Van Scoyoc Associates Team

Stu Van Scoyoc provides strategic advice and counsel to leaders of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, colleges and universities, and local government and municipal entities. Recognized around Washington for his ability to see the bigger picture, and how his clients fit into that picture, Washington Life included Stu as one of its “Power 100.”

One of Stu’s core beliefs in government relations is that you must be in position to deliver the right message, to the right person, at the right time. Implementing this belief time and time again, with a strategy tailored to each unique issue, has made Stu a trusted advisor to clients across the country. He is frequently quoted in news stories about the lobbying business, and The Washington Post, National Journal, and The Hill have all recognized Stu as a top lobbyist in Washington.

By recruiting top talent from both the public and private sector, Stu has built Van Scoyoc Associates into one of Washington’s most successful government relations firms. He leads almost 50 lobbyists working across 14 different practice areas in servicing the largest client base of any Washington firm. As a testament to Stu’s focus on achieving results for his clients, the firm recently received the highest ranking for client retention from Bloomberg Government. Stu earned a Bachelor of Science from Lehigh University, where he also received the Alpha Phi Omega Award for Leadership and Outstanding Service to the University. He earned his law degree from the University of Maryland. A chemical engineer by training, Stu started his career as an engineer at the DuPont Company, before joining DuPont’s government affairs office in Washington. Prior to creating Van Scoyoc Associates, he was a Vice President at Charls Walker Associates and a Founder of Winburn, Van Scoyoc & Hooper. In addition to Van Scoyoc Associates, he owns Capitol Decisions, Inc., The Implementation Group, and, separate from the government affairs firms, is a Partner in the law firm Van Scoyoc Roberts PLLC.

Leslee Gilbert is a Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates with an extensive background in higher education, research, technology development and politics. She has over 20 years hands-on experience in the Washington policy-making process, and over 25 years of experience working in and with institutions of higher education.

At VSA, Dr. Gilbert has developed a practice that focuses on research, development and competitiveness in fields such as aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, information technology, basic and applied science, environmental policy, and energy.

Before joining VSA, she was Majority Staff Director and Counsel of the House of Representatives’ Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the primary committee for overseeing research and development in agencies such as NSF, NASA, NIST, NOAA, EPA, and the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation. She played a central role in developing and implementing Federal science, technology, and civil space policy, including NASA reauthorization bills, the Energy Independence and Security Act, and America COMPETES.

Prior to coming to Washington, Dr. Gilbert was an Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, where she also served as a faculty officer. She has published a variety of articles for academic and general audiences. She holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar. When she is not working, she enjoys flying her single-engine plane around the region. Before joining VSA, Leslee was Staff Director and Counsel of the House of Representatives’ Science, Space, and Technology Committee, the primary committee for overseeing non-defense research and development in agencies such as NSF, NASA, NIST, NOAA, EPA, and the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation. She played a central role in developing and implementing Federal science, technology, and civil space policy, including NASA reauthorization bills, the Energy Independence and Security Act, and America COMPETES. Prior to coming to Washington, Leslee was an Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, where she also served as a faculty officer. She has published a variety of articles for academic and general audiences. She holds a B.A. from Texas A&M University, an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University. She is a member of the Maryland Bar.

For more than a decade, John Fuller has been providing government affairs advice and counsel to executives in some of the top telecommunications companies, energy companies, and colleges and universities.  He is as comfortable in a university research lab or corporate board room as he is walking the halls of Congress or the FCC. 

John advises clients on array of issues including spectrum auctions, cyber-security, natural gas projects and permitting issues, as well as research and development funding.  He is well connected on Capitol Hill and at the Federal agencies and is adept at helping his clients navigate their way through the federal government.  

John received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University and his law degree from Florida State University.  Before joining VSA, he clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Melinda Harmon, practiced contracts and real estate law in Florida, and worked on Capitol Hill. 

When clients need a calm hand and a trusted advocate, they turn to Carolyn Fuller. As a veteran Congressional staffer and now Vice President at VSA, Carolyn has helped shape budget and policy priorities in the areas of research, science and technology, education, literacy and humanities, and advanced computing and networking.

Throughout her career, Carolyn has developed a number of appropriations and authorization proposals, prepared policy papers, and guided appropriations and policy legislation through Congress. She has also been involved in the development of a number of grant applications and in facilitating interactions with appropriate Executive Branch departments and agencies. Carolyn’s work with several higher education coalitions has given her exposure to a range of research and technology issues and she has built relationships with many of the key policy-makers in these areas.

One of Carolyn’s strengths is her ability to identify synergies between client priorities and federal programs, and then cultivating champions to support the initiative. Time and time again, she has helped her client achieve success by ensuring they are meeting with the right person at the right time.

