Our Team

Pam Shadel Fischer believes that everyone has a right to the road and has made that her priority during her nearly 40-year career in traffic safety. She is a partnership builder, working collaboratively with public, private and nonprofit organizations to make highway safety a national priority. As a former state highway safety office director, she leverages that expertise to help GHSA’s members maximize their resources to develop and implement impactful highway safety plans and programs, as well as build successful task forces and coalitions.

A prolific writer, Fischer has authored or contributed to many GHSA best practice publications addressing speeding; impaired, distracted and drowsy driving; pedestrian, bicyclist, teen driver and micromobility safety; automated vehicles; and telematics data. She is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on teen driver safety and is the co-author of “Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving,” now in its 3rd edition.

Fischer got her start in traffic safety at AAA New Jersey (now AAA Northeast), where she served in management roles for two decades. In 2007, she was named Governor’s Representative and Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and in 2011 established her own consulting firm to help state and federal agencies and nonprofits address the risky driving behaviors that put all road users at risk. She joined the GHSA staff in 2020 but was no stranger to the association, having been a member and Board member, as well as consultant. In the latter role, she partnered with GHSA’s CEO to establish the Consulting Services Initiative, a member program which continues under her stewardship today.

Fischer holds a B.A. in English from Lebanon Valley College, an M.A. in Leadership and Public Administration from Centenary University, and a Certificate in Advanced Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She prefers to walk rather than drive and believes that everything is within walking distance if you have the time. 
 

Media inquiries should be directed to Adam Snider, Director of Communications, at 202-580-7930 or asnider@ghsa.org.

Daniel Zimmerman is Senior Director of Government Relations and Policy for GHSA. He represents the State Highway Safety Offices before federal agencies and Congress to shape national transportation policy, assist states as they work to address highway safety issues and improve the delivery of federal and state safety programs. He also works with partner organizations to improve road safety and promote GHSA objectives.

Daniel has a proven track record of transportation safety policy development and advocacy. Before joining GHSA, he worked at Boundary Stone Partners (BSP), a federal government affairs firm. While at BSP he worked with transportation non-profits and companies to help advance their policy priorities related to highway safety, transportation decarbonization, and freight efficiency. Daniel also helped clients access federal funding and engage with Congress, the White House, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Prior to BSP, Daniel worked at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), where he assisted local, state, and federal transportation and enforcement agencies, and industry representatives in North America with advancing commercial motor vehicle safety. While at CVSA, Daniel developed and executed policy strategies to advance the organization’s mission through legislative and regulatory initiatives.

During his time at CVSA, Daniel worked with Congress to secure COVID-19 relief for state governments, develop policy changes, create a new grant program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and address program challenges at U.S. DOT through the appropriations process. In addition to working with Congress, Daniel worked with representatives at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety, streamline grant programs and improve regulatory effectiveness. Daniel also served on FHWA’s Truck Parking Coalition and Highway Safety Partners Venture.

Daniel is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in campaigns and elections.

Media inquiries should be directed to Adam Snider, Director of Communications, at 202-580-7930 or asnider@ghsa.org.

Caroline is a dynamic, innovative leader with a proven history of more than 20 years managing teams, developing communication strategies and executing successful highway safety campaigns at the local, state and national levels. Through her combination of energy, experience and compassion, Caroline leads the GHSA efforts to drive engagement across all communication platforms and develop and implement comprehensive communications and marketing strategies that enhance the organization's success.

Before joining GHSA, as a Senior Highway Safety Specialist at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Caroline managed a portfolio of programs including judicial and probation outreach and education and DWI Court education and expansion. She also coordinated the State Impaired Driving Assessment Program, facilitating over 25 Assessments and served as the NHTSA Lifesavers Committee liaison for the Lifesavers Highway Safety Conference for a decade. Her work on Lifesavers earned her the NHTSA Employee of the Quarter award among other NHTSA and Secretary awards from the Department of Transportation.

Prior to her time at NHTSA, Caroline served as the MADD Maryland Executive Director for seven years, where she was responsible for the development, management and implementation of all communications, programs, and events key to the delivery of core MADD initiatives and victim services. She also worked as a classroom educator for seven years in Frederick County, Md., where she currently resides.

