250
Government affairs pros
Gathering to swap best practices and connect.
Presented by
The Must AttendSummit forGovernment Affairs
October 8 · 9AM – 6PMStation DC, Washington DC
What if one day could transformhow you influence policy?
Free to attend · Limited seats
What you'll leave with
The summit by the numbers
7
Deep dives
From public affairs leaders changing the game.
8
AI Wonkshops
Getting hands on with the tools to make 2027 better than 2026.
$0
Free to attend
This event is 100% free to attend.
Who is speaking
Join leading public affairs practitioners from across the advocacy community. The lineup is coming together now — check back soon.
Hon. Muriel Bowser
Mayor, Washington, DC
Matt Foley
Head of Government Affairs, Chipotle
Melanie Lendnal
SVP, Head of Policy & Advocacy, The ALS Association
Mike Whatley
VP, State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy, National Restaurant Association
Anthony Mitchell
VP of Federal Affairs, AHIP
Built for
Who is the Wonk Summit for?
One day, built for the people who move policy — whatever seat you sit in.
Team Leaders
Build the team structure and operating rhythm that scales.
- Get a playbook for building a team and an operating rhythm that holds up under pressure
- Learn how to manage up so the work actually gets seen and credited
- Walk away knowing where AI actually helps your team versus where it's just noise
The day
Agenda at a glance
October 8, 2026 at Station DC. A working draft — sessions and times are subject to change as the lineup firms up.
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Main Stage
Doors Open
Badge pickup, coffee, and a soundtrack while the room fills up.
9:00 – 9:20 AM
Main Stage
Welcome
Patrick Kalie and Alex Wirth, Quorum
How to get the most out of the day ahead.
9:20 – 10:00 AM
Main Stage
Hot Ones Challenge, Public Affairs Edition
Anthony Mitchell (AHIP) + 2
Hot wings, hotter questions — public affairs leaders answer while the scoville climbs.
10:00 – 10:15 AMBreak
10:15 – 11:00 AM
Main Stage
The Future of Agentic Government Affairs
Quorum product team
What agents change about the daily work of a GA team.
11:00 – 11:45 AM
Main Stage
Conversation with Mayor Muriel Bowser
Hon. Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC
Governing a capital city and working with everyone who wants a say.
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Main Stage
Lunch, with Topic Tables
Sit by discipline: federal, state, grassroots, PAC, and stakeholder.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Main Stage
How Chipotle's One Person Government Affairs Shop Is Built to Handle It All
Matt Foley, Chipotle
Running a full program without a full bench.
AI WonkShop
Managing Agents within Quorum
Hands-on with the hub that keeps your team's work in one place.
AI WonkShop
Best Practices Roundtable
Pressure-test messaging with an AI-assisted focus group.
1:30 – 1:40 PMBreak
1:40 – 2:10 PM
Main Stage
How the National Restaurants Association Activates their Nationwide Network of Restaurant Owners.
Mike Whatley, National Restaurant Association
One team, many states, and the tooling that keeps them aligned.
AI WonkShop
AI Bill Tracking
Build a tracking workflow that surfaces what actually matters.
AI WonkShop
Automating Hill Outreach
Draft, tailor, and ship policy communications faster.
2:10 – 2:20 PMBreak
2:20 – 2:50 PM
To be announced
AI WonkShop
Agentic Campaign Creation to Grassroots
Turn a supporter list into a mobilization engine.
AI WonkShop
Agentic Meeting Prep
Walk into every meeting with the full picture in hand.
2:50 – 3:00 PMBreak
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Main Stage
Advocacy That Actually Works: Lessons from the ALS Association
Melanie Lendnal, The ALS Association
What moves decision makers when the stakes are personal.
AI WonkShop
Building Institutional Memory in Quorum
Stop losing context when people and priorities change.
AI WonkShop
Keeping Up with Committee Hearings
Prep for a hearing with AI doing the heavy reading.
3:30 – 3:40 PMBreak
3:40 – 4:10 PM
Main Stage
Awards Presentation
The inaugural Wonk Awards, presented live on the Main Stage.
4:10 – 4:40 PM
2026 Midterm Election Forecast
Speaker to be announced
4:40 – 6:00 PM
Main Stage
Happy Hour
Drinks, snacks, and the conversations that matter.
The venue
Where it’s happening
Station DC
1323 4th St NE, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
October 8 | 9AM – 6PM
Get directions
One day. Every part of how you influence policy.
Save your spot at the Wonk Summit and bring the playbook back to your team.