Meet the SHLB Team


Kristen Corra, Policy Counsel

Eric Fredell

Kristen came aboard the SHLB Coalition team in 2022 to augment its increasing advocacy work. In this role, she works with SHLB members and government officials to ensure new and existing broadband policies account for the connectivity needs of anchor institutions and their users. Kristen was previously a communications attorney at Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth PLC, where she assisted wireless, radio, and television broadcast clients with filings, pleadings, and other regulatory needs. Kristen’s career in the telecom space began in 2014 as a licensing specialist for Crown Castle. From 2015 to 2020, she represented a major wireless carrier in commercial leasing, licensing and matters around infrastructure acquisition as a Telecommunications Attorney at Baker Donelson.

Kristen earned her J.D. with the magna cum laude distinction from Michigan State University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stetson University. In 2022, Kristen was honored by Best Lawyers as One to Watch - Communications Law in D.C.

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Eric Fredell, Director of Membership

Eric Fredell

Eric Fredell joined the SHLB Coalition in 2020 to enhance the organization’s membership offering. In this capacity, he guides SHLB’s membership engagement and recruits new voices to strengthen the Coalition. Eric previously led membership operations at the Chamber of Digital Commerce and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA). Prior to his work with trade associations, Eric worked on trade policy and export promotion at the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Commerce.

Eric holds a Master of Pacific and International Affairs degree from U.C. San Diego, as well as a B.A. in political science from the U.C. Santa Cruz.

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Kristen Engebretsen, Chief Operating Officer

Eric Fredell

Kristen is a nonprofit leader with experience from startups to established national associations. Her 20 years in the fields of arts and education provide her with solid expertise in growing nonprofit organizations and helping them thrive.

Prior to joining SHLB, she was the Director of Strategic Operations for seven years at ArtsUP! LA, a mid-sized arts organization in Los Angeles. Before that, served as the Arts Education Policy Manager at Americans for the Arts for five years. There she was responsible for promoting public policies in education, a prolific blogger, a frequent speaker at national conferences, the author of numerous white papers and e-books, and was the mastermind behind the brand of publications, videos, and toolkits called the Arts Education Navigator.

Additional work experience includes clients such as Arts for the Aging, Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy, Communities in Schools, the Music Center, and the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. Her passion lies in transforming schools, communities, and lives through nonprofit service. She holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. 

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Saskya Cabral, Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Meghan Lasswell

Saskya dove into digital media as a photographer, editor, and storyteller in 2016, spreading the word about women entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Since then, she has built social media strategies from the ground up for Congress Members and a music technology startup. As a digital marketer and copywriter, she has worked with business owners to refine their niches, develop advertising strategies, increase brand awareness, and secure grants.

Saskya has a BS in Biology from Florida International University and a MA in International Relations from the University of Economics in Prague. She’s passionate about uplifting underrepresented groups and helping organizations succeed through the power of marketing and communications.

Born in Brazil and raised in Miami, Saskya is a polyglot who loves to dance, spend time with friends and family, travel, and journal in her free time. 

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John Windhausen Jr., Executive Director

John Windhausen

John Windhausen Jr. founded the SHLB Coalition in 2009 with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As executive director, he spearheads SHLB's membership growth and shapes its broadband policy recommendations. Previously, he served as president of the Association for Local Telecommunications Services, spent nine years on Capitol Hill, and started his career as a staff attorney at the FCC. In his role as senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, John was a principal staff person responsible for drafting the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and served as chief legal adviser on telecom issues to Senators Fritz Hollings and Daniel Inouye.

John has authored several papers documenting the benefits of broadband. His EDUCAUSE whitepaper, "A Blueprint for Big Broadband," resulted in the creation of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). In 2012, John was named the Community Broadband Hero of the Year by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

John sits on the board of directors for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). He holds a J.D. from UCLA Law School and bachelor's degree in history from Yale University.
 

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Lauren Rachuba, Operations Manager 

Lauren Rachuba joined the SHLB Coalition in 2023 to support its staff and growing membership. She works closely with staff and members to support them. She oversees day to day operations working in the foreground and background of the company. 

Prior to SHLB she was an admin and marketing assistant for a mortgage company. Lauren got her Bachelor's of Science from Texas A&M University where she was a member of their division one equestrian team.