Caroline holds a B.A. in Theatre from Florida State University. She has earned a certificate in Event Management from the George Washington University School of Business and was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Key Executive Leadership program at American University. Caroline’s wide range of experiences has equipped her with the skills to serve as a successful ambassador, develop and implement impactful programs, and expand stakeholder engagement.

Wilnie Petrash serves as the Chief Financial Officer of GHSA.

She brings more than 22 years of experience in program operations, corporate finance, and administrative management, with deep expertise in financial oversight and compliance for USAID, European Union, and foundation-funded initiatives.  

Prior to joining GHSA, Wilnie Petrash served as Director of Finance and Administration at Strategic Capacity Group, where she acted as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer and led Human Resources operations.

Previously, she was the Director of Finance for the USAID Global Supply Chain Project at Chemonics International, supporting the Maternal and Child Health and Zika Task Order. She also held the role of Director of Management Reporting, Planning, and Analysis at Women for Women International.

Wilnie served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Girls Global Academy in Washington, DC, from the fall 2024 through September 2025.

She earned her Executive MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in 2019 and is fluent in French and Creole.

Jonathan Adkins was named Chief Executive Officer of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in 2023 after serving as Executive Director since 2014. GHSA is the national nonprofit that represents state highway safety agencies. GHSA members are charged with implementing their governors’ highway safety plans and administering federal behavioral highway safety funds.

Adkins is responsible for directing the organization’s Washington headquarters office, serving as the association’s chief liaison with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other federal agencies, and representing the organization on Capitol Hill and with private-sector partners. He frequently represents the states’ viewpoints on highway safety solutions in the media and before Congress, federal agencies and industry partners. Adkins is regularly quoted by a variety of publications, including Politico, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

Under his leadership, GHSA has expanded its scope and influence by adding new programs, member services and staff. Adkins has built partnerships with a variety of leading organizations in the automotive, insurance and consumer products industries, and has leveraged those relationships to develop tools for state highway safety agencies. Adkins also launched GHSA's Consulting Services Initiative, through which the organization assists states in managing their highway safety programs.

Adkins began his work with GHSA in 2000. Prior to being named Executive Director, he served as GHSA’s Communications Director as well as Deputy Executive Director. Adkins has served on a variety of boards and in appointed roles within highway safety and the broader community, including the National Organizations for Youth Safety, the Road to Zero Coalition and the National Lifesavers Conference.

Adkins served as Chair of the Board of the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) between 2022 and 2025. He currently serves on the Board of Youthcast Media Group, a nonprofit that trains high school and college students from underserved communities to write about and report on often overlooked health and social issues, such as traffic safety.

Adkins holds a political science degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. Outside of work, he volunteers time with Dickinson College, West Virginia University and The Matthew Shepard Foundation, among others. Adkins and his husband, Ben, live in the Logan Circle neighborhood in Washington, D.C.

Media inquiries should be directed to Adam Snider, Director of Communications, at asnider@ghsa.org.

Kerry Chausmer is GHSA's Programs & Member Services Director. In this role, she oversees the federal and private-sector grant programs and the association’s member services. She manages registration, sponsorships and the exhibition hall for the Annual Meeting. Additionally, Kerry manages the day-to-day operations of multiple programs and activities, with support from GHSA staff and/or contractors, to ensure the achievement of association goals.

Kerry has 30 years of experience in injury prevention program planning, implementation and evaluation. Recognized as a national leader in the field of child passenger safety, she has an exceptional record in project management. She joined GHSA after a 16-year career at Safe Kids Worldwide, where she implemented and managed the gold-standard National Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Certification Program. Her success can be credited to her vision, organizational skills, creativity and strong interpersonal and networking skills.

Kerry earned her MSW and MPH degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans. One of the nation’s first certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, she was certified as a CPST Instructor (CPSTI) in 1998. She is also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES).

Amadie Hart is GHSA’s Director of Member Education, responsible for the association’s professional development and training programs, including the Annual Meeting, Executive Seminar and Emerging Leaders in Highway Safety Seminar.

