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RNC
Committee
on
Arrangements
The Committee on Arrangements is
charged with putting
together the Republican National Convention.
The COA filed
its Statement of Organization with the FEC
on May 26, 2015. It had a staff of about 40 as of mid-Jan.
2016, about 70 as of the early part of April 2016, and finished
with a staff of about 120 people.
The COA reported total disbursements of $12.8 million; it was funded by
transfers totalling $12.9 million from the RNC.
(page revised
June 4, 2020)
RNC 2016 Committee
on Arrangements
convention.gop | fb/GOPconvention
|
@GOPconvention
Executive
Committee
Chairman Steve King
(announced Jan. 23, 2015) RNC National Committeeman from Wisconsin since 2007. Founder (2006) and partner at the King Capital, LLC, a private investment firm located in Janesville. President of Milton Industrial and Economic Corporation, 1990-2006. U.S. Senate candidate in 1988. District 15 supervisor for Walworth County, 1981-85. King has served on several committees for the RNC including on the 2012 convention Housing Committee and as the convention Sergeant of Arms in 2012, and he has been a delegate to six RNC conventions. Chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from 1985-88; chair of the 1st CD GOP, 1981-88; chair of the Walworth Country Republican Party, 1979-81 and 1993-96.
Co-Chair Joanne Davidson
(announced Jan. 23, 2015) National
Committeewoman for Ohio since 2004. Chairman of the Site
Selection
Committee, and the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 National
Convention. RNC Co-Chairman
from 2005-09 (with Ken Mehlman and Mike Duncan). Bush-Cheney
’04 Ohio Valley Regional Campaign Chair. Member of the Ohio House
of Representatives for 20 years, including Speaker of the House from
1995-2000.
As Chairman of the Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee from
1986-2000,
she spearheaded the successful effort to return the Republicans to the
majority in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1994, for the first
time
in 22 years. Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party
Central
Committee for 25 years. Chairman of the Taft for Governor
campaigns
in 1998 and 2002. Resident of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Vice Chair Enid Mickelsen
Vice Chair Glenn McCall
Treasurer Tony Parker
Secretary Susie Hudson
(announced
Feb. 10, 2015)
Individual
State
Appointments
(announced April 23,
2015 - at least
one member from each state and
territory)
Vicki Drummond, National Committeewoman, Alabama
Ralph Seekins, National Committeeman, Alaska
Amata Radewagen, National Committeewoman, American Samoa
Sharon Giese, National Committeewoman, Arizona
Jonathan Barnett, National Committeeman, Arkansas
Linda Ackerman, National Committeewoman, California
Lilly Nuñez, National Committeewoman, Colorado
John Frey, National Committeeman, Connecticut
Laird Stabler, National Committeeman, Delaware
Jill Homan, National Committeewoman, District of Columbia
Blaise Ingoglia, State Chairman, Florida
Linda Herren, National Committeewoman, Georgia
Margaret Metcalfe, National Committeewoman, Guam
Miriam Hellreich, National Committeewoman, Hawaii
Damond Watkins, National Committeeman, Idaho
Demetra DeMonte, National Committeewoman, Illinois
John Hammond, National Committeeman, Indiana
Steve Scheffler, National Committeeman, Iowa
Kelly Arnold, State Chairman, Kansas
Steve Robertson, State Chairman, Kentucky
Ross Little, National Committeeman, Louisiana
Alex Willette, National Committeeman, Maine
Louis Pope, National Committeeman, Maryland
Ron Kaufman, National Committeeman, Massachusetts
Ronna Romney McDaniel, State Chairwomanman, Michigan
Janet Beihoffer, National Committeewoman, Minnesota
Jeanne Luckey, National Committeewoman, Mississippi
Lance Beshore, National Committeeman, Missouri
Betti Hill, National Committeewoman, Montana
Joyce Simmons, National Committeewoman, Nebraska
Michael McDonald, State Chairman, Nevada
Steve Duprey, National Committeeman, New Hampshire
Bill Palatucci, National Committeeman, New Jersey
Rosie Tripp, National Committeewoman, New Mexico
Ed Cox, State Chairman, New York
David Lewis, National Committeeman, North Carolina
Sandy Boehler, National Committeewoman, North Dakota
James Ada, State Chairman, Northern Mariana Islands
Jim Dicke, National Committeeman, Ohio
Matt Borges, State Chairman, Ohio
Steve Fair, National Committeeman, Oklahoma
Donna Cain, National Committeewoman, Oregon
Christine Toretti, National Committeewoman, Pennsylvania
Zori Fonalledas, National Committeewoman, Puerto Rico
Lee Ann Sennick, National Committeewoman, Rhode Island
Cindy Costa, National Committeewoman, South Carolina
Dana Randall, National Committeeman, South Dakota
Peggy Lambert, National Committeewoman, Tennessee
Toni Anne Dashiell, National Committeewoman, Texas
Bruce Hough, National Committeeman, Utah
Jay Shepard, National Committeeman, Vermont
Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal, National Committeewoman, Virgin Islands
Kathy Hayden, National Committeewoman, Virginia
Fredi Simpson, National Committeewoman, Washington
Kris Warner, National Committeeman, West Virginia
Mary Buestrin, National Committeewoman, Wisconsin
Greg Schaefer, National Committeeman, Wyoming
COA Subcommittees
CEO Jeff Larson
(announced Feb. 11, 2015) Annouced as RNC senior advisor on Jan. 29. Director of IE at the NRSC in the 2014 cycle (reported Nov. 2013). CEO of Roosevelt Group. Chief of staff at the RNC in the 2012 cycle, announced Feb. 3, 2011 through April 2013. In 1999 Larson and three others formed Feather Hodges Larson & Synhorst, which became FLS-DCI and then FLS Connect, a top campaign consulting firm; he sold his stake in the firm following the 2010 elections. In the 2010 cycle Larson chaired Minnesota Future, a 527 group that was active in the governor's race. CEO of the Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee. Founded a firm call Strategic Communications. Worked at the RNC under Lee Atwater. Executive director of the Delaware Republican Party in 1988 cycle. Worked on North Dakota Gov. Alan Olson's unsuccessful 1984 re-election campaign. Deputy campaign manager on Bud Westman's campaign for U.S. Senate in North Dakota. Degree in business administration and economics from University of North Dakota, 1982. Grew up in Grand Forks, ND.
