Leadership

Dee Stewart

President

Dee Stewart has served as President of ABB since 2009. In this role, Stewart has led ABB through a period of organizational growth in many areas, including advocacy, fundraising, and influence.

In designing and implementing organizational plans for ABB, Stewart draws upon an extensive career as a political, public affairs, and PR consultant. Stewart has more than two decades of experience managing and directing all strategic, communications, administrative, media, fundraising, research, and grassroots components of a broad array of major campaigns.

Stewart is a former Chief of Staff to Congressman Patrick McHenry, who previously served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the U.S. House. Stewart is also a past Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa.

Stewart was named a Rising Star for 2008 by Politics Magazine, and was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor, in 2016.

Stewart has appeared on the CBS Evening News, ABC’s World News Tonight, NBC’s Today, CNN’s Inside Politics, MSNBC’s Equal Time, Fox News’ America’s News Headquarters, C-SPAN, and in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, Politico, National Journal, and on several national radio outlets.

Stewart holds a B.A. in Government, and an MBA with a concentration in Management from Campbell University. He is the proud father of one son, Douglas Stewart IV.

Laurie Onorio

Chief Executive Officer

Laurie Onorio serves as Chief Executive Officer of Americans for a Balanced Budget and its partner organization, the Center for Innovation and Free Enterprise (CIFE). She brings more than two decades of experience to the role, including leading issue advocacy campaigns, public affairs strategic management, and policy campaign coordination across the country and on a multitude of issues.

Before leading ABB and CIFE, Onorio built a career at the intersection of political campaigns, coalition building, government affairs, and strategic communications. She has directed state and multi-state policy programs for national philanthropic organizations, trade associations, businesses, and advocacy groups, managing multimillion-dollar campaign budgets and grant portfolios. Onorio’s work has contributed to landmark legislation, executive orders, regulatory reforms, and productive engagement with Republican and Democratic officials alike. 

Onorio holds a B.A. in English from North Carolina State University and is an active member of political, advocacy, and industry associations, including the State Government Affairs Council (Co-Chair, Education & Training Committee), Public Affairs Council, and Women in Government Relations, among others. 

Onorio resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and four children.