Chloe Ames is the Climate Policy Advisor of NextGen Policy. Her policy areas of emphasis include climate resilience planning and clean energy. Her work focuses on building a resilient, equitable, and thriving California in the face of existing and future climate impacts. 

Before joining the NextGen Policy team, Chloe worked for the Union of Concerned Scientists as the Senior Outreach Organizer on national climate and clean energy issues. She has also worked at the local and regional levels in Los Angeles and Austin, TX to provide capacity building for government agencies on climate adaptation and clean transportation topics. 

Chloe has a Master of Environmental Management degree in climate resilience policy and planning with an emphasis on extreme heat resilience from the Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a California native and in her spare time enjoys traveling, hiking, going to farmer’s markets, and generally getting outside.

Tiffany Germain specializes in public policy analysis and political research, with a focus on food justice and strengthening California’s food systems. Her work centers on addressing food insecurity, expanding access to healthy school meals, and expanding initiatives that make California’s food system more equitable and sustainable.

Before joining NextGen Policy, Tiffany served as Deputy Research Director at NextGen America, where she focused on statewide and national political races. She previously worked as Research Manager for the Center for American Progress Action Fund in Washington, D.C., and on Capitol Hill for United States Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), proudly serving the people of her home state of North Carolina.

Tiffany holds a BA in Political Science from East Carolina University and an MA in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Amy Hamblin is a Policy Advisor at NextGen Policy and is responsible for the following areas: inclusive democracy and consumer protections.

Before joining NextGen Policy, Amy worked as a policy advisor on Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign. She brings over 15 years of experience in advocacy, communications, and civic engagement. She began her career on the 2008 Obama campaign, managing an online community of nearly two million supporters. She is passionate about strengthening civic engagement at home and abroad. She has served as an international election observer in Ukraine, Russia, Egypt, and Macedonia. In addition to her work at NextGen, Amy also teaches in the Political Science Department at Contra Costa College.

Amy holds a Master’s degree in International Relations with a specialization in Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Political Science from Northwestern University.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Arturo Juarez spearheads NextGen’s broadband and digital equity policy portfolio, and was responsible for the implementation of NextGen’s now sunsetted legacy program, Connect Corps. His work includes leading state wide telecom advocacy and policy efforts focused on universal access, affordability, equity, as well as literacy & navigation. His responsibilities have also included program management, partnership cultivation, and organizational growth initiatives. 

Arturo started his career in the private sector, working for a multinational investment and financial services company, where he managed a five hundred million dollar investment portfolio, before transitioning to the nonprofit sector where he has held roles in advocacy, fundraising, and partnership development. Prior to joining the NextGen Policy team, Arturo worked for the Biden/Harris Presidential Campaign as a Regional Director, helping get out the vote in several battleground states during the 2020 election. 

Arturo is a first generation college student, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from California Lutheran University, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago in International Relations with an emphasis in security and economic development. In his spare time, he enjoys running, reading, exploring our nation’s national parks, and spending time with his family. He is fully bilingual and can read, write, and speak Spanish.

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Kami Peer is a Policy Advisor for NextGen’s workforce development portfolio, where she leads legislative efforts to expand apprenticeship opportunities and drive equitable access to economic mobility. A California native, Kami brings deep local knowledge and a home-grown passion for advocacy to her work.

Since joining NextGen in 2020, Kami has: launched a now well-established statewide coalition for digital equity, developed strategies across a range of issue areas from sustainable transportation to children’s online safety, and advanced some of NextGen’s most important campaigns, including the CA’s Student Borrower Bill of Rights and Broadband for All.

Kami’s career spans both the nonprofit and public sectors. Most recently, she led Common Sense Media’s California state legislative advocacy, advancing policies on digital literacy and social media regulation. Before entering policy work, she served as a K–12 educator and paraprofessional, specializing in English as a Second Language (ESL).

Kami is a proud University of California, Davis alumna. Outside of work, she loves to cook, travel, and is dedicated to improving her Spanish language skills.

