Staff

Sandra Swirski

Executive Director

Sandra co-founded Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC in 2010. Prior to this she was a partner at Venn Strategies, LLC since 2001. She has extensive experience in non-profit policy circles. In addition to advising several non-profits, she currently represents The Philanthropy Roundtable and is a frequent speaker at philanthropic and non-profit conferences. A tax lawyer, Sandra was a senior Congressional aide for two of the most prominent Republicans to serve on the Senate Finance Committee—Senator Jack Danforth (R-MO) and Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY). Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Sandra was an associate with Ernst & Young. She holds a JD from the George Washington University and an LLM in taxation from Georgetown University.

Anne Urban

Senior Advisor

Anne Urban is co-founder of Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC. Anne brings more than twenty five years of legislative, public policy and government relations experience both on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. Before Urban Swirski, She was a partner at Venn Strategies, LLC. Prior to Venn, Anne was a managing director in the D.C. office of Clark & Weinstock, where she advised clients on a wide range of legislative and executive branch issues, particularly tax, financial services and other economic issues. Prior to joining the private sector, Anne was Legislative Director and Tax Advisor to Senator Robert Kerrey (D-NE) overseeing all aspects of the Senator’s legislative work on the Senate Finance Committee, top economic advisor to Senator Joseph Lieberman and as a Ways and Means Committee policy advisor for former Cong. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT). In addition, she ran two of the Congresswoman’s re-election campaigns. Anne has written, researched, and edited a number of books and reports, including The Real David Stockman, published by St. Martin’s Press in 1986, which she co-authored. Anne received a B.A. with honors from Amherst College.

Sara Barba

Director of Policy

Sara Barba is a Vice President at Urban Swirski and Associates, LLC. At the Alliance for Charitable Reform, Sara manages coalition membership, develops and executes advocacy efforts, and coordinates ACR’s hometown engagement project. Prior to joining Urban Swirski, Sara held several positions with Members of Congress, including Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO). She worked both in district and in Washington, DC, where she supported policy, communications and field staff. Sara graduated with honors from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Political Science.

Ali Bedford

Director of Government Relations

Ali Bedford is an Assistant Vice President at Urban Swirski and Associates, LLC. Ali represents ACR’s interests both in the Administration and on Capitol Hill, and she assists in policy communications. Prior to joining Urban Swirski, Ali served in the Washington, DC, office of Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL). She began her career as a legislative coordinator in Florida, where she advocated on several policy issues and built relationships with members of the General Assembly. Ali graduated from Florida State University with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Psychology.