Richard Nelson
Executive Director
Richard Nelson is the founder and Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center. He’s served on numerous boards including the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Hopkinsville Community College Board (chair 2020-2021), Kentucky Council on Environmental Education, Pennyrile Christian Community Board (chair 2018-2021), and Trigg County Hospital Corporation Board. Richard was elected to the Trigg County Fiscal Court as magistrate in 2010 and served until 2014. He’s an active member of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort.
Richard’s previous employment includes: Field biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Jamestown, ND; Research Assistant in the Wisconsin State Capitol; Policy Analyst for Family Research Institute of Wisconsin; Field Representative and Policy Analyst with the Family Foundation. He graduated with a triple major BS in biology, wildlife management and resource management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1992 and earned a Master of Arts in public policy from Regent University in 1995.
He is certified by the Wildlife Society as a wildlife biologist and certified by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a secondary education teacher in environmental science.
Richard is an outdoors enthusiast and formerly ran an award-winning taxidermy studio in Cadiz, KY. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and camping. Father of three girls and a boy, he resides in Franklin County with his wife Bobby Jo on Dry Ridge Farm.
Jenny Bennett
Administrative Assistant
Jenny Bennett is the Administrative Assistant of the Commonwealth Policy Center. She graduated with a BS in Graphic Communications Management from Murray State University in 2003.
Jenny resides in Lawrenceburg, KY with her husband Jonathan and two children, Bree and Owen Bennett. Outside of work, her favorite way to spend her time is drinking coffee, spending time with her her family and church, developing her skill in photography, and learning American Sign Language.
Cole Cuzick
Director of Political Outreach
Cole is the Director of Political Outreach for the Commonwealth Policy Center. Prior to CPC, Cole’s previous employment includes: Staff Assistant with Congressman Thomas Massie and Policy Analyst for the Family Foundation. He graduated from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Political Science in 2017. While at ORU, Cole was President of ORU College Republicans, founded ORU Students for Life, and interned at the Family Research Council in Washington D.C.
Cole has a heart for evangelism and has served in various ministry roles over the last 6 years. He spends his free time playing with his young children, golfing with his brothers and father, and swimming. Cole and his wife, Rebecca, have two girls and a boy and reside in Florence, Kentucky.
Reed Heckmann
Director of Community Outreach
Reed is an ordained and commended minister, and has served in Senior Pastoral and other vocational ministry for thirty-three years, in rural small town, suburban, and inner city settings, primarily in the Upper Midwest. Just prior to joining the CPC staff, Reed served with non-profit Mountain Projects, Inc., in western North Carolina, managing and coordinating service options for eighty clients.
Reed is a graduate of Baptist Bible College (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (MDiv). He has been married to Anne for forty-four years, and has two grown daughters, and two grandsons, whom he loved to play with. He is presently an active member of Faith Community Church in Goshen, and resides in Oldham County.
In his free time, Reed loves to hike (especially in the mountains), bike, and kayak, and just generally explore the outdoors. Other interests include touring in the US and abroad, and visiting museums.
Alex Richey
Executive Assistant
Alex is the Executive Assistant for the Commonwealth Policy Center. He is currently pursuing a Mdiv in Ethics & Philosophy at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated from Liberty University with a BA in Government: Politics & Policy. Alex has interned for The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, and at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
He enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching English and German football, and reading works of theology and ethics. Alex lives in Louisville, where he and his wife Ashley are members of Clifton Baptist Church.
Christopher Parr
Research Assistant
Christopher Parr is an Intern for the Commonwealth Policy Center. He is currently pursuing an MDiv at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated from Boyce College with a BS in Humanities. Christopher previously interned for The Witherspoon Institute and was a 2022 Shaftesbury Fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy.
When he isn’t reading about history and political theory, Christopher enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, and traveling to new and familiar places. Christopher lives in Louisville, where he and his fiancée Kara Beth are members of Third Avenue Baptist Church.
Justin Warriner
Church Outreach – Louisville Field Representative
Justin is the Church Outreach Louisville Field Representative for the Commonwealth Policy Center. He is currently pursuing an M.A. in Ethics & Public Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated from Cairn University with a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Ministries. He spends his free time with his family, cooking, and reading books on theology, philosophy, and apologetics. Justin lives in Louisville with his wife Reagan and their daughter Rory. They are members of Calvary Baptist Church in New Salisbury, IN.