Executive Assistant Lexi Nord
(Oct. 2015)
Legislative director for the North Dakota Republican
Party, Jan.-Oct. 2015. Finance chair and property manager at LeJo
Investments, LLP, June 2014-Jan. 2015. Campaign finance assistant
at Heartland Campaign Management, Jan.-Dec. 2014. Interim state
field director for the Nebraska Republican Party, Aug.-Nov. 2013.
B.A. in psychology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2013.
Vice President Sara Armstrong
(announced June 29,
2015)
COO at the RNC from April 2013; deputy chief of
staff at the RNC
from April
2011-April 2013; director of membership services at the RNC in
the 2010
cycle; started
in March 2009. Worked at the White House from June 2002
to Jan. 2009. Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief
of
Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, July 2007-Jan. 2009; Director of the
Visitors Office, March 2004-July 2007; Deputy Director of
Correspondence for the First Lady, Dec. 2002-March 2004; Correspondence
Analyst, June 2002-Dec. 2002. Sales/marketing manager at GMAC,
1999-2001. Retail services officer at BBT, 1994-97. M.B.A.
from the
University of South Carolina, 1999; B.S. in marketing from the
University of South Carolina, 1994.
Senior Consultant Bill Harris
Harris has been involved in the planning and
management of RNC
conventions since 1984, when he served as Sergeant at Arms, and has
assisted every Republican presidential campaign since 1972, when he
attended his first convention. He is a partner at the MITA Group
and president of William D. Harris and Associates. CEO of the
2012 Republican National Convention, May 2011-Aug. 2012. In 2008,
Harris served as convention director for the McCain-Palin campaign
where he coordinated all convention-related activities for the
campaign, including program, political, logistics, and
communications. CEO of the 2004 Republican National
Convention. Executive director of the NRSC in the 1994
cycle. Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party from
1977-84. B.A. from the University of Alabama.
Senior Advisor Mike Miller
Miller has held key positions in eleven Republican
National
Conventions. He was COO for the 2012 convention, overall director
of operations for the 2008, 2004 and 1992 Conventions and was director
of media operations for seven others. He has served as a
consultant to several site selection committees. Between
conventions, Miller manages his own consultancy, MVM Public
Affairs. He covered the 1964 and 1968 conventions as a
correspondent for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain.
Special Projects Manager Christina "CC" Cobaugh
Master's degree from the University of New Orleans; bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.
Convention Program Director William I. (Bill) Greener
Greener was program director of the 2008 Republican
National
Convention, worked on program planning
and execution on the 2000 Republican National Convention, and served as
convention manager for the 1996 Republican National Convention.
He is a founding partner of the firm, Greener and Hook, LLC (1998);
also serves on the faculty of The George Washington University's
Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM). Previously
partner at the firm of Smith & Harroff for seven and a half
years. Vice president for public affairs for Wheelbrator
Technologies, Inc. in 1990; vice president for corporate communications
and state affairs at the International Paper for three years; deputy
chief of staff for political operations at the Republican National
Committee; communications director for the RNC; director of public
affairs at the Department of Energy during the Reagan Administration;
director of media operations for the NRCC; communications director for
the Illinois Republican Party; communications director for the 1980
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois; served in the
communications offices of the Treasury Department and the Ford White
House. Graduate of Washington and Lee University, 1972 and
pursued graduate-level studies in psychology at Miami of Ohio
University.
Senior
Advisor/Director of Caucus Operations Ryan Price
Principal at The Trailblazer Group from Dec. 2008. Director of debate operations on Romney for President, Sept.-Nov. 2012. Director of operations at the 2012 Republican National Convention. Deputy political director on John McCain 2008. Political director on Tom Gallagher for Governor (FL), 2006. J.D. from University of Miami School of Law, 2000; B.S. in journalism from Appalachian State University, 1997.
Director of Whip
Operations Mike McSherry
A managing director at Mercury from Feb. 2005.
Deputy political director at the NRSC, Jan. 2002-Jan. 2005. Director
of
government
affairs
at
the
RNC,
2001-02, Executive
director
of
the
Republican
Governors
Association,
2000-01.
Director
of
the
Virginia
Liaison
Office
for
Federal
Affairs
for
Gov.
Jim
Gilmore,
1998-2000.
Appointments
to
the
U.S.
Department
of
Housing
and
Urban
Development,
serving
on
the
staff
of
Secretary
Jack
Kemp
and
the
U.S. Department of
Labor. Graduate of Assumption College, 1983.
Director of Logistics Ryan O'Dwyer
(May-July 2016) Advance representative on Mitt
Romney for
President,
Aug.-Nov. 2012. Deputy director of operations for the 2012
Republican National Convention, Aug. 2011-Aug. 2012. Principal at
MITA Group, 2007-11. B.A. in history and political science from
College of Charleston, 2007.
Deputy Director for Logistics for Caucus Operations Anne-Allen Weldon
(May-July 2016) Government affairs coordinator
at Maynard Cooper
&
Gale from Nov. 2015. B.S. and B.A. in restaurant and hospitality
management from University of Alabama.
Scheduling Coordinator/Media for Caucus Operations Cari G. Lutkins
(June-July 2016...master schedule governing surrogate
activity)
Canvasser on Richard Shelby for U.S. Senate (AL), Jan.-Mar. 2016.
B.A. in political science and government from University of Alabama,
2016.