Amadie has 30 years of experience working at and with associations and nonprofits, building and enhancing member-focused programs and strategic online marketing plans. Prior to joining GHSA, Amadie was a consultant to the association and other nonprofits, providing communications and marketing strategy and support, as well as managing the logistics and planning of GHSA’s Annual Meeting. She also previously served as online campaigns and marketing director for an Arlington-based web design and development firm that works exclusively with nonprofits and associations and led projects to redesign and manage large websites for several Washington, DC-based associations and nonprofits.

Amadie holds a dual M.A. in Communications and International Relations from Boston University and a B.A. in Political Science/International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia, with her spouse, Philip.

Gayane brings over six years of experience in program management, grant administration, and project implementation to her role as Program Manager at GHSA. Throughout her career at Eurasia Foundation and Transparency International Anticorruption Center, she made significant contributions to the administration of complex, donor-funded programs, specializing in programmatic and financial oversight, policy analysis and partnership development.

Before joining GHSA, Gayane held key positions at Eurasia Foundation, where she contributed to managing a $150 million U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Digital Transformation Activity in Ukraine. She also oversaw the full grant lifecycle for exchange and leadership programs, led the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and ensured compliance with donor requirements and federal regulations. Earlier in her career, at the Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Gayane successfully managed a $1 million European Union-funded project aimed at strengthening the accountability of public institutions.

Gayane earned her Master of Public Service and Administration (MPA) degree from Texas A&M University as a Fulbright scholar. She also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Political Science from Central European University and Yerevan State University.

Adam Snider is GHSA’s Director of Communications, with responsibility for developing and executing strategies to enhance the association’s visibility and increase awareness of highway safety priorities. He builds and cultivates relationships with a wide array of reporters to promote coverage of key traffic safety issues, leading to coverage in publications such as the Associated Press, the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, Reuters, Politico, Vox and many more. He also manages the association’s website and social media channels.

With nearly 20 years of experience in communications, advocacy and journalism, Adam is passionate about telling creative stories that shine a light on important transportation safety topics often overlooked in the national discourse. Before joining GHSA, Adam led public affairs and media relations for the Electrification Coalition and the American Association of Airport Executives.

Adam has focused on transportation for his entire career. Prior to his work in public affairs, he reported on congressional and regulatory action on highway safety and other transportation issues at Politico, where he was a founding author of the Morning Transportation newsletter. His reporting at Politico was cited for outstanding coverage by the Nieman Journalism Lab and the Washington Post.

Adam earned a B.A. in English from Clemson University. He and his wife, Emma, live in the Fort Totten neighborhood of Washington, D.C., with their daughter and son.

Kara Macek serves as a consultant for GHSA and has supported the association in a variety of roles. She also authors reports for GHSA, including widely read pedestrian safety data analyses.

Macek previously managed GHSA's research program from 2020 to 2022, in addition to providing support with grant programs and communications. She also served as Program Director of Ford Driving Skills for Life, the nation's premier safe teen mobility program. Macek was on the GHSA staff for 13 years, from 2007 until 2020, most recently as Senior Director of Communications, where she led communications and programs functions for the association.

Macek has more than 20 years of experience in the association industry. Prior to GHSA, she served as webmaster and special projects associate for the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) and as a project manager for a website company specializing in the association community.

Shahbaz Naseer brings over 7 years of extensive international experience in accounting and finance to his role as Senior Staff Accountant at GHSA. His career includes significant contributions to renowned Australian and UK entities, where he specialized in financial reporting, financial management, payroll management, audit, and compliance.

Before joining GHSA, Shahbaz held pivotal roles in multinational organizations such as Sharp Brains Limited, and Aptitude Migration, where he excelled in financial reporting, budgeting, and strategic financial analysis. His adeptness in navigating diverse regulatory environments and adhering to stringent financial standards underscores his value as an integral member of our team.

Shahbaz holds an MBA degree in Finance from the University of Education and is dedicated to continuous professional development. He proficiently utilizes advanced financial software systems to streamline processes and optimize decision-making.

Beyond his professional achievements, Shahbaz is an avid reader with a passion for non-fiction literature, particularly books on leadership, and global finance. He believes in continuous learning and actively seeks out online courses to expand his knowledge in accounting regulations, financial modeling, and emerging trends in the financial industry.