Mary Bennett
Director of the Micheal O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service | Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT, UNITED STATES
Specializing in U.S. campaigns and elections, government relations, and public policy and advocacy
Biography
Mary Weaver Bennett is the director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University. She is a specialist in legislative and regulatory policy matters for the financial services industry, specializing in electronic payments, fintech, government relations, advocacy and communications.
Before moving to southern Utah, Bennett was the director of government and industry relations for the Electronic Transactions Association in Washington, DC, where she led federal and state public affairs strategy, lobbying and outreach initiatives. Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, The Washington Campus and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board under the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Bennett is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She most recently served as president of Red Ridge Consulting, LLC, and as an expert advisor for Blackline Advisory Group in Nashville, TN.
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Industry Expertise (4)
Education/Learning
Government Relations
Political Organization
Public Policy
Areas of Expertise (18)
Utah Political Candidates
Utah Legislative Body
Political Communication
Congressional Campaigns
Regulatory Policy for Financial Industries
Lobbying
Strategic Planning
Government Relations
Legislative and Regulatory Policy
Outreach Education
Public Affairs
Political Education Programs
Legislation for Financial Industries
Auditing Public Companies
Securities and Exchange Commission
Utah Politics
Political Associations
Women in Public Service
Education (1)
Pennsylvania State University: B.A., Political Science
Accomplishments (3)
President
Red Ridge Consulting, LLC
Industry Expert
BlackLine Advisory Group
Director of Government and Industry Relations
Electronic Transactions Association, Washington, DC
Affiliations (4)
- AAUW
- Friends of SUMA
- Kayenta Arts Foundation
- Windhorse Relations
Links (2)
Media Appearances (5)
Daylight Saving Time is one of the top constituent complaints, but the Utah State Legislature won’t hear a bill
Fox 13 online
2019-03-08
Southern Utah University's Leavitt Center for Politics and Policy recently hosted a "pizza and politics" debate on it. Students were evenly split on whether to keep or dump Daylight Saving Time.
Mitt Romney visits with Southern Utah University Students
Good4Utah tv
2018-02-22
Southern Utah University students had a visit from Mitt Romney Thursday who stopped by to speak to students and gather signatures.
SUU names new director of Leavitt Center for Politics
Deseret News online
2017-08-22
Southern Utah University has named Mary Weaver Bennett as the new director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service. Bennett brings 25 years of professional experience in Washington, D.C, to the position.
Southern Utah University's Leavitt Center announces new director
St. George News online
2017-07-26
Southern Utah University has announced Mary Weaver Bennett as the new director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service. Bennett brings 25 years of professional experience in Washington D.C to this position.
A Battered Acquiring Industry Seeks New Political Survival Strategies
Digital Transactions online
2012-04-20
“Our era of self-regulation of pricing has ended,” Mary Weaver Bennett, director of government and industry relations for the Electronic Transactions Association, said Thursday at the merchant-acquiring trade group’s annual conference in Las Vegas. “Government scrutiny will increase.”
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