Transportation Director for
Caucus Operations
Jonathan Wetzel
(June-July 2016) Campaign manager on Kathy
Szeliga's U.S. Senate
race, Dec. 2015-May 2016. Senior trip coordinator on Scott
Walker, Inc., July-Sept. 2015 and Our American Revival, Feb.-June
2015. Deputy campaign manager on Friends
of Scott Walker
(2014
re-election). Assistant campaign manager on Tommy
Thompson for
Senate, Sept.-Dec. 2012. Political director at the Republican
Party of Wisconsin, June-Sept. 2012. Statewide field director on
Friends of Scott Walker, Nov. 2011-June 2012. External relations
coordinator in the Office of Gov. Scott Walker, Jan.-July and Aug.-Nov.
2011. Field rep. on Friends of Scott Walker, July-Dec.
2010. B.A. in philosophy and political science from Marquette
University, 2010.
Volunteer Coordinator for Caucus Operations Alex
Menzel
(June-July 2016) Investor relations business
analyst for
Santander Consumer USA Inc.,
June 2015-June 2016. B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University's
Cox
School of Business, 2015.
- approximately 200
official volunteers -
Campaign Program Director Jo Ann Poly Calvo
(June-July 2016) Served as the Trump campaign's
liaison to the NY GOP
starting in Dec. 2015. Director of event services at PT
Events and Management, Feb. 2005-Nov. 2015, including event and
logistics manager for Christian Audigier & Ed Hardy Corp., Aug.
2005-Feb. 2010. Client services consultant at Organic Avenue,
March-May 2011. Sales executive for special sizes at Eileen
Fisher, Inc., April 2000-Feb. 2004. Studied hospitality and event
management at the Fashion Institute of Technology; bachelor's degreee
in public relations/image management from Universidad del Sagrado
Corazón
(Puerto Rico), 1995.
Executive Producer Phil Alongi
[Also served as executive producer of the 2012
Republican National Convention] CEO of Alongi Media Systems,
which he founded in March 2009. Worked over 30 years at NBC News,
finishing as executive producer of specials and politics. B.S. in
accounting from St. Francis College, 1976. New York native.
Senior Supervising Producer Jeff Wild
Senior Coordinating Producer John
Zito
Coordinating Producer Warren Pick
Director Ron de Moraes
Production Manager Jeff Bey
Production Coordinator Laura Bowman
Production Assistant Mariah Miller
Director of Production Finance Tony Gannon
Production Design (Stage) Joe Stewart
[Also designed stages for the 2000, 2004 and 2008
Republican National
Conventions] Partner at Shaffner Stewart Production Design in
Los Angeles. B.F.A. in stage design from Carnegie Mellon
University. Originally from Lafayette, LA.
Assistant
David Eckert
Art Director (Ancillary Elements) Eddie Knasiak
Principal at Eddie Knasiak Design in New York.
Lighting Designer David Gill
[This is Gill's Fifth Republican National
Convention] David Gill
Associates in Mahwah, NJ.
Lighting Director Paul Sonnleitner
Owner of Control, etc., LLC in the New York City area.
House Bandleader G.E. Smith
Guitarist and former Saturday Night Live music director.
Director of the Convention Balloon Drop Treb Heining
[Has overseen the balloon drops at every Republican
National Convention
since 1988] CEO of GlassHouse Balloon Company, Inc. in Anaheim,
CA.
Director of Official Proceedings Larry Harlow
(Oct. 2015) Harlow also served as director of
official
proceedings for the 2004, 2008 (consultant) and 2012 Republican
National Conventions. President of Harlow Government Relations
LLC from March 2011. President and CEO of Timmons and Company,
Inc., 1991-2009. Assistant Secretary and Deputy Undersecretary
for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Treasury,
1989-90. Special Assistant to the President for Legislative
Affairs at the White House, 1986-1989. Associate director of OMB,
director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, 1985-86. Director
of the Office of Congressional Relations at the Federal Trade
Commission, 1981-85. Director of congressional relations for the
Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc. 1976-1981. Director of the
Office of Legislative Affairs for Region VII of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1972-76. Bachelor's degree in political
science from The George Washington University, 1971.
Deputy Director of Official Proceedings Rachel Kahler
(Jan. 2016) Government relations PAC manager at Freddie Mac, 2005-06. Deputy director for operations for the 2004 Republican National Convention in NYC, Oct. 2003-Sept. 2004. Event consultant for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, 2001-03. Director of special projects media relations for the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia; also worked on the 1996 (San Diego) and 1992 (Houston) Conventions. Executive assistant to venue operations director for World Cup 1994 from Oct. 1993-Aug. 1994. Studied at University of South Carolina in Columbia. Daughter of former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.
Deputy Director for Operations, Official Proceedings Zachary Quinn
(April 2016) Director of administration (Aug.
2015-April 2016)
and executive assistant to the COO (May-Aug. 2015) at Jeb 2016,
Inc. Associate at Sphere Consulting LLC, March 2014-2015.
Working toward M.A. in near and Middle Eastern studies; B.A. in
international relations and affairs (2013) from The George Washington
University.
Staff Assistant Gabriella Uli
Advisor William R. (Bill) Pitts Jr.
Convention experience includes parlimentarian for the
1984 Republican
National Convention. Founder and CEO of Capitol BrainTrust from
Aug. 2009. Vice
president of government affairs at Blackboard Inc., 2008-09.
President of government relations at The NTI Group, Inc. 2006-08.
Chief of staff to the House Rules Committee, Apr. 2003-May 2005.
Executive vice president for government relations for MP3.com, May
2000-June 2002. Vice president for government relations for The
Walt Disney Company, Jan. 1999-May 2000. Vice president for
government relations at Capital Cities/ABC, Jan. 1995-1999.
Policy chief/floor assistant to House
Republican Leader Robert H. Michel, 1970-1995. Graduate of
Georgetown University, 1969.
Communications Director Kirsten Kukowski
(started at the beginning of Jan. 2016)
Communications director
at Scott Walker, Inc; started at Walker's Our American Revival in Feb.
2015. Deputy communications director/press secretary at the
RNC to early Feb. 2015; RNC press secretary from Jan. 2011.
Spokeswoman
on U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's successful 2010 campaign for U.S.
Senate.
