membership and promoting fair treatment of workers.
Brigette has her bachelor’s degree in history and politics and her master’s degree in elementary education. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and planning trips for her family.
Spencer Irvine
Senior Writer & Researcher
Spencer Irvine is Senior Writer & Researcher at Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Spencer previously worked in state government, in communications for a non-profit advocacy organization, and held various administrative and communications roles at a media analysis organization. He has a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brigham Young University.
He lives in Arizona with his wife, is an avid history buff and enjoys touring historic sites.
Rebecca Mulwhalen
Membership & Logistics Manager
Rebecca Mulwhalen is the Membership & Logistics Manager of Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights.
Since joining the team in 2018, Rebecca has enjoyed watching the organization grow and expand to meet the needs of its members. She focuses on providing value and services to members in Pennsylvania and New York.
Rebecca has her bachelor’s degree in political science, with minors in business administration and law & society. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends in her home state of Pennsylvania.
Mimi O’Grady
Executive Assistant and Administrator
Mimi O’Grady is the Executive Assistant and Administrator at Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector employees offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. Prior to joining Americans for Fair Treatment in 2021, Mimi scheduled for several U.S. Representatives and a Senator.
Mimi graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in public relations and cultivated her passion for and experience in logistics while working on Capitol Hill.
A Pittsburgh native, Mimi currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son and enjoys cooking, historical fiction, and spending time outside.
David Osborne
Special Counsel
David R. Osborne is Special Counsel for Americans for Fair Treatment, a community of current and former public-sector workers offering resources and support to exercise their First Amendment rights. David is the former CEO of AFFT.
Prior to his roles at Americans for Fair Treatment he served as President & General Counsel of the Fairness Center, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm providing free legal representation to those hurt by public sector union officials, and as a Presidential appointee to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which resolves labor impasses between federal agencies and federal employee unions.
David earned his Juris Doctor (JD) at Florida State University College of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and radio/television communications from the University of Central Florida.