About Us

The goal of Young Conservatives for Energy Reform is to bring together young professional socially conservative leaders from across the country in grass roots efforts to influence energy reform during this critical election year. We will be building and strengthening regional and state coalitions through targeted meetings, press releases, and local media outreach efforts. We also have a Board of Advisors that represents business and community leaders from around the country.  Our main focus will be upon ensuring national security and economy growth through home grown energy and “clean technology” jobs.

YCER will be organizing around the country with State Chairmen, County Chairmen and local chairmen in every state.  Through social media and other resources, we will educate young leaders about energy reform and the different aspects of our natural resources.  This issue has been the source of a partisan bickering for too many years.  Our main goal is to create meaningful energy reform focusing on the key concerns of our country and family to ensure a prosperous economy now and for future generations of Americans.

As founder of Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, Michele Combs has over 25 years experience in Republican politics, working on many campaigns for Republican candidates on a national, state and local level.. Michele Combs began her role in politics at age 21 when she became the State Chairman of the South Carolina Young Republicans. Under the guidance of the late Lee Atwater, a fellow South Carolinian, who was the Campaign Manager for George H. W. Bush and former RNC Chairman, Michele personally oversaw the growth of her chapter to one of the most active in the country and was elected as “Young Republican of the Year” in 1989.

Ms. Combs was chosen to head up “America 2000" - Educational Service Corp in the early 1990's by the State Superintendent of Education, Barbara Nielson. Michele brought together corporations and children from all over the state and raised thousands of dollars to assist with vital program funding for state educational programs.  Under her leadership, she also created summer programs and camps for underprivileged kids around the state.

Michele owned her own Special Events and Production company for ten years. She produced hundreds of corporate and political events across the country. Michele's diverse client base included the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, World Cup of Golf, events at the Republican National Convention in Houston, San Diego and Philadelphia and New York City. She also produced an event at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In addition, Ms. Combs produced events for Steve Forbes, Governor Campbell, Governor Beasley, US Senator Strom Thurmond, Pat Robertson and many Congressional events. Her company also produced five major presidential inaugural events for President George W. Bush in 2001.

Michele became Director of Special Projects for the Christian Coalition of America in 2002 and was promoted a year later to the Director of Communications. She has been quoted in major print media including the New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Washington Times, People and Rolling Stone Magazine. She has appeared on various news networks including the Bill Moyers Show on PBS. Ms. Combs has also testified in front of several Congressional committees including the Commerce, Energy Judicial Committees, the FCC and spoke at national universities including Stanford University representing the Christian Coalition of America.

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Brian Smith - National Outreach Director of the Young Conservatives for Energy Reform

Brian Smith received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and is now an MBA student at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.  Prior to beginning his MBA, Brian worked as an associate at Arsenal Venture Partners (AVP), supporting the U.S. Army's Venture Capital Initiative and the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program's Commercialization Pilot Program.   Prior to AVP, Brian held various technology management positions within the Department of Defense, first at the Air Force Research Laboratory, then at the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, and finally the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Director of Defense Research and Engineering.  In those capacities, he focused upon accelerating development of advanced technologies to support wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a focus on energy security.  

Brian has been an active member of the Republican Party.  He served in various positions within the Republican and Young Republican organizations, including Co-Chair of Young Republican National Federation Policy Committee; Chair of the Arlington/Falls Church, VA Young Republicans; 8th District Chair of the Young Republicans of Virginia; 4th District Chair of the Florida Federation of Young Republicans; and Secretary of the Arlington County Republicans.  He has also served a variety of campaign positions, including Energy Policy Chair, Future Leaders for McCain Coalition; 8th District Chair, Veterans for Bob McDonnell Coalition.    

Brian is veteran of the United States Air Force.

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Juan C.Lopez-Campillo - Southeast Chairman of the Young Conservatives for Energy Reform

Juan C. Lopez-Campillo is Of Counsel in the Orlando office of Jackson Lewis LLP.

Mr. Lopez-Campillo has more than 12 years of experience representing employers before state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, and administrative agencies in employment-related matters, including matters involving claims of employment discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower, sexual and other harassment, employment torts, and unfair competition and trade secrets. Mr. Lopez-Campillo’s experience includes handling complex, multi-plaintiff litigation, and assisting employers with related compliance issues, including conducting internal audits of employers’ wage payment practices, assisting employers with audits by the U.S. Department of Labor, and advising employers on their obligations to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act and related state wage-hour legislation. Mr. Lopez-Campillo also assists employers in resolving disputes outside of the courtroom through the employment of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms.

Mr. Lopez-Campillo routinely counsels clients of all sizes and in all industries achieve employment and labor law compliance objectives by providing practical advice and meaningful answers to complex employment and labor law compliance questions, and works with employers to review, draft, and update employment and HR policies and procedures.

Mr. Lopez-Campillo utilizes his fluency in Spanish to draft employment and HR policies and procedures, employment contracts, and other documents in Spanish for employers with a Hispanic/Latino workforce, and conducts in-house seminars and training workshops (in English and Spanish) for supervisors and human resources personnel in areas such as employment law compliance and handling terminations to minimize the risks of employment-related litigation.

Mr. Lopez-Campillo is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, District of Columbia, Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, and Northern District of Texas.

Mr. Lopez-Campillo earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Florida International University, and a J.D. with Honors from St. Thomas University School of Law, having graduated in the top 10% of his class. Mr. Lopez-Campillo also earned an LL.M. in Labor and Employment Law from Georgetown University Law Center.

We encourage you to explore our website and sign up for our weekly newsletter and we will be delighted to send you information highlighting events in your area, and ways to become immediately involved.  We look forward to hearing from you, and working with you on these critical issues.

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Young Conservative for Energy Reform Board of Advisors

Chairman

State Senator Paul Campbell - South Carolina, Former CEO of Alcoa SC/IN

Juan Lopez-Campillo - Florida, Attorney

Barry Blass - Florida, Chief Financial Officer

Jim Beck - Georgia, Insurance Executive

Charles Harvey - Virginia, Internet Executive

S. William Dahar II - New Hampshire, Attorney

Hugh Greentree - Ohio, Attorney

Douglas Marshall - Texas, Bank Executive

Randie Rosen - California, Attorney

Robbie Brunson - South Carolina, Chief Executive Officer

Keith Parks - South Carolina, Attorney and Realtor

John Hogue - Louisiana, Attorney

Lauren Thomson - New Jersey, Businesswoman

John Patterson - Missouri, Nuclear Power Plant CEO

Judy Haynes - North Carolina, Consultant and Businesswoman

Robert Heinemann - Pennsylvania, Healthcare Executive

Vincent La Padula - New York City, Investment Banker

Cassia Rankin - South Carolina and Brazil (International Member)