Midwest
regional press secretary at the RNC in 2009-10. Communications
director at the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Jan. 2007-March 2009,
including WI Victory communications director in Fall 2008. Press
secretary to U.S. Rep. Mark Green, May 2006-Jan. 2007. B.A. in
journalism and political science from University of Wisconsin-Madison,
2006. twitter
Deputy Communications Director Lyndsay Keith
(March 2016 ...responsibilitiies included Media
Row) Senior director of media relations
for Harbinger
Outreach, Aug. 2015-March 2016. Anchor, reporter, producer for
Liberty Flames Sports Network-Game On, Oct. 2013-Sept. 2015.
Press advance lead on Romney for President, June-Nov. 2012.
Director of Convocation at Liberty University, Aug. 2010-July
2012. M.A. in communication from Liberty University, 2010; B.A.
in counseling from Northland International University, 2008.
Press Secretary Audrey Scagnelli
Regional press secretary at New Day for America,
Feb.-early May
2016. Press secretary for regional and
state media at CARLY
for America, the pro-Fiorina super PAC, Sept. 2015-Feb. 2016.
Press secretary for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers
(WA) from Feb.
2014. Founder and editor in chief of College & Cook magazine, Jan.
2012-Jan. 2014. B.A. in political communication from The George
Washington University, 2013. twitter
Director of Regional Media Alee Lockman
(Feb. 2016) Communications director to U.S. Sen.
Steve Daines,
and to U.S. Rep. Daines, Jan. 2013-Dec. 2014. Campaign manager on
Kim
Vann for Congress in Vacaville, April-Nov. 2012. Communication
director to U.S. Rep. Rick Berg, Jan. 2011-April 2012. Deputy
campaign manager and communications director on Scott Bruun for
Congress, July-Nov. 2010. Research assistant on Charlie Baker for
Governor, Jan.-May 2010. Press assistant for the 2008 Republican
National Convention. B.A. in government from Harvard University,
2010. twitter
Deputy Press Secretary Dave O'Neil
Director of communications for Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo. Worked as a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch, Key West (Fla.) Citizen and Ashland (Ohio) Times-Gazette from 2002-08. Graduate of The Ohio State University. Native of Youngstown, Ohio. twitter
Director of Surrogate Scheduling Deidre Almstead
(Oct. 2015) Previously on the Walker
campaign. Executive assistant/scheduler (Jan. 2013-May 2015) and
deputy scheduler (Dec. 2010-Dec. 2012) to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn; staff
assistant in the U.S. Senate, June-Dec. 2010. Graduate of
Southern Methodist University, 2010. twitter
Deputy Director of Surrogate Scheduling Taryn Fenske
(June 2016) Executive assistant to the
chief of staff to Gov. Rick Scott, Dec. 2014-June 2015. Executive
assistant to the campaign manager on Rick Scott for Florida, Feb-Nov.
2014. B.A./B.S. from Florida State University, 2013.
Senior Writer/Researcher Lindsay Hayes
Owner
of
Redpath
Writing
from
Jan.
2008.
Director
of
speechwriting
on
Romney
for
President,
Oct.
2011-Nov.
2012.
Speechwriter
for
the
VP
nominee
on the McCain-Palin campaign, Sept.-Nov. 2008. Senior
writer for the 2008 Republican National Committee. Senior
associate at Nahigian Strategies in Alexandria, VA. Primary
speechwriter for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), July 2002-Nov. 2006.
Speechwriting at The White House, Jan.-June 2002. Ph.D. in
communication (2013, M.A. in communication (201 from University of
Maryland College Park; B.A. in political science and communication from
Boston College, 1998.
Press Assistant Justin Giorgio
(March 2016) Press assistant at Carly for
President from June
2015. Bachelor's
degree in government, Chinese and economics from Georgetown University,
2015.
Director of Delegation Events (Communications) Kristen Sabella
(May 2016) Deputy director of policy and
communications for the
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in Massachusetts,
Feb. 2015-March 2016. Deputy director of communications and press
secretary on Allan Fung for Governor (RI), Sept.-Nov. 2014.
Director of immigration advocacy and legislative outreach for the
National Association of Evangelicals, March 2013-July 2014.
Office of media affairs on Romney for President, Sept.-Nov. 2012.
Communication logistics for the 2012 Republican National Convention in
Tampa, June-Aug. 2012. Worked on the Institute for 21st Century
Energy at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Oct. 2011-April 2012.
Special projects manager at Madhatter LLC, April 2010-Oct. 2011.
Policy advisor and special assistant in the Office of the Secretary at
the U.S. Department of Interior, Jan. 2007-Jan. 2009. Legislative
assistant and scheduler in the U.S. House, Jan. 2005-Jan. 2007.
B.A. in government from Patrick Henry College.
Media Affairs Director - TV, Radio, Specialty Media and Media Events Pamela R. Stevens
(April 1, 2016) On leave from position as
director of media
affairs
and strategic initiatives for the House Republican Conference from Jan.
2013. National press secretary for Fix the Debt Campaign, Sept.
2012-Jan. 2013. Deputy press secretary and director of specialty
press
for the 2012 Republican National Convention, July-Sept. 2012.
Planning/editorial producer for MSNBC/The Last Word with Lawrence
O'Donnell, 2010-12. DC director of communications and external
relations for Susan G. Komen, 2008-10. Deputy Assistant Secretary
for
Outreach/senior advisor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of
State, 2005-08. Assistant press secretary at the White House,
2002-05. Producer and senior editorial producer at CNN,
1994-2002.
B.A. in communications from James Madison University.
Deputy Director of Media Affairs Ninio Fetalvo
(May 2016...coordinating TV,
radio, specialty media, and media events) Fetalvo
is also RNC press secretary for Asian Pacific American
engagement. APA press assistant, May
2014-Jan. 2015; interned
at the RNC, Nov. 2013-May 2014. B.A. in political communication
from The George Washington University, 2014.
Digital Director Samantha Osborne
(Sept.
2015) Director of client strategy at Targeted Victory, June-Aug.
