Mark Meckler: President and Co-Founder
Mark Meckler is the President of Convention of States Foundation & Convention of States Action (COSA). COSA has over 5 million supporters and activists, representing every state and legislative district nationally. Mark appears regularly on television, radio and online discussing the conservative grassroots perspective on political issues.
Before COSA, Mark was the Co-Founder of Tea Party Patriots. Mark has a B.A. from SDSU and a law degree from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He practiced law for two decades.
From February 2021 to May 2021 Mark served as the Interim CEO at Parler to help bring the free speech social media company back online and equip it for a strong future.
Mark is very passionate about the Emerging Leaders Program. He believes training the next generation of leaders and statesman is one of the most important causes COSA supports.
Mark and his wife Patty have been married more than 28 years. They have two grown children and reside in central Texas
Mike Ruthenberg: Exec. Vice President
Mike was Raised in Los Angeles. He moved to San Diego in his early 20’s to finish his degree at San Diego State University. Mike studied Photojournalism and Outdoor Recreation, both of which he still enjoys.
After a 17 year career running outdoor recreational programs at three different universities, Mike has started and run a number of successful businesses. Mike attended the first ever San Diego Tea Party rally in 2009. Mike got hooked on saving our nation from a run-away federal government. Mike volunteered, then worked for Tea Party Patriots and ultimately moved to help start Citizens for Self Governance and the Convention of States Project where Mike is currently the Executive V.P. and COO.
Mike loves the Emerging Leaders Program and is involved in overseeing its operations. Mike is passionate about building up the next generation of leaders in America, and his mentorship is an integral part of this internship.
Mike is Married to Tonya for over 32 years, has three boys aged 21-27. The Ruthenbergs are dog people and the latest addition to our family is Izzy the Labradoodle
Current ELP Leadership
Reagan Green: ELP Senior Coordinator
Reagan grew up and still lives in Central TX, the greatest state in the Union! He has always had a deep respect for our nation's founding principles and Biblical heritage. Reagan received an excellent homeschooled education and went on to graduate in 2018 from Applied Life Leaders Academy in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Since then, he has run the Media Department at Patriot Academy, producing products such as Biblical Citizenship in Modern America, Rick Green's Front Porch Live series, and many more. All products teach American citizens their rights, as well as the responsibilities that come with those rights.
Reagan became aware of Convention of States through their partnership with Patriot Academy and now works as the Assistant Coordinator for the Emerging Leaders Program.
Reagan's goals are to mentor and prepare the next generation of leaders to take up the torch of freedom and secure it for our children and their posterity.
Kristen Stanciu: ELP Operations Coordinator
As the daughter of immigrants from a Communist country, Kristen developed a keen awareness of American exceptionalism at a young age. She realized how so many liberties Americans enjoy are easily taken for granted, and so she aspires to do her part to preserve American freedoms for the next generation! A graduate of the Emerging Leaders Program herself, Kristen is passionate about mentorship, servant leadership, and telling people how Jesus has changed her life.
At Convention of States, she serves as the Operations Coordinator for the Emerging Leaders Program, working to ensure that current and future interns have an incredible, transformative experience! Although born and raised in the great state of Idaho, Kristen now lives in central Texas where she attends Baylor University.
Faith Green: ELP Engagement Coordinator
Faith Green grew up in Michigan, but now calls Texas her home. She has always had a strong conviction towards truth, and knowing the Lord's voice in her life. After the 2020 Presidential election, she couldn't ignore the blatant corruption in our government, and after doing some research, stumbled across COS. She later met her husband, Reagan Green, and is now fully invested in a personal pursuit to fight for freedom and defend liberty for all Americans.
Faith graduated from the Emerging Leaders Program class of 2023 and now works alongside her husband and friend in the program as the Engagement Coordinator.
Faith's goals are to live a life in a true display of her name and to bring glory to God in all that she does.
Former ELP Leadership
Weston Boardman: Founder of ELP
Weston Boardman was the founder and first intern coordinator for the Emerging Leaders Program. A faithful Catholic and graduate of Hillsdale College, Weston currently serves as an Air Intelligence Officer in the United States Marine Corps and is married to his better half, Michaela Wuycheck.
When asked of his thoughts on the Emerging Leaders Program, he said, “I am thankful for the incomparable opportunity that Mark Meckler gave me to lead this program. I was inexperienced, lacked the wisdom of years, and stumbled my way through the internship. But with guidance from the COS family and the help of God and Jack McPherson—my right hand man—the internship grew into an experience unimaginable to me at the onset of this endeavor. I forged lasting friendships with the interns and witnessed those same interns grow in their individual characters. They, in turn, had a profound impact on me as we journeyed together learning about statesmanship and practicing servant leadership in pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.”
Jackson Allen: Fmr. ELP Senior Coordinator
Jackson Allen is a former COS Intern who is passionate about educating young minds, building and equipping the next generation of servant leaders, and defending liberty in our country. Jackson has been active in this cause for years in Texas, Washington D.C., and around the country.
During his time at Convention of States, Jackson served as the Coordinator for the Emerging Leaders Program after Andrew Lusch, and diligently worked to further the cause of self-governance and civic duty.
Jackson hails from the great state of Texas, and while working as the Coordinator for ELP he graduated with his degree in Economics at Campbell University in North Carolina. Jackson is now continuing his education in Law at Regent University, VA.
In life, Jackson aims "To serve the Lord as a catalyst to bring the Gospel, Liberty, Truth, and Justice to the lives of others
Andrew Lusch: Fmr. ELP Senior Coordinator
Andrew started as an intern in 2019 with Convention of States. After completing his internship with the Emerging Leaders Program, Andrew was asked to carry the mantel of leadership by running the program after Weston Boardman and Jack McPherson departed Convention of States for the Marines.
While acting as the internships director, Andrew received his BA in History from California State University San Bernardino. Like the Intern Coordinators before him, Andrew passed the mantel onto former coordinator Jackson Allen, as Andrew moved into a new role with Convention of States.
Andrew now serves as the Regional Director of the Western states, where he aspires to serve the grassroots with passion and diligence as they seek to call the first-ever Article V amending convention.