Meet Our Staff

Chip Pickering has been CEO of INCOMPAS since January 2014. During that time, INCOMPAS has achieved significant growth with leading internet, backbone, business broadband, wireless, and international companies. Under his leadership, INCOMPAS has led numerous public policy campaigns promoting competition through an open internet and in the business broadband market.

Pickering was a six-term Congressman representing Mississippi’s Third District. During his time in the House, he served on the Energy & Commerce Committee, where he was vice chairman from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the Telecommunications Subcommittee.

He also was co-chairman and founder of the Congressional Wireless Caucus and an assistant minority whip of the House. Previously, Chip worked for Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and served as a staff member on the Senate Commerce Committee, where he helped shape the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Because of his role in drafting the 1996 Act, he became well known as a Congressional leader on telecommunications issues. While in Congress, Chip served as chair of the subcommittee overseeing the transition to the commercial internet, the establishment of domain names, registries, and internet governance. He also successfully led a bipartisan legislative effort to codify net neutrality principles through the House in 2006.

Prior to joining INCOMPAS, Chip was a partner with Capitol Resources LLC, a public affairs and government relations firm, where he represented an array of telecom clients, including wireless, cable and competitive broadband providers, as well as non-profits and companies specializing in education, energy, technology and defense.

Julia brings more than 30 years of experience in the communications industry to her position as Chief of Staff for INCOMPAS. Prior to joining INCOMPAS, she provided consulting and lobbying services to competitive communications companies. She was a co-founder of Cbeyond and has held positions at Intermedia Communications and BellSouth. Julia earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Texas.

Staci is an innovative executive with decades of experience in public policy, technology, and business. She is recognized for her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, transforming them into growth opportunities by shaping policies that reduce barriers, unlock funding, and drive innovation in digital infrastructure. With deep expertise in broadband, AI-driven networks, and telecommunications, Staci has consistently delivered measurable, long-term impact for organizations and communities.

As Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Crown Castle, Staci launched the company’s first Washington, D.C. office and public policy team. Her efforts positioned Crown Castle as a key player in digital infrastructure deployment, creating long-term regulatory improvements and securing federal funding. Staci’s leadership also led to the development of national advocacy strategies that streamlined broadband infrastructure permitting, reducing regulatory burdens, and lowering deployment costs.

Previously, Staci served as Senior Policy Counsel at Google, where she expanded market opportunities by ensuring regulations supported the deployment of digital infrastructure and minimized barriers to broadband expansion, thereby safeguarding YouTube’s profitability and influencing Google’s hardware standards. She led policy initiatives for alternative access technologies, advancing 5G spectrum strategies and contributing to the U.S. Government’s National Spectrum Policy, which generated $500 billion in U.S. economic value. Additionally, Staci developed and implemented public policy strategies to integrate cybersecurity and privacy protections into connectivity and telecom products, enhancing digital security and regulatory compliance.

At Microsoft and Skype, Staci secured support from business champions and the Speaker of the House to implement a rule change allowing Skype usage in Congress. She collaborated with the House and Senate Committees on Administration to educate members on Skype’s security protocols, ultimately securing full endorsement. Staci also developed an action plan featuring technology demonstrations, an educational initiative, and customized user agreements for Congress and federal agencies.

Staci offers unique value by aligning public policy with commercial objectives, helping organizations expand market opportunities and minimize regulatory impact. She brings clarity, structure, and momentum to complex environments, aligning internal stakeholders around shared goals. Staci builds intentionally collaborative culture, empowering team members to take ownership of their work and driving innovation. Her leadership creates an environment where teams are motivated to achieve collective success. Innovation is a key driver for her, alongside her dedication to empowering people with access to technology. She builds on this commitment through her service on the United Way of the National Capital Area board.

Staci holds a Juris Doctorate from Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Pepperdine University.

Chris was named Executive Director of Public Policy in 2023, and will lead the association’s efforts to expand its advocacy on behalf of members. He joined INCOMPAS in 2015, serving as attorney and policy advisor responsible for representing INCOMPAS on wireless, universal service, disabilities access, media, and competition issues. Before joining INCOMPAS, Chris was an associate with LMI Advisors, advising clients in the satellite and wireless industries on regulatory issues related to experimental licensing and international market access.

Earlier in his career, Chris completed a legal internship with Harris Corporation, a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and served as the legal fellow for Rep. Anna Eshoo, the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Chris graduated from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America with a Juris Doctor in 2013 and also earned a certification from the Institute for Communications Law Studies. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2000, Chris served for three administrations as a policy analyst and grant administrator at the Arizona Governor’s Office.

Serving as the Director of Communications at INCOMPAS, Keith Matthews leads efforts to strengthen the association’s digital presence, media relations, and industry influence. With strategic vision and proven expertise, Keith develops and implements communication initiatives that effectively advance INCOMPAS’s position within the competitive communications industry. He oversees all external messaging, including press releases, social media strategy, and executive communications, while also managing stakeholder relationships with industry partners and media outlets. Additionally, Keith coordinates cross-departmental messaging to ensure consistency across all platforms and represents the organization at key industry events.

Prior to joining the INCOMPAS team, Keith worked for both the Mortgage Bankers Association and the Auto Care Association, as the digital lead directly responsible for the development and execution of their digital campaigns and strategies. A graduate of Bowie State University, Keith earned his B.S in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Taylor joined INCOMPAS as a policy advisor in 2024. Before this role, she was a legal intern for the INCOMPAS policy team in 2023, where her work focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

In 2024, Taylor graduated from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America with a Juris Doctor and earned a certificate in Intellectual Property from the Institute of Law and Technology. While in law school, Taylor was the Vice President of the Women’s Law Caucus, a Student Bar Association Senator, and a member of the First Generation Law Student Union. During her last semester, she was a regulatory intern at SES Americom Satellites, where she analyzed international regulations related to spectrum sharing and non-geostationary satellite frequency allocations.

Before law school, Taylor was a law clerk for Kosmitis Bond APLC in Shreveport, La., where she worked on medical malpractice and nursing home neglect claims. Taylor graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2020. During college, she spent a summer at the Université Catholique in Lille, France, and studied policy of the European Union.

Gail brings more than 25 years of journalism, marketing communications, public relations and public policy advocacy experience to her role at INCOMPAS. For the past 13 years, Gail has provided writing and public relations services to clients in a wide variety of industries, including wireless and landline telecommunications, cloud, semiconductor, network security, healthcare IT, virtual reality and venture funding.

Early in her career, Gail spent more than 10 years in editorial positions at telecommunications trade magazines and business publications, serving as editor in chief and executive editor of xchange magazine, and editor/reporter roles at tele.com, Local Competition Report and the Washington Business Journal. During her time at tele.com, Gail won a Jesse H. Neal 1999 Editorial Achievement Award for coverage of rural telecom and Internet issues in the August 1998 issue of the magazine. Gail earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Marymount University.

Jane Hopson graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2025 with a B.S. in Integrated Marketing and Communications. While at Ole Miss, she was a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class, a Provost Scholar, and was named to the Chancellor’s and Dean’s Honor Rolls. In addition to serving on the Student Alumni Council, Jane was president of Kappa Delta Sorority. As president, she led a chapter of over 500 members and implemented strategic plans to enhance member retention and recruitment. She also fostered strong relationships with the National Kappa Delta Council and alumni. Jane interned for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), where she assisted with administrative and communication tasks. She also worked as a real estate leasing assistant at Limerick Properties, where she identified potential tenants and supported leasing operations.