2015. Director of account strategy at Prosper Group, Feb.
2014-June 2015. Digital manager at GolinHarris, April 2013-Feb.
2014. National deputy digital field director at Romney for
President, Oct. 2011-Dec. 2012. Campaign manager on Kim Simac for
Senate in Wisconsin, June-Aug. 2011. B.A. in political science
and history from The Ohio State University, 2009. Cleveland
native.
Deputy Digital Director Doug Hochberg
(Dec. 2015) Press secretary for American Action Forum, Feb. 2014-Nov. 2015. Communications and advancement teams for new CEO of Hillel International, Sept. 2013-Feb. 2014. Founder of Bullpen Digital, Feb.-Oct. 2013. Ohio digital director on Romney for President, June-Nov. 2012. Project manager for Strategic Public Partners Group, 2011-12. B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University, 2011.
Director of Digital Content Cassie Smedile
(May 2016) Communications director to U.S. Rep.
Sean Duffy (WI)
since May 2013. Communications director to U.S. Rep. Ginny
Brown-Waite (FL), June 2009-Dec. 2010. Deputy communications
director on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Nov. 2007-Oct.
2009. Staff assistant to the House Republica Whip, May-Nov.
2007.
B.A. in broadcast and electronic communication from Marquette
University, 2007.
Digital Operations Manager Alex Varisco
(May 2016) Guest trainer for Apple in Syracuse,
NY, June 2010-May
2016. Bachelor's degree in political science and government from
Daemen College, 2007; associate's degree from Onondaga Community
College, 2005.
Director of Digital Operations and Tech Partnerships Ben Friedmann
(April 2016) Account manager/online advertising
at Google, Jan.
2013-April 2014. Search advertising and PPC analytics lead
(embedded digital and advertising liaison) on Romney for President,
Aug.-Nov. 2012. Advertising strategist/SMB and eCommerce
development at Google, Sept. 2011-Aug. 2012. Brand licensing for
Creative Artists Agency, March 2010-Sept. 2011. Studied at
Columbia Business School; B.S. in radio/TV/film from Northwestern
University, 2009.
Digital Assistant Nolan Schade
> 76-person
real-time
content
production & distribution team. Results through
the
four
days of the Convention were: 1,270 posts, 160K new followers,
100K app downloads, 6.5MM social mentions, 211MM video min. viewed.
Director of Media Operations Julie Perrier Shugar
(announced July 2,
2015) Has
worked on the
1988, 1992, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Republican Conventions. Served
as director of media operations for the 2012 convention and director
of the Media Center in the 2008 and 2004 Republican National
Conventions. Housing
coordinator for the 1992 convention. Worked for convention
manager Bill Phillips on the 1988 Republican National Convention.
Other experience includes assistant clerk of the U.S. House of
Representatives, work in the political division of the RNC, and
political appointee at the Department of Health and Human Services
during the George H.W. Bush administration.
Media Operations Center Manager Kevin Phillips
Also served as the media center director for the 2012
Republican Convention; this was Phillips sixth convention; first was as
an operations assistant on the 1984 convention in Dallas. Partner
at Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock in the Nashville area since Jan.
2006. Partner at The Ingram Group, May 1998-Jan. 2006.
Communications director and deputy campaign manager on Lamar Alexander
for Senate, 2002. Research, message and positioning on Alexander
for President, Jan.-Aug. 1999. Account executive at Atkinson
Public Relations, June 1996-April 1998. Deputy press secretary on
Alexander for President, Jan. 1995-March 1996. Spokesperson for
Lamar Alexander/Republican Exchange Satellite Network, Feb. 1993-Dec.
1994. Assistant to U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander,
Jan. 1991-Jan. 1993. Press secretary on Smyser for Congress (ID),
June-Nov. 1990. M.B.A. from Auburn University, 2003; B.A. in
English from James Madison University, 1990.
Media Operations Manager Rebecca
Wasserstein
(April 2016) Director of finance operations at
Marco Rubio for President, May 2015-March 2016. Scheduler and
office manager to U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL), Jan.-May 2015.
Communications director (Aug. 2013-Nov. 2014) and finance director
(Jan. 2013-Nov. 2014) on Citizens for Josh Mandel. Finance
assistant on Josh Mandel for U.S. Senate, May-Nov. 2012. B.A. in
public affairs from The Ohio State University, 2012.
Manager - Special Press Anastasia Hardin
(Feb. 2016) Experience includes special projects coordinator for the 2012 Republican National Committee.
Manager - Galleries and Credentials Lisa Thomas
(Feb. 2016) Account manager at AlliedPRA, Jan.-July 2015. Event manager at Pacific Event Productions, Sept. 2013-Sept. 2014. Executive assistant at the Sun Valley Rice Company, LLC, Aug. 2012-Aug. 2013. B.S. in recreation, parks and tourism administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2012.
Technical Manager Anthony Landi
(Jan. 2016) Technical consultant for the RNC in
2012. Director of engineering and broadcast operations,
engineering maintenance for World Wrestling Entertainment, 1988-July
2011. Director of Vidlo Video, 1986-88. Studied criminal
justice at the University of New Haven, 1978-80.
Media Operations Manager Sean Frazer
...
Staff Assistant Jack Rauch
(May 2016) Assistant broker at Domicile Real
Estate Brokerage in Charleston, SC, Aug. 2013-May 2016. B.A. in
political science and government from the College of Charleston, 2016.
Interns
Professional Volunteer Logistics -
Morgan Ippolito
Broadcast Schedule Logistics - Bridget
Visconti
Special Press - John Robert Patrick Jr.
Director of Operations Marcia Lee Kelly
(announced July 2,
2015) Chief
advancement officer for Trinity Law School in Orange County, CA from
Aug. 2013. Director of strategic projectts for the Romney
Transition Team, Sept..-Nov. 2012. Consultant to the 2012
Republican National Convention. Director of the Mercy Health
System Foundation in Wisconsin, Dec. 2009-July 2011. Chief
development officer for the Riverfront in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Dec.
