A visionary activist and developer of civic leaders, Bethany believes that one talented, passionate individual working inside government can change an agency, and that many working together can change a community.

In 2007, Bethany launched City Hall Fellows to get the talent snowball rolling. As the first and only non-partisan national service corps for city governments, City Hall Fellows empowers top young talent to help their own cities run better and cheaper. City Hall Fellows prides itself on its proven ability to secure the best young talent, and its highly-regarded, one-of-a-kind, purpose-driven, 300+ hour leadership training program – which prepares Fellows to drive social change through effective local policy innovations and empowers them to be lifelong public leaders.

In just over four years, Bethany has grown City Hall Fellows from a one-page sketch to an impactful venture, raising over $3,000,000 from public and private sources. 7 cohorts of Fellows (working in San Francisco, Houston and Baton Rouge) have saved city agencies over $10 million, piloted ground-breaking anti-obesity and renewable energy programs, project managed water conservation, civil service reform and financial system modernization efforts, and much much more.  Over half of alumni remain in city government post-Fellowship; others take on leadership roles at local nonprofits or attend graduate programs at Oxford, Harvard, Georgetown and the like.

To cultivate City Hall Fellows, Bethany opted to leave a successful legal career at Quinn Emanuel, the country’s largest business litigation-only law firm. Her inspiration: spending the year after college on the 5-person team that guided New York City’s transition into the Internet era. As part of a citywide cohort of young policy wonks, Bethany experienced both city government’s far-reaching impact and the enormous social change young people can create working inside city government.

Bethany is widely recognized as a leader and innovator.  She is an Echoing Green Fellow (2009); a Next American City emerging urban leader (2010); and a former NYC Urban Fellow (1998-99). Most recently, she was named one of the 40 under 40 progressive political entrepreneurs of 2011 by the New Leaders Council and babble.com's 2011 Mom Who Is Changing Your World (Politics). Bethany has her J.D. from Harvard Law School, both a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Pennsylvania, and has authored or co-authored eight academic and industry journal articles.

When not traveling, Bethany lives near Washington, DC with her husband of nine years, their two delightful young daughters and a very spunky dog.

Since joining the City Hall Fellows team shortly after its founding in 2007, Daniel has been responsible for operational and administrative support. Among his other duties, Mr. Liss oversees the organization's financial record-keeping, administers the annual Fellowship selection process and manages all of City Hall Fellows‘ back-office functions. Daniel is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Amherst College, where he was awarded a prestigious research fellowship at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. An avid traveler, Daniel lived and worked in China after graduating college.  Daniel has also worked for the Domestic Violence Services Network in Concord, MA. As a member of the generation brought up to perceive a distinction between public service and government service, Daniel embraces the mission of City Hall Fellows wholeheartedly and knows firsthand both the difficulties in and importance of attracting bright young people to serve in municipal government positions.

Mike manages all aspects of our San Francisco program and brings a wealth of experience with for-profit, non-profit, and governmental entities.

Prior to joining City Hall Fellows, Mike spent five years as a consultant to local government providing a variety of municipal services, including: formation and administration of property-based funding mechanisms, creation of constituent education/community feedback programs, and advocacy of issues/interests before other agencies.  As the principal of MRPR Consulting, Mike provided public affairs, marketing and advocacy services on behalf of youth education/training programs, the construction community, homeowners associations, and green-technology firms.  He began his career as a Legislative Aide working with numerous elected officials and served as the first full-time Executive Director of the California 4-H Youth Foundation.  He has trained thousands of young people and adults on how government works and has lead dozens of educational and advocacy trips to Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

A native Californian, Mike earned an MBA from St. Mary's College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from CSU, Sacramento.  As the parent of a recent United States Air Force Academy graduate, Mike is actively involved with programs and services to support the families of Academy appointees or those serving active duty in the military.

Kathy Fletcher Victorian, Baton Rouge Program Director

Mrs. Victorian has over 15 years of Public Relations/Marketing experience and worked in both the private and public sector before entering into the world of entrepreneurship after serving in the before mentioned capacities. Mrs. Victorian is a graduate of Southern University A & M College earning a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Broadcasting, coupled with a Masters degree in Mass Communications.

In addition, she continued her education by earning her MBA from the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Victorian served as the Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Black Chamber of Commerce for (2.5) years, and in that role her primary responsibilities with the Chamber include public awareness and fundraising. Under her leadership, the chamber experienced a 500% increase in revenue during her first year on board. Currently, she’s an on-air personality with Citadel Broadcasting, Heaven 1460AM/WXOK.

She is a graduate of the 2008 Baton Rouge Leadership Program under the auspices of the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Baton Rouge Junior League, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Greater Baton Rouge American Cancer Society Board, and Gloryland Baptist Church.

In addition, she is the 2009 Humanitarian Award recipient, as well as the 2009 Louise McFarland Award for Excellence in Public Health Communication recipient, coupled with being featured in the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report executive spotlight in the June 2-June 15, 2009 edition. Mrs. Victorian is married to Mr. Michael W. Victorian.