Samantha McDonald

Role: Panelist

Samantha “Sam” McDonald is President of Kanner & Associates, a firm representing consumer-owned utilities with a focus on federal hydropower and natural resources policy. She joined the firm in April 2022 as Vice President and became President in December 2023. Prior to Kanner & Associates, Sam served as Legislative Director at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, where she led the federal hydropower and natural resources portfolios on Capitol Hill. During her tenure, she also served as Secretary of the National Preference Customer Committee. Earlier in her career, Sam was Government Relations Director at the Independent Petroleum Association of America, where she worked on both regulatory and legislative matters. Her portfolio included Endangered Species Act policy and broader natural resources issues. She began her career on Capitol Hill, serving six years for three Members of Congress, most recently as a legislative assistant to John Fleming, handling energy, natural resources, and agriculture policy. She also served as a liaison to the House Natural Resources Committee during his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Scranton and a master’s degree in legislative affairs from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.