2004-Dec. 2009. Associate director of external affars for the
2008 Republican National Convention. Worked as a consultant in
New York, 2001-04. Various roles for the New York City Mayor’s
office, Jan. 1994-May 2001. B.A. degrees in political science and
urban affairs from Manhattan College, 1992. See: Ahn Do.
"Orange County native is tapped to coordinate what could be a wild
Republican National Convention." Los
Angeles Times, July 17, 2016.
Deputy Director of Operations Whitney Nichols
(Nov. 2015) Project manager at the Center for
Strategic
Initiatives, LLC, April 2013-Oct. 2015. RNC/Romney for President
Victory events manager, Sept.-Dec. 2012. Media operations manager
for the 2012 Republican National Convention, Oct. 2011-Aug. 2012.
Administrator of the Counsel's Office at the RNC, March 2009-Sept.
2011. Deputy associate director for press advance at the White
House Sept. 2007-Jan. 2009. Bachelor's degree in communications
studies and political science from American University, 2007.
Special Projects Manager Scott McClintock
(Feb. 2016) Executive director of Gov. Phil Bryant (MS)'s inauguration, Nov. 2015-Jan. 2016. Aide de camp to Gov. Phil Bryant, June 2013-Nov. 2015. Campaign coordinator at Frontier Strategies, LLC, Nov. 2012-June 2013. B.A. in politics and creative writing from Washington and Lee University, 2012.
Event Coordinator KC Packer
(started in Aug. 2015 as a staff assistant)
Member services and
event assistant at the RNC, Jan.-May 2015. B.A. in political
science from The George Washington University, 2015.
Freedom Plaza & Huntington Convention Center
Coordinator Jessica Forsythe
Progressive Field Coordinator Shelley Henderson
Gateway East Coordinator Nick Connors
Production Manager Lucas Anderson
Manager of Printing Operations Marcia Brown
A.D.A. and Signage Manager Andy King
Build Out and Permits Manager James Sample
(Feb. 2016...Manages and oversees the modifications/upgrades to the facilities in the RNC complex, as well the temporary build-out for the event; additionally responsible for being the creator/keeper of the master production schedule which details all of the events’ operations from move-in, show, and strike) B.A. in communication and culture from Indiana University Bloomington, 2011.
Perimeter Manager Tripp Stewart
(April 2016) Regional director of operations for
Exide
Technologies and GNB Industrial Power, May 2015-April 2016. Vice
president of sales for NOCO (battery technology), Sept. 2006-April
2015. Business development for Kroy LLC (labeling systems and
signage), Nov. 2002-Oct. 2006. B.A. in English, history from
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1999.
Event Assistant Coordinator Andrew Riddaugh
Undergraduate degree in political science and
government from Florida
State University, 2016.
Event Assistant Coordinator Casey Finzer
Volunteer and Staffing Manager Deborah Cox-Roush
(Mar. 2016) Tampa Bay regional chair on Marco
Rubio's primary
campaign, Sept. 2015-Mar. 2016. Independent consultant.
State director for Job Creators Network, Aug. 2012-Feb. 2015.
Aug. 2012-Feb. 2015. Volunteer coordinator for the 2012
Republican National Convention, May-Sept. 2012. Director of
Florida county chairs on Newt 2012, Dec. 2011-Feb. 2012. General
manager at Concessions and Catering by Cox of Florida, Oct. 2003-July
2011. Bachelor's degree in history/education from Georgetown
College, 1976.
Operations Coordinator Audrey Akers
(started as special assistant to the director of
operations in March
2016; coordinator from May 2016) Personal aide to Mrs. Laura
Bush,
Sept. 2013-Jan. 2016. Account coordinator, crowdsourcing for The
Marketing Arm in Dallas, TX, July 2012-Sept. 2013. B.B.A. in
marketing
from Southern Methodist University, 2012.
Director of Delegate Services Betsy Gehring
(Sept.
2015) "...over 20 years of directing and managing major gifts
programs with national and international organizations." B.A. in
international relations from the University of Southern California.
Deputy Director of Delegate Experience Alexa (Lexi) Pursley
(from April 2016; initially manager of delegate
experience, Jan.-April 2016) Director of operations/press
assistant to U.S. Rep.
Ted Yoho (FL) Sept. 2014-Jan. 2016. Director of operations
(July-Sept. 2014) and staff assistant (May-July 2014) to U.S. Rep. Paul
Broun (GA). Bachlelor's degree in communication studies from The
University of Georgia, 2014.
Director
of Hotels and Venues Melinda Stell
(June 2015) Customer success guru for Zentila,
June 2013-June
2015. Event manager at onPeak in Tampa/St. Pete area, Feb.-Nov.
2012. Director of corporate accounts (Mar. 2009-Mar. 2012) and
director of sales (Mar. 2008-Mar. 2009) for Harvest Inn/Portfolio
Hotels and Resorts and for Park View Hotel (Feb. 2007-Mar. 2008).
Senior sales manager at Omni Ambassador East Hotel, Nov. 2005-Feb.
2007. Senior human resources consultant for Oracle, 1999-2003.
Venues and Master Calendar Manager Remi Bruell
(Sept.
2015) Promotions coordinator at Euclid Media Group, May 2014-June
2015. In-restaurant event coordinator (Oct. 2013-May 2014) and
event statff/social media specialist for Zack Bruell Events in the
Clieveland/Akron area. B.S. in journalism from University of
Kansas, 2012.
Manager of Travel and Special Projects Elizabeth Stangl
(Dec. 2015) Website and marketing customer
support for GolfNow,
June 2013-Nov. 2015. Web and marketing assistant and customer
support representative at Fore! Reservations, Jan. 2011-May 2013.
B.S. in golf enterprise management from University of Wisconsin-Stout,
2010; B.S. in elementary education and teaching from University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2007.
Manager of Housing Data Cameron Dorsey
(Feb. 2015) Account assistant for Belwether
Consulting Group, May
2014-Feb.
2015. Undergraduate degree in art history, museum studies, Asian
art from Washington and Lee University, 2014.
