Slate of Officers, 2022-2023
VANESSA LAFRANCO of New Jersey
Slated Position: NFRW First Vice President
Vanessa LaFranco was elected secretary of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) at the 40th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis and took office in January 2020. She is the director of NFRW Region 2, which includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. She also is the advisor to the NFRW Fundraising and Corporate Fundraising committees, liaison to College and Young Republicans, and coordinator of the NFRW Finance Oversight Initiative. She also serves on special committees for the NFRW 2021 Convention and the NFRW Business Plan.
Previously, Vanessa served on the NFRW Executive Committee as treasurer.
In 2013 and again in 2015, Vanessa was unanimously elected by the New Jersey Federation of Republican Women, becoming their youngest President since the organization was founded in 1929. Over the past 12 years, she has served as Vice President, Secretary, and was a member of their Board of Governors. In 2014 and 2016, she was appointed to the National Federation’s Campaign Committee.
In 2015 she received the Ronald Reagan Award, given by the NFRW in recognition of her leadership, initiation of new programs, increased statewide membership, excellence in public relations and her campaign successes. Vanessa has increased her membership exponentially and more than doubled the assets of the NJFRW.
Under her Presidency, she instituted a policy by which each of the current female members of the NJ Federation who were running for office received a campaign contribution. Through this initiative, the NJFRW financially supported over 200 of its member candidates.
Princeton University recognized Vanessa’s academic prowess in foreign languages. While in high school, she was offered the opportunity to attend daily language classes with Princeton’s undergraduates, which she completed with academic distinction. Selecting from Ivy League colleges, Vanessa chose an urban setting, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, and was a leader in the UPenn College Republicans. She interned with NJ Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, and gained greater insight regarding the importance of early and precise political advice, was taught how to graciously fundraise, attenuated her advocacy skills, and gained the political astuteness necessary to solidly build strong political constituencies. In 2012, Vanessa was a NJ Delegate to the RNC Convention.
Vanessa has worked in finance with Morgan Stanley and The Royal Bank of Canada, managing the financial assets, trusts, and estates of private clients. She has served on numerous non-profit Boards, including the Tony Award winning McCarter Theatre, the Washington-Rochambeau Society, and the Princeton University Art Museum. She has been named as one of Save Jersey’s 2021 Right Women to Watch and also serves on the Advisory Committee for the Center for American Women and Politics’ Bipartisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments.