Debbie Veney | Founder and CEO

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Debbie Veney is the founder and CEO of Agency.  After spending more than a decade tackling the same issues in education policy and making marginal traction at the national level, it was time to create a new playbook. Debbie pulled together all her experiences from strategic communications, government affairs, philanthropy and advocacy and created an organization to shake things up by supporting like-minded nonprofit partners and elevating the voice of parents.  Agency lies at the intersection of communications, advocacy, and parent power. 

She leads a team of communications and marketing professionals who specialize in reputation management, advocacy campaigns, and shaping national communications strategy around public education choice. Debbie brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, advocacy, and media relations, as well as a deep passion for equity in education and belief in the transformative power of high-quality education. 

Her earlier career in corporate communications included crisis communications, media relations, and roles at DuPont, CIGNA, and UnitedHealth Care. Before founding Agency, Debbie led the communications and marketing team at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a policy and advocacy nonprofit based in Washington. Debbie also managed the government affairs and communications functions at NewSchools Venture Fund, The Education Trust, and Communities In Schools. In addition, she held a senior communications position at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Debbie serves on the board of directors for the Education Writers Association, School Board Partners, Washington State Charter School Association, BASIS Charter Schools, Inc., and the DC Jazz Festival. 

A classically trained ballerina, she is often found dancing with the band—any band. Debbie holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Howard University and a master’s degree in Mass Communication from Temple University, where she was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in 2013. Fun fact: she was honored alongside Whoopi Goldberg during this induction.

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