Lou Elliott- Cysewski

At IAVA:  As Vice President of External Affairs, Lou Elliott builds the partnerships, systems, and communications strategies that advance IAVA’s mission and secure resources for veterans. She ensures the organization is positioned with funders, policymakers, and the public to achieve long-term impact.

Professional Background: Lou has more than twenty years of experience at the intersection of policy, public health, and communications. She has led efforts that changed federal funding policy, launched campaigns that improved cancer screening in rural communities, and supported initiatives that expand access to care across diverse populations. Her work has contributed to nearly $80 million in funding secured for mission-driven organizations.

She began her career as a nurse in the U.S. Army and later became an entrepreneur, quickly scaling her last business to seven figures within two years. Her ability to translate complex challenges into actionable, funder-ready strategies has been recognized in Forbes, Inc., and The Economist. Lou holds a BS in Nursing and an MPH with a global health focus.

More about Lou: Lou is a fourth-generation veteran who grew up as a military child, moving ten times before the end of middle school. Her great-grandfather was among the first cohorts of Green Berets and a grandfather flew a C-124 Skymaster in the Korean War. These roots inform her commitment to service and community.

Ask Lou about: Where to find a great meal in most major U.S. or European cities, what to plant in a Northwest garden, which books are worth picking up next, or how to make sure a wine actually lives up to the hype.