James (Jamie) Pew is Policy Advisor at NextGen Policy, where he helps lead legislative and regulatory advocacy on issues of climate, transportation, and sustainable land use. His work focuses on policy interventions that make housing, clean transport, and electricity more affordable – so that the benefits of the climate transition can be accessible to all Californians.

Prior to joining NGP, Jamie worked with local and regional governments in the Midwest and along the United States Gulf Coast researching best practices for adapting to climate change and building community resilience. Jamie holds an MS in Environmental Policy and Planning and a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. He grew up in New Jersey, and loves a good bagel.

Elena Santamaria specializes in health, human services, and homelessness policy issues. She has led NextGen’s efforts to defend the Affordable Care Act, extend services to undocumented communities, ensure patients have access to affordable prescription drugs, and expand progressive healthcare policies both nationally and in California. Additionally, she spearheads the organization’s racial equity work as it relates to the state’s Racial Equity Commission and co-leads the coalition advocacy. 

Prior to working at NextGen Policy, Elena worked in the California State Legislature for a number of Assembly Members and also intermittently spent time on various legislative campaigns.

Elena holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Samantha Seng covers education policy – early childhood, K – 12th grade, and higher education for NextGen Policy. The work includes advocating for policies and programs that promote access, equity, and student success at every stage of their educational career.

Samantha joined NextGen after a stint in the California State Assembly, working on a wide range of issues for several different elected officials. Before moving to Sacramento, Samantha came from the non-profit sector, teaching, mentoring, and tutoring low-income and at-promise youth throughout the Bay Area.

Samantha is a proud daughter of immigrants, a first-generation college graduate, and the first family member to hold a Master’s Degree – in Education from Lesley University. Samantha holds an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley.

Pronouns: They/She

Blaine Smith serves as the California Statewide Apprenticeship Hub Director for NextGen Policy, where he leads the strategic development of a statewide apprenticeship hub system aimed at expanding and strengthening apprenticeship pathways across California’s public sector. Before joining NextGen Policy, Blaine served as Executive Director of the North Far North Regional Consortium, hosted by Butte-Glenn Community College, managing more than $34 million in workforce funding across 15 community colleges. Blaine’s current work continues to emphasize technical assistance, policy navigation, and stakeholder engagement to advance innovation, sustainability, and equity across California’s apprenticeship ecosystem.

Blaine holds a Master of Arts in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Physical Education from La Sierra University. Supported by his wife and two children, Blaine enjoys the outdoors—fishing, hunting, hiking, and exploring new environments. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he’s always eager to dive into a good conversation about athletics and recreation.

Pronouns: He/Him

Ken Spence works on the workforce development and criminal justice issues areas for NextGen Policy, with a focus on registered apprenticeships as a pathway to quality jobs and economic mobility. Before joining NextGen, Ken was Director of Policy and Legislation at the Department of Pesticide Regulation, Deputy Director of the Senate Office of Research, and a policy consultant in the Assembly Speaker’s Office, covering public safety and the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color.

Ken earned a doctorate in Entomology from UC Davis, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish from Morehouse College. He loves traveling, yard-farming, and outdoor activities.

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Brian works on issues relating to state finance, housing, and infrastructure policy. Before coming to NextGen Policy, Brian worked for 11 years as a consultant to the California State Senate Committee on Governance and Finance, where he worked on legislation affecting state and local finance, land use planning and development, and the governance of cities, counties, and special districts.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government.

Johanna Vega Garcia is a Policy Fellow and supports NextGen’s daily operations by tracking bill and budget issues, conducting research, assisting with policy analysis, and supporting events and administrative tasks. 

Prior to joining NextGen, she was a Graduate Student Researcher responsible for conducting research and synthesizing information for manuscripts and conferences. She also served in the Graduate Group in Education Student Policy Committee and was Conference Chair for a UC-wide conference. Her policy area of emphasis is immigration and she is currently assisting the Executive Director and Chief Deputy Director in the planning of a convening related to immigration. 

Johanna has a Master’s in Education degree and will obtain her Ph.D. in Education from UC Davis this Spring. In her spare time, she enjoys running and visiting the various coffee shops in the Sacramento area.

Pronouns: She/her/hers