Our Consultants
Former Senator Jon Ford
Jon Ford is a former member of the Indiana State Senate, representing District 38 (Terre Haute) from 2014 to 2023. He was the chair of the Senate Elections Committee and Senate Majority Campaign Committee. He worked on issues such as redistricting, gaming, appropriations, family and children services, and public policy. He worked as a small business owner and manufacturer before entering politics. He was the president of All-State Manufacturing and Chairman of the Indiana Arts Commission, as well as a member of the Honey Creek Township board and President of the Indiana Leadership Forum.
Victoria Watkins
Victoria R. Watkins is an attorney in Chicago, specializing in business, legislative, and creative industry law. As Founder and Managing Partner of Inrichmint, she uses her experience in business, private investing, law, and civic engagement to source curated deal flow for high net worth individuals and families. She previously served as Chief of Staff to the Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Ariel Investments, the oldest minority-owned asset management firm in the country. In this role, she oversaw the Office of the Co-CEO's operations, civic engagement, and social justice priorities. Prior to joining Ariel, Victoria worked for the City of Chicago in the Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, serving as Senior Advisor, and Deputy Director of Legislative Counsel & Government Affairs.
She is the author of a children's book, "Little Valarie and Her Big World of Options" , and owner of a curated tea line, Joy & Magic. Victoria serves on the Boards of Youth Guidance, AKR Foundation, and WINGS Program. In addition to her non-profit commitments, Victoria has advised and counseled small businesses on trademark and copyright strategy, business structuring, and organizational operation. She has spent time speaking on fashion law panels, while also authoring the early “fashion law blog” – B.A.F.F.L.E.D.
Victoria is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Consumer Economics and Finance. She earned her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law.
Grainne Mahoney
Grainne has over 20 years of expertise in state and local government, campaigns, not-for-profit development and fundraising. Her diverse background, strong communication skills and general knowledge of client needs make her an important addition to the team.
Grainne’s love of politics started at a young age as she marched in numerous parades for various politicians with her parents and older siblings beginning at the ripe age of two. She interned in the Illinois House of Representatives and the United States Senate during her college years. After college she ran regional field operations for then-U.S. Senate candidate Dick Durbin, and later for the state-wide gubernatorial campaign of former US Congressman Glenn Poshard. Mahoney entered the not-for-profit world shortly thereafter but always maintained a strong presence in local and state-wide politics.
Grainne has been an active volunteer for numerous organizations in the Springfield community, has served on the boards of the Kidzeum, St Patrick School and the City of Springfield Historic Sites Commission, and is a strong advocate for the historic neighborhood in which she and her husband Mark reside with their four children. She has a B.A. in Political Science and English from the University of Iowa.