Who We Are

Matthew Walter

For over 25 years, Matt Walter has broken records and won big battles with ingenuity and a smile. He’s successfully created and implemented groundbreaking programs to win elections across all 50 states along with championing diversity and innovation in state level politics and government. Matt has a well-known, industry wide reputation for results and creativity.

As founder of both MCW Strategies and HedgeRow Analysis, Matt helps innovators, disruptors and investors align their business goals with their government engagement portfolio. Matt problem solves with innovative companies to optimally bring their products and services through complex local, state and federal level government regulatory processes. He helps start-ups create state-specific data-centered projections for their business market entry mapping and growth. And, Matt knows someone, everywhere.

From 2010 to 2019, Matt gained an unparallel understanding of 50 state government leading state and local focused Republican organizations to all-time records of offices held. Media and political pundits attributed the historic success to innovations from Matt’s groups, like data analytics work and the creation of programs like the Future Majority Project and Right Women, Right Now- which changed government by aiding 1000s of first time women and 100s of new diverse candidates to run during Matt’s leadership.

Matt has earned an MBA with concentrations in data analysis and entrepreneurial finance from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC Chapel Hill and received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Geneseo (dual major: Political Science and French). He earned a Masters in American Political History focused on US third party movements from the College of Saint Rose.

Stephen Balogh

Stephen is a co-founder and the chief modeler at HedgeRow Analysis. He has a PhD (2013) and MS (2010) in Environmental Science. He is an interdisciplinary systems scientist with over a decade of experience improving our understanding of the complex interactions between the social, environmental and technological spheres. His simulation and scenario-based models have been used to examine energy transitions, urban sustainability and shrinking cities, and the agriculture and food system. He has experience as a professor, as a research scientist for the federal government, and working in the private sector. He is the co-editor of the book Understanding Urban Ecology and the author of 18 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

Amy Piscopo

Amy holds a PhD (2015) and MS (2012) in Environmental / Water Resources Engineering. She has over a decade of experience using modeling and optimization to investigate environmental, economic, and social tradeoffs in complex systems ranging from contaminated aquifers to emerging markets in aquaculture and cannabis. She is passionate about collaborating across disciplines and backgrounds.

Jill Bader Thompson

Jill Bader Thompson is a consultant tackling communications, branding, project management, speaking engagements, strategic planning, and event management.

Jill's portfolio of clients includes nonprofits, coalitions, individuals, corporations and politicians. She has been Communications Director for several gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and presidential campaigns and served many years in press offices on Capitol Hill. She has spearheaded efforts to recruit, train and support first time women candidates for political office. For the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Jill consulted on messaging, event planning and policy and issues management for GSUSA's government affairs office in Washington. She has also served the team of a top national political advertising firm.

Jill is from Nashville and is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Communication with Honors. She is an avid world traveler and volunteers for organizations supporting young women.

Jennifer Horner

Coming to you from South Jersey, Jennifer Horner is an experienced Realtor with prior experience as a title agent and mortgage officer, Jennifer is equipped with a comprehensive knowledge of the Real Estate Market and its effect on the growing cannabis market. With a BA in Communication and a seasoned small business owner, Jennifer has an impressive (and varied!) career history. Her true passion is for real estate and the emerging cannabis industry.