Delegate Services
Assistant Kenneth Callahan III
(March 2016) Director marketing manager at the NRCC, July
2015-March 2016. Legislative correspondent (Jan.-June 2015) and
staff assistant (Aug. 2013-April 2015) to U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce
(OH).
Bachelor's degree in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan
University, 2013.
onPeak Housing Bureau Paulo Flores
Staff Assistant Julia Prus
Director of Transportation Jeremiah Shirk
(July 2015-Aug. 2016) Chief of staff for the
Department of
Public Works, City of Indianapolis, 2012-July 2015. Manager of
transportation and logistics for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host
Committee, Nov. 2010-May 2012. Assistant women's basketball coach
at Lambuth University, 2007-08. Support staff for USA Basketball,
May 2005-June 2007. Director of women's basketball operations at
Indiana University Bloomington, 2002-06. Ph.D. in sport
management from Indiana University Bloomington, 2012. M.B.A. from
Ball State University, 2010; masters in athletic administation/sport
marketing from Indiana University Bloomington, 2009; bachelors in
telecommunications from Indiana University Bloomington, 1999.
"Screened, selected, and led
Transportation Management Services, Inc.,
Parsons Brinkerhoff, 5 full time staff, 50 contractors and 100
volunteers."
Deputy Director of Transportation Cassie Dickerson
(Dec. 2015) Director (July 2014-Dec. 2015) and
coordinator (July
2013-July 2014) of student -athelete development at University of
Kansas Athletics. J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law,
2014; B.S. in animal sciences and nutrition from The Ohio State
University, 2011.
Logistics Manager [Transportation Management Services] Suzanne Aiken
(May 2016) Manager at Flywheel Sports, Mar.-Nov.
2015.
Senior market analyst for The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Oct.
2013-Sept. 2014. Production finance/resource management for Reel FX,
Dec. 2011-Mar. 2013. Business management for Northrop Grumman
Electronic, Aug. 2008-Dec. 2011. Bachelor's degree in kinesiology
and exercise science from Indiana University Bloomington.
Manager of Delegation Transportation Susie
Hudson
Staff Assistant Sammi Petraglia
Director of Security Tom Kasza
Senior vice president and managing director, strategic
relationships at
Hillard Heintze from Dec. 2011. Chief of statff to the CEO and
chief security officer for a financial services company. Served
in the U.S. Secret Service for more than two decades, from 1983 until
retiring in 2005. Degree in law enforcement from Western Illinois
University.
Deputy Director of Security Mark Lowery
President of Lowery & Associates Security
Consulting, LLC in Dallas
Ft. Worth from Mar. 2014. Vice president of security for an oil
and gas firm, Apr. 2012-Sept. 2013. Special agent in charge at
DHS, June 2007-Apr. 2012. Served in the U.S. Secret Service,
2000-06. B.S. in sociology and corrections from Illinois State
University, 1977.
Credentials Consultant Dee Dee Lancaster
Credentials Consultant Mel Raines
Logistics Coordinator Lauren Steuer
Director of Community and Political
Affairs
Chris McNulty
(announced June 29,
2015) Senior
vice president At Causeway Solutions. Political director at the
RNC, announced March 2013 to Feb. 2015. Deputy
executive
director
in
the
political
office
of
Speaker
John
Boehner from
2010.
RNC
midwest
regional
political
director
from
2006-10.
Executive
director
of
the
Ohio
Republican
Party,
2001-06;
political
director
for
the
Ohio
Republican
Party,
1997-2000;
Northeast
Ohio
field
director
for
the
Party,
1996-97;
Southeast
Ohio
field
director
for
the
Party,
1995-96.
Graduate
of
John
Carroll
University
(Cleveland),
1992.
Deputy Director of Community and Political Affairs C.J. Jordan
Experience includes president of the National Black
Republican
Leadership Council.
Director of External Affairs Brian Noyes
(Jan. 2016..."primary liaison between the convention and elected officials, foreign dignitaries, business organizations and other associations," also responsible for the page program; fifth convention attended) Executive director of strategy and communication at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center, Sept. 2012-Dec. 2015. Founder and president of Brock Clay Government and Public Affairs in Atlanta, GA, Jan. 2005-Sept. 2012. Senior advisor to the Deputy Secretary at HUD, Feb. 2008-Jan. 2009. Director of delegate and caucus for the 2004 Republican National Convention. Regional director in Atlanta for HUD, 2002-04. Deputy political director for campaign operations at the RNC, April 2001-March 2002 Southeast regional poliitical director on Bush-Cheney 2000. Regional consultant in Columbus, OH for DCI Group, 1999-2001. A Victory '98 coordinator for the RNC. Executive director and political director for the Georgia Republican Party, 1995-97. Regional representative for U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell, 1993-95. B.A. in political science and government from Mercer University, 1991. From Macon, GA.
Deputy Director, External Affairs Caroline Davidson
(in Cleveland full-time from May 2015, one of the first hires; initially operations team manager) Worked on the IE unit (with Jeff Larson) at the NRSC in the 2014 cycle. Graduate of Auburn University. Native of Atlanta, GA.
Deputy Director, Government Affairs Robbie Wehagen
(March 2016) Associate director of government affairs for American Traffic Safety Services Association, July 2014-Sept. 2015. Senior legislative ssistant (July 2013-July 2014) and legislative assistant (Feb.-June 2013) to U.S. Rep. Tom Rice (SC). Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (PA), Feb. 2011-Jan. 2013. Executive assistant to U.S. Rep. John Mica (FL), July 2009-June 2011. Professional staff/executive assistant to the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, 2007-June 2009. Staff assistant in the Office of Member and Committee Services in the U.S. Houe, July-Dec. 2006. B.A. in political science and history from Furman University, 2006.
Deputy Director and Volunteer Coordinator Kim Ekmark
Worked for Armitage Consulting, LLC. Legislative correspondent toe U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (WI), Feb. 2011-May 2012. Graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From Minnesota.