Prior to joining VSA, Carolyn had a distinguished career on Capitol Hill. As professional staff for the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence she worked on a number of science, technology, research, computing and networking, literacy and cultural, and workforce issues. She was the first woman to head an appropriations subcommittee staff, when she took over as Clerk of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee.

Carolyn received her B.A. from Hollins College in Roanoke, Va., where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Her M.P.A. is from American University in Washington, D.C., and her J.D. is from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Chad Schulken spent a 16-year career on Capitol Hill as a respected Senate aide and senior appropriations expert. He has been involved in virtually every aspect of the development, consideration, and passage of regular appropriation bills, war supplemental appropriations, and disaster relief bills.

“Chad has been a force in the appropriations world on Capitol Hill, and he is broadly recognized as a subject matter expert with a remarkable ability to get things done,” said H. Stewart “Stu” Van Scoyoc, President & CEO of VSA. “His finger has been on the pulse of the appropriations process for years; he understands our country’s spending needs and priorities, and he has a deep understanding of the impact appropriations decisions have on active military, veterans and the families who support them. His unique talents are an important addition to our growing team at VSA, and we’re elated about the value he will bring to our roster of clients.”

Most recently, Schulken was Clerk of the Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee where he was the lead Democratic staffer responsible for negotiating and assisting in the development of the appropriations bill. Aside from his expertise in budgetary policy, appropriations law, and Senate procedure, he is also considered a subject matter expert in many areas including VA healthcare policy which affects the nation’s largest integrated healthcare delivery system, Information Technology Systems, benefits delivery systems, federal acquisition and infrastructure investment.

“I’m thrilled to join a team of respected government affairs professionals that has an established, quarter-century track record of helping clients solve complex public policy challenges,” said Schulken. “I look forward to putting my experience and expertise to work for VSA clients.”

Chad Schulken began his Senate career with the Committee on Appropriations as Professional Staff on the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Subcommittee in 2003 (now Commerce, Justice, Science). While on the Subcommittee, he specialized in budgetary and policy matters affecting the Department of Justice and the Federal Judiciary, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the United States Marshals Service. During this time, he was charged with working across the aisle to develop the annual appropriation for each of these Departments and Agencies, and to negotiate with the House of Representatives on final spending levels.

Kathryn “Kathee” Facchiano joined the firm as a Vice President on January 17, 2023. Kathee was most recently the Chief of Staff to Representative Clay Higgins (R, LA-03).

Kathee has spent almost her entire career working on Capitol Hill, both in the House and the Senate – and for both Republicans and Democrats. She began her career working for former Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA). After graduating from law school, Kathee returned to Capitol Hill and began working for former Congressman Randy Forbes (R, VA-04). She then took a position as Legislative Assistant and later Legislative Director for then-Congressman John Boozman (R, AR-03), where she focused on issues such healthcare, transportation, and supporting the Congressman’s role as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources. Kathee remained his Legislative Director after he won election to the U.S. Senate in 2011 where she continued to focus on healthcare as well as judiciary and social security issues. In 2015, Kathee became Legislative Director and General Counsel to Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) where, among her other responsibilities, she supported the Senator’s work on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

In 2017, Kathee returned to the House, becoming Chief of Staff to Clay Higgins, the Congressman representing the district she grew up in. Working on behalf of the constituents of Southwest Louisiana on issues such as energy and homeland security, Kathee helped the Congressman stand up his office upon his election and has served as the liaison to House leadership staff, the House Republican Study Committee, and the House Freedom Caucus. She was also instrumental in securing millions of dollars in federal funding for the district for such things as hurricane recovery and highways and infrastructure.

Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Kathee received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University and her Juris Doctor from Catholic University. She and her husband, Greg, live in northern Virginia with their two children.

Holten Stringer is a Manager of Government Relations at VSA. In this capacity, he supports a number of the firm’s clients on a broad array of issues including higher education, small business, technology, and research and development. Additionally, Holten updates clients on legislative and executive action while sharing information about federal grant opportunities across relevant agencies.

Holten came to VSA after spending three years in the office of Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) where he served as a Legislative Correspondent and Grants Coordinator. He supported Senator Cornyn during the 116^th and 117^th Congress with policy material regarding transportation, homeland security, commerce, and small business. He played a central role in developing and implementing the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant, also known as the Save Our Stages Act, which offered a $15 billion lifeline for entertainment venues and operators struggling through COVID-19. Holten also worked on a number of provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act including increased cyber security measures against foreign entities, and improved loan and bond programs for infrastructure projects. As Grants Coordinator, Holten was successful in helping stakeholders receive more than $200 million in discretionary grants. He brings a range of bipartisan relationships to his role as he previously worked with agency officials from both the Trump and Biden Administration.

Prior to this, Holten started his career on Capitol Hill as a legislative intern and worked for Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX). Originally from Flower Mound, TX, Holten received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Texas A&M University and is also a licensed realtor.