Executive Leadership Team
Mark Meckler, President and Co-Founder
Mark Meckler is the President of Convention of States Foundation and Convention of States Action (COSA). COSA has over 5 million supporters and activists, representing every state and legislative district nationally. He appears regularly on television, radio and online discussing the conservative grassroots perspective on political issues.
Before COSA, he was the Co-Founder of Tea Party Patriots. He 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 he 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.
He 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.
He and his wife Patty have been married more than 28 years. They have two grown children and reside in central Texas.
Mike Ruthenberg, Executive Vice President
Mike Ruthenberg was raised in Los Angeles. He moved to San Diego in his early 20’s to finish his degree at San Diego State University. He studied Photojournalism and Outdoor Recreation, both of which he still enjoys.
After a 17-year career running outdoor recreational programs at three different universities, he began and operates a number of successful businesses. He attended the first ever San Diego Tea Party rally in 2009. He got hooked on saving our nation from a run-away federal government. He volunteered then worked for Tea Party Patriots and, ultimately, moved to help start Citizens for Self-Governance and Convention of States Action where he is currently the Executive VP and Chief Grassroots Officer (CGO).
He loves the Emerging Leaders Program and is involved in overseeing its operations. He is passionate about building up the next generation of leaders in America, and his mentorship is an integral part of this internship.
He has been married to Tonya for over 32 years, and they have three boys aged 21–27. The Ruthenbergs are dog people and the latest addition to their family is Izzy the labradoodle.
Ginny Rapini, Senior Vice President of Mentoring and Grassroots
Ginny Rapini is the Senior VP of Mentoring and Grassroots at Convention of States. She brings experience from her background as a small business owner and her work with Tea Party Patriots alongside Mark Meckler and Mike Ruthenberg. Ginny led a large Tea Party group in California and launched many others across the state.
At COS, she’s passionate about mentoring the younger generation through the ELP program and empowering them for leadership roles in our nation. Ginny also leads women’s Bible studies and provides one-on-one mentoring. Included in her role, she leads classes on Servant Leadership for our volunteers and staff.
Outside of work, Ginny and her husband Del enjoy ranch life with their large family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, along with their love for pets and the outdoors
Current ELP Leadership
Kristen Stanciu, ELP Senior Coordinator
Kristen Stanciu is the Senior Coordinator of the Emerging Leaders Program, working to equip the next generation to discover their identity, find their purpose, and take up the torch of freedom to preserve the values that made America great for the next generation.
A graduate of the Emerging Leaders Program herself several years ago, she is passionate about mentorship and servant leadership. She enjoys studying the history and philosophy that form the foundation of Western Civilization and the American system, and seeks to restore that foundation, one person at a time, through this program.
Kristen is a graduate of Baylor University. Having been born and raised in Idaho, and after a four year stint in Texas, Kristen now lives in Washington DC.
Jack McPherson, ELP Development Coordinator
Jack McPherson is the current ELP Development Coordinator. Jack was one of the founding intern coordinators before serving in the Marine Corps. Now, Jack works for Catholic apostolate Paradisus Dei, serving parishes nationwide. Additionally, Jack teaches high school classical literature. He and his wife, Kaitlynn, live in Montgomery County, Texas with their two children, John and Heidilynn.
Jack returned as a program leader in April 2025 to assist ushering in the new era of Emerging Leaders. With the help of his guidance, the Emerging Leaders Program will continue to directly support the overall mission of the Convention of States Project as well as furnish program fellows with a unique and unrepeatable experience that will leave a life-changing impact. Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s model of the integrated life, Jack hopes to shape a program that reverences, enlightens, and strengthens the human person.
Daniella Landivar, ELP Administrator
Daniella Landivar is a graduate of Charis Bible College and the Emerging Leaders Program. She is passionately committed to advancing Judeo-Christian values and championing servant leadership as a way to empower the next generation of American leaders. With a strong heart for mentorship and a deep commitment to truth, Daniella seeks to inspire young people to stand firm in Biblical principles, uphold the Constitution, and actively contribute to the well-being of our nation. She believes that leadership begins with an understanding of history, of government, and of the spiritual and moral principles that form the foundation of our republic.
“That’s what the Emerging Leaders Program does. Our internship is designed to educate, equip, and empower young individuals with the essential tools to become engaged and knowledgeable citizens.”
Currently based in the beautiful state of Florida, Daniella remains steadfast in her mission to help restore the moral and spiritual foundations of America — one life at a time.
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, he currently serves as an Air Intelligence Officer in the United States Marine Corps and is married to his better half, Michaela.
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, Former ELP Development Coordinator & Advisor
Jackson Allen is a former ELP Intern who has been with COS since 2019 and is passionate about educating young minds, building and equipping the next generation of servant leaders, and defending liberty in our country. He has been active in this cause for years in Texas, Washington DC, and around the country.
During Jackson’s time at COS, he served as both the ELP Senior Coordinator and ELP Development Coordinator, working to advance the program’s curriculum, recruitment, quality, and impact. He has served on other projects throughout the organization and continues to work diligently to further the cause of self-governance and civic duty.
Jackson hails from the great state of Texas, and while working as the Senior Coordinator for ELP he graduated with his degree in Economics at Campbell University in North Carolina. He now works at the White House.
In all aspects of his life, he aims “to serve the Lord as a catalyst to bring the Gospel, Liberty, Truth, and Justice to the lives of others.”
Reagan Green, Former ELP Senior Coordinator
Reagan Green grew up and still lives in central Texas—the greatest state in the Union! He has always had a deep respect for our nation’s founding principles and Biblical heritage. He received an excellent homeschool 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 and the responsibilities that come with those rights.
He became aware of Convention of States through their partnership with Patriot Academy and served as the Senior Coordinator for the Emerging Leaders Program.
His 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.
Faith Green, Former 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.
She graduated from the Emerging Leaders Program’s Class of 2023 and worked alongside her husband and friend in the program as the Engagement Coordinator.
Her goals are to live a life in a true display of her name and to bring glory to God in all that she does.
Andrew Lusch, Former ELP Senior Coordinator
Andrew started as an intern in 2019 with COS.
After completing his internship with ELP, Andrew was asked to carry the mantle of leadership by running the program after Weston Boardman and Jack McPherson departed COS for the Marines.
While acting as the ELP coordinator, Andrew received his BA in History from California State University San Bernardino. Like the ELP coordinators before him, Andrew passed the mantle onto former coordinator Jackson Allen, as Andrew moved into a new role with COS.
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 convention.