Deputy Volunteer Director Rebecca Shaw
(Apr. 2016) Press secretary on Chris Gibson for
Congress (NY),
Aug.-Nov. 2014. Senior legislative assistant in the U.S. House,
May 2011-Aug. 2014. Communications coordinator and PAC
administrator (July 2010-May 2011) and special assistant ant PAC
administrator, Nov. 2009-July 2010. Bachelor's degree in
economics, political science from Dickinson College, 2009.
Special Assistants Ross Branson, Blandon
J.
David
Staff Assistant for International Affairs Lauren Weber
Director of Financial and Administrative Services Jan McBride
Sumrall
(announced July 2,
2015) Business
manager for the Lousiana Secretary of State, June 2009-April
2015. Director of financial and administrative services for the
2008 Republican National Convention, July 2007-Jan. 2009.
Director of financial and administrative services for the Big Buddy
Program, Aug. 2005-July 2007. Deputy director for operations,
budget and administration for the 2004 Republican National
Convention. Assistant treasurer at the NRSC, July 2001-Feb.
2003. Comptroller for the 2000 Republican National Convention,
1999-2001. B.S. in political science/history from Louisiana State
University, 1992.
Deputy Director of Finance Sarah Keeny
(Oct. 2015) Financial reporting accountant at
Freedom Partners,
April 2014-Oct.
2015. Scheduler/office manager for U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS),
Aug. 2013-March 2014. B.S. in accounting from University of
Kansas, 2013.
Deputy Director of Administration Michael Holley
(Nov. 2015) Security forces-patrolman in the U.S. Air Force, Feb. 2011-Feb. 2015. Bachelor's degree in criminal justice/law enforcement administration from American Military University, 2016.
Administrative Coordinators
Meagan Langworthy
Sarah Stirrup
Chris Follins
Chief Information Officer Max Everett
Managing
director
for
cyber
operations
at
Fortalice
Solutions,
LLC,
from
2014.
CTO
at
ZRA,
LLC,
July
2013-Sept.
2014. Senior
consultant at SRA International, 2010-July 2013. Consulting CIO
for the 2012 Republican National Convention. CTO at NetPower
Strategy, Apr. 2009-Feb. 2010. CIO in EOP at The White House,
Sept. 2008-Jan. 2009. CIO for the 2008 Republican National
Convention, May 2017-Sept. 2008. Branch cief ein the EOP, July
2005-Apr. 2007. Managing director of IT from mthe 2005 PIC.
Director of IT for the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Senior advisor/CIO of technology administration at the U.S. Department
of Commerce, 2001-04. Public affairs for the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, Apr.-Dec. 2003. Network administrator on
Bush-Cheney 2000, 1999-2000. J.D. from University of Houston Law
Center, 1997; B.A. in government from The University of Texas at
Austin, 1994.
Director of Information Technology/Cyber Infrastructure Architect
Scott Morris
(May
2015) President of SECAVEC Inc. in Tampa-St. Petersburg from Nov.
2012. Director of information technology for the 2012 Republican
National Convention in Tampa-St. Petersburg, June 2011-Oct. 2012.
Vice president at Yuma Solutions, Inc., March 2009-Oct. 2012.
Deputy director of network operations at the RNC, Sept. 2005-March
2009. Senior network engineer at Yuma Solutions, 2003-05.
Product Manager Joe Podach
(Dec. 2015) Deputy chief of technolgy for
Cleveland Metropolitan
School District, Aug. 2006-Apr. 2015. Director of information
technology for Toledo Public Schools, Apr. 2002-Aug. 2006.
Assistant director at Mercy Health in Toledo, May 1994-Apr. 2002.
Network analyst for FirstEnergy, Sept. 1986-May 1994. M.B.A. from
Tiffin University, 1999; bachelor's degree in public administration and
social service professins, 1991; associate's degree in computer
programming frm Terra State Community College, 1994.
Product Manager Herb Sumrall Jr.
Staff Assistants Ben Molls, Melina
Overvaugh
Counsel Gineen Bresso
(Sept. 2015) Vice president of special projects
and general
counsel at The Wasie Foundation. Candidate for Congress in FL-23,
Feb.-Aug. 2012. Commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance
Commisssion, Oct. 2008-Dec. 2011. General counsel for the Young
Republican National Federation, Inc., July 2005-July 2007.
Special assistant and policy advisor to Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jan.
2003-Sept. 2006. Attorney at the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office, Sept. 2000-Sept. 2002. J.D. from Western New England
College School of Law, 1999; B.A. in political science from University
of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1995.
Law Clerk Joy Lee
(Feb. 2016) Attorney advisor to Member Patrick
Pizzella at the
Federal Labor Relations Authority, Oct. 2014-Feb. 2016. Attorney
at the District of Columbia Public Employee Relations Board, Jan.
2013-Oct. 2014. J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of
Law, 2012; B.A. in communication from University of Maryland College
Park, 2009.
General Services
Contractor - Freeman Company [have fulfilled this role since the
1984 convention in Dallas]
Greg Lane, National Project Manager
...started receiving shipments at
Quicken Loans Arena on June 25, 2016
Adobe Systems
Incorporated – Official Digital Creative Tools Provider
AT&T – Official Provider for Communications, Video and Technology (announced Mar. 24, 2016)
Cisco Systems, Inc. –
Official Network Technology Provider
Facebook – Official
Provider
Google, Inc. –
Official Digital Video and Live Stream Provider
LexisNexis, a
division of RELX Inc. – Official Research Provider
LG
Electronics – Official 4K
Ultra HD TV Provider (announced July 24, 2016)
Microsoft Corporation
– Official Technology Provider
Panasonic Corporation
of North America – Official Camera Provider
PR Newswire
Association, LLC – Official Newswire Service
Reflections Event
Photography & Video Production, Inc. – Official Photographers
Twitter, Inc. –
Official Real-time Engagement and Conversation Provider
Official Caterers -
twelve
Cleveland-area caterers (announced
May 19, 2016)
Official Florists -
six Cleveland-area
firms (announced May 5, 2016)