Grace is a Partner in Carnes-Cummings Consulting.  Having known, liked and respected each other for many years, Rossie and Grace decided to join forces and form Carnes-Cummings Consulting in 2016.  They offer a variety of coaching, consulting and training services focused on developing effective leaders in the federal government.

In addition to her work with Rossie, Grace is the Founder of “Working with Congress,” a company that designs and conducts seminars to help people understand and effectively participate in the legislative and policy process in Washington, DC.

Since 1995, Grace has pursued her passion for teaching as an adjunct faculty member at OPM’s Federal Executive Institute. There she teaches an intensive three-day seminar entitled “Working with Congress” and has facilitated numerous seminars devoted to understanding “How Washington Really Works.” During this period, she also has taught at the Eastern and Western Management Development Centers, the Graduate School, the Treasury Executive Institute, the Canada School of Public Service and with a wide variety of federal agencies and departments.  She has also served as a guest lecturer for American University Campaign Management Academy and Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute.

Prior to establishing “Working with Congress” in 2005, Grace served as the Executive Director of The Faith & Politics Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides Members of Congress and congressional staff opportunities for reflection and dialogue focused on the intersection of their faith and their role in public service.

From May 1998 to December 2000, Grace served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  Before joining Kingston’s staff, she worked with McCaffery Associates, a firm specializing in communications and management consulting.

During the 1994 election cycle, Grace served as Finance Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.  Her responsibilities included the development and management of all fund raising programs for the NRCC.

From 1988 to 1994, Grace was Chief of Staff to Louisiana Congressman Jim McCrery, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Grace has been a contributing author for two books:  The Trusted Leader: Building the Relationships That Make Government Work published in 2007 by Congressional Quarterly Press and Campaigns and Elections American Style:  Second Edition published in 2004 by Westview Press.